Anyone seen these control arms yet

[blime81]

I'm running CPP tube lowers and pondering a set of flat uppers (have stock ones now).

My concern is strength as well. Not so much worried about bending the uppers (I'd be more concerned with the lowers bending) but stress cracks at the welds.

Been around off road stuff for a while (Jeeps, sand rails, 1450 class) haven't seen any sort of plate arms.

For $149 it's tempting though...

http://michiganmetalworks.com/store/...&product_id=82

[dv8customs]

Originally Posted by blime81

I'm running CPP tube lowers and pondering a set of flat uppers (have stock ones now).

My concern is strength as well. Not so much worried about bending the uppers (I'd be more concerned with the lowers bending) but stress cracks at the welds.

Been around off road stuff for a while (Jeeps, sand rails, 1450 class) haven't seen any sort of plate arms.

For $149 it's tempting though...

http://michiganmetalworks.com/store/...&product_id=82

Google seems to agree with the no offroad stuff so disregard that. Other air ride related companies have made flat plate arms for a while now though.

You wouldn't have any greater risk of a cracked weld with flat plate than you would with the tubular arms.

[Shane]

Originally Posted by dv8customs

There is always a scenario where something will fail and that can't always be predicted.

It sure can. It's called Finite Element Analysis. It is accurate enough to not only tell you WHERE a given assembly will fail, but in most cases it can even tell us WHEN based on stress cycles.

Originally Posted by dv8customs

You wouldn't have any greater risk of a cracked weld with flat plate than you would with the tubular arms.

that's not entirely true. google up some research on stress points & pay particular attention to anything that mentions sharp corners. it's the very reason airplane windows have rounded corners.

flat plate has at least 4 sharp corners at EVERY connection point.

tubing is round and doesn't have the inherent flaws of having sharp corners where stress cracks form.

I'm only trying to make the point that there are better & safer solutions out there for these type of suspension components.

[blime81]

Originally Posted by Shane

.....tubing is round and doesn't have the inherent flaws of having sharp corners where stress cracks form...

Thanks Shane, this is my concern.

However I don't drive my bagged truck like I drive my sand rail...

So does anyone actually have some flat plate uppers with some miles on them?

[dv8customs]

Originally Posted by blime81

Thanks Shane, this is my concern.

However I don't drive my bagged truck like I drive my sand rail...

So does anyone actually have some flat plate uppers with some miles on them?

These arms have been around for some time. Taylor, the builder has many miles on his and can answer your questions more directly. His username is Jeebus.

[dv8customs]

Originally Posted by Shane

It sure can. It's called Finite Element Analysis. It is accurate enough to not only tell you WHERE a given assembly will fail, but in most cases it can even tell us WHEN based on stress cycles.

I was referring to instances such as pot holes etc as mentioned by the previous poster.

Originally Posted by Shane

I'm only trying to make the point that there are better & safer solutions out there for these type of suspension components.

I understand, and I am trying to make the point that my engineering opinion is that they are adequate. I didn't say they were the best, I say they will work and will work safely.

[Shane]

Originally Posted by dv8customs

I was referring to instances such as pot holes etc as mentioned by the previous poster.

I know, and that's exactly what FEA is used for.

Originally Posted by dv8customs

I understand, and I am trying to make the point that my engineering opinion is that they are adequate. I didn't say they were the best, I say they will work and will work safely.

just curious, what discipline is your engineering degree in?

[dv8customs]

Mechanical

Granted I haven't done ANY analysis on these parts. It is a gut determination that the design of these arms is fine.

[avysittinon22s]

I actually have a set of these on order. Uppers with ball joints using stock cross shafts. Narrowed 1/2" and foward 5/8".

[Jeebus]

The MMW arms for porterbuilt setups are made from 750 plate, as well as every Michigan Metal Works lower control arm. You can toss out all the speculation and numbers you like on what the plate can handle weight wise, and what it can last through, and it is just that,. Its such a wide variety of factors that could contribute to that, just one number is foolish to try to apply to such a wide spectrum. I do all my calculations through experience, its the only way to know, actual testing in real life situations, not computer programs.

I built my first flat plate control arm 8 years ago now, and installed them on my brothers 93 full size chevy truck, it dosent have much more than 40k miles on it over those 8 years, but it gets driven around town a lot haha. but I can prove this to you. I have these arms on a 1 ton chevy dually truck, currently racking over 80k on its clock with the arms on it. I know thats not enough for you, so I can also show you my personal daily driver 1500 dodge ram truck had these arms for 60k+ miles driving in 4 years as well. Those are facts, proven mileage and wear. I can point you to many many other forums around the web that can also vouch for what these MMW arms can withstand, people buy them and put mileage on them. Simple as that. My most popular arms are for the 1500 ram trucks, and the 1500 F-150 trucks, and lately my 1-ton to 3/4 ton conversion arms for the chevy dually trucks are flying off the shelfs. those trucks are not light by any means as well.

Over these 8 years i have sold probably 400+ sets of flat plate control arms on all sorts of trucks. Everything from S10 trucks, to 1 ton dually trucks, I have yet to EVER run into a situation where a flat plate designed control arm has had a structural strength issue.

I cannot speak for any other brand of flat plate arm. I dont know what testing hes done or researched. I only know my product.

btw, i also do make a set that will bolt up to a stock x-member its a bit more and includes the new lower x-shaft for the arms.

ooooh, and I also will make them out of tube, for the exact same price, lol. I just choose not to offer them as much becuase up untill now there was no other companies that offered flat plate arms, so it was a good way to set mine off from the rest. But, with all the companies all of a sudden now producing flat plate arms, I will gladly produce MMW arms from tube as well just to keep it fun.


Thanks


Taylor

[OJ1988]

Sounds like some pretty good stress tests to ne.
I guess sometimes "the proof is in the pudding".
That's a strange phrase.
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[scooterskoolkustoms]

Originally Posted by OJ1988

Sounds like some pretty good stress tests to ne.
I guess sometimes "the proof is in the pudding".
That's a strange phrase.
Posted via Mobile Device

yea I know what kind of proof is in pudding ?

[fastwillie 696969]

plus i like to say tubular man !!

[Shane]

Originally Posted by dv8customs

It is a gut determination that the design of these arms is fine.

There is no such thing as "gut determination" in mechanical engineering.

[Shane]

Originally Posted by Jeebus

I do all my calculations through experience, its the only way to know, actual testing in real life situations, not computer programs.

Are you saying FEA is unreliable?

[andrewmp6]

Originally Posted by scooterskoolkustoms

I like the flat plate my 2 cents I was going to get mine from this place http://www.dallashotrodparts.com/

Honestly i have not heard good things about him i would rather buy off mmw or a more known and trusted company.

[scooterskoolkustoms]

Originally Posted by andrewmp6

Honestly i have not heard good things about him i would rather buy off mmw or a more known and trusted company.

i have been hearing a few things,but they where past problems.Problem is with shipping and not the parts right ?Thank you will think about it long and hard before I send money.still a lot to do before I get to new arms.

[scooterskoolkustoms]

Originally Posted by Shane

There is no such thing as "gut determination" in mechanical engineering.

just curious, what discipline is your engineering degree in? googler

[Shane]

I have two. Which one ya want?

[scooterskoolkustoms]

lol from mayberry I take it

[Jeebus]

Wow, he must have said something that got him banned.

ouch.

[blime81]

Shane has always been a bit outspoken wonder what he said this time?

Jeebus, thanks for taking the time to talk about your product. I'll certainly be giving you a call in future for some uppers. Busted drive shaft put a dent in the "buy new stuff" wallet...

[scooterskoolkustoms]

SHANE I do not appreciate the PM you sent me I feel sorry for you .I just hope you are not as mean and bitter in real life like you are on this board.

[scooterskoolkustoms]

Jeebus when you make the uppers are they cut out buy water jet ? is there a way you can make some uppers like a spider web ? I would buy a set of those Thanks

[OJ1988]

Wow.
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