Lower control arm reinforcement / replacement options?

[DeLorean]

My LCA's are in fair shape, but have a nice coat of rust on them and are original. I figured I would pull them out when I do the front spring upgrade and either replace or reinforce them. I saw somewhere not too long ago where someone had additional support "sticks" on their lower control arms, they looked pretty good, sold here-

http://www.delorean.com/dmcmidwest/powerparts.html


Of course, they are $340 and that seems kind of steep for what they are.

Then there is the replacement option, The beefier units are sold at specialT for $550+ core?


Or the stainless units from- http://www.pearce-design.com/Product...erControl.html
at $950 for the pair.


The flimsy stamped steel rusty original units could use upgrading for sure, but what is the best bang for the buck? I am thinking I like the looks of the simple reinforcement "sticks"

[Spittybug]

For what it's worth, when I did my front end I took off the control arms and welded a plate across the bottom to box the arm. I also reinforced the end where the ball joint is. Not the prettiest welds in the world, but they have stood the test of time. I have my own MIG, but even if you just took them to someone to have done after sandblasting, this would be your least expensive and IMHO perfectly satisfactory solution. That is POR-15 anti rust paint they are painted with. It's pretty shiny stuff and with the flash it looks like uneven coverage. Before installing I top coated them with my stainless steel paint. Too bad nobody sees them!

[content22207]

Unfortunately boxing in the LCA's does not solve one of their weak points -- ball joint end cracking or even breaking off altogether (you can't box underneath the ball joint).

On #2508 I decided to go with girth: Bryne's 1/8" thick LCA's (ball joint pad is 1/4" thick), augmented with Ed's outriggers:
ByrneArm9.jpg
It's as close to a double wishbone as we can easily get. Dry runs have been positive. If they prove bulletproof in service, I'll do the same thing to #5939.

Bill Robertson
#5939

[82DMC12]

Unfortunately boxing in the LCA's does not solve one of their weak points -- ball joint end cracking or even breaking off altogether (you can't box underneath the ball joint).

On #2508 I decided to go with girth: Bryne's 1/8" thick LCA's (ball joint pad is 1/4" thick), augmented with Ed's outriggers:
ByrneArm9.jpg
It's as close to a double wishbone as we can easily get. Dry runs have been positive. If they prove bulletproof in service, I'll do the same thing to #5939.

Bill Robertson
#5939

I like that setup and it's probably what I'm going to do with mine eventually.

Andy

[tiger38117]

I bought the stainless ones...supposedly one of the last sets as they are out of production. They are so pretty they could sit on a bookshelf in your office...I almost hate to install them (winter project this year).

[Bitsyncmaster]

I bought the stainless ones...supposedly one of the last sets as they are out of production. They are so pretty they could sit on a bookshelf in your office...I almost hate to install them (winter priject this year).

I think DMCH still has them.

[content22207]

Stainless is a pretty soft metal, about on par with Grade 2 steel. Unless Bryan's control arms are thicker than OEM, they will still be susceptible to bending and flexing.

Bill Robertson
#5939

[vwdmc16]

those stainless ones look like solid CNC'd billet,or are they molded?


I really want to install a proper lower A arm in my car, just need to get up and do it.

[stevedmc]

On #2508 I decided to go with girth: Bryne's 1/8" thick LCA's (ball joint pad is 1/4" thick)

For the record, I ordered a set of LCAs from Bryne about a month ago and installed them a few weeks back. They are excellent.

A few months back someone created a thread on the old forum warning people not to buy Bryne's LCAs. Well, I called Bryne, verified the problem had been corrected, ordered a set and installed them the following week. This is a really high quality product.

[Bitsyncmaster]

The stainless are welded plates. I think they are thicker than stock. Dave S had weighed them but I forgot the numbers.