posted 06-13-2018 09:33 AM                  

But does anyone ever wonder why lower control arms are below the knuckle and pulling on the ball joint as opposed to being above the knuckle and the main forces pushing it into the socket?

The spring is pushing the lower control arm down and the ball joint holds it to the knuckle. When the tire hits road irregularities it will push up and pull on the ball joint stem trying to take it out of its socket. In the case of the Prowler the upper arm is just along for the ride (so to speak).

So if it were reversed and the knuckle wrapped under the control arm and the forces pushed the ball joint together would it not make the entire design safer? And would we even have a problem?

I know this is the typical way these are designed and have been for many years but why is that so?

posted 06-13-2018 01:56 PM                  

This is a very common design found on all types of cars.

posted 06-14-2018 09:04 AM                  

Anyway its not like we can change it but it does make you wonder...

quote:

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Originally posted by quincy:
My first thought is: If the knuckle wraps under the control arm clearance to the wheel rim may become an issue with possible interference during some full range of motion excursion of the suspension. I.e. full turn of the wheel while dropping suspension into a pothole. I'm not a chassis designer and unfortunately I do not know any because I would ask. I would not call the current set up a "bad design" but perhaps a design made due to various 'trade offs' and compromises. I did a google search and all the pictures I looked at for conventional 'A' Arm type front ends had the spindle (knuckle) on top of the lower ball joint.

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