TheSamba.com :: View topic - Syncro front lower control arm differences

Sun Nov 23, 2014 10:56 pm

What are the differences between the front lower control arms? Can the later cast arms be used in place of the early sheetmetal arms? The ones on my '87 are the stamped sheetmetal type. They appear to be rusting out on the lower section. Has anyone repaired these in a similar situation?

Sun Nov 23, 2014 11:02 pm

i thought all the syncro lower control arms were pressed steel, the cast ones are 2wd.
i'd take them and have them media blasted and inspect them once clean, to see just how bad the corrosion is, if they are saveable, get them galvanized or plated

Mon Nov 24, 2014 12:01 am

No later arms on syncro, around 88 I think, were cast too.

Yes, you can swap em out, I think the link for the stabilizer bar is different though, as a result.

Mon Nov 24, 2014 4:56 am

90 & 91 USDM Syncros have cast lower control arms.
The geometry is different.
No separate lower ball joint assembly or bolt on radius rod like with the earlier stamped steel versions.
The sway bar drop links are different due to the different angle that the LCA resides at.

Yes the systems are interchangeable if ALL parts are used for complete early or late setups.

I have every single part available, early and late.
The prices will scared you due to limited availability and demand.
Plenty in Europe if you are up to importing what you need, but be forewarned, rust in Europe rivals some of the worst found here.

Custom parts are also available to replace these stock parts and offer more compatibility with maximum suspension lifting and 930 front halfshafts that are larger in diameter than stock.

FYI, rust perforated suspension parts will not pass a state inspection, nor should they :wink:

$yncro

Mon Nov 24, 2014 10:39 am

Burley Motorsports makes an excellent replacement lower control arm for the sheet metal Syncro arms. The later cast arms don't allow quite as much articulation as the sheet metal arms. You might want to place a want to buy ad in the classifieds or Burley may have some take out stock arms if your on a budget.

Mon Nov 24, 2014 11:56 am

zeohsix wrote: Burley Motorsports makes an excellent replacement lower control arm for the sheet metal Syncro arms. The later cast arms don't allow quite as much articulation as the sheet metal arms. You might want to place a want to buy ad in the classifieds or Burley may have some take out stock arms if your on a budget.

I'm interested as to why the later arms give less articulation than the early arms.

Please could you enlighten me? :)

I have the later cast arms on Limey and the earlier pressed steel arms (with re-enforcement) on Skogen.

MG

Mon Nov 24, 2014 12:29 pm

Does anyone have a link to get mine rebuilt (US or EU)?

I did see the Burley ones & the 930 axles. Very nice.

At this point, I would rather just get stock arms.

Mon Nov 24, 2014 12:54 pm

DaiSyncro did the ones above in a spec that I requested.

Dai has the ability to modify to exactly what you want.

https://www.facebook.com/DaiSyncro

MG

Mon Nov 24, 2014 1:10 pm

What did you have done to them? It looks like there's an added piece on the bottom for axle grinds...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xj8ajYD2o3g

Mon Nov 24, 2014 1:11 pm

I need to add some protection like this:
Quote:

I've dented mine a little bit already!

Mon Nov 24, 2014 5:37 pm

Why the raw galv with no topcoat? Raw galvanize can rust through with damage from road debris or scraping on a trail, the worst part is that it can fester under the plating.

Tue Nov 25, 2014 11:18 am

i galvanised my trailing arms around 4 or 5 years ago along with most of the under body parts, mainly because it covers everything inside and out unlike paint or powder coat, it has dulled down but there is no sign of scratching or rust from anything that has been galvanised,
in my opinion its the best coating that you can have applied to steel parts on these vans, it may not be to everyones taste, however it can be painted if desired but its not nessacary in my opinion.
even after diving off road or through a british winter i am still amazed at how clean every thing that has been galvanised looks and is.

just my thoughts,

neil

Sat Nov 29, 2014 11:05 am

I have now painted the arms red as part of the Busfest Syncro conversion.

The reason for painting them red was part of the 'Everything that's red, is Syncro specific' so that everyone could see which parts I'd just fitted.

As such, they are coated.

The rear arms are also Galvanised but I'll be painting them red as well the next time I have a chance to be around them.

MG

Mon Feb 23, 2015 1:35 pm

insyncro wrote: 90 & 91 USDM Syncros have cast lower control arms.
The geometry is different.
No separate lower ball joint assembly or bolt on radius rod like with the earlier stamped steel versions.
The sway bar drop links are different due to the different angle that the LCA resides at.
......

Given that there's no separate lwr ball joint assembly on the cast arms, are the early stamped ones preferred (plus they are lighter)?

Here's mine #-o

Mon Feb 23, 2015 2:54 pm

tjet wrote: insyncro wrote: 90 & 91 USDM Syncros have cast lower control arms.
The geometry is different.
No separate lower ball joint assembly or bolt on radius rod like with the earlier stamped steel versions.
The sway bar drop links are different due to the different angle that the LCA resides at.
......

Given that there's no separate lwr ball joint assembly on the cast arms, are the early stamped ones preferred (plus they are lighter)?

Here's mine #-o

Well you're not going to hole that arm :wink:

MG

Mon Feb 23, 2015 6:58 pm

My condolences.

Mon Feb 23, 2015 7:05 pm

Can I install these "late" ones, or is there some other stuff I need to swap out to make it work?

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=1747040

At least cast arms wont rust thru

Mon Feb 23, 2015 7:40 pm

For safety sake of the driver and all other motorists on the road, I recommend pulling what you can and crushing this van.
I said it when it was on eBay, when you tried to sell it to me and now again after seeing more of the condition and handywork it has been subjected to.

You obviously do not really see the issues at hand with this van.

Thinking it needs two arms is nuts.

I will leave you to field others advise on this one.

Mon Feb 23, 2015 7:54 pm

I intend doing that once I find a 2wd donar van.

On these late arms, will they work by themseves or do I need other items to install them on my early syncro?

Mon Feb 23, 2015 7:58 pm

I'm not sure you would want to. Those late model arms are much heavier. Unstrung weight in this area is the worst thing you can do to ruin the
handling and road feel of a vehicle. In this case VW or maybe the dam
Austrians who built this junk had no concern over this. As of the last 20
years or so, note how vehicles have mostly promoted AL wheels. Even on
big trucks. This is to keep unsprung weight as low as possible, keeping the
vehicle under control easier, keeping the vehicle speed more consistent, which all equals fuel mileage. What were they thinking?

If you simply cover the lower openings in the old style control arm like I did years ago, they will not rust.

tjet wrote: Can I install these "late" ones, or is there some other stuff I need to swap out to make it work?

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=1747040

At least cast arms wont rust thru