A new set of upper control arms looks great on any vehicle. They are a perfect compliment to a shiny new set of coilovers too. We might be biased, but we think our Element Hard Parts control arms look the best. But our control arms are not built to just pretty up your ride. Sure, they might look sexy, but they do have a functional role and bring some benefits too. What are those benefits? Let’s take a look at what a set of high-quality control arms can do for your ride.

You can find more information on our web, so please take a look.

 Making Gains

Any mass-produced part is going to be a compromise, and OEM upper control arms are no exception. To be efficient, vehicle manufacturers need to build upper control arms quickly. And, to maintain profitability, those arms need to be made cheaply. The result is a stamped upper control arm built out of decent steel with adequate strength.

 Adequate might be okay for the majority of people who only drive on pavement, but not for the rest of us. The vast majority of aftermarket control arms are going to be significantly stronger than stock ones. This big increase in strength comes from better materials and a better design. Aftermarket arms use either tubular Chromoly steel or, as is the case with our Element Hard Parts arms, high-quality billet aluminum. Fabricating a Chromoly steel arm or machining a billet aluminum one are both more durable than the stamping process. And, both use more material to increase strength further. 

 Getting Aligned

One of the most overlooked benefits of aftermarket upper control arms is they allow for proper wheel alignment. With some lifted vehicles it can be difficult (if not impossible) to align them back to factory specs. Aftermarket arms solve this by having a slightly different geometry than the factory ones. They also have more adjustability for alignment built into them. This extra adjustability not only lets you get back to factory specs, but it allows more flexibility when aligning your vehicle too. For example, you can dial in more caster if you want to push larger tires more forward.

 Coil Clearance

Aftermarket coilovers make a massive difference in the performance of your front suspension. Their larger diameter bodies hold more shock fluid for better cooling and have bigger pistons for more damping control. While better cooling and control are both good things, those bigger shock bodies can create clearance issues with the factory control arms. Everything might seem fine until your suspension goes to full droop, and your OEM control arms smash into your expensive new coilovers. That’s going to be a problem and potentially an expensive one. Quality aftermarket control arms remedy this issue by being designed to clear larger coilovers.

 Better Balls And Joints

Uniballs and better ball joints are another serious strength advantage that aftermarket upper control arms offer. The 1-inch FK uniballs we use in our Element Hard Parts control arms are incredibly beefy. They are a massive increase in strength over the factory ball joints and are right at home on trucks racing in the Baja . You won’t have to worry about the uniballs in most aftermarket arms ever failing. They do wear faster than standard ball joints but are much stronger. Some arms feature aftermarket ball joints as well. These high-quality ball joints are not as strong as uniballs, but offer more life and are still stronger than OEM joints.

 Unlocking Wheel Travel

But wait, there's more. Not only are the uniballs and ball joints in aftermarket control arms stronger, but they also have a bigger range of motion than OEM ball joints. This extra amount of movement allows for the suspension to go through its full range of motion without any binding. Aftermarkets arms enable you to get every inch of wheel travel available out of your suspension, especially when using extended travel coilovers.

You will get efficient and thoughtful service from Zegao Machinery.

A Comprehensive Guide to Vehicle Control Arms

The term ‘control arm’ doesn’t find its way into the discussion about vehicle parts all too often, leaving many people to wonder, ‘what are control arms?’. This post will answer that question and discuss the different types of control arms and their uses.

What Are Control Arms and What Do They Do?

A control arm, also known as an A-arm (or control link in the railway industry), links the vehicle chassis and suspension hub that carries the wheel. They are the metal components you can see that connect the vehicle body to the wheel assembly in automotive vehicles.

Control arms are a vital component of a vehicle’s suspension system, allowing tyres to move in line with the vehicle’s body. They are made up of three main parts: bushing, body and ball joint. The control arm body connects to the vehicle frame via the bushings (usually rubber bushings) and connects to the wheel side of the vehicle suspension with a ball joint. In combination, these components allow smooth, controlled movement when pivoting, turning and driving on the road, by allowing the wheels to move up and down while remaining in contact with the ground for stability. Control arms also reduce friction and vibration when steering.

Automotive vehicles usually have between two and four control arms, depending on the vehicle suspension. However, most modern cars only have control arms in the front wheel suspension. Larger or heavy-duty vehicles like trucks may have control arms in the rear axle.

Having a correctly working control arm and suspension system keeps your tyres in place when you hit a bump or pothole in the road, which is important for your safety on the road. If your steering wheel is vibrating or feels hard to control, or you experience any loud banging, clunking noises when driving over bumps, this could be a signal that you need to replace your control arm assembly.

Control arms are usually made of either stamped steel, cast iron or cast aluminium; each of which has its advantages and disadvantages.

• Stamped steel control arms

Stamped steel control arms are primarily used in cars; however, they are susceptible to rust in damp environments and can easily damage. As they’re relatively inexpensive to produce and replace, steel control arms are usually found in cheaper, modern cars.

• Cast iron control arms

Cast iron control arms are generally used in modern heavy-duty vehicles, like trucks and SUVs, as this strong material copes better in harsh environments, and is not prone to rust. These types of control arms are usually used in front suspensions. The sturdy nature of cast iron control arms makes them superior for vehicle steering and handling.

• Cast aluminium control arms     

Cast aluminium control arms are strong and light mechanisms. While aluminium is more resistant to corrosion, it can be more susceptible to wear upon impact due to the softer nature of this metal.

What are the Different Types of Control Arms?

You will have probably come across control arms in cars, however control arms also aid axle location and resistance to breaking in traction forces in all automotive and rail vehicles. Control links are also used in industrial vehicle suspension systems, for example, off-highway vehicles. Different types of control arms are used for different purposes. Below, we have outlined the two main types of control arms and their applications:

• Strut Type Suspension or MacPherson Strut Suspension

A MacPherson strut suspension is an independent front suspension found in most cars. In the MacPherson strut suspension, there is only a single, lower control arm, at each wheel and the strut becomes the upper control arm, which supports most of the weight. This type of control arm can be found in both front and rear suspensions, but usually at the front. Due to the compact design, low weight and relatively cheap manufacture cost, you generally see a strut type suspension in modern, inexpensive cars.

• Double Wishbone Suspension

A double wishbone suspension is a type of control arm mechanism used when two control arms are installed in the suspension system. This type of control arm is usually used in modern vehicles, like sports cars, high-end performance cars and light trucks. This is because double wishbone suspension benefits better handling and control.

Control Arms at GMT