Dissected some control arms….
 

Well I finally found out why these moog arms are just junk…..

Took one apart cause I wanted to mix and match some parts. Took an old moog control arm apart to figure out the best way to take some new ones apart without totally destroying them.

Lo and behold…..

The moog guts
https://i.postimg.cc/wTxzPZZf/IMG-5348.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/d0PxMTDs/IMG-5349.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/D0ZCQrpg/IMG-5350.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/x1rRqVQg/IMG-5351.jpg

I did damage the plastic a little while cutting the back off

You’d be amazed with how much fource they have to push in these almost 2mil thick cover plates!

The hardness of the arm itself in this area isn’t all that you’d expect or see on like a lemforder arm. Which I also am taking apart right now.

That plastic cup having to take on all of those forces for such a long time. I know they have to make money but this is just annoying.
Also putting all that effort into machining and tooling for the cap only to put a plastic cup on the back is almost an insult to the engineers of the cap.

Well hope you guys see what I mean and also can see why buying quality parts is so important.


Another one

Lemforder this time…

With a heavy heart I announce to you all. The plastic inside a brand new lemforder joint

https://i.postimg.cc/Hx1fV6fG/IMG-5353.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/xjt42jTV/IMG-5354.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/05Wc4tc8/IMG-5355.jpg

Sad to see them go downhill. Still lasting longer then others but not what it used to be unfortunately
You can see that the grease itself can move around more in this design and the tolerances are tighter then a moog but still…

Holy Shit!!

Wish I had disassembled my Middle Eastern ones, because I bet they had some cheaper piece in them than plastic "space fixers" in yours.

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Would be cool to make a full comparison list with pictures!

I mean on the one end as a “spacer” I’d be fine with the plastic piece since it puts zero force on the bottom of the arm. But the rotating parts….. like come on…..

We don’t mind fixing the x5 but sh…… if we don’t have to right?

Exactly!!

With the typical roads here being similar to the lunar landscape with the added benefit of the sun being 6ft away every repair is just that much more fun...

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Oh I’d love to see XD wanna see some Ukrainian highways now? Hahaha sometimes the road is just gone (oopsie)


Also bad and sad news. I just cut into a brand new lemforder.
A lot less plastic…. But still :(

Oh I’d love to see XD wanna see some Ukrainian highways now? Hahaha sometimes the road is just gone (oopsie)


Also bad and sad news. I just cut into a brand new lemforder.
A lot less plastic…. But still :(

Keep up the good work. Though what part of the structure surprised you on these?

Thanks!
Just the fact that they switched from a brass or other pliable metals to a thermosetting plastic. I enjoy rebuilding the old old balljoints where you can just replace a brass cup after 20 years of used.


I’m considering turning a shaft with a bigger ball and a brass insert with a weld on back plate. Then when it wears out a smidge you can tighten it up again after cleaning and greasing.
I abuse the suspension a lot. That’s why I go through parts like these more often then most.