Aluminum Links

[Adventurous 4x4]

I was reading the thread on the Shaffer's Off-Road built K5 and some people were questioning the solid aluminum links. I figured I would post some info on them to answer some of the questions. Will aluminum work for links, Yes as long as you use 7075. I have seen links made from 1 3/4" and 2". The Adventurous Bronco has been running 7075 2" aluminum links for over 4 years now and not one has been replaced or needs replaced and they have been abused hard. None of them are bent. The green Quad buggy runs them in 1 3/4" and the rears bent but once they bent they stayed there the rest of the season with no issues and didn't bend more. 95% of the comp rigs run aluminum links. I plan to run them on mine. I am going to run 2" lowers.

This rig weighs about 5000 pounds and probably sees more abuse then a normal wheeler does.

 

[Hogback Fabrication]

Ok, cool, but on a 5000 lb rig why run aluminum links in the first place?

7075 AL is WAYYYY more expensive than steel and you're talking about pretty minimal weight differences.

 

[Greg72]

From the looks of it, aluminum can make your truck fly!!!

That's a cool enough reason for me.


Now for the serious answer:

I thought Al was supposed to flex like mad before reaching it's yeild point (plastic deformation, or it that modulus of elasticity? ) The idea from what I'd heard is that it's more "springy" than steel and will return to it's original shape, where a steel link can only bend or kink. I don't think it's as much a weight savings thing as it is the behavior of the material under bending loads.

 

[Adventurous 4x4]

Chris, I just posted the information for the people that question aluminum links holding up and Greg pretty much hit the nail on the head as to why. I know guys running .375 DOM links and bent them. If you want to talk about saving weight compare the aluminum link to a Rock Krawler long arm. They are made from 2" solid steel.

 

[Hogback Fabrication]

What heat treatment are these 7075 links? That makes a BIG difference.

Most aluminum will yield (bend) well before a steel link of the same dimensions. Generally, aluminum will flex less before it yields than steel, contrary to what Greg said.

And you can always point out someone that bent a 3" .375" wall 4340 link and someone that didn't bend a 1.5" solid aluminum link, that doesn't prove that the aluminum one is stronger.


Anyway, just curious why you chose to use aluminum

 

[Adventurous 4x4]

T6. It's really not a question of stronger, it's more for information that they work and work well. Why will I run them, becuase I can build them for not much more in cost over a DOM link. Here is some good reading on links and materials.

http://www.azrockcrawler.com/_images/tech/2006/8-19-06links/links.html

 

[Hogback Fabrication]

T6. It's really not a question of stronger, it's more for information that they work and work well. Why will I run them, becuase I can build them for not much more in cost over a DOM link. Here is some good reading on links and materials.

http://www.azrockcrawler.com/_images/tech/2006/8-19-06links/links.html

Cool, 7075-T6 is good stuff

And if you can get the aluminum cheap then I probably would too, usually its way expensive