Making My Own Control Arms

[Enz0]

I think you have made the same search as me....
...and I couldnt find any cross sectional diagrams of a Flanbloc either. Plenty of other types of 'flexible' bushings.
Trade name, right...? Is it intellectual property or that they just dont get used widely..? Either way, I'd like to see one cut one in half....

Does this help you?

すべりブッシュ: Sliding Bushing
ピロボールブッシュ: Pillow Ball Bushing
ナイロン: Nylon
ダストシール: Dust Seal
テフロンキャンバス: Teflon Canvas
ラバー: Rubber

These bushings are used in the last Mazda RX-7 (FD). They are not used widely because of the cost, in my opinion.

 

[Raulpereg]

Impressive work, @lambertius. This would be great savings for us! I just have checked the price at Eurospares as I need to change right front lower level and hub holder and price is too high, even buying them used is almost 1k€ in material. But Im afraid I don't have any other choice at this point as the play at the ball joint is just too much so I need to replace them urgently. Would anyone recommend any other place to buy cheaper than Eurospares? It is to be sent to Spain. Wouldn you trust buying used parts? I see that for the lower level there is the possibility of buying also pattern, being even cheaper than used. Would this pattern be a more reliable choice than used? Thanks in advance for your feedback

 

[Paulrv2]

Impressive work, @lambertius. This would be great savings for us! I just have checked the price at Eurospares as I need to change right front lower level and hub holder and price is too high, even buying them used is almost 1k€ in material. But Im afraid I don't have any other choice at this point as the play at the ball joint is just too much so I need to replace them urgently. Would anyone recommend any other place to buy cheaper than Eurospares? It is to be sent to Spain. Wouldn you trust buying used parts? I see that for the lower level there is the possibility of buying also pattern, being even cheaper than used. Would this pattern be a more reliable choice than used? Thanks in advance for your feedback

I had to replace my control arms and ball joints all round so went with the pattern parts from Eurospares, and would be wary of buying second hand control arms or ball joints. Looked at a few other places but didn’t anything significantly cheaper. Have also finished up having to replace clutch, power unit and F1 pump sensors etc. Bit eye watering but needed doing ☹️

 

[lambertius]

Impressive work, @lambertius. This would be great savings for us! I just have checked the price at Eurospares as I need to change right front lower level and hub holder and price is too high, even buying them used is almost 1k€ in material. But Im afraid I don't have any other choice at this point as the play at the ball joint is just too much so I need to replace them urgently. Would anyone recommend any other place to buy cheaper than Eurospares? It is to be sent to Spain. Wouldn you trust buying used parts? I see that for the lower level there is the possibility of buying also pattern, being even cheaper than used. Would this pattern be a more reliable choice than used? Thanks in advance for your feedback

I had to replace mine all round so went with the pattern parts from Eurospares; would be wary of buying second hand control arms or ball joints.

Yeah I wouldn't buy second hand unless you're certain the wrecker will return your money if the parts aren't suitable. AFIK the pattern parts are the OEM parts so are the same quality.

The only thing I can do in the short term that might help, is I can try the ball joint injection on your arms. I will finally be reassembling my car and doing that on mine in August. The cost of the materials is only $100AUD, and it would be nice to have someone else's opinion on whether or not it works. To do that though, you'll need to send the problem arms to me in Australia.

 

[safrane]

Used their Pattern Parts on one of mine... as good if not better than OEM.

 

[Raulpereg]

Yeah I wouldn't buy second hand unless you're certain the wrecker will return your money if the parts aren't suitable. AFIK the pattern parts are the OEM parts so are the same quality.

The only thing I can do in the short term that might help, is I can try the ball joint injection on your arms. I will finally be reassembling my car and doing that on mine in August. The cost of the materials is only $100AUD, and it would be nice to have someone else's opinion on whether or not it works. To do that though, you'll need to send the problem arms to me in Australia.

Thanks a lot, you are really kind. The thing is that I don't have my own private garage, so I cannot afford that kind of work. I need to buy the parts and carry the car to a professional place to do the work, so Im afraid I will go the Eurospares way. According to your feedback I will then buy the pattern for the level and new for the hub, this last is not having pattern...so 1,2k€ material and I see this is without VAT! With shipping costs and installation I guess it will be a work well over 2k...

 

[safrane]

Sadly the parts are expensive, but the car was c €70k new... its never going to cost Ford money to run, but they are too much, like many of the parts.

 

[rs48635]

Thanks a lot, you are really kind. The thing is that I don't have my own private garage, so I cannot afford that kind of work. I need to buy the parts and carry the car to a professional place to do the work, so Im afraid I will go the Eurospares way. According to your feedback I will then buy the pattern for the level and new for the hub, this last is not having pattern...so 1,2k€ material and I see this is without VAT! With shipping costs and installation I guess it will be a work well over 2k...

I have "pattern part" on my 3200 and it appears much better made than the original.

 

[rs48635]

Well I’m not doing it again!

^^^ what he said! Sawed both bolts (by hand) from OSF lower wishbone back in 2014 and may arms are still tired. If you can get thew bushes out of a wishbone you are doing very well. This is the whole issue with mine, they appear to have fused inside each arm. My arm went back to Maserati in Italy and was not returned.

 

[Raulpereg]

Sadly the parts are expensive, but the car was c €70k new... its never going to cost Ford money to run, but they are too much, like many of the parts.

70? My GS was 123k€ with extras in Spain in 2006. You are right that we might accept higher running cost for a car like this, but I just paid almost 4 cleaning radiator, one of the cats, engine mounts....and appart from that there is something else I need to check, but I will ask that in a different topic chat to avoid changing the content of this one. When I have it running as it should I will be a happy guy!

 

[Paulrv2]

I’ve spent around £5,000.00 on replacement parts plus cost of FD DBW to return my car to how I want it. That’s towards top-end of what I allowed when buying it but still happy that I will have a lot of car for my money when work is all done.

 

[rs48635]

I think you have made the same search as me....
...and I couldnt find any cross sectional diagrams of a Flanbloc either. Plenty of other types of 'flexible' bushings.
Trade name, right...? Is it intellectual property or that they just dont get used widely..? Either way, I'd like to see one cut one in half....

Have just registered and can now see the pictures.
Still none the wiser! which bit of billy bob pictures is delrin? It all looks like metal to me



cross section

 

[Paulrv2]

My impression is that replacement is most likely to happen when ball joints are worn so complete control arm is fitted. I’ve a set sitting in the garage but doubt they’ll get used.

 

[Raulpereg]

I have finally ordered pattern for the lower level and used for the hub, this was not having pattern and new is not in stock, so only choice... Any of you had bad experience with used parts?

 

[Zep]

^^^ what he said! Sawed both bolts (by hand) from OSF lower wishbone back in 2014 and may arms are still tired. If you can get thew bushes out of a wishbone you are doing very well. This is the whole issue with mine, they appear to have fused inside each arm. My arm went back to Maserati in Italy and was not returned.

Just catching up with this, they do come out, they just like a proper good fight.

 

[rs48635]

Just catching up with this, they do come out, they just like a proper good fight.

I just might have a pop at mine when I get round to the 3200. So far have replaced two lower wishbones so bound to need at least two more. Out maybe 6.

 

[Corranga]

Sadly the parts are expensive, but the car was c €70k new... its never going to cost Ford money to run, but they are too much, like many of the parts.

I see this mentioned quite a lot, but from what I’ve seen is not necessarily the case. When I was clutch shopping I came across an old Maserati parts price list from when the cars were £60k+ the cost of a clutch, flywheel and bearing was about 30% of what I paid. That is to say, the car is worth 15% but the parts are 300%+ when compared to when they were expensive cars.
It seems to me that Maserati simply don’t want these older cars to exist outside of collectors for some reason, a real shame.

 

[Raulpereg]

Exactly, and just wondering what will we do when used parts are gone! Hopefully @lambertius have the solution working in short time

 

[Leicesterminiracer]

Tensile strength 2 by 2

 

[philw696]

Tensile strength 2 by 2

Could have atleast put some Cuprinol on it or Ronseal.