FIRECHICKEN

iTrader: (3)

Are the front tubular control arms on some sites worth the $350 + price tag? Are you really getting alot more control or strength? How much better can they be? Are they better than boxing your old ones? Are the ball joints that they come with junk?
Who has the best?

Help

AFrikinGoodTime

Boxing your stock control arm's and changing the bushings is probably the safest route for a street car. Tubular arm's reduce unsprung weight which allows for better handling over uneven surfaces(lower deflection weight- it allows the arm to move up and down with lighter weight as not to disrupt the sprung weight of the car as much). Sprung weight is anything resting on the weight of the coils. Tires are unsprung as well as roughly 1/2 of the suspension parts weight. [Example-Shocks are basically 1/2 sprung and 1/2 unsprung weight based on there upper and lower mounting positions.]

Tubular products can break easier than the stock arms at the weld points if not magnufluxed for strenght of welds. Most companies do not check their welds!

Also, if you do buy some, I would suggest the chromemoly versions over the mild steel- It is worth the extra money for the added strength.
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"Have a five dollar head, Buy a five dollar helmet."

AlkyIROC

He's asking about tubular A-arms (ie. asked about the ball joints) not lower control arms which are part of the rear suspension.

Personally I can't comment. I still have a stock front suspension except for some Koni SPA1 drag racing struts.

When the 2002 season is over I'm probably going to order a complete front end from www.paracing.net

AFrikinGoodTime

I was talking about the front control arm's like he asked!

AFrikinGoodTime

Iroc 87, For your and everyone elses info, when discussing control arms, most people assume that one is talking about the front suspension.

Camaro's for some reason refer to their rear as "LCA's" or lower control arms. This has always puzzled me because most other car refer to the rear as "Trailing Arm's".

Go into any performance hotrod vender and request control arm bushings and they will imediately assume you are refering to the front of the vehicle and whether it be the upper or lower arm's or both that you are requesting.

AlkyIROC

Well I don't know anyone who's ever boxed their A-arms. I wouldn't want to weld on any front suspension part like that.

AFrikinGoodTime

You'll weld on a rear suspenion part but not a front one?

What's the difference, Im not trying to start sh*t, I just don't understand your reasoning?

Anyways, racers box stock front control- arms all the time. Just go to any vintage race and look under the cars.(vettes, camaros, sunbeam tigers, etc..)

Tom Keliher

I've been looking into that. I like the idea of welding some small triangular pieces to the stock a-arms, sort of a 'mini-box' if you will.

AFrikinGoodTime

That is correcet Tom, it is only necessary to box the smaller potions under the arm and not the entire unit underneath.

I have a brother who lives in L.A. County area who has recently had this done to his 64 vette. I'll try to contact him this weekend to find out where he took them and how much they charged.
(I'm in Orange Co.)

Dean

FIRECHICKEN

iTrader: (3)

I have the means to box the arms I just don't know where to add metal and where not to. Does your brother have any pics of where he added the metal. I'd think right around the bushings would be obviously the place to start. I talked to the PA Racing (makers of the tubular arms) and they said there is no place for the bump stop or the steering stopper.

Any more on this would help.

AFrikinGoodTime

I keep playing phone tag with him, haven't talked to him in about 3 weeks. I'll get the info next time we talk. Please be patient.( His schedule is so busy I only see him maybe 5 days a year)

FIRECHICKEN

iTrader: (3)

Thanx AFGT,

Meanwhile if any body else has any info on boxing A arms I'd love to hear about it.
Thanx