CPP pitman arm failure beware!!!

[Rick_L]

chevynut, I guess I missed those photos showing the weld, or forgot I saw them. There is indeed pretty clear evidence of a bevel weld prep.

[Rick_L]

A former member has posted on the trifive CPP thread expressing concern about welding high carbon steel to cast steel, in a reply directly to CPP. Something I mentioned in an earlier post. Curious that he'd do that to say the least.

Not caring to post there and confront either, I'll comment here. CPP said that the pitman arm ball is 4130. While that's not low carbon steel, it's certainly not "high carbon". It can be welded to the cast steel with no problem using ER70S2 or ER70S6.

As we've already discussed, the fit is what CPP should be looking into. I.e., what was specified, and what was used. At this point we don't know if they had an engineering problem, or a manufacturing quality problem (or possibly both).

With a good fit, the weld's strength is not really an issue at all.

I will give CPP some credit for the response so far. They published a drawing on the other site but it had no dimensions and was otherwise incomplete. But it's not their job to have us review their drawings - their job is to make this right. I hope their engineer has a decent test plan and test facilities.

[BamaNomad]

Who would like to be CPP's next 'test subject'??

[WagonWonder]

I sent mine back today. No thanks.

[markm]

I use the pickiest front end guy with the best rep. in this part of the world. Both of my cars still have the originals. Do they sell that many replacements.

[chevynut]

Being "picky" doesn't necessarily mean a guy knows anything about the proper construction of something like a pitman arm. I'm betting he would have bolted that CCP arm on with no questions, just like lots of other guys have done. Anyone can overlook something like that.

And being original doesn't necessarily make a better part. That's why people replace original parts on these cars. I saw one CPP arm that imo was a better design than original as the stud went in from below, with a shoulder on it. It can't come out.