DSE control arms vs Summit control arms

[juggernaut]

Do my eyes deceive me? I believe I am looking at the same arms. What gives?... DSE knock offs or is DSE putting their sticker on the same arm with a 400% markup? Maybe, they sold the design for mass production?

I don't mind paying for quality, innovation, customer service and all that... but, I do hate (with a passion) paying a premium for rebranded overseas products.

^^ P/N: 030101
Applications: 1967-1969 F-Body$695.00

^^SUM-770253
$169.97

[Rod]

those are a import knock offs of the DSE arms the company is importing them in So Cal .......

[badazz81z28]

Buy a set and see if the quality is good. Many times cheaper parts are not Tig welded, the cross shaft is not billet, the bushings are something other than delrin (I think DSE are delrin sleeved by aluminum) etc.

Your crazy to think DSE is putting their sticker on someone else's control arm. I will admit some of DSEs price point is higher but that's because they are made in the USA and US workers, taxes, materials, and simply running a company cost more here.

I just looked at those summit arms have poly bushings, so there's one difference.

[gray86hach]

DSE has that much in just the materials. Nothing but quality.

Tim

[Rod]

DSE has that much in just the materials. Nothing but quality.

Tim

Tim is correct! the import arms dont have delrin bushings there just white plastic and crack easily..... and the ball joints are INCREDIBLY cheap, I tested a set when I worked for the speed shop the lower ball joint was at a fail point (it literally clunked when I tilted the arms back and forth) when within 30 days and the upper was VERY loose and woobly...they had been on the car for daily driving and two auto-crosses (one autoX at marina California and one Goodguys event)...

at the very least if your going to use them change to a good ball joint top and bottom and inspect them often

I cant help but think if the bushings and ball joints were so bad there might be issues with the welding or steel

I bead blasted the test set and found no visual cracks in the welds or steel

[juggernaut]

Tim is correct! the import arms dont have delrin bushings there just white plastic and crack easily..... and the ball joints are INCREDIBLY cheap, I tested a set when I worked for the speed shop the lower ball joint was at a fail point (it literally clunked when I tilted the arms back and forth) when within 30 days and the upper was VERY loose and woobly...they had been on the car for daily driving and two auto-crosses (one autoX at marina California and one Goodguys event)...

at the very least if your going to use them change to a good ball joint top and bottom and inspect them often

I cant help but think if the bushings and ball joints were so bad there might be issues with the welding or steel

I bead blasted the test set and found no visual cracks in the welds or steel

Ahh... I see.

Thanks for the response. I'm also reading, on the Jegs version, that the cross shaft is silver powdercoated whereas the DSE is stainless billet.

I will be leaving the Summit knockoffs on the shelf.

[BMR Sales]

Ahh... I see.

Thanks for the response. I'm also reading, on the Jegs version, that the cross shaft is silver powdercoated whereas the DSE is stainless billet.

I will be leaving the Summit knockoffs on the shelf.

Billet vs Cast & Powdercoated = Big $$
Delrin Bushings for those that don't know have to be Machined in a CNC Lathe. Raw Delrin comes in Rods which is expensive. A Set of Delrin Bushings alone should be about $100

[killer69]

if you are looking for the same high quality but at a reduced price check these out.

http://www.speedtechperformance.com/...=prod/prd3.htm

[Rod]

the Jegs version

there all buying them from the same distributor its one company that imports into the US, all of them JEGS, Summit, Speedway, Johnny Law, Classic Industries, and so on!! there all the same, there are even some (fly by night) companies that are putting stickers on them and selling them as there stuff.....7 years ago I worked at Gotelli Speed Shop and we worked a deal as a distributor we ordered Hundreds of them and sold them on eBay (a lot of them) we had Chevelle arms, Camaro Arms, Tri 5 arms, Mustang 2 update arms...like I said after we tested them....we canceled all arms after that.....we didn't want to be responsible as a small shop, we dont have big lawyers if someone got hurt

[pitts64]

Being cheap is too expensive for me..

[Motobrewmaster]

The old saying "you get what you pay for" seems to be coming to mind here....

[krom]

Billet vs Cast & Powdercoated = Big $$
Delrin Bushings for those that don't know have to be Machined in a CNC Lathe. Raw Delrin comes in Rods which is expensive. A Set of Delrin Bushings alone should be about $100

First place I looked gets $21 to buy a single foot of 2" od name brand delrin rod. Buy a couple feet price goes down..
One of the other nice things about delrin is how easy it machines. Load up the bar feeder, and press the green button and go.

I understand everybody's got to make a living, but saying that a couple bucks of plastic should cost over $100 is just crazy.

[TheJDMan]

It is my understanding that Summit branded parts are actually manufactured by name brand companies that also sell the same parts under their brand name. So it is entirely likely that the Summit arms are manufactured by DSE which would account for why they look the same. I don't think Summit would risk selling a Chinese knock off part.

[Rod]

It is my understanding that Summit branded parts are actually manufactured by name brand companies that also sell the same parts under their brand name. So it is entirely likely that the Summit arms are manufactured by DSE which would account for why they look the same. I don't think Summit would risk selling a Chinese knock off part.

there 169 dollars for a pair of upper arms...there import...I just looked, THEY ARE MOT DSE...they dont care if they fail!!

Summit import arms


here is the warranty from there site

Summit Racing Equipment® warrants this product for one year from the date of purchase. If the product is used for racing or competition, this warranty is limited to manufacturer defects only; wear and breakage are not covered under any circumstances. If the product shows, in our opinion, evidence of being used or installed contrary to the instructions and/or subjected to improper handling, packaging, or shipping by the customer, it will not be covered by our limited warranty. The liability to Summit Racing Equipment® for losses or damages arising out of any cause whatsoever is limited to the full refund of the purchase price or, at our option, repair or replacement of the product(s). Summit Racing Equipment® shall not be liable for any consequential or incidental damages. Some states do not allow the exclusion or limitation of consequential or incidental damages, so the above limitation or exclusion may not apply to you.

[David Pozzi]

I found this Summit Mustang rear arm failure: http://www.stangnet.com/mustang-foru...-cheap.812566/

[TheJDMan]

It is my understanding that Summit branded parts are actually manufactured by name brand companies that also sell the same parts under their brand name. So it is entirely likely that the Summit arms are manufactured by DSE which would account for why they look the same. I don't think Summit would risk selling a Chinese knock off part.

Or not!

[badazz81z28]

Or not!

Concur....DSE would be the last place on the list to sell their product to someone else to be a house brand. DSEs parts are in a totally different league and consumer level that Summit tries to focus on.

[Vegas 69]

Just a note on the Chinese A-Arms. It's well documented the Ball Joints are substandard. Most guys replace them with Moog and have no issues.

It's also been debated to exhaustion on other sites and to date there has not been anyone who has posted up a single documented Structural Failure of the A-Arm itself.

Not advocating their use just stating the facts as I know them.

[badazz81z28]

Just a note on the Chinese A-Arms. It's well documented the Ball Joints are substandard. Most guys replace them with Moog and have no issues.

It's also been debated to exhaustion on other sites and to date there has not been anyone who has posted up a single documented Structural Failure of the A-Arm itself.




Not advocating their use just stating the facts as I know them.

I agree here, however what level of quality is the consumer looking for? Or is it "good enough" shopping.How many wheel failures have you seen from made in China brands? Are $5k forgelines over kill? Or self assurance? The mentioned control arms have poly of rubber bushings, steel cross shafts and lower grade ball joints and likely mig welded over precise Tig...there's a material quality difference. It'd like Coke or Shasta, You consider this and the cost of labor and materials to build. Youre automatically going to pay more for USA made stuff. We Americans all want $15 Hr to work at McDonald's.

The reason why you likely don't see issue is likely because Most people that race or abuse their cars look to well known quality branded parts. We are getting to a point where China parts will run USA companies out of business. That's why I really hate people advocating for brands like PTFB, it's all rebranded stuff from China or Taiwan.

[badazz81z28]

Watch this!

https://www.google.com/search?q=detr...7ZCTkQ_AUIBygB