I have a friend that works in a machine shop and pretty much has an endless supply of Billet aluminum, and all the materials to make whatever he wants with. I had my car at his house today and i asked him about boxing my control arms and panhard bar, and he told me that he would much rather just make me new ones out of billet aluminum. He also told me he'd do up some SFC's for me. My main question here is will it be strong enough? I have absolutely no experience with this stuff so obviously i don't know. I meant to ask him but he had to leave...

Eric

 

Most of it won't be strong enough especially the subframe connnectors making them out of aluminum would negate the benifit of the aluminum being lighter. The lower control arms might work but they would need to be made of solid materal at least 6061 aluminum. The problem is that aluminum is more plyable then steel and has to be made much thicker than steel to get the same effect.

 

I wouldn't use the aluminum on suspension. It is too soft.

 

even if it's completely tubular, or "boxed" or whatever aircraft grade aluminum? I might have to see if he can do it with good ole fashioned steel then...

Eric

 

I think there are aluminum lower control arms. I think the metco are alunimum but I dont' know what type of material they use but it would deifnately need to be solid not boxed or tubeular