Anyone here running global west upper and lower control arms. Is the handling much better than stock? I know their upper tubular arm is different from stock. Is there a considerable improvement in wheel geometry?
A few guys around here use them. And about a million others use those same arms on many old Fords. See them used on tons of GM stuff too. They're pretty well built but a little on the porky side from a weight savings standpoint. Being overbuilt probably isn't a bad thing if you're pounding the snot out of them all the time. Have you seen these? Pretty decent for the money. http://www.ebay.com/itm/SPC-Front-C...ash=item463c2cbd4d:g:r0AAAOSwBahVYiPP&vxp=mtr http://spcalignment.com/faq?kbartid=94379 as far as the overall design comparison to the stock stuff? Night and day. Plus these have geometry adjustments built in and plenty more adjustment still available for those who want full optimization capability. Your factory arms current geometry doesn't even come close.
Thanks for the link! I think I am going w/ a set of these arms instead of putting shims in my up control arms to work w/ my Borgeson conversion. I have the struts out as far as they will go and not satisfied w/ handling. These seem to be reasonably priced. Going to do a little research or review checks from those who use these.
I wonder if those control arms are legit. One of those is 299 on summit. How can these guys sell a pair for so cheap? If they are real though, i am buying them.
The GW +3 arms look beefier but do not have the added benefit of camber adjustment that the SPC has. I am a little suspicious about how that camber is locked into place though. The SPC would be my choice.
What else is needed to complement these arms if moving from stock? What coil/overs would be a good choice? Anything else need to be considered for the conversion?
Yeah that camber adjustment looks iffy. Wouldnt want those bolts to slip. I plan on running either a moog or global west lower control arm. For now i think i will keep the stock setup as far as shocks/springs are concerned. I wonder if running the fatman dropped spindle would screw up the geometry of this setup...
Im running the Fatman Drop spindles on mine (Total Control Products front suspension) and have no issues. Im also running baer tracker bump steer correction outer tie-rod ends. I'd consider the SPC over the Global West. If there is an issue with the adjustment bolts slipping Im pretty sure I could find a what to fix it. After watching the video on their site, it looks like the UBJ holes are keyed to those specific locations which reduces the risk.
Purdy keen eye there. Backed up twice through that vid to finally notice that. The price point on these makes them a hell of a bargain compared to some of the others, IMO. If you were actually able to build them yourself you'd be hard pressed to end up spending much less than half the price of these. Every part they use in building these things is available in the aftermarket(some of which are worldwide OEM suppliers). Seems like not enough years left to learn it all and put it into practice. To me it seems pretty silly that almost all companies need to mark things that are "tubular bolt-ins" for old Ford cars up so damned high. Especially after considering that the market is so hugely saturated with MII style arms. You can literally buy them from about 15 countries right now. So why is something so simply designed costing us so much? Are we just helping them pay off the big laser or water jet cnc table? Me thinks it's capitalism at its finest. Go cheap and live with your "vastly inferior" designed factory junk, maybe spend a bit more for "beefed factory junk".. or use this or that brands ultimate "space age design" arms for only a little more cash.. or.. spend 3-4 grand for a full suspension package change out. The price differential makes them seem like a better bargain when it comes to bang for the buck and people eat them up. Not saying they don't make for faster or safer cars.. just that I'm thinkin' I should'a been a car guy hobby welder to get all the copycatters started by shaking things up! Hell.. even Procomp/Speedmaster makes MII arms now. You can only bend and make tubular control arms so many different ways for these suspensions and these mfgrs simply copycatted and improved upon the factory stuff anyways. I would LOVE to see some boxed aluminum arms for our cars. Can't imagine what those would cost though. Probably be priced right between the TCP and the full MII conversion. lol
Oh yeah man, that is price descrimination at its finest. I personally am excited about chinese parts. I think with time the quality will be more acceptable. How expensive can a set of cylinder heads that has been produced and reproduced for 20 years be? I know people complain about the quality of aluminum and other components, but in the grand scheme of things changing something on a production line costs peanuts. Even these control arms...i can make a jig from mild steel or aluminum that keeps all the dimensions and mounting points identical to theirs, go to the local cnc plasma or water table shop cut out all the brackets i need and be in business. I think people have just become less enterpreneurial with new generations. Most of us driving classics still are, but most others could care less. I will be buying mine though, because i simply dont have time.
I like the look of the SPC arms too, might just have to buy a set! When it comes to the Chinese parts the quality is dictated by the company having the parts made. The factories over there can build what you want as cheap and shoddy as you want or as high end/high quality as you want. When you get the junk from over there, it's because that's what the importer asked for.
Rick nailed it with a 12 penny. We want cheaper parts and then when we get them.. people start pointing fingers at everyone else but themselves when they don't compare to the best in the market. I will buy these arms when the time comes to upgrade the front suspension on my Comet.
I have reservations on the fact the SPC control arm shafts and ball joints, appear to have no way to lubricate. Before anyone states cars of recent era have permanently lubricated shafts/ball joints -- don't know if I feel comfortable on this setup. Maybe I am a little paranoid here!
Looks good to me. xAxis sealed flex joint http://www.spcalignment.com/images/stories/flyers/BuildersSeries2015FlyerWEB.pdf
