Upper Control Arm Play

[aheiser]

I finished installing a bunch of Thuren parts and everything went on really nicely. However, my driver's side UCA wiggles a touch. Occasionally, even with weight on the truck, you can yank the arm and feel a "thunk thunk thunk" back and forth wiggle at the frame end. I've re-torqued it a couple times. The last time, I set the wrench to 155 or 160 instead of the 150 the specs call for. It looks like the frame bracket is maybe just not 100% flat where the flat ends of the pivot ball tighten against. How much tighter should I try? I assume the bolts/threads can handle quite a bit more torque but I don't want to screw something up. Or do people pretty much just keep tightening until the play is gone, even at pretty high torque values?

[nts007]

Yes tighten until the control arm mount ears compress against the joint. I've put some ridiculous torque on those bolts. They don't break

[aheiser]

Thanks! I just went out and did some more testing/looking. I found a point with a jack under axle that I can induce the most amount of play and looked close with a flashlight, etc. The pivot ball appears to be very tight and no visible play. The actual joint however has a lot of slop/play in it. Probably 1/32 - 1/16" side to side play. I can pretty much make the whole arm twist a tiny bit by hand. I can't see both snap rings well but they don't look obviously out of place. Guess I'll have to call Thuren and see what he recommends. It definitely makes a clunking noise on dirt roads and I imagine will just get worse.

ETA - I took the arm out. Little play in the bushings at both ends. not sure how it compares to the other arm. Man, I just can't think anything else could be making the rattle/knocking feeling.

Thanks for the help!

[Socalboarder]

I have a 2012 PW, and have Thuren's arms on my truck. The UCA on my drivers side also was a little loose. I tightened the bolt/nut, and it hasn't made any noise since. Just like you, I could grab the arm and wiggle it, moving it maybe 1/32"-1/16". This was on the axle end of the joint. I say tighten it down until you cant wiggle any longer.
Also, if your snap ring comes out.....you'll know. Happened to me on the UCA on the passenger side, frame end. Contacted Thuren and got the spare parts to fix it.
See post on repair
http://forum.powerwagonregistry.org/vie ... 7489#p8748

[DamageWagon]

The stock arms on the 5-link wear out fairly quick and get lots of play. Mine are pretty terrible. The worst you feel it is when you are backing up, either uphill or downhill, and tap the brakes. You can feel the axle rock. It's best to replace the stock arms with something to prolong driveshaft life, but you can probably run for a loooooong time with shot arms and be fine.

[aheiser]

I have a 2012 PW, and have Thuren's arms on my truck. The UCA on my drivers side also was a little loose. I tightened the bolt/nut, and it hasn't made any noise since. Just like you, I could grab the arm and wiggle it, moving it maybe 1/32"-1/16". This was on the axle end of the joint. I say tighten it down until you cant wiggle any longer.
Also, if your snap ring comes out.....you'll know. Happened to me on the UCA on the passenger side, frame end. Contacted Thuren and got the spare parts to fix it.
See post on repair
http://forum.powerwagonregistry.org/vie ... 7489#p8748

Thanks! I thought I remembered seeing a thread about these joints. I almost wonder if my bushings were undersized or something. I took apart the joint to examine them. Everything looked okay, other than what I thought was quite a bit of play already (few hundred miles). One more than the other. But I do know I could easily put the joint back together without the special tool. Just pressing it down on the bench and using my fingers to press it all in. Sounds like it should be a lot stiffer than that?