Vehicle suspension control arm and method

A control arm for vehicle suspension systems, comprising:

• first and second arm plates, each having a rigid, generally planar body constructed from ultra high strength steel, and first and second apertures extending laterally through opposing faces of said body adjacent opposite ends thereof;
• said first and second arm plates being disposed in a mutually parallel, laterally spaced apart and aligned relationship, such that said first apertures are generally concentric, and said second apertures are generally concentric;
• and
• first and second spacers, each having a rigid body with opposite ends, and a central bushing aperture extending therebetween;
• said first and second spacers being disposed between said first and second arm plates adjacent said opposite ends thereof, with said central bushing aperture of said first spacer positioned generally concentric with said first apertures, and said central bushing aperture of said second spacer positioned generally concentric with said second apertures;
• said ends of said first and second spacers being rigidly attached to said first and second arm plates to fixedly retain said first and second arm plates in said mutually parallel, laterally spaced apart and aligned relationship without intermediate support between said first and second spacers.

A control arm for vehicle suspension systems, comprising:

• first and second rigid arm plates having first and second apertures adjacent opposite ends thereof, and being disposed in a laterally spaced apart and aligned relationship, such that said first apertures are generally concentric, and said second apertures are generally concentric;
• and
• first and second spacers, each having a rigid body with opposite ends, and a central bushing aperture extending therebetween;
• said central bushing aperture of said first spacer being disposed generally concentric with said first apertures, and said central bushing aperture of said second spacer being disposed generally concentric with said second apertures;
• said ends of said first and second spacers being operably connected with said first and second arm plates to retain said first and second arm plates in said laterally spaced apart and aligned relationship.

A method for making a control arm for vehicle suspension systems, comprising:

• forming from ultra high strength steel first and second arm plates, each having a rigid, generally planar body;
• forming first and second apertures laterally through opposing faces of the body adjacent opposite ends thereof;
• positioning the first and second arm plates in a mutually parallel, laterally spaced apart and aligned relationship, such that the first apertures are generally concentric, and the second apertures are generally concentric;
• forming first and second spacers, each having a rigid body with opposite ends, and a central bushing aperture extending therebetween;
• positioning the first and second spacers between the first and second arm plates adjacent the opposite ends thereof, with the central bushing aperture of the first spacer positioned generally concentric with the first apertures, and the central bushing aperture of the second spacer positioned generally concentric with the second apertures;
• and
• rigidly attaching the ends of the first and second spacers to the first and second arm plates to fixedly retain the first and second arm plates in the mutually parallel, laterally spaced apart and aligned relationship.

A method for making a vehicle suspension link, comprising:

• providing a sheet of ultra high strength steel alloy;
• stamping a vehicle suspension link from the sheet of ultra high strength steel alloy;
• heating the stamped vehicle suspension link to a predetermined temperature sufficient for heat treating the ultra high strength steel;
• and
• quenching the heated vehicle suspension link to harden the ultra high strength steel.