Sure... I agree with ya. To a point.
Look at it this way. The first guy that invented the cell phone (to use your example) took a lot of time and money to figure it out. He charged lots of money for those first ones he sold. Same with VCRs. Remember the first ones? You couldnt buy one for less than $1000.00. Until the next guy got hold of the schematics and plans. Then they refined them. They got cheaper. The more they sold, the cheaper they got. The more companies made them, the cheaper they got. They arent worth more than $50.00 some places now that DVDs are out.
Now we jump to the 4x4 scene. Someone comes up with an idea... makes one for himself and a buddy. A few guys see them, so he makes a few more. He charges big bucks for the first ones. Then a few companies start making them. But the price never goes down. Like come on. Expensive machines or not, $100.00 for a crossover steering arm? Its a chunk of metal that happens to be milled and machined to fit really good. Then Joe Blow sees it. So he gets a chunk of metal himself, uses his grinder to 'mill and machine it to look like the $$ one, welds it to his knuckle, tapers out a hole for a drag link, and gets his picture posted up as a 'scary steering setup' that no one wants to wheel with.
I dont begrudge the manufacturers that sell these things. Power to them. And I am not going to argue against free enterprise. My point is that the R&D has been paid for. The machine will be paid for eventually too. Whats wrong with selling more volume for cheaper rather than less for more money?
They are using the fact that people will jump on and ridicule the guy who does it differently or cheaper to sell thier stuff. In reality, buddies welded on chunk of metal steering arm is just as safe (assuming it was welded by a competent welder... Im definately not saying that some of those steering pics on that site arent very badly done but...) as the big dollar ones. And to say that you might as well keep the money you saved for the lawsuits isnt right either. Because in the fine print of 90% of the off-road parts we buy it says: 'not legal for on road use' or something to that effect. So, whats the difference between that disclaimer or buddies self made arm if something happens?
My biggest beef is with the attitude that I see a lot on sites like this one. 'If you dont buy the stuff for the big dollars, you aint worth anything, we dont want to wheel with ya, and obviously arent hard core enough to even talk to'.
But, as I said, thats my opinion.
Good discussion... no hard feelings yet I hope! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Mike
BTW, I am not pointing at anyone... this has been a thorn in my side for a while now, and it just got wiggled around a bit and it hurts hehe /forums/images/graemlins/yikes.gif
Trust me, its worse for us in Canada... it would cost me near 500.00 for two arms to Histeer mine, not including draglink or tie rod or ends! Sux.
