Anyone Tried Old Man Emu Upper Control Arms?

I’ve been looking into upgrading my suspension and had my eye on the Old Man Emu upper control arms, particularly for my Toyota 4Runner. I’ve heard mixed reviews, but I’m really curious about the performance and installation process.

What I’m hoping to find:

  • User experiences: How have these control arms worked for you?
  • Installation tips: Any advice for someone who might want to tackle this as a DIY project?
  • Durability: Do they hold up well in off-road conditions?
  • Purchase options: Where have you found the best deals?

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts and experiences! Thanks in advance for the help!


P.S. If you have any cool stories about your off-roading adventures with these mods, feel free to share!

I’ve installed Old Man Emu upper control arms on my 4Runner and while it was challenging, having a good set of tools made it manageable. You’ll definitely need a breaker bar and a torque wrench for the bolts.

I’ve heard alignment is key after installation. Can anyone share their experience on adjusting them for better performance?

I found that the biggest challenge was fitting everything back together after install. Sometimes the alignment can be off if you don’t pre-adjust the arms before securing them.

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That’s a great tip! Were there any particular tools you used that helped with that?

You’ll want to have a good set of wrenches and possibly a ratchet extension. It can be tight in there! Also, make sure you have a friend to help out, it makes a huge difference.

Haha, right! One set of hands just isn’t enough for these kinds of jobs! It’s practically a two-person job unless you have octopus arms.

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I’ve done several installs. The alignment was tricky at first; make sure to use a camber gauge to get it just right. It can save you headaches later on!

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Thanks for that advice! Do you have recommendations on which camber gauge to purchase?

Just got the Old Man Emu arms on my Jeep, and wow, the performance is night and day! Definitely take your time on the alignment to maximize it.

That’s so encouraging to hear! Did you hire a professional for the alignment or do it yourself?

I did it myself! Just followed some tutorials. Make sure to take careful notes during the install so you can replicate your adjustments during alignment.

Notes sound easy, but my attempt at note-taking ended up being a chaotic mess. Do you have any tips for keeping track of everything?

Using a numbered list helps, like numbering your parts as you take them off. I label bags for smaller things! Makes reassembly easier.

I can’t stress enough about rechecking all the bolts after a short drive. I thought I was done, but one came loose, and it led to quite the scary moment!

Yikes! I can only imagine how scary that was. Are there any specific bolts we should be extra careful with?

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I’ve been using Old Man Emu upper control arms for about six months now. The improvement in suspension geometry has made a huge difference on rough trails! Highly recommend them.

That’s great to hear! Did you notice any changes in ride quality on the highway as well?

Totally! The ride quality is way better, and handling feels much more stable at higher speeds. I feel more confident driving off-road now.

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That’s pretty impressive! Have you experienced any issues with alignment after installation?