Lower Control Arm Modification

[GT400SC]

Maybe Blackstallion06 can help with this since we discussed it briefly months ago.

I obtained an extra pair of STOCK lower control arms for my car. They are stamped steel of minimum thickness and not near as rigid as billet or tubular aftermarket arms. But they can be modified and stiffened by welding a piece of flat plate to them. I'm wondering if I should "BOX" them in, meaning weld the plate to the open side and enclose them or just weld the plate to the outside and double up on the wall thickness?

The photo below shows Cobra control arms but they are very similar to GTs.
Notice how they are really one-sided except in the ends where they are beefed up for the bushings. These twist and flex and stiffening them up would help.

Weld to the OPEN side or the flat back side? I'm thinking open side and box them in.

 

[Foxman]

so these are after market?

I would do both double up on the one side and box in the other

 

[LaughingGT]

i would do the same never can be to carful about these thing and all it woudl be doing id beefing them up a little

 

[GT400SC]

so these are after market?

I would do both double up on the one side and box in the other

The ones in the photo are stock COBRA GT500 arms and would be considered an upgrade to GTs but the ones for GTs look very similar in size and shape. I don't know what the difference is, maybe the COBRAS have thicker metal than a GT.

In either event, I'm gonna plasma cut plates for ONE (or BOTH?) of the sides and weld them on.

 

[LaughingGT]

how much thouse cost u

 

[GT400SC]

how much thouse cost u

The spare set I bought? $10

I have no idea what the COBRA ones cost but they look as flimsy as mine do.

 

[GT400SC]

I'm thinking something like this.

I don't want to weld all the way up to the bushing area because I don't want to distort the rubber bushings with too much heat.

 

[Foxman]

and you dont want to get in the way of the up and down movement.... that should be fine.

 

[GT400SC]

and you dont want to get in the way of the up and down movement.... that should be fine.

Up and down movement........Yum!

 

[blackstallion06]

OK Let me address this issue. The GT500 ones are they same but as I told you in past they are reinforced with stamp steel. (boxing ect) If your going to go that route you have to remember that your brake cables run through the lower control arm so just boxing them in will not work! I am 90% positive that the brake line go through the control arm beacuse they dont have much play in them to go over the control arms because they are thick. The after market lower control arms are in most cases a tube style so they are thinner so the cables will reach by going over the top. If going under I think they will hang down and possibly rip the cable out of brakes ect because of the movement of the lower control arm. You could box them in but you have to cut the middle out so that the brake line can still run through them. If I was going to go the cheap route and fab something up then I would make a new one out of stamp steel so that it would be stronger and you can make them out of a heavier metal just use the factory ones as a template

 

[blackstallion06]

http://www.stangsuspension.com/store/comersus_viewitem.asp?idproduct=1505


These are cheap and will work well for you

 

[GT400SC]

http://www.stangsuspension.com/store/comersus_viewitem.asp?idproduct=1505


These are cheap and will work well for you

So, the idea YOU gave me about welding a plate to the stock ones won't work after all? I distinctly recall our conversation. I'm just asking WHICH SIDE would you folks recommend welding to if not BOTH sides?

I understand about the hole(s) and brake cables. Mine have enough length to go over the arm. If for some reason it won't when assembly time comes, I will cut and deburr a hole to pass it through. It won't be big enough to weaken the part, just large enough to pass the head of the cable through.

Also, and for the life of me, I can't remember where I saw it, there is a pic somewhere on the net of this mod being done and the cable is zip-tied to the arm underneath. All options I can consider.

I will post a pic of the pair I bought and you will be able to see that the COBRA arms and stock GT arms look almost exactly alike. Except for color, I can't tell if the metal is thicker, or the bushings are a little more stout or what. But the are BOTH stamped steel. See top photo of the COBRA'S arms.

 

[GT400SC]

I meant to mention that both of these have the same part number, so there's apparently no RIGHT and LEFT.

 

[GT400SC]

Phil, the photo at the top of this thread ARE Cobra arms. I made that VERY clear in my posts. Where is the "boxing" plate you referred to?

http://www.partsmaxx.com/2007-08-SVT-MUSTANG-COBRA-REAR-LOWER-CONTROL-ARMS-P2920C183.aspx

Doh!

I'm simply looking for some input on a future mod, not to be talked down to.

You won the race. You are NOT the freakin' Messiah!

 

[Foxman]

just box the open side and you will be fine... the arms being stamped steal,so boxing them will make them much stronger... really all your trying to do is keep them from flexing... thats what boxing them will do and like you said the little hole drilling for the brake line will not hurt strength by any means..... box them, drill a hole and be done...

 

[Foxman]

box the open side!

 

[GT400SC]

just box the open side and you will be fine... the arms being stamped steal,so boxing them will make them much stronger... really all your trying to do is keep them from flexing... thats what boxing them will do and like you said the little hole drilling for the brake line will not hurt strength by any means..... box them, drill a hole and be done...

Now that's the simple common sense straightforward no BS answer I was looking for.

Thank you sir!

 

[Foxman]

no problem... i wihs i could be in SD... you all have some awesome projects going on that i would love to be apart of... I dont know everything but i know alot... and all of us together we could all make some sick a$$ $hit!

 

[IgottaV8]

I am think of a 351w swap, thinking about it, not sure yet. Talk to my Dad and Bobby about it a bit more.

 

[Mustangcwo]

I am think of a 351w swap, thinking about it, not sure yet. Talk to my Dad and Bobby about it a bit more.

Now that is on topic....WTF!!!

Anyways, good advice. If you're still not certain, I can show you where to box them in when we meet up next time. Just throw them in the trunk and we'll discuss.