Thuren Ram 1500 upper control arms offer more droop travel, better tire clearance, and higher joint quality than other options, and stock arms.
TECH INFO:
Compact ball Joint - A central objective of this project was the ability to keep the wheels tucked in similar to factory offset(+18mm), while being able to fit 12.5" wide tires. Most Uniball UCA's necessitate 0.00mm Offset wheels, so that the tires do not rub the much larger Uniball housing. Thuren arms do not have that issue. To help achieve this, Thuren employed a proven compact EMF ball joint housing, and internally developed a few different pins to ensure maximum suspension travel without binding. The steel that houses the ball joint is precision-machined in-house, from a solid 4-inch bar of steel.
EMF Ball Joint Advantage - The Ball Joint Thuren designed these arms around started as a Lower Ball Joint for the 2003-2009 Ram 2500/3500 trucks. Notably, EMF Ball Joints are fully greaseable, and you can adjust the tension inside of them on the vehicle, so when they wear a bit, you can easily add some to the preload collar and tighten them back up.
Upon determining the optimal pin design to facilitate maximum wheel travel, Thuren collaborated with EMF to engineer a custom ball joint tailored specifically for this project. Suspension travel wise, these arms can swing all the way up to OEM bump position, and down past the OEM CV joints optimal range. Plenty of travel available! If you are doing a custom build, you can easily check and make sure you are getting no binding.
If you are not familiar with most standard ball joints, or Uniballs, they have drawbacks. Most standard Ball Joints just get replaced when worn out, same with Uniballs. On top of that, Uniballs often are very very tight when new, and can take many miles before they break in and spin freely. This can lead to sticky steering, and they can be noisy if not covered in a greaseable cap.
Geometry - Thuren UCA's for the Ram 1500 are modeled around the OEM geometry. This decision is rooted in several reasons. The Ram 1500 front end geometry does not mandate an upper ball joint location change when used with up to 3" of lift, and Thuren doesn't suggest over 3" of lift, or your CV's are going to be put under too much load just going down the highway. If you push the Upper Ball joint away from the frame even 1/8", you will have an almost impossible time not removing all Positive Camber when under 3" of lift.
Main Frame Pivot Joints - These joints are based on Thuren's in-house designed and manufactured Orbital Control Arm joints, which are utilized in Thuren's Ram 2500/3500 products. Unlike rubber torsion bushings, these joints do not store energy, allowing for unrestricted suspension movement. Crafted from 17-4 stainless steel, the Pivot Ball features a substantial surface area, resulting in minimal deflection for optimal handling and performance. However, it retains just enough flexibility to absorb road vibrations, providing a more comfortable ride compared to a rigid joint, like a Heim Joint for example.
Tubular vs Boxed Arms - Thuren could have easily made a more cool looking boxed arm from plate steel, but in the end, the compact nature of tubing ultimately proves superior for this component. Boxed and welded parts take up more space, and packaging regarding a UCA is very important, especially when you are swinging a larger range with more travel. This tube is 1.25"x.25" wall DOM. It is very strong, and very compact.
Fitment:
Fits 2009-2023 Ram 1500 trucks. 4th and 5th Gen.
Does NOT fit/function OEM Factory Front Air-Ride suspension.
Functions with up to 3" of lift.
Compact ball joint area, to clear High Offset wheels and wide tires.
Details:
Fully greaseable for smooth operation
Custom High-Angle EMF adjustable ball joint equipped.
Gusseted 1/4" wall DOM tube.
Cold-Rolled Steel Machined Ball joint housing.
Equipped with Thuren 17-4 Stainless rebuildable main pivot joints.
