questions about building control arms and track bars using square tubing

some people say that it is not strong enough... is that true?

any issues I should know about before I purchase square tubing?

 

I've never seen any built or bought like that. Might be a reason. I couldn't tell you that reason, if it exists. I would imagine the strength is less, possibly crease the square tubing upon impact. Purely a guess.

 

Square tubing is def not strong enough u need to use DOM like 1.5 inch with .25 wall

 

i know a lot of guys running square arms along with more than a few aftermarket options are square arms. they are plenty strong enough IMO. if your running .120 or .25 wall

http://claytonoffroad.com/product_in...roducts_id/263

 

I don't see why you shouldn't. i don't think it's an issue, as long as the wall thickness is good. i forget the company off hand but there is a XJ kit with square arms, and lots of build threads with them on Google. I have a buddy who has square long arms he made... I don't like them but its for the look reasons, not use/strength. Just not my thing...

 

my lowers are built out of 2x2 1/4 wall tubing.


it is to my understanding that square tubing is less likely to bend than round, but round can take a greater force from end to end than square. in a jeepspeed jeep, i would def run round. in a crawler, i will run the square for 1/3 of the price.....and build spares.


i prob wouldnt build a track bar with square....it takes all its forces from end to end.

 

I made square uppers ive been running for over three years.There 3/16 wall,and i think thats all that matters.(Thickness) They been severely abused with no signs of distress.

 

hey square is stronger then round of equal wall....my arms are 1/4wall square:



it is far more resistant to bending...most companies use round because it is easier to work , cheaper to by , and prettier/more fancy looking

 

IMO Square is fine for the uppers.. I wouldnt run it on the bottom. Had a guy in our local club running them on his buggy, and down at Tellico he bent his lower links like taco's.

 

what wall and what happend....you can bend anything if you do it right

 

It was .250 wall..

I agree building out of square tubing is fine for 90% of the ppl wheeling out there. But for the other 10% square wends and fails catastrophically. With round tube once it is bent a lil you just flip them over... On square once tweaked... they are going to fold.

Just my opinion and what I have witnessed

 

X2 I agree, once square bends it usually folds, round will bend for a while without failing normally.


That said the Clayton kit is very strong and I have never seen one bent or fail. As for me I would build some CAs with square but not a track bar.