steeda tubular control arms - Focaljet

**pocus** · 03-18-2006, 08:37 AM

Ok i have already baught these but i'm starting to get a bunch of feedback saying that i shouldn't put them on. People are telling me that these are a porely built part and that they break rather easily during track use and daily driving. Mainly it has to do with the welds. I'm wondering about this now myself. That happens to be a major part of a cars suspension and if it's not a good part and it breaks while dirving you could really get hurt. I'm woundering what steeda has to say about this. I know the company has a strong background in performance and suspension so i can't really emagine them wanting to sell a bad part. So whats the real deal?

**Honda Hunter** · 03-18-2006, 05:34 PM

There has only been one reported case of these arms failing, and that was from a fellow FJ member. I don't recall exactly who it was. He broke one side at one of the welds.

The funny thing was that the arm did NOT break on the track, or durring hard use. It failed when he was loading the car back up onto the trailer after the event.

This sounds funny to me. I don't see how an arm could last a full day of racing, then fail when being babied up onto a trailer. It leads me to believe the car was posibly strapped down incorrectly, or loaded onto the trailer wrong, and the arms were stressed in ways they shouldn't have been.

We on our #22 race Focus have been running the same set of these arms for over a year and have had zero issues. I can assure you, our race car has seen more track tome and WAY more abuse than any solo car or daily driver. This car is used as our Focus part test mule, and gets driven HARD.

You shouldn't have anything to worry about. I picked up the last set of arms that we had in stock a few days ago actually to use on my personal car after seeing how well they held up on the race car.

Focus Central was the company producing these, but they unfortunatly went out business a few months back. These arms are no longer avalible from them, and we have sold out of our remaining inventory.

We do plan on making some tubular arms of our own in the near future to replace the no longer produced FC units.

Stay tuned by checking our forum frequently, and also our website. www.SteedaFocus.com

**pocus** · 03-19-2006, 12:14 AM

thanks for the input i feel alot better about putting them on my car now. Although you no longer have anymore of these pieces you may want to keep an eye out for other therds that have been trashing them. Just so you can get the right info out there.

**Honda Hunter** · 03-19-2006, 05:59 AM

Your welcome to share the new information you've aquired to the non-believers.

It's hard for me to watch over all the forums anymore.

**Honda Hunter** · 03-20-2006, 09:55 PM

Thought I'd mention that you should get a set of poly front control arm bushings to have for installation.

I believe we have a few sets in stock right now.

**pocus** · 03-21-2006, 04:12 AM

i already baught the complete energy suspension bushing kit. but thanks for the info.

**Honda Hunter** · 03-22-2006, 12:40 PM

AH yes, I remember your order. I actually packed your order up.

After packing your order and two other sets of arms up, I had to grab a set for myself.

**pocus** · 03-22-2006, 01:48 PM

so i don't suppose there is any kind of warrenty behind those. I really dought it but have to ask.

**Honda Hunter** · 03-22-2006, 03:15 PM

Nope. No warrenty from us, we don't manufacture them.

I would have said call Focus Central, but that's no longer posible.

I think your out of luck as far as a warrenty goes.

Fear not however, I'll post some information later tonight that will further help convince you how strong these arms are.

**Nliiitend1** · 03-26-2006, 09:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Honda Hunter

Nope. No warrenty from us, we don't manufacture them.

I would have said call Focus Central, but that's no longer posible.

I think your out of luck as far as a warrenty goes.

Fear not however, I'll post some information later tonight that will further help convince you how strong these arms are.

info?

**larryinfl** · 04-04-2006, 10:54 AM

Hello Nliiitend1, I don't have any info on it. Since Focus Central is out of business info is harder to come by. Hopefully Nick (HondaHuner) has some info he can post.

**HTPerformance** · 05-15-2006, 01:59 PM

Any update Nick?

**St170wagon** · 05-20-2006, 09:16 AM

I have these arms on my car now....... I don't think there bad quaily. The only thing I see with them is the ball joint...... Its not a sealed unit and the angle of movement is low...
You can look up my posts about the install here on FJ
Tips on your bushings... make sure you have the inner sleave for the rear inner ploy bushing.. YOU WELL NOT GET THE OLD ONE off the old control arm

**Focus_ZXT** · 05-20-2006, 11:51 AM

I have seen a cracked set, made from black pipe like you buy at HD and welds did not penetrate.

**pocus** · 05-27-2006, 12:59 PM

i'm still up in the air on if i want to put these on my car or not. I have them sitting around and it would be nice to use them but i don't want to risk having them break while i'm in the middle of a 550 mile road trip that i tend to make every mounth or two. Also i plan on autocrossing alot and would not want them to break while on the track either. I've heard plenty of good things and then i've also heard the bad things So i guess i'm just going to keep them around and maybe try them out later when i have a second car

**tparker** · 05-29-2006, 11:07 AM

You know you could always carry the stock ones with you just incase one breaks and then you could put them back on and be on your way. Or you could just mail them to me and I will test them on my car for you. LOL

**pocus** · 05-29-2006, 01:59 PM

thats alright I think i'll hold on to them I will let you know how that manifold works out in a few weeks here though

**BadIdea** · 05-29-2006, 06:59 PM

My understanding is the problem has to due with them breaking and not bending like the oem stuff. Don't know if they were ever redesigned, but the 1st batch had that problem. This is a part that needs to be professionally engineered and certified. I doubt an autocross would break them, but more likely a pot hole at high speed.

**Dwzx3fc** · 05-29-2006, 07:18 PM

Wire brush the paint from the welds and either check them out yourself or take
them to a welding shop to have them inspected or x-rayed.I think the x-ray part
is super expensive but a good certified welder should just be able to look at them and give an opinion if they are safe to use.

**pocus** · 05-30-2006, 06:00 AM

theres a good idea and thankfully i know a person that is certified in many different field of welding. I'll have him take a look at them and maybe just add an additional brace or something like that.

03-18-2006, 08:37 AM	#1
pocus Senior TEAM Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Janesville WI Posts: 1,313	steeda tubular control arms Ok i have already baught these but i'm starting to get a bunch of feedback saying that i shouldn't put them on. People are telling me that these are a porely built part and that they break rather easily during track use and daily driving. Mainly it has to do with the welds. I'm wondering about this now myself. That happens to be a major part of a cars suspension and if it's not a good part and it breaks while dirving you could really get hurt. I'm woundering what steeda has to say about this. I know the company has a strong background in performance and suspension so i can't really emagine them wanting to sell a bad part. So whats the real deal? __________________ 358whp and 335TQ-23psi-93oct. New E85 build in progress.

03-19-2006, 12:14 AM	#3
pocus Senior TEAM Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Janesville WI Posts: 1,313	Re: steeda tubular control arms thanks for the input i feel alot better about putting them on my car now. Although you no longer have anymore of these pieces you may want to keep an eye out for other therds that have been trashing them. Just so you can get the right info out there. __________________ 358whp and 335TQ-23psi-93oct. New E85 build in progress.

03-19-2006, 05:59 AM	#4
Honda Hunter Senior TEAM Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Fabulous South Florida Posts: 4,857	Re: steeda tubular control arms Your welcome to share the new information you've aquired to the non-believers. It's hard for me to watch over all the forums anymore.

03-20-2006, 09:55 PM	#5
Honda Hunter Senior TEAM Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Fabulous South Florida Posts: 4,857	Re: steeda tubular control arms Thought I'd mention that you should get a set of poly front control arm bushings to have for installation. I believe we have a few sets in stock right now. __________________ -Nick NaRdone

03-21-2006, 04:12 AM	#6
pocus Senior TEAM Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Janesville WI Posts: 1,313	Re: steeda tubular control arms i already baught the complete energy suspension bushing kit. but thanks for the info. __________________ 358whp and 335TQ-23psi-93oct. New E85 build in progress.

03-18-2006, 05:34 PM	#2
Honda Hunter Senior TEAM Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Fabulous South Florida Posts: 4,857	Re: steeda tubular control arms There has only been one reported case of these arms failing, and that was from a fellow FJ member. I don't recall exactly who it was. He broke one side at one of the welds. The funny thing was that the arm did NOT break on the track, or durring hard use. It failed when he was loading the car back up onto the trailer after the event. This sounds funny to me. I don't see how an arm could last a full day of racing, then fail when being babied up onto a trailer. It leads me to believe the car was posibly strapped down incorrectly, or loaded onto the trailer wrong, and the arms were stressed in ways they shouldn't have been. We on our #22 race Focus have been running the same set of these arms for over a year and have had zero issues. I can assure you, our race car has seen more track tome and WAY more abuse than any solo car or daily driver. This car is used as our Focus part test mule, and gets driven HARD. You shouldn't have anything to worry about. I picked up the last set of arms that we had in stock a few days ago actually to use on my personal car after seeing how well they held up on the race car. Focus Central was the company producing these, but they unfortunatly went out business a few months back. These arms are no longer avalible from them, and we have sold out of our remaining inventory. We do plan on making some tubular arms of our own in the near future to replace the no longer produced FC units. Stay tuned by checking our forum frequently, and also our website. www.SteedaFocus.com __________________ -Nick NaRdone Last edited by Honda Hunter : 03-18-2006 at 05:43 PM.

03-22-2006, 12:40 PM	#7
Honda Hunter Senior TEAM Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Fabulous South Florida Posts: 4,857	Re: steeda tubular control arms AH yes, I remember your order. I actually packed your order up. After packing your order and two other sets of arms up, I had to grab a set for myself. __________________ -Nick NaRdone

03-22-2006, 01:48 PM	#8
pocus Senior TEAM Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Janesville WI Posts: 1,313	Re: steeda tubular control arms so i don't suppose there is any kind of warrenty behind those. I really dought it but have to ask. __________________ 358whp and 335TQ-23psi-93oct. New E85 build in progress.

03-22-2006, 03:15 PM	#9
Honda Hunter Senior TEAM Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Fabulous South Florida Posts: 4,857	Re: steeda tubular control arms Nope. No warrenty from us, we don't manufacture them. I would have said call Focus Central, but that's no longer posible. I think your out of luck as far as a warrenty goes. Fear not however, I'll post some information later tonight that will further help convince you how strong these arms are. __________________ -Nick NaRdone

04-04-2006, 10:54 AM	#11
larryinfl Premier Sponsor Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Boca Raton, Florida Posts: 382	Re: steeda tubular control arms Hello Nliiitend1, I don't have any info on it. Since Focus Central is out of business info is harder to come by. Hopefully Nick (HondaHuner) has some info he can post. __________________ Steeda Autosports Webmaster :-) Steeda Focus Goodness: http://www.steedafocus.com Steeda Phone Number: 954-960-0774

05-15-2006, 01:59 PM	#12
HTPerformance TEAM Sponsor Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 1,474	Re: steeda tubular control arms Any update Nick? __________________ *"Enabling you the opportunity to build your DREAM. We take ideas and turn them into reality."* BUY IT NOW! HTP Adjustable Rear Toe Arms - ORDER YOUR SET NOW! Zetec MAF Sensor Tubes now in stock! Duratec on the way!

05-20-2006, 09:16 AM	#13
St170wagon TEAM Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: oxford MI / Kearneysville WV. Posts: 422	Re: steeda tubular control arms I have these arms on my car now....... I don't think there bad quaily. The only thing I see with them is the ball joint...... Its not a sealed unit and the angle of movement is low... You can look up my posts about the install here on FJ Tips on your bushings... make sure you have the inner sleave for the rear inner ploy bushing.. YOU WELL NOT GET THE OLD ONE off the old control arm __________________ LAST PROJECT: ST-170 6 Speed Wagon NEXT PROJECT: 3.4L SHO powered Focus __________________ Quote: Originally Posted by Honkeytonk Monkey Loudest box on the block huh? Apparently they haven't heard my gf when she queefs! omg that's funny

05-20-2006, 11:51 AM	#14
Focus_ZXT TEAM Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 150	Re: steeda tubular control arms I have seen a cracked set, made from black pipe like you buy at HD and welds did not penetrate.

05-27-2006, 12:59 PM	#15
pocus Senior TEAM Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Janesville WI Posts: 1,313	Re: steeda tubular control arms i'm still up in the air on if i want to put these on my car or not. I have them sitting around and it would be nice to use them but i don't want to risk having them break while i'm in the middle of a 550 mile road trip that i tend to make every mounth or two. Also i plan on autocrossing alot and would not want them to break while on the track either. I've heard plenty of good things and then i've also heard the bad things So i guess i'm just going to keep them around and maybe try them out later when i have a second car __________________ 358whp and 335TQ-23psi-93oct. New E85 build in progress.

05-29-2006, 11:07 AM	#16
tparker Moderator Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: @ the drag strip, auto X, road race & AZ G2G Posts: 3,069	Re: steeda tubular control arms You know you could always carry the stock ones with you just incase one breaks and then you could put them back on and be on your way. Or you could just mail them to me and I will test them on my car for you. LOL __________________ FS/VF SC w/IC blow thru mod 13.495 @ 102.306 best 1/4 current set up. July 06 FOTM My Focus Web Page JCM Racing #10

05-29-2006, 01:59 PM	#17
pocus Senior TEAM Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Janesville WI Posts: 1,313	Re: steeda tubular control arms thats alright I think i'll hold on to them I will let you know how that manifold works out in a few weeks here though __________________ 358whp and 335TQ-23psi-93oct. New E85 build in progress.

05-29-2006, 06:59 PM	#18
BadIdea Senior TEAM Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Cleveland Posts: 2,277	Re: steeda tubular control arms My understanding is the problem has to due with them breaking and not bending like the oem stuff. Don't know if they were ever redesigned, but the 1st batch had that problem. This is a part that needs to be professionally engineered and certified. I doubt an autocross would break them, but more likely a pot hole at high speed. __________________ '02 silver svt '08 tundra crewmax

05-29-2006, 07:18 PM	#19
Dwzx3fc TEAM Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Winter Haven, Fl. Posts: 867	Re: steeda tubular control arms Wire brush the paint from the welds and either check them out yourself or take them to a welding shop to have them inspected or x-rayed.I think the x-ray part is super expensive but a good certified welder should just be able to look at them and give an opinion if they are safe to use.

05-30-2006, 06:00 AM	#20
pocus Senior TEAM Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Janesville WI Posts: 1,313	Re: steeda tubular control arms theres a good idea and thankfully i know a person that is certified in many different field of welding. I'll have him take a look at them and maybe just add an additional brace or something like that. __________________ 358whp and 335TQ-23psi-93oct. New E85 build in progress.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode