making a jig for control arms

I want to make tubular s10 arms from the stock geometry. i have a good idea on how to make the jig for the side where they bolt to the frame but not the side where the balljoint connects to the spindle. i want to use a bolt on balljoint with more travel than stock. how do you setup a jig to locate a balljoint? they swivel, and the aftermarket ones id like to use are differnt.

get the balljoints that you want and place them on your jig were you want them then make a plate for them then you weld the bars onto the balljoint plate
there might be another way but thats the way id do it

Edited: 6/25/2006 4:09:56 PM by stockflooredsdime



The most important part of making a new control arm with stock geometry is to make sure the balljoint mounting point & the bushings/frame mounting points stay the same. Anything in between can technically do anything.

I would recommend building your jig on top of a flat piece of 1/4" or 3/16" plate.

The easiest way to do it would be to mount the STOCK control arm to the plate using some D-tabs. To replicate the ball joint location, I would remove the stock ball joint and use some tubing or whatever you have to simulate the exact angle & ball joint location. That way when you remove the stock control arm from the jig, you have the exact mounting points of the bushings and ball joint.

thats what i would do if i planned on using a stock ball joint, but i want to use a different ball joint, i guess the question is how do i put a differnt ball joint in thwe same exact location, it doesnt matter how it mounts to the control arm but it physically has to be in the same place as the stock one.

Edited: 6/25/2006 4:51:25 PM by stockflooredsdime

You could always modify your stock control arms to accept the new ball joints, then build the jig from there.

It might be easier to replicate the stock ball joint location if you do it that way, but it is definitely more work.

Originally posted by stockflooredsdime



Edited: 6/25/2006 4:51:25 PM by stockflooredsdime

You could always modify your stock control arms to accept the new ball joints, then build the jig from there.

It might be easier to replicate the stock ball joint location if you do it that way, but it is definitely more work.

thats the idea im lookin for! thanks

well you dont really need a jig for the ball joint itself. You need to jig it to fit the mounting plate for the joint. The easiest way would be to make a mounting plate for the frame side of the arm and then make some sort of drop in piece for the ball joint mount. So when you cut out your mounting plate, then you can just drop it into the jig and the angle would already be set then both sides are set and you just connect them with the tubing....which you should make some kind of jig for as well so your arches and length are always the same.

i know that i need a spot that the plate drops into which will ultimately locate the balljoint of course, however how do you determine where the location of that plate, assuming that its a different balljoint, you cant just eyeball where the plate should go. once the jig is made you would put the bushing sleeves and ball joint plates in then weld them up to some tubes but locating the ball joint with the correct position and angle is the tricky part. im thinking if i weld a ball joint plate into my control arm with the big hole in the exact location of the stock hole then i can make my jig like that