Custom Upper and Lower Control Arms

[2slow4utsi]

Why has no one made custom upper and lower front control arms? I would think these would be very popular in the DSM community. I might have to have some prototypes made and tested and see if there is any interest. I know some good fabricators.

Any thoughts?

 

[Wobet]

Why has no one made custom upper and lower front control arms? I would think these would be very popular in the DSM community. I might have to have some prototypes made and tested and see if there is any interest. I know some good fabricators.

Any thoughts?

What would benefits be?

 

[2slow4utsi]

What would benefits be?

Integrity and weight. I've had an upper control arm bend pretty bad before. I'm just curious as to why there is nothing out there (that I know of).

 

[noV8undrDIShood]

lighter/smaller stronger design.. i have seen many 1g control arms rust right through.

 

[xiteamxi]

i was thinking the same thing since i saw the 1g ones made in the fab section

 

[2slow4utsi]

i was thinking the same thing since i saw the 1g ones made in the fab section

Yeah it doesn't really make too much sense as to why some haven't been made so I think I'm going to have some made. I will either have my own set made or see if anyone will make a set and offer them to the DSM crowd. I'm thinking it will be fairly easy as I have all of the parts readily available for measurements and references.

 

[PieEyedPiper]

There are already options for this. I have a tech article regarding it, actually.
More options is always better, however.

 

[2slow4utsi]

There are already options for this. I have a tech article regarding it, actually.
More options is always better, however.

Yeah I am aware of the SPC's but I want something custom such as tubular arms.

 

[stukyl28]

How much would a set cost? Ballpark figure...

 

[knochgoon24]

Even SPC's cast design was a great idea. Problem was, that it would hit the inner fender on lowered cars at full travel. They just ditched the idea instead of refining it.

 

[2slow4utsi]

How much would a set cost? Ballpark figure...

Initial cost would be expensive but ballpark and this is a rough estimate would be around $300 shipped (may be more/less) for both upper and lowers if I can manage to have a set made that works and works good. I won't have something made that won't please the crowd.

In essence, I want to make control arms that both please the crowd and are affordable to even the smallest of enthusiasts that want a stronger/lighter suspension. I am going to start measuring the arms and figuring out prices tomorrow with a friend.

Even SPC's cast design was a great idea. Problem was, that it would hit the inner fender on lowered cars at full travel. They just ditched the idea instead of refining it.

Yeah I know which is a bad business move on their part. They should have never released their control arms until they had been tested on both stock and after market suspensions. Now, people are stuck having to modify things in order for their control arms to work which is a pain in the ass and inconvenient to the consumer that has already spent the time and money on the arms in the first place.

 

[Absit]

Interested, subscribing, twisty racing, etc.

 

[greengoblin]

I'd be interested in a set of lower front strong light weight arms for a 2g. Even better if they have roll center adjustment and can have spherical bearings in them .Lets see what you come up with. Having the twin lower ball joints will make it a interesting venture. Do you plan on modeling the front suspension?

 

[2slow4utsi]

I'd be interested in a set of lower front strong light weight arms for a 2g. Even better if they have roll center adjustment and can have spherical bearings in them .Lets see what you come up with. Having the twin lower ball joints will make it a interesting venture. Do you plan on modeling the front suspension?

I am going to make it as close to stock as possible just with stronger parts. I was thinking of using spherical bearings but if I did that then I'd probably want to use it on my entire suspension. I am going to remove the control arms from my GSX project and drive them over to a friends house and get to work soon.

 

[greengoblin]

I am going to make it as close to stock as possible just with stronger parts. I was thinking of using spherical bearings but if I did that then I'd probably want to use it on my entire suspension. I am going to remove the control arms from my GSX project and drive them over to a friends house and get to work soon.

At the very least you should make the housing for the bearing robust enough to accept spherical bearings . The lower lateral arm begs for them since it moves in several planes as the suspension cycles.

Kevin

 

[2slow4utsi]

At the very least you should make the housing for the bearing robust enough to accept spherical bearings . The lower lateral arm begs for them since it moves in several planes as the suspension cycles.

Kevin

If the front lower control arm could use the spherical more than any other suspension part on the 2g platform then I will probably make them to accept spherical bearings. It doesn't make sense to me to have only spherical bearings on one part of my car and not the entire car. I just don't want to have to change all of my bushings over to spherical bearings for sake of being a PITA.

 

[Koozer]

please make these... i will buy them

 

[96 420a-t]

Interesting thought. Has any one thought about replacing theupper arm bushings with sphericals on a 2g while keeping the factory upper arm? Id be interested in the 2g lateral arms.

 

[bjones18]

Keep in mind that our 2g front LCAs are solid forgings. and have bending loads due to the vertical spring/damper load. Fabricating a set of arms before doing load/stress calculations ( or FEA ) leads to "red-paint" being the main selling point.

I've designed OEM suspensions, control arms, powertrain mouting configurations, subframes, set roll center heights, camber gains, designed for tolerances in roll steer (< 0.2 mm - hydro-piercining) for over fifteen years.

So far I haven't seen a need to change my 2g control arms nor bushings.

Swapping parts in an engine has potential for immediate benefit, the same is true for tires, brake pads, static camber, and springs/dampers. Next on the list is stabars & stabar links. After that... there are few people who can tell the difference in a blind comparison. Even coming up with a test procedure that helps discern a difference can be challenging.

If you want to do anything, look at using Audi/VW control arms (aluminum forgings). Even this, in my opinion, has the only benefit of "cocktail engineering brag-talk" with your buddies. These parts will be lighter, have passed OEM durability (on similar GVW vehicle). But, reducing weight on the roof is a better investment compared with reducing weight on your "lowest" components.

One thing I can say... is that OEM parts have passed a thorough durability procedure which gives them my vote.

 

[eclipsegsx1736]

I would 100% buy a set as well if I don't do this myself soon. Ideally a rod-end (heim joint) would be used on the upper arm to attach it to the upright/spindle, this way you would get the precision of a spherical bearing with the camber adjustability of the threaded rod-end's shank.

 

[VETTE_50_TH]

As mentioned 2 posts above, what would be the purpose of a lower control arm? You cant tie the two together either. Reasons explained by Andrew Brilliant in his suspension Theory part 2 i believe.