Tubular Control arms

[v413nc3]

Right now I'm gauging interest in some tubular control arms that will allow replacement of balljoints (instead of the whole assy) and adjustment in suspension settings for the 2g, as well as being lighter and stronger. Let me know what you think and I'll see what I can do about getting the manufacturer to make some for us :)

[phastalon]

what kind of price range?

[hoffman]

Upper, lower?

[v413nc3]

Upper, and lower latteral for starters. I'm curious what you would pay for them. I've not priced them out just yet.

[hoffman]

I take it these will use the stock mounting locations.

What bushings? none? DIY? OEM (yuk)?

If they come built with the ball joints and bushings (suspension techs.) already installed, I could see people paying $350-$400 per arm.

Last I checked I believe thats what JIC was pricing theres around.

[v413nc3]

They'd come with replaceable ball joints, and probably Energy Suspension bushings, and I was thinking a good deal less than that.

[hoffman]

Sure you could sell them for far less than that. But if you do you have started a parts monoploy.

[v413nc3]

Well I look at it this way.

I have 8 hours of design work into them (CAD)
Each one in materials (stainless) will cost me about $90
Welding on each will run about 20 minutes
the ball joints cost about $35 a piece (give or take)
the bushings will run me about $30 (ES)


I figure I can sell a UCA for a 2G for roughly $200 a side + profit ($40) and make out pretty good...
LCA's will run me about $130 +$25 profit
LLCA will run me about $190 +$40 or so profit...

So to do your front end with all control arms both sides it would be around... $1200-1300 bux. Here's the advantage.

Full camber caster adjustments in the area of -8 to about +8 degrees. Lighter than cast. Replaceable balljoints (this will cost you a fortune with stock ones when they fail, because you have to buy new arms, not new joints). Energy suspension bushings already installed. Stiffer suspension. Lighter. Rust free.

I should design some for the rear too. Maybe Check into titanium later on if I get enough interest. IMHO it's worth the cash.

[jmakado]

did you ever get any further along with these? not that it would be my next upgrade, but it's a cool idea. and maybe something i would look into in the future......i wanna road race!

[fusionsport]

stainless isnt a great material to make control arms out of, 4130 cro-mo is a better idea. We have a company that has made some pieces for us here locally after we have developed them. They make out billet uprights, but we build all our a-arms in-house on our own jigs. If you are going to produce these I can maybe help you out getting setup.

[v413nc3]

Every single one I've seen for fox bodies is made of mild steel. And I mean EVERY one I've seen. right now the UCA's I made are 321SS and they are tougher than the mild steel folded sheet crap that the 2G UCA's are made out of. I would consider Chrome moly though, since it's no more difficult to do, and the price difference isn't that much.

As a side note, I *WILL* be making these for people, and I will post pics, but NOT until my current project is 100% completed. For the UCA's the price is approximately $500 for a pair. This includes +/- 3* adjustment for camber, and a system for replaceable ball joints. For a little bit more I will consider doing powder coating. When I am ready to do any of this I will post pics and exact pricing.