I am looking to Completely replace all stock arms except front lower Rock Krawlers. These joints are lubricated with 3 in 1 oil instead of grease. They are beefy. The JKS arms appear to be swiveling on the arm rather than at the joint like Johnny joints or RK's. Are these better and worth the $ ? They appear to have more "swiveling capability" but is that really true or worth it?

 

The JKS's use stock rubber bushing and swivel like you said. The stock rubber bushing is a great bushing and IMHO will provide the best ride .

David

 

wait for it...... any minute now someone will tell you Teraflex is the best.

 

Yup me!


TeraFlex uses a OEM clevite style bushing on the frame end and a greasable flexjoint on the axle end.

 

I think most of the arms that use a rubber bushing on one end and a flex joint on the other end will work well. I don't like polyurethane bushings; they ride rougher, transmit more road noise, wear out faster, and frequently make squeeking noises (even the ones that have zerk fittings). I also don't like heim joints, for the same reasons I don't like polyurethane bushings.

 

Poly usually lasts longer than rubber and it's impervious to weather.

 

Poly is harder, Vibrates and does not last nearly as long.

If poly was better the OE's woudl use it more.

David

 

I met Poly and she didn't last as long yet she vibrated quite feverishly! Lol

 

Seriously, what is the joint that JKS uses to allow the central arm to rotate?

 

Large Poly bushings tend to squeek, split or rattle due to the harder material. They also tend to transfer road noise/vibrations and limit flex. Some can actually damage your control arm mounts by limiting flex. Inner sleeves can load up with grime and rust. That why TeraFlex went away from that style with our TJ arms.

Now TeraFlex doe's use a preloaded poly spherical bushing halves around a metal ball in the Flex Joint end. This is so there's no metal on metal contact. Very easy to maintain, rebuild and quiet.