SlowLife

So the car I'm putting together for drifting needs rear upper control arm bushings and it turns out noone makes them and the only place to get the whole arm locally is.... The Lexus Dealership. Instead of giving them $250 CAD (per side) I'm going to machine new bushings out of Delrin rod on a lathe. I'll keep you folks updated on how I'm making them and what has been used so you can make yourselves a set instead of buying new junk that will deteriorate in another 10 years.

dicer

Yeah some folks are going to poo poo the hard plastic because of ride quality etc. Well when the day comes that none are available even from the dealer, the plastic will be the only option. Yes please show and tell us how it all works.

SlowLife

Yeah, I also work at a parts store part time (when I'm not in school or running my landscaping business) so I'm going to see if there is a ball joint we can use as well because they are "not serviceable" for our cars.

PureDrifter

iTrader: (10)

I suggest you find someone experienced in suspension fabrication before you go trying to make the OEM arm serviceable. The way the ball joint is pressed in does not easily lend itself to being swapped for an aftermarket unit, assuming you can find a readily available one in the correct size/taper.

Making a complete control arm from scratch would be preferable to modifying the stock pieces. You're probably better off saving and buying some RUCAs since you'll be drifting anyways. Serial9, Battle Version, and possibly Figs Engineering all make them.

dicer

I would really like to find size listings for ball joints. All the places that sell them ask what car its for, I really don't care and we all know they will not list it for a Lexus.
Making a control arm for scratch ? Yeah what material and what heat treat? And all the rest figuring size and loads would be just guess work. And actually wouldn't be too difficult, I would have used some thicker stuff like where that front strut through bolt goes through on the front lower control arm that has to be the weenyest looking point for the load it takes.