Tubular Control Arms

[brak]

Does anybody make Tubular Control Arms for our trucks besides DJM?

I was looking at the DJM product, and it seems they only come with a 3" drop lower Control Arm, which would be awesome if i was trying to lay my frame on the ground, but i'm not.

I'm open to the idea of swapping to the 73 and later design, but it isn't absolutely necessary since my 72 has front discs already.

[krue]

I didn't think they used trailing arms after 72.

[72LoBurb]

Are you planning on bagging the truck? If you are Air Ride Technologies makes control arms.
If you are doing a static drop, why not look into spindles?

[68C15]

Originally Posted by krue

I didn't think they used trailing arms after 72.

he's talking about front arms.

I agree, go with spindles instead. dropped arms can cause ground clearance issues at times.

[krue]

Okay, I'm stupid.

[jkade]

Not trying to highjack the thread, but I have dropped spindles and cut springs and mine just doesn't seem like it handles as well as before. Would tubular contol arms make your handling any better? If I decide to bag mine would it be a good idea to buy a set?

[Hart_Rod]

ART does (ridetech.com).

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=174330

[John @ BROTHERS]

We carry tubular lower and upper control arms. Here is a link to each of them.
http://www.brothersonlinestore.com/p...number=LCA7200
http://www.brothersonlinestore.com/p...number=UCA7200

Remember, 10% off sale ends Dec 31

[1lowdiesel]

Originally Posted by jkade

Not trying to highjack the thread, but I have dropped spindles and cut springs and mine just doesn't seem like it handles as well as before. Would tubular contol arms make your handling any better? If I decide to bag mine would it be a good idea to buy a set?

i'd say that ride has to do with the cut springs. if your gonna bag it you can stick w/ the stockies just section your crossmember, and trim down the lower cups to about an 1" and use slam bags this way they won't balloon out and you'll get more lift.

brothers that a good price on them arms though!

[bryanw1968]

Originally Posted by jkade

Not trying to highjack the thread, but I have dropped spindles and cut springs and mine just doesn't seem like it handles as well as before. Would tubular contol arms make your handling any better? If I decide to bag mine would it be a good idea to buy a set?

Agreed. Cutting the springs is more than likely the handling issue. Also, what kind of shocks are you running? Do you have a front sway bar?
I used stock spindles when I went to front disc and used lowered springs. I also installed fairly stick gas shocks and a sway bar. It handles like it's on rails.

[jkade]

Originally Posted by bryanw1968

Agreed. Cutting the springs is more than likely the handling issue. Also, what kind of shocks are you running? Do you have a front sway bar?
I used stock spindles when I went to front disc and used lowered springs. I also installed fairly stick gas shocks and a sway bar. It handles like it's on rails.

The shocks are stock type shocks but they are new and it does have a sway bar. I will tough it out till I get the air ride.
Thanks

[brak]

Originally Posted by BROTHERSTRUCKS

We carry tubular lower and upper control arms. Here is a link to each of them.
http://www.brothersonlinestore.com/p...number=LCA7200
http://www.brothersonlinestore.com/p...number=UCA7200

Remember, 10% off sale ends Dec 31

Those items are having script errors
" Microsoft VBScript compilation error '800a0401' "

I'm not planning on bagging my truck, which is why i'm looking for an alternative to the DJM lower arm.

I'm interested in tubular arms, because they look cleaner, and as i understand it, are lighter and stronger than the stock arms.

I'm building my truck from the frame up, and would rather do it right the first time. and considering the cost of having my old arms blasted and powdercoated, then replacing all the bushings, there's not much difference between a new set of tubular arms.

[SCOTI]

Stronger? Most likely.
Lighter? I don't think so.....

I weighed my ART Strong-Arms vs. stockers & they were 2~3lbs heavier.

Jkade, I question the logic that 'cut down coils affected the handling on the truck'. Trimming 1 coil off would increase the overall spring rate roughly 10~20% depending on the coils wire thickness. This increase in spring rate along w/a slightly lower COG are good for handling.

I would be more apt to say the decrease in handling is because other factors weren't optimized..... mainly the alignment. How good was (is) the alignment? How good are the shocks? And most importantly (when it comes to handling), how good are the tires?

[jimmydean]

Originally Posted by brak

Those items are having script errors
" Microsoft VBScript compilation error '800a0401' "

I'm building my truck from the frame up, and would rather do it right the first time. and considering the cost of having my old arms blasted and powdercoated, then replacing all the bushings, there's not much difference between a new set of tubular arms.

I got the same error.

I am thinking about getting the ART arms for this very reason. Nobody seems to stock the front parts and when it's all said and done, it's only about $100 difference for all new vs. rebuilding.

[ghetto_superman]

id like some lower tubular arms like the ones brothers sells.. that work with springs and not bags, but the whole "wont work with sway bar" thing scares me off... any suggestions?

[piecesparts]

CPP (Classic Performance Products) ( http://www.classicperform.com/ )makes a tubular arm setup, as well as many other parts for the trucks. There was a big article in "Truckin" magazine Volume 32. at the end of last year on their products.

[Fastfun]

I purchase a set of upper and lower tubular control arms fro CCP, but I haven't put them on yet. I also purchased their tubular trailing arms also. They are nice products and I can't wait to install them.

[sixtysevengmc]

will ART or CCP control arms work with drum brakes?
I like the ol' drum brakes,there excitingly dangerous nature appeals to me (lol!)so I don't plan on swapping to disc anytime soon but would like to slam or possibly bag the front of my truck


Thanks

[jimmydean]

You can bag your truck without converting to discs or tubular arms. Just get the Suicide Doors brackes and swap bags out for your stock springs. Without drop spindles, you can still get your truck down and have the sweet ride of air.

Even if you go with a tubular arm, you will still need to either make or buy a bracket for the top. My front disc kit was $550 and I would have rather done that before even thinking about tubular arms.

[sixtysevengmc]

Originally Posted by jimmydean

You can bag your truck without converting to discs or tubular arms. Just get the Suicide Doors brackes and swap bags out for your stock springs. Without drop spindles, you can still get your truck down and have the sweet ride of air.

Even if you go with a tubular arm, you will still need to either make or buy a bracket for the top. My front disc kit was $550 and I would have rather done that before even thinking about tubular arms.

my concern would be the extreme angle of the upper ball joint at the upper control arm since the drive ride height will be considerably lower than stock,not to mention alignment issues.I'm assuming tubular control arms would fix both problems.

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by sixtysevengmc

my concern would be the extreme angle of the upper ball joint at the upper control arm since the drive ride height will be considerably lower than stock,not to mention alignment issues.I'm assuming tubular control arms would fix both problems.

The BJ angle would be better than a stock arm. But.... when trying to get really low & airing the truck out, they will still be close to or in a bind w/o swapping to some dropped spindles (which they don't make for drum brakes).

You could always swap the upper arms side to side & flip them over for a less aggressive BJ angle @ full drop. There will need to be some 'clearance' work on the upper a-arm mount & the arms themselves, but both are easily accomplished @ home w/a small grinder.

[ghetto_superman]

bringin it back.... does cpp make lower arms that accept a factory sway bar(bolted right to the arm, not linked), coil spring and not a bag? and not an arm that lowers, as ive heard that lowering arms conflict with dropped spindles, which i also have. cause thats what i want. if not. could someone please direct me to somewhere that does thanks!!
-Mike

[shifty]

CPP makes them, and they look to be excellent quality. There was a huge writeup and install using all tubular CPP products in one of the two classic truck mags over hte past couple of months.

CPP sells a swaybar to go with their setup. I'm telling you - I called these guys - they will not hesitate to lead you in the right direction, great tech help over the phone. I highly recommend calling them if you have questions.

[ghetto_superman]

ok. so i know who ill get the arms from then. but just to clarify, i cant use my junkyard 73+ 1 1/4 bar cause the mounts are different? i would really like to not have to dish out more $$ for if a bar if i already have one... thanks for the help!

[LUV2XCLR8]

Originally Posted by Hart_Rod

ART does (ridetech.com).

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=174330

? for ya, can you still run a stock swaybar with that set-up? or just a aftermarket?