i just recently noticed that the 2009 to present F-150's have steel lower control arms. the 04 to 08's have aluminum lower control arms. anyone know why they changed this? where there any problems with the 04-08 lower control arms that would have made Ford make this change? lets hear some opinons on this....

 

maybe because aluminum is more expensive than steel?

 

that cant be the only reason the steel will rust faster than the aluminum will, there has to be a better reason than cost?

 

most likely steel was chosen to keep manufacturing cost down, plus they might have switched to different spring rates and they switched to steel LCA's to accommodate( they can tow more as well.) overall steel is a lot more stronger than aluminum.

 

Steel is cheaper and stronger. The extra weight probably aids in ride quality.

 

I've always like the LCA's on the 04-08's because they stuck out visually, and looked cool and massive. They weren't boring black, they were beefy. Also on the 04-08's they were adjustable inward/outward for alignment, whereas the new ones on the 09+ are not. might make alignment harder? I don't know, but when I had mine aligned they moved the right control arm in more.

 

might be because some people have broken them.. if they were still under warrenty for d would have to pay....

 

I hadn't heard of them breaking being a problem, and I've definitely beat on mine rather hard.

 

The aluminum was used to lower unsprung weight to help the ride as well as insulate from road noise. The aluminum ones are no weaker than the new steel LCA's because they were just massive. Ive seen some pretty severe front end collisions with these trucks and have not seen a broken LCA yet. My guess is ford switched back to steel for cost reasons.

 

the aluminum ones have little bump stops to stop the steering knuckle from turning to far. on my truck the bump stops are ate offf due to maxing out the turning radius. maybe that is why theyy changed.