I plan to change the control arm bushings in my car this weekend. I picked up a set from a local buddy to make the swap with less downtime.

My question is, would there be any strength added by seam welding the edges of the stock control arms?

At this point the GA aluminum arms are out of the question, so thought this may add a little strength to them.

Anyone done it? Worth the time? I assume it couldn't hurt anything but would rather not waste my time if its been done without much of a better outcome.

Thomas

"Oil Leak ? What oil Leak ? Oh, Thats Just The Sweat From All The HorsePower!!"

. .

"Oil Leak ? What oil Leak ? Oh, Thats Just The Sweat From All The HorsePower!!"

yes plenty have done it. dont know if it really helps though...

SMGmotoring.com sells a set already done up.



180hp in 1989 or 145hp in 2002, you decide. >

I haven't actually driven in a car that had the welded arms, and compared before and after, but from what I see, unless you weld actual reinforcements onto the arm, it's not going to make a significant difference. However, since doing so would increase your sprung weight, I don't see a net gain in the mod. It would be far better to go with the aluminum arms. I'm curious why they aren't an option for you. They're not expensive if you hunt around.

I wasn't sure if if just seam welding would help as the actual metal of the ARM would still be able to flex.

Aluminum arms aren't an option right now as I need to replace the bushings in my arms as soon as possible. I already have the bushings and a spare set of arms.

Maybe a little down the road I will hint for the aluminum arms but the only ones I can find around me are close to $100 each. Maybe if I were doing autocross or something and needed them it would be a different story.

I have dabbled with the idea of using the stock arms to make a jig to make some reinforced tubular arms. Maybe even use solid rod to make them. If buggies and sandrails can use tubular arms without breaking, a j should be able to as well.

"Oil Leak ? What oil Leak ? Oh, Thats Just The Sweat From All The HorsePower!!"

I stitch welded mine to keep down on unsprung weight, but honestly I don't think it really did anything, not that I could feel anyway.






Paying someone to install parts and bragging about it being fast, is like watching someone bang your wife and being proud to raise their kids.

Nice work Tim.

You'll be happy with the stock arms and bushings.


Misnblu.com
Newbie member since 1999
Thank you Dave and JBO!

DSMskyline wrote:I have dabbled with the idea of using the stock arms to make a jig to make some reinforced tubular arms. Maybe even use solid rod to make them. If buggies and sandrails can use tubular arms without breaking, a j should be able to as well.

They can. RK Sport used to make them, but the problems they were having were weld failures, not problems with the tubes.

I've actually been looking around to see if I could find a picture of the old rk sport ones. Only pictures I can find are of people broken wells, not the actual arms.

"Oil Leak ? What oil Leak ? Oh, Thats Just The Sweat From All The HorsePower!!"

DSMskyline wrote:
Maybe a little down the road I will hint for the aluminum arms but the only ones I can find around me are close to $100 each.

Are the modded or not?

That's unmodded. They are about 200 miles away so would either have to pay for shipping or go on a road trip and get them.
I can probably have tubular ones made for a little more than that.

"Oil Leak ? What oil Leak ? Oh, Thats Just The Sweat From All The HorsePower!!"

oem has said they would make us tubular control arms...

hit up car-part.com for a set of cheap aluminum arms. ive goten a few sets off of there for under $75 shipped.

also, keep an eye out on ebay. they will pop up on there from time to time. i got a right hand side for something stupid like $28 shipped once.



180hp in 1989 or 145hp in 2002, you decide. >

z yaaaa wrote:yes plenty have done it. dont know if it really helps though...

SMGmotoring.com sells a set already done up.

I have the SMG weld ones with the poly bushings. They are heavier than stock, by a lot. They are still not on the car.....there in the trunk lol.




PRND321 Till I DIE
Old Motor: 160whp & 152ft/lbs, 1/4 Mile 15.4 @88.2
M45 + LD9 + 4T40-E, GO GO GO

That would be cool if he wants to try as well. I will still personally make a set.

The guy that will be welding them for me builds sand cars for a living so I'm not doubting his craftsmanship. will probably use good chromoly or dom tubing, the same as what is used for roll cages.

"Oil Leak ? What oil Leak ? Oh, Thats Just The Sweat From All The HorsePower!!"

I have a stock ARM with the popular bushings and new ball joint installed sitting in my trunk.

I'm going to weigh it at work to see what it actually weighs and so we can have a comparison when a tubular one is made.

"Oil Leak ? What oil Leak ? Oh, Thats Just The Sweat From All The HorsePower!!"

DSMskyline wrote:That's unmodded. They are about 200 miles away so would either have to pay for shipping or go on a road trip and get them.
I can probably have tubular ones made for a little more than that.

That's ridicules. I've sold modded ones for less.

That's what I thought.

"Oil Leak ? What oil Leak ? Oh, Thats Just The Sweat From All The HorsePower!!"

Empty is 4.96#s and loaded is 7.19#s.

Just weighed them this morning, didn't get a chance to do it yesterday.

The loaded weight includes the polymers bushings and a raybestos greasable ball joint.

"Oil Leak ? What oil Leak ? Oh, Thats Just The Sweat From All The HorsePower!!"

what year control arms can js use from the grand am???

The 99s are the ones with the aluminum arms, the others are the same as the js

"Oil Leak ? What oil Leak ? Oh, Thats Just The Sweat From All The HorsePower!!"

There is a set on ebay right now for ten more days 87.99 shipped used