I've seen A-arms now from PA, Pro-fab, BMR, and Spohn. I have no idea, however, what kind of R&D went into them. Does anyone know what each company did to build their A-arms? Pencil and paper? Computer software? FEA analysis? I'm just curious and it never hurts to know too much information.

 

As an added question.... Does anyone know what kind of R&D goes into anything at all.....SFC, LCA, STB, PHR, A-Arms, K-members, even TQ arms.....

In depth info is great. I am just VERY VERY sceptical that any info will ever surface as answers to any of it.


(crossing my fingers though)

 

I doubt we'll get any real answers to these questions, lol.

I'd guess most parts made for our cars are just made to factory dimensions out of steel tubing with better attachment options, i.e. poly bushings or rod ends. For me, that's fine for many parts, just not the A-arms.

 

My guess is that very few companies put any real engineering effort into parts design. I remeber the PA A-arm thread, where JPrevost put their design into solid works, and ran some FOS tests, and it failed horribly. Spohns parts have always (IMHO) been overbuilt, and underengineered.

 

I am a mechaical engineer, or am in the process of becoming one. I will soon be able to run tests like that too. I am running PA A-arms right now and know of others that are running them too with no problems.(some guys picking up the front on the 1/4)

So who knows. I got'em and plan to drive my car hard. We will see what happens I guess. I feel fine running them./

 

I as well doubt you get any real answers. If you do, it will be from Spohn as some former employees of his attend these boards, as I belive he does himself.

I feel your right most make them off stock part dimensions out of different shaped material. Then let a few select people beat the **** out of them on there cars. After so many miles or time/use. They are pulled, inspected, redesigned or "passed" for use.

 

Most of these parts aren't made in large enough quantities that the material savings will recover the engineering cost.

 

I vaguely remember that old post of PA's arms and JPrevost's FEA analysis. It wasn't pretty that's for sure. It's okay if I don't get any real answers as I wasn't too hopeful to begin with. If anything, I would only think it would be the bigger companies like BMR or something that would actually have the resources to do analysis anyway.