Lower Control Arms: the Length Database

[takai]

Ok, I thought this information might be useful to have all in one place.
So basically the measurement which is useful would be the middle bush to the middle of the balljoint, giving the effective length of the lower control arm.

So to start off:

Control Arms

Model - Length - CT Dia 
RA40 - 300mm - 12mm 
TA22 - 300mm - 12mm
AE86 - 300mm - 12mm
KE7x - 300mm - 12mm
XT130 - 310mm - 12mm (RT132 too?)
MX73 - 304mm -12mm
MX62 - 365mm - 12mm
GE Sigma - 330mm - 12mm
S13 - 350mm - 14mm

Balljoints

S13
bottom of taper diameter : 17.96
top of taper diameter : 16.08
height of taper : 14.72
ratio : 1:7.83
MX62 - BJ314
bottom of taper diameter : 17.92
top of taper diameter : 15.85
height of taper : 16.71
ratio : 1:8.02
AE86,KE70,TA22,RA40,XT130 - BJ145

LCA Inner Bushes
Most old RWD Toyota LCAs use the same inner bush. The Pedders part number for it is 5830, and hence the crush tubes are all the same for these and all are interchangable on the inner end.
These include: AE86, TA22, MX32, MX62, MX73 (NOT MX83), and i would assume most of the Corolla and Celica range.The Pedders online cattledog is a good reference for this:
http://catalogue.pedders.com.au/parts.php

I will continue adding to these as more information comes in, for now others should add their own too.

If people can do it too, this picture by Hen is highly useful for measuring other bits, so if you want to fill that in too:

[Rallystanza]

Good idea for the thread Chris.

Bloody Hen draws some nice pics and gets all the credit:-(

Thought the main purpose for wanting to know the dimensions would be so you can interchange. When Interchanging arms you need to know a few more things such as the Balljoint taper (or even balljoint interchangability) and crush tube dimensions... Yes? No? Maybe?

Jez

[takai]

Ah very true, ill add those details that i know to my post.
Credit does go to you as well Jez.

[Rallystanza]

I think Hen has got some measurements for the MX62 and S13 BJ's.

+Rep to j00.

[slide86]

XT130 control arms also use the same inner bush as AE86 TA22 and the like.

There is an aftermarket part number for the XT 130 ball joints: BJ145
The nolathane part number for the inner bush is 45087

This is ae86 arm compared to Gh sigma arm


(cheers to ae86dc for the pic)

[takai]

Do you have the length of the GH arm?

[slide86]

well they give an extra 60mm track overall if that helps. i dont have a measurement at the moment.

[takai]

Hm, so maybe 335mm is more on the mark. Ill keep it as an approximate in the original post for now.

[jonra23]

Measured my GE LCA at 330mm, it doesnt have a crush tube in it, it has tapered bushes that pivot on a bolt in pin that measures 18mm.

Ball joint press in section measures 40.2mm with fine splines line a wheel stud on it.

regards
jon

[Hen]

The measurements I can give are:

All measurements are from the centre of crush tube. The measurement to the balljoint is horizontally along the length of the arm (somewhat tricky to get exact).

Car - Length - Swaybar - Castor rod - CT ID - CT OD - CT Length - Balljoint
AE86 - - - -- 300 - 190 - 225 - - - - 12.4 - 16.5 - 59.5 - BJ145
RA60 - - - -- 300 - 180 - 225 - - - - 12.4 - 16.5 - 59.5 - BJ145
MX62 - - - -- 360 - 230 - 270 - - - - 12.4 - 16.5 - 59.5 - BJ314
GE Sigma - 330 - 220 - 250 - - - - 12.3 - 17.8 - 64.5 - BJ122
S13 - - - - -- 350 - 190 - 210/235 - 14.0 - 19.5 - 60.0 - BJ???

Note the castor rod mount holes in the S13 arm are angled.

BJ314 very closely matches the S13 balljoint.

Hen

[takai]

Cheers Hen, some rep coming your way.

[TurboRA28]

I heard a rumor that XT130 is 310mm .. Can anyone confirm?

[Rallystanza]

I cannot confirm Joel but I Have heard 315mm and given that they are an upgrade for AE86 in terms of track, i would also say that the BJ and Crush tubes are the same or similar enough for the sprinterboys to bolt 'em in.

[Dimitri]

you must also remember that even if the taper is the same, the height at which the steering knuckle sits in relation to the ball joint pivot point is also important.

i mention this as when using sigma lcas in an ae86 (/other toyota) the height of the steering knuckle is raised in relation to the steering arm. this creates more bump steering as it puts your rack end/tie rod end out of alignment in relation to your lca. (because the pivot point of you tie rod end has not been altered).

[Hen]

Dimitri, you're right on how the AE86 steering arm sits on the Sigma balljoint, but this is because the two tapers aren't the same. I suspect that reaming the AE86 arm to the Sigma taper would fix this problem and make things a little stronger and more reliable.

Yes XT130s use a BJ145 so they are a perfect fit for AE86 steering arms.

Roughly small-mid old RWD Toyotas = BJ145
Mid-large RWD Toyotas = BJ314
You can cross reference balljoints with the PAJA catalogue pdf. Originally pointed out by Old Corollas.

Hen