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MDProwler	Starting a new thread so as not to interfere with the other thread about replacements. 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? ------------------ BUY AMERICAN! It's what you can AND should do for your country!
padroo	Gary, I posted this earlier and he explains somewhere in this link what you are saying. http://youtu.be/51GhM7hZ5b8 It is a bad design.
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.
Tomcal	Agree with Quincy This is a very common design found on all types of cars. Our problem is poor ball joint/boot design and manufacturing.
ed monahan	How about the run flat tires with the "iron" sidewalls. Most tires absorb some of the shock, the runflats don't seem to absorb much. I know there will be folks who disagree but I think they are a small part of the problem, also.
MDProwler	It seems like cars are on the bottom but light trucks (like Dodge and Chevy) have the A-arm on top of the knuckle. I don't think clearances would be an issue as its just swapping spaces. Anyway its not like we can change it but it does make you wonder... quote: 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.