Thinking of Fabricating suspension arms

[bb4_96]

I'm not entirely sure if this is the correct forum for this thread but I've been playing with the idea of fabricating and selling some suspension arms. If I did it'd be chromoly or DOM construction with QA1 Rod ends with a choice of paint/powder/bare/plated finish. I have so many connects in the maufacturing industry that I feel silly having waited so long to test the waters on this. Estimated final cost would be in the neighborhood of $120 per set of Taction/Tension rods and more for trraction rods due to the bending all depending on preference of rod end and finish. Like I said just testing the waters. I know I'll be making a set for myself because SPL's stuff seems really pricey as well as cusco and peak. So I'd like to try and see who would be intersted in quality parts for DIY price. I only need to make like $20 a set because I have no overhead like SPL. And for Naysayers that will argue lack of testing I have the most advanced stress/material strength/tension/torsion testing equipment available at my disposal. I will be willing to disclose final failure/fatigue destrucive testing analysis results before I ever put these out there.

If there's any interest let me know.

[ManoNegra]

Doubt it, that market is too saturated
unless your stuff is leaps and bounds better and innovative than the quality stuff that's already out
it probably won't

here's my suggestion
make a set for yourself and post it up for scrutiny
let the community decide

and SPL stuff is actually fairly priced

[bb4_96]

Unless their hybrid adjuster assembly is $100 worth of hardware your paying for their track time. Which for those with deeper pockets is well worth it in my opinion. But for me I won't be doing much adjusting once the car is setup properly. I'll be tracking my car with a one man(myself) pit crew so suspension adjustment on the fly won't really be needed. That's really the users I'm looking for; mid range that don't want an china part thats going to break their car or the bank.

[bb4_96]

However I do appreciate the input. I guess durability for price will have to be my angle.

[sirfallsalot243]

Im not gonna committ to saying "yeah ill buy a set," but the interest is definitely there. Id like to see the finished product and testing analysis, but yeah... Sounds cool.

Make em. Post lots of pics. :)

[iwannaslyde]

im definitely interested. i like the idea of making your set and throwing up the results for everyone to take a look at

[tunersedge]

Just offer a product that is better quality and less expensive then a competitors product and you win.

-Tim

[SoSideways]

Trust me, I thought things were gonna be cheaper to build yourself too.

Unless you have access to equipment that you can use for milling, drilling and tapping, you're gonna have to pay for a machine shop to do the work for you, and that's where the majority of the cost to make the arms go.

[DEAN]

I was actually looking at building some things myself. I would be interested in seeing the finished product if you decide to build it.

[kalypso123]

I havent read the other comments yet, but if you're going to do this.

strive for the absolute highest in workmanship... approach it like you're a shop thats trying to blow away every other product out.

dont settle for mediocrity... and then amaze us all.

[[email protected]]

I only need to make like $20 a set because I have no overhead like SPL.

Our overheads are not just in rent, payroll, marketing, etc. it also includes design/innovation, testing, warranty, customer service, business and product liability insurance. That last one is a biggie, have you considered the liability you are taking on when you are dealing in suspension products? One single failure can be huge (and a "off-road use only" type statement isn't going to protect you)...

[ManoNegra]

I have a feeling this is going to go the way of the:
titanium exhaust thread
aluminum hood thread
urethane kouki lip thread
dinosaurs...

we've talked about suspension components and have
some decent ideas as to how they could be improved
but nothing that would be cost effective or that the market can sustain

[kalypso123]

its cool, if you're doing it as a fabricators project, that you'll sell to a handful of people.

but you'll have to be persuasive. people on this forum know their shit.

BUT YES IM INTERESTED

[lflkajfj12123]

I have a feeling this is going to go the way of the:
titanium exhaust thread
aluminum hood thread
urethane kouki lip thread
dinosaurs...

we've talked about suspension components and have
some decent ideas as to how they could be improved
but nothing that would be cost effective or that the market can sustain

dude...

I LOVE DINOSAURS!

[Matej]

Can you make arms that are only adjustable by intervals of a set number of millimeters? That way, you would know that they are always equal on both sides, instead of alignments and having to measure.

I hate fully adjustable parts.

[Hashiriya415]

can you make them out of aluminum alloy. I think all the aftermarket stuff is to strong and in an event of crash will cause much more damage by not absorbing the energy from an impact, where with aluminum it would be lighter and would bend easier, but it all comes down to how thick of tubing you use. Just couple of weeks ago, my friend bent subframe, split the knuckle in half, and bent the wheel(not a cheap wheel either, it was made in Japan), but the aftermarket KTS arms have no bends on them. To swap subframe, knuckle, and wheel, is a lot more work then if just the arm bent. But then again it always depends what kind of accident you get into.

[s13xturbo]

why make something that will just be better to buy

pbm
spl

[abubika345]

Because stuff can always get better, make something and test it. Time and research will get you far and if you have the resources to do it then why not.

The shop I work at did research all winter and will be releasing a brand new product for sr's that nobodies successfully produced yet (I have to leave it at that)

[wh0aitznic0]

Better yet, design some way to raise the mounting points of the FLCA's to correct "roll center."

[abubika345]

^ this, I've actually seen some company in Russia that had a angle kit that had raised flca and everything but I haven't been able to find it again

[s13xturbo]

do it and surprise us.

240s are worldwide and if your innovative you will make alot of dough, but competition will be insane.

[bb4_96]

Our overheads are not just in rent, payroll, marketing, etc. it also includes design/innovation, testing, warranty, customer service, business and product liability insurance. That last one is a biggie, have you considered the liability you are taking on when you are dealing in suspension products? One single failure can be huge (and a "off-road use only" type statement isn't going to protect you)...

If anything kills me its going to be the product liability protection. The rest I dont see as a show stoppers.

[dato]

Or u can just say " user or affiliates related directly or inderectly accept full responsability, and do not hold ( ur name) liable for any injuries,death, cause by using using the product directly or indirect, (ur name) will not be held liable for defective or in-proper installations cause by user or users or other partys contracted by the owners or it's affiliates, parts which are transfered from one person to another also will also assume all risk and will not hold ( ur name ) liable". Maybe that Can work?

[kalypso123]

paint them yellow... @[email protected]