Author Topic: Hotchkis Upper Control Arms for CHEAP!!  (Read 7289 times)

Offline 1 Wild R/T

  • Resident
  • *****
  • Posts: 4594
Re: Hotchkis Upper Control Arms for CHEAP!!
« Reply #15 on: February 27, 2015 - 09:14:43 PM »
Now         Price:   $725.85 & FREE Shipping    I've I'd seen the $400 price I'd have bought all of them...
JS27N0B 70 Challenger R/T Convertible  FJ5 Sublime, Show Poodle w/90,000 miles since resto
WS27L8G 68 Coronet R/T Convertible  PP1 Bright Red, Project
RM21H9E 69 Road Runner Coupe R4 Performance Red, Sold...
5H21C  65 Falcon 2 dr Wagon... Dog Hauler...




Offline Cudaragtop

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 1437
  • Woulda Shoulda Cuda! Randy
Re: Hotchkis Upper Control Arms for CHEAP!!
« Reply #16 on: February 27, 2015 - 10:55:56 PM »
Cheese'n rice,
I seen this at lunch today at work for $434 with four sets left.
Just got home to order them and there up to $619 and one set left.
Guess I'll have to keep my eye on amazon.
 :swear:
I put stuff in my Amazon cart all the time and each time I log in and check my cart there is a notice that the price has changed on multiple items.
Sometimes up sometimes down...
Most of the time it's pennies but sometimes it's enough for me to say that's too good to pass up. I am an Amazonoholic...
They know it's in your cart, maybe when there are enough sitting in carts they drop the price... :dunno: :clueless:
- Randy D.
1 of 88 1970 340 4-Speed 'Cuda Convertibles
69 Barracuda Fastback Project Album https://goo.gl/photos/XjsAsx4LDo7psimU8
----o00o--'(_)'--o00o----

Offline WildJones

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 227
Re: Hotchkis Upper Control Arms for CHEAP!!
« Reply #17 on: February 27, 2015 - 11:02:09 PM »
Well got my arms today. Came in a sealed box. I'm stoked. Also got my new steering box, but that's just icing on the cake :).
Mike
95682
1970 Cuda

Offline dave73chally

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 1304
Re: Hotchkis Upper Control Arms for CHEAP!!
« Reply #18 on: February 28, 2015 - 01:19:03 AM »
Got mine today too  :crazy: I feel like I stuck it to the man  :lol2:
73 Challenger
512 / 4spd / Hotchkis & QA1 Suspension

Offline dfrazz

  • 1970 Cuda - 1968 Charger
  • Resident
  • *****
  • Posts: 4070
Re: Hotchkis Upper Control Arms for CHEAP!!
« Reply #19 on: February 28, 2015 - 01:51:32 PM »
Up to $725 now.  You guys got it while the gettin's good.

Offline brads70

  • C-C.com Expert
  • ********
  • Posts: 18747
Re: Hotchkis Upper Control Arms for CHEAP!!
« Reply #20 on: February 28, 2015 - 02:05:23 PM »
At  the $400 dollar price I was thinking of buying spares just in case....
I found these as a cheap source possibly? ( for a buddys circle track car, not sure if they fit a "stock" chassis or not?)
http://shop.victorycircle.com/SearchResults.asp?searching=Y&sort=13&cat=1851&show=10&page=4
Brad
1970 Challenger 451stroker/4L60 auto OD
Barrie,Ontario,Canada
Proud to own one of the best cars ever made!!!!!

My restoration thread 
http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?topic=59072.0
 My handling upgrade post
http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?topic=73985.0

Offline HP2

  • Resident
  • *****
  • Posts: 4478
Re: Hotchkis Upper Control Arms for CHEAP!!
« Reply #21 on: March 02, 2015 - 09:45:11 AM »
I found these as a cheap source possibly? ( for a buddys circle track car, not sure if they fit a "stock" chassis or not?)
http://shop.victorycircle.com/SearchResults.asp?searching=Y&sort=13&cat=1851&show=10&page=4


Good question. Plus you need to buy the adjusting bolts and heims to complete them. I'm sure that still adds up to a lower total price than the Hotchkis parts, but the extra work and parts required...

Offline dodj

  • Sr. Resident
  • ******
  • Posts: 6197
Re: Hotchkis Upper Control Arms for CHEAP!!
« Reply #22 on: March 03, 2015 - 01:27:59 AM »
\Plus you need to buy the adjusting bolts and heims to complete them.
Don't the heims make adjustment difficult and they have a short life span on a street vehicle, no? Unless you spend even more to put rubber boots over them? To try to seal them from the elements. Where moog bushings get you to pretty much the same place for 50 bucks?
Scott
1973 Challenger  440 4 spd 
2007.5 3500 6.7 Cummins Diesel, Anarchy tuned.
Good friends don't let friends do stupid things. ........alone.

Offline HP2

  • Resident
  • *****
  • Posts: 4478
Re: Hotchkis Upper Control Arms for CHEAP!!
« Reply #23 on: March 03, 2015 - 09:33:55 AM »
The design of the arm impacts how difficult/easily heims can be adjusted. The units Brad pictured above are such that the heims thread into an adjusting sleeve which them threads through the arm. In this manner, the heims can be adjust without removing the arm form the car. The only other arms I've seen like these are from Magnumforce. Most other manufacturers that use heims thread them directly into the control arm tube, so you have to remove the arm to thread them in/out for adjustment.

Heim joint lifespan can be shorter if you aren't performing regular inspections and cleaning and lubing them, or if you run them without covers. If you want a true set it and forget it approach, then bushings really are a better choice but by design. The only drawback with the Moog offsets for stock arms is they have a limited range they can adjust for.  However, there are thread in bushings that can be substituted for heims in many of the tubular  designs so you get the large adjustment range and a rubber or urethane bushing. However, these still require arm removal for adjustment.

Offline brads70

  • C-C.com Expert
  • ********
  • Posts: 18747
Re: Hotchkis Upper Control Arms for CHEAP!!
« Reply #24 on: March 03, 2015 - 09:42:07 AM »
Don't the heims make adjustment difficult and they have a short life span on a street vehicle, no? Unless you spend even more to put rubber boots over them? To try to seal them from the elements. Where moog bushings get you to pretty much the same place for 50 bucks?


The stock arms and offset Moog bushing are the way to go IMO money wise. I went with the Hotchkis arms because I went with C-Body  spindles , A-Body LCA etc.... and needed the adjustability.   You could use these http://www.sealsit.com/rod-end-boots.html
I went with this http://www.sealsit.com/rod-end-seals.html
Mine have been on the car for 4-5 years now with no issues.  Rod ends are not that expensive. On other parts of my suspension I used these rod ends http://www.qa1.net/rod-ends-and-related/rod-ends/endura-series/am-series-aluminum

It IS a bit of work adjusting the Hotchkis arms as compared to the stock set up.
Brad
1970 Challenger 451stroker/4L60 auto OD
Barrie,Ontario,Canada
Proud to own one of the best cars ever made!!!!!

My restoration thread 
http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?topic=59072.0
 My handling upgrade post
http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?topic=73985.0

Offline dfrazz

  • 1970 Cuda - 1968 Charger
  • Resident
  • *****
  • Posts: 4070
Re: Hotchkis Upper Control Arms for CHEAP!!
« Reply #25 on: March 03, 2015 - 11:03:35 AM »
I found this article on upgrading your suspension on a budget, and it calls out using the offset bushings as Brad mentioned. It also has a lot of other interesting ideas. 

www.waywardgarage.com/tech/MoparSuspension.html

Offline HP2

  • Resident
  • *****
  • Posts: 4478
Re: Hotchkis Upper Control Arms for CHEAP!!
« Reply #26 on: March 03, 2015 - 02:39:54 PM »
I'd forgoe the 11/16 tie rods extra weight, little benefit, IMO. Upper control arm sleeves are also another, meh, "upgrade" I've never needed. Rather than swap an entire lower control arm for more camber, you can use hardened washers from Mac-Car for around $5. Everything else is reasonably good info except for the typo on fast ratio steering box that should be firm feel steering box.

Of course the irony of that list is those are upgrades that will step up the performance to a point of satisfying 90% of the drivers out there for less than a few grand. Yet there seems to be  a large number of guys who think they have to go to a full blown coil over conversion for $10k to achieve the same level of performance.

Offline dfrazz

  • 1970 Cuda - 1968 Charger
  • Resident
  • *****
  • Posts: 4070
Re: Hotchkis Upper Control Arms for CHEAP!!
« Reply #27 on: March 03, 2015 - 03:27:50 PM »
Of course the irony of that list is those are upgrades that will step up the performance to a point of satisfying 90% of the drivers out there for less than a few grand. Yet there seems to be  a large number of guys who think they have to go to a full blown coil over conversion for $10k to achieve the same level of performance.

 :iagree:  It is easy to get sucked into the cool look of a Magnum Force or AlterKation or even a non-coil system like QA1 or Hotchkis, but just an alternative way to achieve much of the same result that costs less.