Ironman 4x4 recalls Pro Forge upper control arms

Our PX Ranger build was one of the best-handling double-cab, load-carting 4x4 utes we’ve ever driven.

Bang for buck, the Ironman suspension package we fitted couldn’t be beaten and it out-drove set-ups costing way more than what was on it. And the current owner of the Ranger tells us it still performs incredibly well.

The kit on that ute consisted of Ironman 4x4’s coil and leaf springs, Foam Cell Pro shock absorbers and the then-new-to-market Pro Forge upper control arms (UCAs).

So it was with interest we read of Ironman 4x4’s recent recall on its Pro Forge UCAs.

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The recall affects all Pro Forge UCAs (not just Ranger) and includes products sold from January 2019 to June 2023 and are under product codes of: UCA001FA, UCA001FAS, UCA041FA, UCA041FAS, UCA048FA, UCA050FA, UCA054FA, UCA054FAS, UCA056FA, UCA073FA, UCA074FA, UCA075FA or UCA090FA.

Ironman’s own product testing has revealed that some Pro Forge UCAs have shown premature wear of the ball joint fitted to the arms. At worst, the premature wear could result in a failure of the joint and loss of vehicle control; although, no failures of the arms/joints have been recorded.

The company is recalling all of its Pro Forge UCAs as a result, with owners of vehicles equipped with them urged to contact an Ironman 4×4 store or dealer to arrange an initial inspection, to repair or replace the affected product at no charge.

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Ironman’s product recall states that the ball joint is replaceable with a standard OE or similar quality part, and this work can be done by any qualified mechanic or workshop with reimbursement available for the cost of parts and labour.

The company says it is already well underway in sourcing and testing a new ball joint with an updated design, to ensure the Pro Forge UCA remains a premium product.

Ironman 4x4 is contacting all owners of vehicles affected that it has on file to make them aware of the recall, and is also encouraging people who have sold their Pro Forge UCA-equipped vehicle to get in contact and let the current owner know where possible. Just as we have done with the owner of our old Ranger.

See the full release from Ironman here.

Why fit upper control arms?

When you raise/lift the suspension in your IFS vehicle it lifts the chassis and body away from the mounting point of your wheels and tyres, which frees up room for larger tyres and provides ground clearance.

Doing this affects the camber and caster settings, and lifting an independent 4x4 even just a bit can knock all the alignment out of spec and cause issues with ball-joint operating angles, clearance on the tyres, as well as other suspension components.

Aftermarket upper control arms are designed to alleviate all of these issues, getting the suspension geometry and alignment back to factory or better calibration and giving the best ride and handling with added tyre clearance and ride height/ground clearance.

There are many brands of aftermarket upper control arms available for 4x4 vehicles these days, but the advantage of the forged aluminium Ironman 4x4 Pro Forge UCAs is that they are less likely to flex or bend which can be a problem with some tubular arms.

The rigid construction of the forged alloy arms means they are less likely to flex or distort under heavy loads, and our experience with them proves they do a great job of getting the raised suspension just right.

The Ironman 4x4 Pro Forge UCAs were designed from the outset to use OEM-style ball joints and bushes so that they can easily be serviced and maintained by any mechanic, no matter where you are.