Thorbecke Bros. vs AirRide A-arms,... they have arrived!

[8mpg]

I think the Strong Arms are a better looking arm, but the SD's arms are def beefier. I really like SD's products. I dont want to say they are overbuilt, but man, they are some high quality beefy products.

[Jcentsr6]

sO...Are we going to get some PB arms or what??

[Inverter]

Peanut Butter arms....yum

[PBFAB.COM]

Originally Posted by Jcentsr6

sO...Are we going to get some PB arms or what??

Yes, I plan on the arms being production ready by the end of January.

[RunninLo]

Originally Posted by porterbuilt

Yes, I plan on the arms being production ready by the end of January.

Well since I was going to pay you to cut up a set of art lowers for my next project does this mean I can just have my PB's made to spec? And Nate I know you know what I'm talking about, just ask our European friend

Josh

PS where's my carrier bearing x-member?

[lowdownstar]

that is music to my ears Nathan.... can't wait to see them. I think your going to need more workers at your shop to keep up! lol


Ray

[SCOTI]

You guys need to get a room..... or your own thread .

[scotts62]

Originally Posted by SCOTI

You guys need to get a room..... or your own thread .

[scotts62]

They both look fine to me id run them all over town!

[Sweet 85 C10]

SD arms are way beefier then the ART arms I mean you can tell a major difference.

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by Sweet 85 C10

SD arms are way beefier then the ART arms I mean you can tell a major difference.

That doesn't mean the StrongArms are lightweights (non-beefy pieces).

While it sounds good for advertising the strength of the arms, build an entire frame out of .250" wall steel & you'll have a porky frame indeed. The excess wall thickness is dead weight for this type of application (normal street driven truck). Now if you drag your truck on the asphalt or if you're into the hopping thing, I could see the heavy duty arms as a definite benefit.

That being said, the decision will probably come down to cost for many. If ART has priced their arms out of the realm of 'blue-collar' reality, SD's arms or any others (maybe even AIM's) will start selling more.

Like their other stuff, SD does make nice quality parts.

[Sweet 85 C10]

I will say, this SD did make a more reasonable in price Control Arm then ART. I think I might just chrome my SD arms while im at it!

Originally Posted by SCOTI

That doesn't mean the StrongArms are lightweights (non-beefy pieces).

While it sounds good for advertising the strength of the arms, build an entire frame out of .250" wall steel & you'll have a porky frame indeed. The excess wall thickness is dead weight for this type of application (normal street driven truck). Now if you drag your truck on the asphalt or if you're into the hopping thing, I could see the heavy duty arms as a definite benefit.

That being said, the decision will probably come down to cost for many. If ART has priced their arms out of the realm of 'blue-collar' reality, SD's arms or any others (maybe even AIM's) will start selling more.

Like their other stuff, SD does make nice quality parts.

[Bob@ProAuto]

Originally Posted by Sweet 85 C10

I think I might just chrome my SD arms while im at it!

I'd suggest doing some research on "Hydrogen Enbrittlement", before I'd chrome a steel suspension part.

[Bob@ProAuto]

Originally Posted by Sweet 85 C10

I think I might just chrome my SD arms while im at it!

I'd suggest doing some research on "Hydrogen Embrittlement", before I'd chrome a steel suspension part.

[Sweet 85 C10]

hmmm.....I have never seen anyone with probs with Chrome on suspension parts explain?

Originally Posted by Bob@ProAuto

I'd suggest doing some research on "Hydrogen Embrittlement", before I'd chrome a steel suspension part.

[71blaze]

Originally Posted by SCOTI

That doesn't mean the StrongArms are lightweights (non-beefy pieces).

While it sounds good for advertising the strength of the arms, build an entire frame out of .250" wall steel & you'll have a porky frame indeed. The excess wall thickness is dead weight for this type of application (normal street driven truck). Now if you drag your truck on the asphalt or if you're into the hopping thing, I could see the heavy duty arms as a definite benefit.

That being said, the decision will probably come down to cost for many. If ART has priced their arms out of the realm of 'blue-collar' reality, SD's arms or any others (maybe even AIM's) will start selling more.

Like their other stuff, SD does make nice quality parts.

The excess wall thickness is not an advertising gimick it is insurance. SD could save 10$ per set of arm by making them thinner but it would only take 1out of every 90 sets of arms to fail and that wouldn't matter. SD makes product the is as universal as possible. The thicker wall also doesn't collaps during bending and holds more heat during welding so that they stay more concistant and lessens the chance for an arm not fitting right.

[Inverter]

For a truck air arm I would rather have one overbuilt than under.Theres alot of stress involved during sudden ride height adjustments. The SD arms look extra sturdy,similar to Choppin Block arms. Just peace of mind imo and a reasonable price too.

[gmclowsierra]

what is the point of tubular arms other than they look cool. mine is on the stock arm and laying crossmember. bagged and all

[Jcentsr6]

Originally Posted by porterbuilt

Yes, I plan on the arms being production ready by the end of January.

Can you pm $ info. I am looking to get a set of control arms....and would perfer something from you. I enjoy your work, and am sure that your control arms will stand up to your prior custom work! Looking foreward to seeing a set.

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by 71blaze

The excess wall thickness is not an advertising gimick it is insurance. SD could save 10$ per set of arm by making them thinner but it would only take 1out of every 90 sets of arms to fail and that wouldn't matter. SD makes product the is as universal as possible. The thicker wall also doesn't collaps during bending and holds more heat during welding so that they stay more concistant and lessens the chance for an arm not fitting right.

Perhaps you mis-interpeted what I was saying. I did not imply that SD was using any gimmicks advertising their a-arms. My statement was more of a comparison between .187" & .250" tubular a-arms.

[scotts62]

Originally Posted by gmclowsierra

what is the point of tubular arms other than they look cool. mine is on the stock arm and laying crossmember. bagged and all

mine too..

Ill have to give them credit though they do make things look nicer, but the price will probably go up like fuel prices did until there is more competition then prices "might" come down.

[Bob@ProAuto]

Originally Posted by Sweet 85 C10

hmmm.....I have never seen anyone with probs with Chrome on suspension parts explain?

Chrome plating changes the molecular structure of the steel. I can cause the material to become brittle and break. This is why most "Street Rod" suspension companies offer Polished Stainless steel control arms. Chromed parts are cool for anything that doesn't hold you butt up of the road at 65+ MPH.

NASCAR won't allow chrome plated steel wheels. The Michael Waltrip NASCAR teams have powder coated wheels.

If you do chose to plate them, talk to your chrome plating shop and make sure that you feel confident that they know how to do this and if they bake the parts after the "dipping" process and for how long.

http://www.nmfrc.org/crarchive/feb02a.cf

http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/conten.../159/3819/1057

http://www.techplate.com/hydrogenembrittlement.html

http://www.sae.org/technical/papers/960312

[Tony@AirRideTech]

Sorry guys... the prices on the control arms did take a significant jump. It was unfortunate however it had to happen. These arms had not had any kind of signifact increase in the last several years even after the huge increase in material costs the we have all felt. If that opens the door for more companies that want to come in and try to build them and sell them then that is just the way that it goes. It is definitely not the first time we have been beat on.
I remember when we started making S-10 arms... then it seemed like everyone under the sun started making them. There was thread after thread on the S-10 forum about how ours were junk and you ought to buy XXX brand because they are cheaper or they are doing this or doing that. After a couple of years those threads turned into "this guy stole my money and filed bankruptcy or this guys arms didnt even fit and I couldnt even align my truck all the way to my arms broke or the truck takes a hard right everytime I hit a bump.
All I have to say is that we are still here making the same quality control arms that we always have. I am still able to service the first set of arms that we ever sent out the door if I needed to. We also have loads or open road coarse and track time on our components. There is actually two C-10s that i know of that are running these specific components at the bonneville salt flats not to mention all of the other various vehicles that I know of that are road cars, drag cars or salt flat vehicles running our stuff.
Dont get me wrong, this is not a thread of we are god and our control arms are the best... not even close. This is not about calling out any other manufacturer and saying their components are inferior. Sd and PB both make nice stuff and they are both valued dealers of mine. I wont knock em a bit... however if you insist on calling my stuff junk or inferior or whatever, please dont be insulted when I ask you why.....

[Shane]

All right guys, Tony make a very good point, if you're gonna sling around misguided & un-proven insults then be ready to answer to those insults when called out.

With that being said, I will slink back to my dark corner and watch from there. Play nice.

[N2TRUX]

Tony- As always we apprecaite your candid response. You elaborated on the sentiments in my earlier response.