1G Lower Control Arms

[JAXWHITE1G]

I found some cracks in my lower control arms near the sway bar mount. After installing the Shep trans with Quaffe LSD I have been dealing with wheel hop so I decided to fabricate some. I will first install them with the rubber rear bushings and then with some brass and rubber rear bushings that are fixed to the control arm to reduce for/aft movement.
Each arm is 12 oz. lighter than OEM.

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Mike

 

[LocknessMonster]

wow nice job on those. Now you need to make some rear lower control arms to go along with it.

 

[tragdor]

Very nice pieces! Get some install pics and feedback on any noticeable difference in suspension performance.

 

[greenydsm]

what material did you make them out of!?

awesome fab work!

 

[JAXWHITE1G]

wow nice job on those. Now you need to make some rear lower control arms to go along with it.

Mine is fwd and not familiar with the needs on AWD. Do you think they may be an advantage.

Very nice pieces! Get some install pics and feedback on any noticeable difference in suspension performance.

I will.

what material did you make them out of!?

awesome fab work!

Mild steel. MIG welded and stress relieved.

 

[123abc]

Best of all they look really strong. Any chance of you making a jig and producing a few?

 

[Boosted98gsx]

Mild steel. MIG welded and stress relieved.

With what process?

 

[dikdiamond]

Impressive! Did you keep the standard size ball joint or upgrade?

 

[Rob10_99]

Give me the dimensions and I can stress test stuff from different materials for you, like tube thickness and such.

 

[tragdor]

+1
I would be interested in seeing the results. I think that the OP might look into producing a few once we know that they are strong enough for the abuse we'll throw at them.

 

[pagosa dsm]

What a good new idea.Where did you get the idea for the control arm? I made a steel front lower control arm bushing for my stock arm.They work fine.I also made rear lower control arms for my 1st gen.I have had no problems with any of my modds on my suspention.You can see photos of my modds on my gallery.

 

[dsm8883]

Is this the same famous mike from mid fl? top mount intercooler?

 

[AndrewD5418]

Yes it is.

 

[JAXWHITE1G]

Best of all they look really strong. Any chance of you making a jig and producing a few?

I took a lot of time designing them and do have a Jig built to reproduce them if testing proves them viable

With what process?

There was a lot of welding and some distortion in the jig while doing them. I heated them to a dull red with a rosebud and cooled them slowly to remove any heat affect zones. They fit easily in the jigs after that.

Impressive! Did you keep the standard size ball joint or upgrade?

I used standard as I had some new ones available, Thats how I found the cracks in the OEM , was going to change ball joints. Can upgrade if I feel necessary.

Give me the dimensions and I can stress test stuff from different materials for you, like tube thickness and such.

That would be interesting but how would you be able to compair them to the OEM. They are stamped steel with welded reinforcements in various places. I plan on doing some non destructive deflection testing. I may even build another for destructive testing.

What a good new idea.Where did you get the idea for the control arm? I made a steel front lower control arm bushing for my stock arm.They work fine.I also made rear lower control arms for my 1st gen.I have had no problems with any of my modds on my suspension.You can see photos of my mods on my gallery.

I was looking at a thread somewhere on here of (Parts you would like to see available) and saw a photo of another aftermarket control arm that isn't available any more and didn't like the design. Looked flexible. Decided I could do better so I got out some paper and did some designing.
I looked through your Gallery. I like your work.

Is this the same famous mike from mid fl? top mount inter cooler?

Never heard My name and Famous in the same sentence before. I do have the only TMIC on a DSM I believe. And I throw a hell of a Beer and Wings party for DSM people a couple times a year.

 

[Dewayne Waldron]

I would be interested in a set of these. Any chance of making more of them ?

 

[JAXWHITE1G]

I would be interested in a set of these. Any chance of making more of them ?

Yes. Let me get some testing done. I don't want to dissapoint anyone if they don't perform as I expect them to.
Mike

 

[AndrewD5418]

I wouldn't be surprised if it performs well. Your work seems to be top notch. I also love that custom Hyundai "Mitsubishi" valve cover you made. I sort of want one but I can't fabricate the stuff .

 

[99gst_racer]

Great looking control arm, Mike.

It would be nice to save a bit more weight, but your fab work is top notch. I have no doubts that that thing is going to be several times stronger than the factory arm.

 

[JAXWHITE1G]

Great looking control arm, Mike.

It would be nice to save a bit more weight, but your fab work is top notch. I have no doubts that that thing is going to be several times stronger than the factory arm.

I think I could cut the weight some by using thinner wall tubing. I had some tubing from a roll cage installation and used that because I knew it would be strong and it was available. I designd them so the tubing stresses would be primarily in tension or compression with only light bending moments. I will probably build a lighter set just to test.

Mike

P.S. They are installed but I found a CV boot broken and tried to find an axle but had no luck. I will do some cornering tests tomorrow and see how it does.

 

[BIGMIXX]

any new info on the release of these ... just trying to keep a watchful eye ...

 

[EGuenther]

wow nice job on those. Now you need to make some rear lower control arms to go along with it.

http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/custom-fabrication/365660-rear-lower-control-arms-how.html

Tada!!

 

[RipperXX]

Those look very nice, any updates? I think theres a few of us here eagerly waiting to hear about these and there availability.

 

[alwesterholm]

I have been checking back regularly for an update on this. Anxious to hear about any progress! These are defintaely something I would like to adorn my talon with.

 

[tragdor]

Hey what's the update on these? Do you have any test results or feedback from use? Thanks!

 

[shockracer]

So, how were they in cornering?