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Are tubular control arms worth the money? I have an opportunity to purchase a set for $600 and wanted to see what everyone's take on them is.
Depends upon what is the goal.
And depends upon who is the manufacturer.
Lot of high performance stuff out there that $600 will not touch.
Lot of aftermarket stuff for $150-200.
Make sure you are not buying the $150-200 version for $600.
I caught a guy on Facebook selling chinese knock offs for $600 that you could buy on ebay for less than $200.
Buyer beware.
Also check out the thread started last year about using the full size Chev tubular arms that can be modified to fit our C3's.
The inspiration for that came right out of the Chevy Power book.
The guy said they Come from eckler’s. This is the guys ad on Facebook. Brand new tubular control arms. Fits all 1963-1982 c3 corvettes.
Features caster, lighter weight, Global West del-a-lum (delrin) bushing style that are greasable and the best style on the market, performance ball joints included.
Can be used with stock coil springs or coil overs.
Those look EXACTLY like the ones that I just purchased from EBAY for $279 for both uppers and lowers, right down to the rice paper box and plastic bags. Ask him for the copy of the Ecklers invoice. Also, if they were from Ecklers I would think there would be a part number on the arms themselves. Seems suspicious to me.
Last edited by PainfullySlow; May 22, 2019 at 09:04 PM.
With all this information I think I am going to pass on them. My front end is all rebuilt so I don't really need to change them out. Here is a current picture of the front suspension.
The guy said they Come from eckler’s. This is the guys ad on Facebook. Brand new tubular control arms. Fits all 1963-1982 c3 corvettes.
Features caster, lighter weight, Global West del-a-lum (delrin) bushing style that are greasable and the best style on the market, performance ball joints included.
Can be used with stock coil springs or coil overs.
THAT is the guy I called out on FB.
They are NOT Global West...just Global West style del-a-lum bushings (they created that bushing).
He is selling $200 control arms for $600.
Ask him who is the manufacturer and the part number on them.
I'll bet he does not answer or hems and haws.
But if he does give you Eckler's part number......Then go to Eckler's site and cross reference.
Eckler's does not make tubular A-arms. Their choices are will either the Van Steel ones which do not look like that pic or the C4 style aluminum wishbone A Arms which do not look like that guy's pic.
I'll bet he does not answer you.
Also, it should be noted that the real benefit in moving to tubular arms is for the uppers so that caster/camber can be dialed in better. The only benefit to tubular lowers is strength but unless you are autocrossing, I highly doubt that it would be a concern.
With all this information I think I am going to pass on them. My front end is all rebuilt so I don't really need to change them out. Here is a current picture of the front suspension.
