Custom Control Arms
 

Im planning on building some custom control arms for my truck after i add a little more lift. Has anyone done this? I would like to know what material would work best for this. I know welded seam pipe is outa the question but thinking maybe 1 1/2" sch80 tubing. If not what would be better? Also any special welding procedures that should be followed. thanks Bradley

1 1/2"-2" .25 wall DOM with tubing inserts TIG welded in would be your best bet. For all out strength you could get solid stock and mill out and tap the ends for your rod ends, this would weigh a lot more and is way overkill though. Both of those ways would give you adjustabilty. Really just depends on what you're looking for.

What do you mean by tubing inserts

and i had a typo in my first statement, i meant to say i planed on using 2 1/2" sch 80 tubing

Like threaded bung inserts to weld on the ends of the tubing... for threaded heims and the like

^^^^Yep, you get them for the size of the tubing you decide to go with, slip them in the tube, weld them up, and your heims thread into them.

.25 wall DOM tubing is what most people use tubing wise, you can get it in chromoly also. Its what rock crawlers use for links, and it's whats under my jeep with 17" of lift and 46s and i've never had a problem out of it.

Where is the best place to get heims an bung inserts?

Just order a set from topgun customz. Tell them how long you need them to be and they will make them for you.

If you didn't know about heims and tube inserts were I wouldn't recommend building your own arms. Don't take it the wrong way. Just saving you some time and probably money. Custom length arm set is not expensive.

I was thinking the same thing...your life and anyone else on the road with you depends on the quality of those parts for your truck to stay on the road.

Why is erw pipe out of the question?

Turn down your TST tq to 2...lol.

No i know what heims and the inserts are i just didnt understand the wording. And as for the welded pipe. Ive just seen the welded seam fail in many applications.

Wow...news to me.

The location of the weld is thicker and stronger material.

The only downfall is it is slightly brittle due to the heat effected area.

Anyways...none of that will affect a compression strut's design.

Laterial compressive buckling governs...

well i have never seen it used in this application so that is news to me also.