Aftermarket lower control arms - which one is better?

My rock auto delphi swap is still going strong. I live in the Forrest 6 months of the year during winter and abuse the shit out of my Tacoma more than most of you most likely. OG parts decide that on my 2008 with about 200k miles. I have a full lift waiting but the parts under are still good and I can’t justify swapping for more gas at the moment

 

I appreciate the response. I am rebuilding my 2009 Tacoma regular cab 4x4 to be my "cool old dude" truck, even though I'm not of the correct age for that. I am seriously torn between going with a full stock length Total Chaos build, with uppers and lowers or just using stock lowers with TC uppers. Obviously the TC lowers are superior, but they are not efficient cost wise. I spoke with one of the guys at King Shocks yesterday, and he said it would be wise to go with OEM lowers. I can't find any OEM lowers, and I really like the Autozone lifetime warranty I can get, even if the product is second (or third) rate. What conditions are your daughters lowers living in? Does she do any light off-roading / curb hopping?

 

Any off roading is certainly not intended.



But curb hopping is exactly why I replaced the LCAs. Figured if I was going to do one...I might as well do both sides as the car was/is rather old with a ton of miles.

This was the reason for the replacement.

 

I've rarely seen a LCA actually break - OEM or aftermarket. I've used Moog parts for many, many years, but the last 5 years or so, I've been very disappointed with their overall quality - mostly longevity. The parts just don't seem to last as long. Sad to say, but that's pretty much what everybody expected when Moog got bought out.

 

That poor wheel hahahaha

 

What non-OEM would you recommend, or where would you send someone to find OEM lowers?

 

She was 17 at the time. Misjudged a curb during a turn and ate a 7" curb.

This little car is tough as nails though. She no longer drives it as she has a Corolla. But I still keep it around as an extra vehicle. 14 years old, 160,000 hard earned miles and she just keeps on ticking.

 

I've been installing Mevotech suspension parts lately (their supreme and OE line of parts) and I have to say they are better quality than Moog and TRW.


https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=7286712&cc=1442967&pt=10401&jsn=459

 

Those do look nice, and are really well priced. Are you a mechanic?

 

Yes I am although I do collision work right now which I really enjoy.

 

Lots of online sources for OEM parts.

 

Cannot find OEM lowers. Some used here and there, but I would have to rebuild all of those. Might as well rebuild my own OEM ones.

 

RF lower control arm bushings are shot. Decided to just replace the arm, and chose Beck Arnley after doing some reading on the forum. Zero complaints here, they sent me a brand new OEM arm. Haha. Can't complain for $150 on Amazon

 

I am looking at Beck/Arnley lower control arms for my 07 4runner. How have they been the past few years? Any issues or problems?

 

I’m also wondering this. I just bought two beck and arnley LCAs off rock auto

 

this reassured me in my purchase. I was looking at moog and 1a auto but heard too many bad things and don’t wanna cheap out that bad. On the other hand oem LCAs are ridiculously expensive

 

I just had my chassis replaced as well as the lower control arm from the dealer and my truck is running like crap. I have wheel wobble at 35mph to 42mph and a clunking noise from lower control arms. I either have a defective part or the bushings are to soft causing to much play while driving.

 

Or nothing was torqued to spec.

 

How have these worked out for you?

 

So far I have 100k km/60k miles on them and they have worked fine. I tend to drive pretty hard on rough terrain and no issues.

But they aren't perfect, there are few things I noticed from day one and along the way:
1. Bushing are squeaky. They are not silent. Not in regular driving, but if you hit a bump in the road or speed bumps you can definitely hear it. I just have radio on and don't notice it as much or care about it, but that noise is there. I
2. Paint chipped away pretty fast. I live in PNW and drive fair bit of Forest Service Roads (gravel).

This is how they look now: