Suspension & Brakes Springs | Shocks | Handling | Rotors

aluminum

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Dec 2, 2006 | 03:48 PM
  #1  
Big Bird WS6's Avatar
Thread Starter
Banned
iTrader: (9)
 
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,990
Likes: 0
From: Iowa
Default aluminum

What do you think of aluminum LCAs and panhard bar and Torque arm?
Reply
Old Dec 2, 2006 | 03:56 PM
  #2  
DONAIMIAN's Avatar
TECH Senior Member
iTrader: (18)
 
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 10,036
Likes: 0
From: NW Houston, TX
Default

Im running LG's aluminum LCA's right now, no complaints. As for the PHR it was already one on my car when I bought it, im gona replace it, but chances are it wont be aluminum. I dont know of anyone that makes an aluminum TQ arm.
Reply
Old Dec 2, 2006 | 04:11 PM
  #3  
HioSSilver's Avatar
10 Second Club
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (8)
 
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 6,128
Likes: 645
From: Winchester, VA
Default

I've been running Slotcar Racing aluminum lca and panhard for years.
Reply
Old Dec 2, 2006 | 06:24 PM
  #4  
fa63's Avatar
On The Tree
 
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 109
Likes: 0
From: Land O' Lakes, FL
Default

Originally Posted by Big Bird WS6
What do you think of aluminum LCAs and panhard bar and Torque arm?
If they are properly designed, why not.
Reply
Old Dec 2, 2006 | 07:10 PM
  #5  
mitchntx's Avatar
TECH Senior Member
20 Year Member
iTrader: (14)
 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 6,480
Likes: 2
From: DFW, Texas
Default

I don't know about a torque arm, but LCA and PHB shouldn't be an issue.
Reply
Old Dec 3, 2006 | 08:07 PM
  #6  
Big Bird WS6's Avatar
Thread Starter
Banned
iTrader: (9)
 
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,990
Likes: 0
From: Iowa
Default

the ones i found are great and adj. able. they say they are storng but idk. and there torgue arm only wieghts 10 lbs. and they say it is as strong as cromoly. it is close to the same thing as spohns. but aluminum
Reply
Old Dec 3, 2006 | 09:58 PM
  #7  
fa63's Avatar
On The Tree
 
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 109
Likes: 0
From: Land O' Lakes, FL
Default

The weight of the torque arm sounds suspect; if it is that low, it will probably break pretty fast.
Reply
Old Dec 4, 2006 | 06:58 AM
  #8  
mitchntx's Avatar
TECH Senior Member
20 Year Member
iTrader: (14)
 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 6,480
Likes: 2
From: DFW, Texas
Default

Has anyone ever really ran an adjustable torque arm for any length of time and had it adjusted significantly off of what the stock torque arm angle is? Severe TA angles will kill U-Joints and seals in the trans/diff.
Reply
LS1 Tech Stories

The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time

story-0

Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

 
story-5

Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

 
story-9

10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Dec 5, 2006 | 12:04 AM
  #9  
Big Bird WS6's Avatar
Thread Starter
Banned
iTrader: (9)
 
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,990
Likes: 0
From: Iowa
Default

why does the weight make it weeker. it is aluminum. it is ment to be light. a buddy of mine is a mechanic in the air force and all they use is aluminum parts on the plans. and i know my car doesn't have the force a plan does. lol but this is supost to be good ****. i ordered it yesterday. when i get it in. i will post pics.
Reply
Old Dec 5, 2006 | 12:08 AM
  #10  
94FBIRD's Avatar
TECH Enthusiast
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 516
Likes: 1
From: Highlands Ranch, CO
Default

Originally Posted by mitchntx
Has anyone ever really ran an adjustable torque arm for any length of time and had it adjusted significantly off of what the stock torque arm angle is? Severe TA angles will kill U-Joints and seals in the trans/diff.
I've been running a Global West traclink at negative four degrees since 1998 and about 25,000 miles. But, more significantly, probably 200 1/4mile passes. No issues yet. I was running low 1.6 60' times this year on the same stock u-joints/2.5 inch driveshaft.

No driveline vibration either.
Reply
Old Dec 5, 2006 | 06:08 AM
  #11  
mitchntx's Avatar
TECH Senior Member
20 Year Member
iTrader: (14)
 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 6,480
Likes: 2
From: DFW, Texas
Default

Good info ....
Reply
Old Dec 5, 2006 | 06:46 AM
  #12  
MeentSS02's Avatar
Kleeborp the Moderator™
20 Year Member
iTrader: (11)
 
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 10,316
Likes: 6
From: Dayton, OH
Default

Originally Posted by Big Bird WS6
why does the weight make it weeker. it is aluminum. it is ment to be light. a buddy of mine is a mechanic in the air force and all they use is aluminum parts on the plans. and i know my car doesn't have the force a plan does. lol but this is supost to be good ****. i ordered it yesterday. when i get it in. i will post pics.
Well, being an engineer in the Air Force, I can tell you that if a plane isn't light, it won't make it off the ground. Aircraft engineers usually compromise strength to save weight (although the parts are obviously still strong enough to survive the rigors of flight). That's why composites are becoming so important these days.

And trying to compare the forces on a plane to the forces on a car is like trying to compare peanut butter and concrete. Two completely different worlds.
Reply
Old Dec 5, 2006 | 08:51 AM
  #13  
sgarnett's Avatar
On The Tree
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 190
Likes: 0
From: Kentucky
Default

If set up properly, the LCAs and PHR should never see bending loads. I've been running an LG aluminum PHR for several years, and the Jon A homebrew hybrid aluminum LCAs for about a year.

The torque arm definitely sees beding loads, and they are cyclic (ie fatigue-inducing). The stresses at the rear of the torque arm will be quite high.

Even steel torque arms break at the diff every now and then, where the stresses are huge. I'd be very hesitant to try an aluminum arm that wasn't absurdly beefy.
Reply
Old Dec 5, 2006 | 09:18 AM
  #14  
mitchntx's Avatar
TECH Senior Member
20 Year Member
iTrader: (14)
 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 6,480
Likes: 2
From: DFW, Texas
Default

Originally Posted by MeentSS02
Well, being an engineer in the Air Force, I can tell you
After seeing an airplane before I can conclusively say that the way a part is designed has about as much to do with a part's structural integrity as the material it's made from.

I've also stayed at a Holiday inn Express before, so ...



Beyond all that, I agree with Sean ...
Reply
Old Dec 5, 2006 | 10:50 AM
  #15  
Andros's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,112
Likes: 0
From: Southwest Ranches, Florida
Default

I have the G2 aluminum PHB and its doing great so far, I plan on getting their LCAs too which are also aluminum and are both adjustable. I have high expectations in G2s parts, I like knowing it wont rust on me and it's light weight.
Reply
Old Dec 5, 2006 | 09:58 PM
  #16  
Big Bird WS6's Avatar
Thread Starter
Banned
iTrader: (9)
 
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,990
Likes: 0
From: Iowa
Default

Originally Posted by MeentSS02
Well, being an engineer in the Air Force, I can tell you that if a plane isn't light, it won't make it off the ground. Aircraft engineers usually compromise strength to save weight (although the parts are obviously still strong enough to survive the rigors of flight). That's why composites are becoming so important these days.

And trying to compare the forces on a plane to the forces on a car is like trying to compare peanut butter and concrete. Two completely different worlds.

i know a plane has to be light. the point i am getting at is that if aluminum can take it on a jet plane. i know it will take what my car can throw at it. and they are different worlds. but both see force, drag, lift, and gravity. but my car doesn't have wings. so lift really doesn't matter. an as an "engineer in the Air Force" you should know that this will work. if some one takes the time and understands were the weak points are and makes it strong there. then alumium is the best way to go. i would rather spend money on 110lbs of all aluminum parts( lca, torque arm, front control arms and k-member) of the same strength. then spend money on 250lbs of parts. ok if you have part A and part B that one is aluminum and one is chromoly. both same strenght. both same price. but part A wieghts 10.5 lbs and part B weights 33 lbs. some one would be stupid not to buy Part A
Reply
Old Dec 6, 2006 | 07:43 AM
  #17  
MeentSS02's Avatar
Kleeborp the Moderator™
20 Year Member
iTrader: (11)
 
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 10,316
Likes: 6
From: Dayton, OH
Default

Originally Posted by Big Bird WS6
i know a plane has to be light. the point i am getting at is that if aluminum can take it on a jet plane. i know it will take what my car can throw at it. and they are different worlds. but both see force, drag, lift, and gravity. but my car doesn't have wings. so lift really doesn't matter. an as an "engineer in the Air Force" you should know that this will work. if some one takes the time and understands were the weak points are and makes it strong there. then alumium is the best way to go. i would rather spend money on 110lbs of all aluminum parts( lca, torque arm, front control arms and k-member) of the same strength. then spend money on 250lbs of parts. ok if you have part A and part B that one is aluminum and one is chromoly. both same strenght. both same price. but part A wieghts 10.5 lbs and part B weights 33 lbs. some one would be stupid not to buy Part A
You are reasoning by analogy.

If material A is used on an airplane, then material A must be good enough for a car.

That's not how it works. As was already eluded to, it is all about how the part is designed. You could have a part that was made from aluminum, but only engaged two threads on a rod end that screwed in to it. That would be a horrible design, and that part would fail in short order on a street car. The steel part would fail just as quickly. If you had taken any classes that dealt with loading and modes of failure, you'd understand that you can not draw parallels between those two completely different worlds (aircraft vs. auto). It'd be like saying "Well, the plastic used in my vacuum cleaner is pretty strong. I dropped it off of a three story building and it didn't crack. It must be strong enough to use plastic in my car."

I'm not saying that it won't work...I'm saying that your reasoning is just simply wrong. Just because you have a buddy that works on them there fancy jet planes doesn't make him an expert on part design. That's why we have multi-billion dollar contracts with companies that employ some very, very smart people. Having worked hand in hand with Lockheed Martin, Boeing, and Raytheon, I know this is true. I've also met the people that write the Dash-1 manuals for those aircraft that tell your buddy how to do his job.

As for my personal opinion on the car parts, I'd see no problem using aluminum LCAs or an aluminum panhard rod. Provided the rod ends were sized correctly. As for an aluminum torque arm...I wouldn't on my personal ride.
Reply
Old Dec 11, 2006 | 06:22 PM
  #18  
Big Bird WS6's Avatar
Thread Starter
Banned
iTrader: (9)
 
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,990
Likes: 0
From: Iowa
Default

up top
Reply
Old Dec 11, 2006 | 08:09 PM
  #19  
Bud M's Avatar
On The Tree
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 112
Likes: 0
From: Sacramento
Default

Originally Posted by Big Bird WS6
the point i am getting at is that if aluminum can take it on a jet plane. i know it will take what my car can throw at it.
Aluminum can "take it" in certain applications because it is used where its properties are suited to the demands of the parts made from it. That does not mean it is suited for all parts just because they can be made from tubing. Hell, someone could weld up a crankshaft from aluminum tubing. Would you expect that to hold up?
Reply
Old Dec 22, 2006 | 06:02 PM
  #20  
Big Bird WS6's Avatar
Thread Starter
Banned
iTrader: (9)
 
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,990
Likes: 0
From: Iowa
Default

up top
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 12:43 PM.

story-0
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

Slideshow: This heavily modified 1971 Camaro mixes classic muscle car styling with a fifth-generation Camaro interior and modern LS3 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:06:42


VIEW MORE
story-1
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

Slideshow: From wobbling harmonic balancers to failed EBCMs, these are the issues that define long-term C5 ownership and what repairs typically involve.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-07 18:44:57


VIEW MORE
story-2
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

Slideshow: A modern Camaro transformed into a retro icon, this limited-run "Bandit" build blends nostalgia with brute force in a way few revivals manage.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:57:02


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

Slideshow: Cadillac didn't just crash the high-performance luxury vehicle party, it showed up loud, supercharged, and occasionally a little unhinged...

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-16 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

Slideshow: Top ten most powerful Chevy trucks ever made

By | 2026-03-25 09:22:26


VIEW MORE
story-5
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

Slideshow: Hennessey has turned the Silverado ZR2 into a 700-hp off-road monster with supercharged V8 power and a limited production run.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-24 18:57:52


VIEW MORE
story-6
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

Slideshow: A one-off sports car that looks like a vintage Italian exotic-but hides a C6 Corvette underneath-just sold for the price of a new mid-engine Corvette.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-23 18:53:41


VIEW MORE
story-7
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

Slideshow: A heavily reworked 1972 K5 Blazer swaps its off-road roots for a low-slung street-focused build with modern V8 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-09 18:08:45


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There are thousands of used Camaros on the market but we think you should avoid these 10

By | 2026-02-17 17:09:30


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

Slideshows: Which one of these myths do you believe?

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-28 18:10:11


VIEW MORE