JustJohn
07-11-2020, 12:30 PM
This is a bit of a re-write from the team Impala forum but I thought it was applicable over here as well:
After a series of misadventures, I finally received my Global West front lower control arms this week. I needed them to continue and had bought a set of the knock off arms in the meantime for mock up. I was curious to compare the two since they look identical in pictures and figured others might be interested in exactly what you're getting for about three times the cost.
First off, the GW control arms are US made. I'm not particularly opposed to import products in general but I try to keep this car as American made as possible just as a matter of principle.
Initial impression out of the box, not so different. The GW arms are on the bottom here and do come with an alignment dowel, which is very helpful installing these.
177572
After I got to turning them over and inspecting, they began to look different. Overall weld quality is much better on the GW control arms. Also, they have more welds in more places. Inside of the spring pockets, both the outer and inner diameters are not welded on the Chinese parts.
177573
After that I got out the tape measure. I picked a relative point for comparison, not something to use as a suspension geometry reference. The Chinese spring pockets are approximately 3/16" further out and the ball joints by the same amount. Technically the functional length of the Chinese control arms are 3/16" longer.
177574
After that things got a little scary. I initially noticed GW had shimmed their lower ball joints to take up slack. Not cool, I thought, these should just fit. Then I looked at the Chinese parts. They were missing steering stops and I don't think the ball joint bolts are tightened. I wouldn't drive on them like this. GW is on the bottom.
177575
Also, the spherical bearing on the Chinese arms rotated freely and had some slight play I could feel by hand. These are new parts and won't live long under the car with that kind of free play out of the box. The GW joints could not be moved by hand. They rotate freely when installed. GW is on the bottom.
177576
Some final notes. Neither of these will clear my Varishock double adjustable shocks. I had to clearance the through holes in the GW arms but not by much. I hated cracking the powder coat but these aren't OE parts. Powder coat was also an issue on the strut rod bolt holes. I had to run a drill bit through to get clearance. Pretty sure the holes were correct before powder coat.
Weld quality overall is not even a contest. Build and construction quality might actually put the Chinese arms into the "insurance liability" category.
I'd been curious about what possible difference there could be between these two parts given the appearance and price gap. I actually thought the Global West parts were just sourced in China and had a sticker slapped on the side. Having the parts in hand, there is no comparison. If I ran these Chinese parts, I'd be servicing something broken sooner than I wanted.
Another shot of the welding. I shouldn't have to point out the GW part (left side).
177577
I previously would have (probably) addressed the issues on the Chinese parts and used them but after having the real thing in my hands to compare, there's no way I'd want the knock offs on my car. I feel like I'd be buying another set in a year just to get service parts.
After a series of misadventures, I finally received my Global West front lower control arms this week. I needed them to continue and had bought a set of the knock off arms in the meantime for mock up. I was curious to compare the two since they look identical in pictures and figured others might be interested in exactly what you're getting for about three times the cost.
First off, the GW control arms are US made. I'm not particularly opposed to import products in general but I try to keep this car as American made as possible just as a matter of principle.
Initial impression out of the box, not so different. The GW arms are on the bottom here and do come with an alignment dowel, which is very helpful installing these.
177572
After I got to turning them over and inspecting, they began to look different. Overall weld quality is much better on the GW control arms. Also, they have more welds in more places. Inside of the spring pockets, both the outer and inner diameters are not welded on the Chinese parts.
177573
After that I got out the tape measure. I picked a relative point for comparison, not something to use as a suspension geometry reference. The Chinese spring pockets are approximately 3/16" further out and the ball joints by the same amount. Technically the functional length of the Chinese control arms are 3/16" longer.
177574
After that things got a little scary. I initially noticed GW had shimmed their lower ball joints to take up slack. Not cool, I thought, these should just fit. Then I looked at the Chinese parts. They were missing steering stops and I don't think the ball joint bolts are tightened. I wouldn't drive on them like this. GW is on the bottom.
177575
Also, the spherical bearing on the Chinese arms rotated freely and had some slight play I could feel by hand. These are new parts and won't live long under the car with that kind of free play out of the box. The GW joints could not be moved by hand. They rotate freely when installed. GW is on the bottom.
177576
Some final notes. Neither of these will clear my Varishock double adjustable shocks. I had to clearance the through holes in the GW arms but not by much. I hated cracking the powder coat but these aren't OE parts. Powder coat was also an issue on the strut rod bolt holes. I had to run a drill bit through to get clearance. Pretty sure the holes were correct before powder coat.
Weld quality overall is not even a contest. Build and construction quality might actually put the Chinese arms into the "insurance liability" category.
I'd been curious about what possible difference there could be between these two parts given the appearance and price gap. I actually thought the Global West parts were just sourced in China and had a sticker slapped on the side. Having the parts in hand, there is no comparison. If I ran these Chinese parts, I'd be servicing something broken sooner than I wanted.
Another shot of the welding. I shouldn't have to point out the GW part (left side).
177577
I previously would have (probably) addressed the issues on the Chinese parts and used them but after having the real thing in my hands to compare, there's no way I'd want the knock offs on my car. I feel like I'd be buying another set in a year just to get service parts.