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Post by sall on Apr 27, 2015 16:32:43 GMT -6
No not dueling control arms... Decided against 'upgrading' to the '97 control arms. So I ordered a pair of used '95-'96 control arms. Reason being is the '95-'96 control arm bushings are easy obtainable and the '97(and 98+) are not. According to Riviera forum the aluminum control arms only weigh a few pounds less. Planning to upgrade to polyurethane bushings, but not the topic for discussion here. The '95-'96 control arms are stamped steel. They are not solid, but hollow. A triangular void is in the middle. Considering boxing this portion and also reinforcing the area where the horizontal bushing is welded to the main section. Thoughts on whether boxing this section will significantly strengthen the control arm? I would believe it would by adding minimal weight.
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Post by wfooshee on Apr 27, 2015 20:49:01 GMT -6
It would have absolutely no effect on the overall strength of the control arm. How many of these have you seen that were bent, anyway? From normal use, I mean, not from collisions.
Even if the arm was corroded enough to need new material to reinforce it, that's not where the material should go.
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Post by sall on Apr 28, 2015 7:45:37 GMT -6
Consensus here and elsewhere seems to be it won't really do much! It would have absolutely no effect on the overall strength of the control arm. How many of these have you seen that were bent, anyway? From normal use, I mean, not from collisions. Even if the arm was corroded enough to need new material to reinforce it, that's not where the material should go. Where would the material go in your opinion?
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Post by wfooshee on May 4, 2015 21:54:43 GMT -6
Again, there's NO reason to add any. If somehow it's weak enough to need strengthening, i.e. rusted or accident-damaged, it just needs to be thrown away.
After all, how many '95s and '96s have you seen broken down on the road with collapsed front ends because the control arm came apart? How many of ANY kind of car?
You are trying to solve a problem that doesn't exist.
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Post by sall on May 5, 2015 15:11:20 GMT -6
Yes, I have already established that. I read the last part of your post incorrectly omitting the corrosion statement thinking you were suggesting added material would go elsewhere. not in the triangular section. This was just an idea anyhow. Obviously there was room for improvement just not on these stamped steel LCA.
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Post by genedjr on May 5, 2015 16:05:38 GMT -6
While I believe little would be gained, in looking at the picture, I see that the two halves of the LCA are not welded completely together. There would be marginal compression and torsion stiffness gains if you completely welded them up. But would that make any real world performance difference, I don't think so. And I disagree that "boxing" would not make it stiffer, it would, but would that translate into a usable performance gain, probably not.
And by "boxing" I believe you mean using a piece of flat steel to weld the top and bottom pieces together, not just covering the hole.
The issue is, what problem are you trying to solve? The only issues I have seen are bushing/ball joint failures. ...gene
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Post by sall on May 5, 2015 17:09:39 GMT -6
Gene, I wasn't trying to solve any problems. Just make them stronger if applicable! Yes, the halves are not completely welded.
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Post by wfooshee on May 5, 2015 23:22:37 GMT -6
I thought you meant just closing the hole, and that definitely accomplishes nothing... Welding all the way around the seam doesn't accomplish much, either. They're welded at the ends, where forces are applied, and the halves can't move relative to each other unless one of the other welds breaks, and anything bad enough to break one of those will not go unnoticed by ANYTHING in the car!!!!
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Post by sall on May 6, 2015 7:42:56 GMT -6
What I was initially referring to was boxing in the triangular section vertically between the two halves. One piece for each side of the triangle. Not placing a piece of material horizontally over the triangular section on each half.
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