soulless

iTrader: (3)

I agree with the general consensus. AL for the lcas and phb are fine but the torque arm is subjected to different types of loads. In fact, I am about to install some AL lcas and phb right now. If you need any specfic info just let me know, I will be taking pics during the install.

Big Bird WS6

iTrader: (9)

well buddy of mine beat me to buying the lcas and torque arm first. well we got it put on and my god. they rule. and the workmenship looks great. he has ran 5 passes on the torque arm. i don't thnik 10.67 for the fastest is that bad. he was running close to the same thing on spohn chromoly set. but saved wieght. and would of saved money. so what you guys think now?

soulless

iTrader: (3)

It is great that it is working. Have any pics? More info on it would be great.

Big Bird WS6

iTrader: (9)

i can get that. give me a couple of days

Sam Strano

iTrader: (41)

I won't use aluminum for either the PHB or the LCA's. Seen them bend, and frankly considering the small amount of weight anyway, why risk it. While I hear all the moans and groans about how strong aluminum is and all, I've seen an Aluminum PHB bend (a production part from a reputable company) without hitting a thing. Sure it took a fast car on R-compound tires, but the fact is it bent none the less. Considering a CM PHB is a whopping 5 pounds or so, you might save a pound with aluminum (and even less on LCA's since they are smaller).

Not worth the risk IMHO. What's harder to crush, an aluminum can, or a steel one?

YMMV, and it's great that folks haven't had issues aluminum. I know people who don't change their oil either and haven't blown motors, but I still change mine.

Big Bird WS6

iTrader: (9)

well then i will get steel ones on the lca and just use there aluminum torque arm. well i know you wanted to include that too. we already had this talk. but one aluminum thing broke and now it is all bad. well i have seen many steel and chromoly things break. so maybe i should stay away from that. and do like $1000 titanium. every thing breaks. life goes on. just repalce it. like steel stuff.

Sam Strano

iTrader: (41)

I should add that I would DEFINITELY not use an aluminum torque arm, I'd sooner use aluminum LCA's and PHB's.

gun5l1ng3r

I agree with Sam on every point!

Big Bird WS6

iTrader: (9)

so you agree cause one aluminum part breaks. now all aluminum parts are bad. well what about the guy i know running 10s. on a street car. my hats off to him.

speed_demon24

iTrader: (6)

Wow 5 passes on it sure tested how strong it is. My frient went 10.2@135 on a 10 bolt, does that mean drag racers should stick with them? He also put down 667rwhp through a turbo 400 on a stock bottom end ls1, I guess a built motor isn't needed then either.

Big Bird WS6

iTrader: (9)

good call, but i guess time will tell. and a 10 bolt should run 10s. but you are fighting the wrong points. drag racers don't run 10s or have 600 horse. they run 7s and 8s and have 1000, or 1200 hosres. 10s that is the street car that lives down the street. i am just saying that for a street car(STREET CAR) running10s on aluminum is pretty good.

Sam Strano

iTrader: (41)

And you disagree because why? FWIW, the PHB I saw bend was on a Mustang. Happened @ an autocross on tires that are street legal. Sticky tires, what I compete on too, but considering we can pull about 1.2g max and a PHB bent, that was all I needed to see.

Go ahead, run little aluminum tubes. And you'll probably tell us how some really high end cars run aluminum suspension part too. And they do. But they quite large castings or forged pieces. And not all aluminum is the same, and not all the uses of it are the same. We all have aluminum wheels on our cars, even from the factory. Does that mean any aluminum wheel is as strong? Hell no, and some companies will actually say that their wheels aren't intended for certain uses.

koolaid_kid

iTrader: (21)

Well, I am not trying to stir the pot on what appears to be a rather controversial thread, but I would like to provide some engineering reasoning here:
There will be 2 forces acting on these components, longitudinal and rotational.
Longitudinal forces act along the centerline of the device. Let's use the panhard rod as the example. The longitudinal forces act along the length of the rod, from one end to the other. This serves to either compress or stretch the rod. In this case, I would expect to see little difference between aluminum and steel.
Rotatlional forces act in two axes. The first would be to attempt to twist or rotate the bar, causing the ends to no longer be parallel with each other. In this case, my money would be on steel. The second would be to attempt to bend the bar in either a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction, with the ends still parallel but a noticeable bend somewhere near the center. Again, I would put my money on aluminum.
IMHO, due to the initial cost of either type of material, I would prefer to go steel and minimize the risk.
Hope this helps.

speed_demon24

iTrader: (6)

Hey same how are those aluminum swaybars coming along?

koolaid_kid

iTrader: (21)

There are two ways to increase the strength of both aluminum and steel; size, and quality. There are several grades of aluminum, the better the grade, the higher the cost. Of course you can make them larger in diameter, but then clearances come into play. The same is true for steel. For UMI components, for example, they make mild steel components, and at an added cost, chromoly steel (which is actually an alloy of chromium, molybdenum and steel). They think so highly of these panhard bars that the diameter is actually smaller than the mild steel unit yet retains at least the same strength, and probably higher (not having any data sheets, of course).

Big Bird WS6

iTrader: (9)

the torque arm is made of 1 1/4 6061 aluminum. with 1/4 wall. all steel stuff has 1/8 wall. and with this increase in wall size strenght increases. but wieght is still less.
the lca and phb are made of 1 1/4 2024 aluminum with 1/4 wall. and same from up top applies to this. i dont know. aint any engineer about it. but i know. if i get the same streght as chromoly, less the wieght, and cheaper. i will get it.

and if you want info on this stuff pm me.

BMR Suspension

iTrader: (6)

Agree totally......but some people will still insist on using them. I have also seen how fast a loose rod end will destroy a set of threads in an aluminum component and cause a failure.

Lee Spicher
Lee@bmrfabrication.com
(813)986-9302

Big Bird WS6

iTrader: (9)

but BMR. you are making a set of lca for f-bodies out of aluminum. you don't make any sense.

BMR Suspension

iTrader: (6)

That part is CNC'd out of solid billet stock and has no threaded ends on it. Not even a fair comparison to a threaded piece of aluminum tubing.

Lee Spicher
lee@bmrfabrication.com
(813)986-9302

Sam Strano

iTrader: (41)

Which I told this Big Bird WS6 fellow weeks ago when he, out of the blue, PM'ed me telling me I was wrong about aluminum.