What's new
CK5
Register an account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members.

Billet Aluminum front spring crossmember and steering arm

Wow cool billet stuff

I take it you have access to a cnc mill :pimp:

Oh BTW anything out of the ordinary for steering = instant death for innocent bystanders on here
 
i think that the steering system sees a bit more than 1000 lbf under normal operation, Figure with out power steering you have to put a good amount of effort in to turning the wheel, lets say 50 lb's worth. If you have the big old style wheel there about 1 foot in radius, so you have a force multplication of 1 so the steering shaft is seeing 50 ft-lb of torque. Now feed that into a gear box on the ordeor of 20:1 reduction that gives you 1000 ft-lb. Then you have the factor of leverage of your pitman arm which increases the loading. Now if you take into concederation larger tires and power steering the loads are going to go up even more. Does any one have a idea of what kind of torque is out put by the steering box with power steering? I think it would be intresting to actually have the equations for loads in the steering system to see what kind of stress components see
 
1979jimmy350 said:
i think that the steering system sees a bit more than 1000 lbf under normal operation, Figure with out power steering you have to put a good amount of effort in to turning the wheel, lets say 50 lb's worth. If you have the big old style wheel there about 1 foot in radius, so you have a force multplication of 1 so the steering shaft is seeing 50 ft-lb of torque. Now feed that into a gear box on the ordeor of 20:1 reduction that gives you 1000 ft-lb. Then you have the factor of leverage of your pitman arm which increases the loading. Now if you take into concederation larger tires and power steering the loads are going to go up even more. Does any one have a idea of what kind of torque is out put by the steering box with power steering? I think it would be intresting to actually have the equations for loads in the steering system to see what kind of stress components see
Click to expand...


If you have 1000 ft.lbs. at the pitman shaft, you divide that by the length of the pitman arm (in ft.). This would give you a force of somewhere around 2000 lbs, and that's without the motor running.

Regardless, you'd have to get the steering force up to 8000 lbs. before you could even start to reach the endurance limit. That would be full steering force (tire bound up and full steering force) cycled back and forth 10,000,000 times.
 
wasted wages said:
I'm sorry,,but aluminum just does not belong on steering components,
or any load bearing part of a vehicle where there is a POSSIBILITY of failure causing an accident and possibly killing someone. Period.
Click to expand...

So, I take it the aluminum wheels that are so prevalent today shouldn't be used either? It is a load bearing component where failure could cause an accident and possibly kill someone.

Go look at the suspension components under many newer cars. Thin. spindly looking CAST aluminum control arms. They're not breaking and killing people. Before you say "well, thats a car, but we're talking about a truck here" remember it's all a matter of degree. The cars are using spindly cast aluminum, while this guy is using massive, super-beefy 6061T6 parts.

I for one would have no qualms about riding in his truck on a twisty mountain road.
 
MaxPF said:
So, I take it the aluminum wheels that are so prevalent today shouldn't be used either? It is a load bearing component where failure could cause an accident and possibly kill someone.

Go look at the suspension components under many newer cars. Thin. spindly looking CAST aluminum control arms. They're not breaking and killing people. Before you say "well, thats a car, but we're talking about a truck here" remember it's all a matter of degree. The cars are using spindly cast aluminum, while this guy is using massive, super-beefy 6061T6 parts.

I for one would have no qualms about riding in his truck on a twisty mountain road.
Click to expand...
Agreed, doesn't the new vette have an aluminum frame?
 
I know Impala's have had Alum Sub Frames for several years now, and the Alum control arms are bolted to it with Steel bolts...


And I've seen a Taurus hit a curb and BEND an Alum lower control arm...
 
Also, for those who are so worried about the aluminum steering arms, why don't you voice any concern for the stock D60 knuckles, which are KNOWN to be weak:

Picture%20408.jpg
 
MaxPF said:
Also, for those who are so worried about the aluminum steering arms, why don't you voice any concern for the stock D60 knuckles, which are KNOWN to be weak:

Picture%20408.jpg
Click to expand...

Hey, I remember when that happened :cool1: Were you at BB08? I always meet a lot of new people there but I never know who's screen name goes with who.

I wouldn't say that D60 knuckles are weak, but they are susceptible to breaking when all of the steering force is at the top of the knuckle (high steer).


This thread is getting on more tangents by the minute :D
 
How about the aluminum that holds your ass aloft at 30,000ft while travelling at 600MPH in a modern airliner? I won't even mention the space shuttle, the ISS, etc.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest Posts

Top Bottom