Making the control arms a little stronger.

flyboytroy99 · 11-18-2007

Does anybody have pictures of where they've welded in some additional support on the bottom of the upper and lower control arms? Mine are removed and sandblasted. But before I powdercoat, I would like to strengthen them up a little for any "aggressive" driving I get an itch for.
Thanks, Troy

jeff denton · 11-18-2007

Troy, in my experience with abusing control arms I found that the upper will easily distort in the area between the bushings and where the real meat is on the outside (ball joint) area. In other words, they bend in such a way that the hole's (open space where the shock passes through) shape gets changed. During this activity I bend the rod that holds the upper a-arm to the tower. Afterwhich I can re-set the toe in and (once)then go take third in the Main. "Sometimes a bent car is a good car" said Dale E.

I find they can be very easily straightened out again and the rod can be better supported outside of the a-arm bushings. And that to make them stronger just bends something else.
I haven't been able to hurt a lower A-arm yet. Nor a spindle.
Both times I've bent uppers a Mustang was involved. Neither survived either incident.

mschmalenberg · 11-18-2007

If I remember right someone said it was a good idea to tack weld the cups that hold the bushings at the pivots so thy don't move, if you do a search there might be pictures in the posts about this.

RallyBob · 11-18-2007

Originally Posted by mschmalenberg

If I remember right someone said it was a good idea to tack weld the cups that hold the bushings at the pivots so thy don't move, if you do a search there might be pictures in the posts about this.

Best way I've found is to braze them. The outer bushing shells are made from some odd steel and they don't weld very easily via MIG for some reason.

jtb · 11-19-2007

There was some discussion on the reinforcing A arms in this thread:

http://www.opelgt.com/forums/perform...-advice-2.html

cheers,

jtb

jeff denton · 11-19-2007

Yeah! Go there and check out the most awesome GT front suspension ever! Then wait till you see how he did the rear.

11-18-2007	#1 (permalink)
flyboytroy99 Opeler Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Ohio Posts: 45	Unanswered: Making the control arms a little stronger. Does anybody have pictures of where they've welded in some additional support on the bottom of the upper and lower control arms? Mine are removed and sandblasted. But before I powdercoat, I would like to strengthen them up a little for any "aggressive" driving I get an itch for. Thanks, Troy __________________ 70GT2NV

11-18-2007	#2 (permalink)
jeff denton former opel racer Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: near some glaciers Posts: 2,863 Real Name: Jeff "Oh-Oh" Denton Provided Answers: 4	Troy, in my experience with abusing control arms I found that the upper will easily distort in the area between the bushings and where the real meat is on the outside (ball joint) area. In other words, they bend in such a way that the hole's (open space where the shock passes through) shape gets changed. During this activity I bend the rod that holds the upper a-arm to the tower. Afterwhich I can re-set the toe in and (once)then go take third in the Main. "Sometimes a bent car is a good car" said Dale E. I find they can be very easily straightened out again and the rod can be better supported outside of the a-arm bushings. And that to make them stronger just bends something else. I haven't been able to hurt a lower A-arm yet. Nor a spindle. Both times I've bent uppers a Mustang was involved. Neither survived either incident. __________________ No Opels were harmed in the filming of this movie. However two Mustangs, a Pinto, and a Capri were hospitalized. One Mustang was euthanized the next morning.

11-18-2007	#3 (permalink)
mschmalenberg Opeler Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Brandon Twp., MI Posts: 90	If I remember right someone said it was a good idea to tack weld the cups that hold the bushings at the pivots so thy don't move, if you do a search there might be pictures in the posts about this. __________________ Mike Brandon Twp. ,MI 71 GT, 2003 MINI Cooper S JCW#249

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11-19-2007	#5 (permalink)
jtb Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Vancouver Canada Posts: 415	There was some discussion on the reinforcing A arms in this thread: http://www.opelgt.com/forums/perform...-advice-2.html cheers, jtb

11-19-2007	#6 (permalink)
jeff denton former opel racer Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: near some glaciers Posts: 2,863 Real Name: Jeff "Oh-Oh" Denton Provided Answers: 4	Yeah! Go there and check out the most awesome GT front suspension ever! Then wait till you see how he did the rear.

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