A arm aluminum replacement
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 291
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From: Guantanamo Bay, Cuba (home in Colorado Springs)
A arm aluminum replacement
Ecklers has some EXPENSIVE aluminum upper a arm replacements. I'm interested in shaving some additional weight off my '80. Also concerned with durability of after-market a-arms (control arms).
Has anyone tried these yet? Evaluation?
Thanks!
Has anyone tried these yet? Evaluation?
Thanks!
Race Director
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 10,643
Likes: 8
From: Foxfield CO 1970 Convertible
Here are some more for you to check out. I've got standard steel aftermarket a-arms and they are incredibly tough. It would be hard to make any that aren't more durable than the stock stamped steel things...
http://www.speeddirect.com/index.aspx?nodeID=130
http://www.speeddirect.com/index.aspx?nodeID=130
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 5,269
Likes: 54
From: Orlando Florida
St. Jude Donor '05
Originally Posted by Kalway
Not sure I'd trust an aluminum a arm... I'd be afraid of it giving out easier than a steel one. Don't VBP and Vansteel have tubular ones that are lighter and tougher than the stock ones?
Premium Supporting Vendor
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 4,312
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From: Clearwater FL
Here you go
http://www.vansteel.com/index.cfm?fu...&SubGroup=1935
Upper have 6 degrees positive caster built in and they are 3 lbs. lighter than stock uppers. 1" Chromoly tubing, .095 wall thickness
http://www.vansteel.com/index.cfm?fu...&SubGroup=1935
Upper have 6 degrees positive caster built in and they are 3 lbs. lighter than stock uppers. 1" Chromoly tubing, .095 wall thickness
Last edited by Van Steel; Jun 23, 2006 at 03:20 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
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You'd be amazed at how strong tubular steel is, I'm redoing mine sometime in the future (too many other projects that need finishing first) to shed some weight. Those vans teel arms are likely a good bit stronger than the stockers.
Premium Supporting Vendor
Joined: May 2000
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From: Clearwater FL
Originally Posted by Twin_Turbo
You'd be amazed at how strong tubular steel is, I'm redoing mine sometime in the future (too many other projects that need finishing first) to shed some weight. Those vans teel arms are likely a good bit stronger than the stockers.
Why would people make weaker aftermarket arms. I don't see a market for cheap weak parts.
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Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 3,689
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From: St Petersburg FL
St. Jude Donor '07,'13
Vbp A-arms
Our design box-tube A-arms are MIG welded to be stronger than stock arms. Our poly bushings also allow the arms to pivot more freely with less deflection than the stock rubber bushings. We have relocated the ball joint mounts which allows up to 5 degrees positive caster and a greater camber adjustment range for improved handling and road tracking.
Our arms are shipped with offset cross shafts, poly bushings, installed ball joints and are powder coated black as standard. Red and yellow powder coating is also available for a small additional charge. The price is $329.95 less the forum 10% discount, so before shipping the net cost is $296.96. Our arms about 1-2 lbs. lighter than stock.
If you have any questions, all us 1-800-237-9991.
Our arms are shipped with offset cross shafts, poly bushings, installed ball joints and are powder coated black as standard. Red and yellow powder coating is also available for a small additional charge. The price is $329.95 less the forum 10% discount, so before shipping the net cost is $296.96. Our arms about 1-2 lbs. lighter than stock.
If you have any questions, all us 1-800-237-9991.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 5,269
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From: Orlando Florida
St. Jude Donor '05
Originally Posted by Twin_Turbo
You'd be amazed at how strong tubular steel is, I'm redoing mine sometime in the future (too many other projects that need finishing first) to shed some weight. Those vans teel arms are likely a good bit stronger than the stockers.
I know tubular steel is strong, I'm more concerned about the welds - under the powdercoating you cannot even see if there is a problem. Doesn't CrMo steel require post weld heat treatment to reduce hardness and stress in the welded area ?
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2004
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From: San Diego CA
I think the general consensus from us would be if you want to replace your a-arms go with VBP or Van Steel. Both are EXCELLENT companies, in my opinion. Impossible to beat their deals with the forum discount. 
Premium Supporting Vendor
Joined: May 2000
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From: Clearwater FL
Tubing is: Chrome-Moly 4130 Condition N, 1" x .095 (Uppers) and 1" x .120 (Lowers)
Filler Wire: ER80S-D2
Heat treating and/or stress relieving thin wall tubing will hurt the part more than help it. Air cooling is all that is necessary. The welds are initially cooled within an Argon shield for the first 15 seconds, this allows the weld to cool enough to prevent oxidation and scaling on the outside of the weld.
Our arms are also TIG welded not MIG welded. You can get our arms unpowder coated to visually inspect them. Heck you can even take them to get the, magnifluxed(spelling) and I be they will pass. According to our UPS scale ours were 3 lbs lighter per arm.
Filler Wire: ER80S-D2
Heat treating and/or stress relieving thin wall tubing will hurt the part more than help it. Air cooling is all that is necessary. The welds are initially cooled within an Argon shield for the first 15 seconds, this allows the weld to cool enough to prevent oxidation and scaling on the outside of the weld.
Our arms are also TIG welded not MIG welded. You can get our arms unpowder coated to visually inspect them. Heck you can even take them to get the, magnifluxed(spelling) and I be they will pass. According to our UPS scale ours were 3 lbs lighter per arm.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
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the heat treatment is useless on the relativly thin wall size. Also, it's a complex procedure requiring an autoclave programmed for a temperature over time curve. Furthermore the assemblies will have to be fixed in a fixture that keeps them from distorting during the process. Some will use a orch to heat the part and then let it cool off. This does more harm than good, first of all it's duration way too short to do any good and if you use a torch you create a sort of thin slag on the outside, like a small film that comes off reducing the wall thickness. As Van Steel describes it is how it's best done, weld w/ a good argon postflow to allow it to cool under shielding gas.
TIG is such a controlled process that it is excellent for fabricating these parts, contrary to MIG you can actually see what you're doing and control/adjust accordingly. With MIG you are dedicated to your settings once you pull the trigger.
TIG is such a controlled process that it is excellent for fabricating these parts, contrary to MIG you can actually see what you're doing and control/adjust accordingly. With MIG you are dedicated to your settings once you pull the trigger.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 5,269
Likes: 54
From: Orlando Florida
St. Jude Donor '05
wasn't trying to be an a$$, if you have one out of a million costumers who experiences a failing lower control arm..... with my luck it would be me 
for the records: same theory applies for fiberglass springs.
for the records: same theory applies for fiberglass springs.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
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From: eville in
Originally Posted by RedBad1979
I'm not sure if I trust aluminum or tubular steel... the tubular arms look flimsy (that's only my opinion from looking at photos)....the arms that Twin_Turbo built look like they can handle a nuclear blast
Race Director
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From: Who says "Nothing is impossible" ? I've been doing nothing for years.
Originally Posted by comp
C4's hold up
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 291
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From: Guantanamo Bay, Cuba (home in Colorado Springs)
My thanks to all, especially Van Steel & VBP for their informative replies. The future is in Aluminum. I think all the world's Magnesium was used up in B-36's years ago. Quickness by weight reduction (shear vehicle mass) is where I'm going with this. Another oddity of the aluminum parts is that they are simply cast; not forged. This fact really bothers me above the ridiculous prices of the aluminum parts. As an interim solution, I will install the steel parts and evaluate how vehicle responds.
Thanks from Baghdad!
Thanks from Baghdad!