So I wonder why Ford went back to a steel lower control arm instead of keeping the aluminum one from the '04-'08?? That was a nice touch and a real performance piece in the unspeung weight department. Is it actually different or I wonder if one will bolt right on to a '09? Wonder if they swapped to cut cost?

 

Someone asked nearly the same question. I think because it's cheaper to stamp steel plate than it's to cast an aluminum component but it's just a guess.

 

People here are saying the steel arm is stronger and better...

https://www.f150online.com/forums/20...ntrol-arm.html

 

Yet the Raptor gets aluminum... I think its $$$

 

There have been some mention of the topic in a few publications. The change was made for increased strength. There have been some issues with the aluminum part cracking when the trucks have been carrying loads near their rated capacities. because Ford is betting on the work truck market swinging more toward the smaller F150 and away from the larger duty trucks. The increased strength and durability of the steel part was preferred.

 

The Raptor gets aluminum but it also gets bigger. A massive aluminum arm may be better for racing in the desert, but a regular steel arm is better for hauling. That's what I think.

 

I've heard this a few times, but just how much weight is on the front suspension when there's 7000+ pounds pressing down on the hitch?

 

Steel is probably better for a work oriented vehicle. Its stronger, more duriable, will take a beating better, probably safe in a wreck, and as already mention cheaper. Metal prices have going way up as of late and aluminum in particular.

 

It's a cost cutting measure plain & simple! The Raptor has an aluminum piece & took more abuse in field testing than any of us could dish out!.......

 

There's zero doubt that the steel one is stronger and be able to take hit and work harder but on something like the raptor it would be better for it to have as much weight reduced from it's unsprung weight as possible to get better Suspension performance and cost was prob not an issue when being sold for $50+k. It's just a Cost/strength/performance issue. Alloy LCA makes zero sense in a standard F150 but it's good to see it on a raptor.

 

It made sense from 2004 through 2008 model. They needed to cut back and build it cheaper. So they did. Not worse, just cheaper. Happens all the time. The avg guy won't even know. '

 

Factor in an equalizer hitch or a full bed load.

Also, don't forget the front brakes are responsible for nearly 80% of the braking. With a full load in the bed or on the hitch, shock load to the front suspension especially while braking is multiplied. Hitting a bump while on the brakes with a heavy load puts a tremendous amount of stress on the front suspension components.

If anyone actually believes the move to aluminum LCA was for cost savings, then why do you suppose they stuck with an expensive aluminum hood? The cost factor does not make sense.

 

Cost diff between a alum hood an two LCA is significant. Much bigger gain on LCA. Its a cast piece. Another reason hood is aluminum is rust prevention or so I've read. Makes sense to me. On the LCA thats not a significant issue.

Remember 97+ had alum hood too.

All the milions of 04-08 F150s and how many people do you know personally (not just talk/speculation on forums) with broken LCA's? On a pertentage basis it would be so small, IF its even happened. If it was a strength issue they could have easily strengthened it and kept it aluminum like the Raptors. I can see some one going way too fast on some trail somewhere and directly hitting a rock with the alum LCA and perhpas in that case it breaks, but in that scenerio Ford wound't even care or take notice as it thats such an extreme example.

 

From pickuptrucks.com...

"I think the primary consideration for the aluminum LCA on the Raptor was weight. The steel LCA on the '09 F-150 weighs ~2 lbs more than the aluminum LCA from the '08 F-150. The Raptor LCA is MUCH bigger than stock, and would weigh MUCH more if it were steel. Cost plays a factor also, but less for a small run of parts. Beside, with a steel LCA, they couldn't cast 'SVT' into it. (Yes, they really did, and you don't have to crawl on the ground to see it. If you stand in front of the truck, it is visible. You just need to know where to look.)"

 

Sheet aluminum is more expensive because it needs more processing than cast alloy.

We have eight 08' F150's as fleet trucks Two of them have suffered suffered fractured aluminum LCA's. The parts have been replaced by Ford under warranty on all eight trucks with steel parts. Its the reason why I know the facts about the change to steel on the 09's.