Rear Control Arms!

[gotricebih]

Hi Everyone!

I posted a thread over on Trailvoy.com and a few people told me I would probably have more interest over here.

I've been looking into making a set of rear control arms for my truck to center the wheel back in the wheel well after the lift. I have 2.5" spacers in the rear so I figure if I make the control arms a half inch longer then stock, that should get the wheel back to center in the wheel well.

Im going to make them out of 1.625"x.120wall DOM tubing. They will be non-adjustable, greaseable, fully MIG welded, powdercoated and they will use poly bushings.

I had a few people seem like they might be interested in purchasing a set from me if the price is good. So what would be a good price? And what would be the most popular added length needed? 1/2" or 1"?

Let me knoe what you guys think!

Thanks!,
Chase

[irishboy02]

Definitely sounds like a good idea and def something to look into. However i am going to play devils advocate with you. The axle shift is easily fixed with an adjustable panhard bar which has previously been purchased from http://www.suisidedoors.com With our 5link setup in the rear, this can be adjust to shift the axle back center. Secondly, who are you and where are you from. No disrespect but people aren't going to just purchase a fabricated item with which they trust their lives to from someone with no credentials. Lets see some of your work, you might own your own off-road fab shop i don't know- im just saying the people want to know!

Haha but welcome here glad to have you aboard. Im assuming you have Mark's 2.5" lift? Any tires? Make sure you make a build thread so we can see what your rolling with!!

BTW, no hard feelings here, im just letting you know from another perspective. But its def a good idea and i can see this becoming a good sale!

[The Roadie]

Panhard bar is only for side to side. This is a fore/aft relocation.

[gotricebih]

My name is Chase. I work at well known suspension company in Florida.

I'll dig up some pictures of some stuff I have built in the past.

and what you said about the panhard rod...wouldnt that just center the axle in the center or the truck? longer control arms would push the axle back to get it centered in the wheel well. am i right?

Mt truck is just a 2007 4.2L LS 2wd. i know a lifted 2wd is pretty useless but i just want it for the looks. I made a 2.75" spacer for the front and a 2.5" spacer for the rear. I havent had a chance to put it all on yet. Im still waiting to get wheel spacers and rims.

[gotricebih]

Thanks for clearing that up for me!

Panhard bar is only for side to side. This is a fore/aft relocation.

[irishboy02]

Yes that was my fault, i misunderstood your post.

It would be a great idea and could definitely prove beneficial, esp as 33's are becoming more common. Any other fabrication ideas considering there's not too much we have available to us?

[gotricebih]

here is a few pics of some control arms i made for my old dodge.

[irishboy02]

Wow, thats good work. So where are you located? Are your plans for the tops too or just the bottoms?

[gotricebih]

and here are some stock length control arms for mt TB. i made them but never put them on. still have them if anyone is interested!

[gotricebih]

Im located in tampa, fl.

I am making uppers and lowers.

Wow, thats good work. So where are you located? Are your plans for the tops too or just the bottoms?

[Zero]

Very well done product you've got there buddy!

You should def send JamesD a pm and get your self vendor status on here. I bet you could get a group buy started for a product that looks that good!

[irishboy02]

Any interest in a possibly upper control arm as well to cure our balljoint issues?

[gotricebih]

maybe in the future when i have a chance to take my a-arm off for a week or so

Any interest in a possibly upper control arm as well to cure our balljoint issues?

[janesy86]

Nice lookin' work! This is definitely something I have on my 'want' list.

[Trail X]

Very nice looking welds and fabrication.

What do you think about putting a rod-end on one side of the arms? You have much more experience than me in this area, but it seems to make sense when you're talking about an axle that will articulate.

How does the proposed control arm OD compare to the stock ones? I bent one of my stock ones on a rock.

What's the finish? Powder?

[HARDTRAILZ]

I know I have bought your products before on at least one of my F-body's. Probably strut tower brace or subframe connectors. The name definitely rang bells.

[gotricebih]

I could offer a flex joint on one end of each control arm but that would jack the price up quite a bit.

And the material I'm using is ten times stronger then a stock arm. It's 1 and 5/8" OD tubing and the wall thickness is just about 1/8". So it is plenty strong.

And yes it will be powdercoat finish.

Very nice looking welds and fabrication.

What do you think about putting a rod-end on one side of the arms? You have much more experience than me in this area, but it seems to make sense when you're talking about an axle that will articulate.

How does the proposed control arm OD compare to the stock ones? I bent one of my stock ones on a rock.

What's the finish? Powder?

[Trail X]

Great, thanks for the answer. True, I guess the rod ends would greatly affect the price - sadly with my other big project going on, I can't sink a bunch of money into these control arms.

Quick question... will pushing the axle back create any clearance issues with shocks or the panhard bar? They both ride fairly close to axle components.

Also, will the springs seat properly?

[gotricebih]

These control arms will push the axle back to the stock placement in the center of the wheel well. So it won't create any clearance issues at all.

When you lift the rear of our trucks the stock control arms pull the axle forward. These will just set it back to center.

Hope that answers your question.

Great, thanks for the answer. True, I guess the rod ends would greatly affect the price - sadly with my other big project going on, I can't sink a bunch of money into these control arms.

Quick question... will pushing the axle back create any clearance issues with shocks or the panhard bar? They both ride fairly close to axle components.

Also, will the springs seat properly?

[irishboy02]

What about driveshaft length? Wont we need to lengthen the driveshaft now since its being pushed back