Aluminum drop spindles?

[madmax032]

Good Evening!
Just joined since I recently acquired a 2016 Tahoe LT RWD and I want to install drop spindles on the front. Given that I would not like to increase unsprung mass, does anyone know of a company that still makes aluminum drop spindles? Seems that MaxTrac used to as the pictures and descriptions can still be found on the web but it seems that they maybe switched to cast iron. Also, I vaguely seem to remember that Belltech used to but I could be losing it...either way, if anyone could point me to a new or used aluminum set, I would really appreciate that

 

[Joseph Garcia]

Welcome to the Forum from NH.

Lots of knowledgeable folks here who freely share their knowledge, experiences, and perspectives. Knowledge is power.

I hope that you will become a participating member in the Forum's discussions.

Pics of the truck, please.

I cannot personally assist you with your question, but other members of this Forum much more knowledgeable than me in this area will chime in.

 

[slupie]

I did mine few years ago with the Belltech 1019 kit and I don't remember seeing aluminum ones back then. Maybe someone makes them but I have not seen any.

 

[madmax032]

Welcome to the Forum from NH.

Lots of knowledgeable folks here who freely share their knowledge, experiences, and perspectives. Knowledge is power.

I hope that you will become a participating member in the Forum's discussions.

Pics of the truck, please.

I cannot personally assist you with your question, but other members of this Forum much more knowledgeable than me in this area will chime in.

Posted in the Welcome thread

 

[madmax032]

I did mine few years ago with the Belltech 1019 kit and I don't remember seeing aluminum ones back then. Maybe someone makes them but I have not seen any.

At this point, I have gotten a few replies from vendors that were still advertising aluminum ones saying that the manufacturers have switched to iron. Bummer. If I had to guess, I would imagine that some people have had aluminum ones break and manufacturers freaked out and switched to cast iron.

 

[slupie]

At this point, I have gotten a few replies from vendors that were still advertising aluminum ones saying that the manufacturers have switched to iron. Bummer. If I had to guess, I would imagine that some people have had aluminum ones break and manufacturers freaked out and switched to cast iron.

Cast iron is also cheaper to manufacture and easier to cast compared to AL.

 

[Joseph Garcia]

At this point, I have gotten a few replies from vendors that were still advertising aluminum ones saying that the manufacturers have switched to iron. Bummer. If I had to guess, I would imagine that some people have had aluminum ones break and manufacturers freaked out and switched to cast iron.

Aluminum also has a nasty tendency to work harden and fracture. The motion and surface/internal stress of the control arms in normal driving can in the long run work harden them.

 

[Joseph Garcia]

Cast iron is also cheaper to manufacture and easier to cast compared to AL.

Yes, the cost of iron ingot versus aluminum ingot is far cheaper, and the alloying metals added to achieve the final cast metallurgy properties may be a bit higher with aluminum. The cost of casting aluminum is far cheaper than iron, as the required melting temperature for iron is a few thousand degrees higher than aluminum, and the highest cost associated with casting is the energy required to make the metal molten.

Further, Aluminum control arms can be either cast or forged. If both options are available, always select to forged ones, as they have far superior strength characteristics.