96 C4 composite dog bones?

[55 Rescue Dog]

I noticed today when I finally uncovered my 96 grand sport suspension, and got a good look at it. It all looks good enough to go straight in the frame as is. But, I noticed the all 4 dog bones are made with a composite shaft with cast ends. 1996 is the only year that had that,
and was wondering why they changed them from aluminum?
They look like a 3/4 inch 1ft long fishing poles. Maybe so they can twist with the bushings?

[55 Rescue Dog]

Nobody has a clue? I don't, and it had to be a major change for only 1 year of production.

[WagonCrazy]

This was discussed briefly in a 2004 Corvette forum here http://www.corvetteforum.com/forums/...-question.html

I started out with a Dana 36 that came with those same composite dogbones, and then swapped the rear end completely in favor of a Dana 44 and it came with the cast aluminum ones...so I've used those.

Just look for some cast aluminum ones from an earlier year and swap them out...

[WagonCrazy]

Some for sale on ebay now.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1984-1996-CO...-/301834627343

[NickP]

As with most changes within an automobile manufacturer, the drive by engineers is to improve a product and at the same time lower manufacturing cost. I can't say that this was the intent behind the change for certain but I suspect it's close.

[Rick_L]

I don't know how they constructed the composite, but usually it would be a filament wound construction with approximately a 45 degree winding angle - and it would be pretty stiff in both torsion and tension. But when you say composite there could be any of a number of materials for both the yarn and resin.

Seems like the weak link would be the transition from composite to the aluminum end fitting.

I'd like to see a photo of one.

[NickP]

I don't know how they constructed the composite, but usually it would be a filament wound construction with approximately a 45 degree winding angle - and it would be pretty stiff in both torsion and tension. But when you say composite there could be any of a number of materials for both the yarn and resin.

Seems like the weak link would be the transition from composite to the aluminum end fitting.

I'd like to see a photo of one.

[Rick_L]

Thanks for the photos.

[chevynut]

They were put out by GM so they have to be the "best" even though they look like crap.

[NickP]

U-GLY