call
SMS
Cart
We sell a lot of control arms here, whether they’re made for air suspension, lift kits, or just general setups. Between all those links you have a few different control arm variants, and that’s just the start. What really separates all of them is how they’re made, and that’s pretty important. After all, you control arms that will work with what you’re using them for, right?
So what are the differences between these different types of control arms? Let’s find out.
Cast Steel
Many different vehicles start with something straightforward like a cast steel control arm. They’re built by pouring molten steel into a mold for the part, and then, once it cools, it’s more or less ready to go. That means they’re not quite as pretty as steel arms, which are usually welded up and smooth. Instead, cast steel control arms have a textured finish and look a little rough around the edges. You can usually see a casting seam, too.
Now cast steel control arms are pretty strong, but keep them as-is. While yes, you can weld to a cast part, it’s a much more complicated process than traditional steel-to-steel welding. And if you want to drill a hole for tapping, you’re not going to get as strong of a connection on those threads. Basically, leave your cast arms as they are.
Cast Aluminum
The same system is in place for cast aluminum control arms, but they’re not identical. They’re usually kept in their raw form, as aluminum doesn’t corrode the same way steel does. Aluminum is also lighter than steel, which may work to your advantage depending on the setup you’re building. But, the same drawbacks are here, including welding and all that.
Stamped Steel
You’ve probably run into stamped steel control arms before, as they’re on a lot of stock trucks. There’s a seam on these, just like on the cast versions, but these are welded, not cast. They’re also a smoother surface, and usually are painted a glossy black. It’s pretty standard stuff, except you can weld and drill into these arms, unlike the cast ones.
Welded Steel
We sell a lot of custom control arms that are made of welded steel tubing. Because they’re made for specific applications — think coilovers, bags, etc. — they can have a lot more variation than cast models that are made by the thousand. These CPP models, for example, are made for OBS Chevy trucks and are narrowed 1 inch per side, which helps give you clearance for your wheels and fenders.
Putting it all together
Now why does any of this matter? Because manufacturers use all of these different types, and sometimes you have to pick the right one to get the correct fitment from us.
For example, from 2014–2018 there were three different types of upper and lower control arms used on the Chevrolet Silverado GM 1500 trucks. Each one has its own specific ball joint, and they’re all made of different materials. Buying the wrong ones means buying ones that won’t fit your truck, and you’ll be stuck waiting for replacements.
Ultimately, you can check your VIN and check them visually to see what kind of control arm you have on your truck. But knowing what you have is important, because without that we can’t get you into the right part.
So do your homework, because we want to be sure that you’re taken care of properly.
