Strut Rods: Aluminum or Steel?? That is the Question.

[bill440rt]

OK gang, got some tech questions here. When the time comes to do the front suspension on my '69 project Charger, I was thinking about using the new aluminum strut rods. They're constructed of aircraft aluminum, & supposedly are stronger than the original steel ones. The car is getting 4-wheel SSBC brakes, Hotchkis sway bars front & rear, poly suspension, MP leaf springs, aluminum tie rod sleeves with the bigger 11/16" ends, etc.

I've spoken with both Mancini Racing & Just Suspension on these, they seem to be carrying the same ones (supplied by American Muscle). Mancini says they're for racing only, due to the lighter weight, & not for the street. Just Suspension says they are great for the street, & that they sell many of them to customers for use on street cars. Who is right???   

Anyone using them here on this board on a street driven car? Likes or dislikes? The '69 I'm building will be a somewhat modernized street car, & is being built to drive. Any input would be great. Thanks!!

[tan top]

i went for  uprated ( thicker) steel bars on mine , from American Muscle ,simply  because steel strut rods have worked  OK for more than 40 years on a mopar ( ok they can get bent). the aluminum strut rods although made from aircraft grade aluminum i think  would be to rigid for street use . American muscle make awesome parts & tools i have bought all the appropriate stuff from them , not saying it will but we all know how a steel wheel will buckle etc. but although aluminum can do the same , i have also seen them crack , the wheel brakes in to pieces with just the lug bolts holding the centre bit on  etc, completely different use  but aluminum rods in a street engine.  if this makes sense , i think they may crack in time just my opinion . no offence meant to the guys who designed , manufacture ,sell these products , i would use them for track only. my

[DFXXX]

I just installed the aluminum strut rods from just suspension on my 69.  They seem pretty beefy, much thicker in diameter than the stock struts.  Plus, they look pretty sweet.

[bill440rt]

 

[Chryco Psycho]

steel is springy & will take deflection without any issue
Alum is brittle & starts to fracture when flexed
so as long sa the rubber bushing absorbs 100% of the flex alum will be fine
I would use steel for street use

[chargerguy111]

How important is it for a strut rod to be completely straight?I have one that is slightly bent.You have to lay it on a flat surface and roll it before you can tell.Thanks.

[bill440rt]

How important is it for a strut rod to be completely straight?I have one that is slightly bent.You have to lay it on a flat surface and roll it before you can tell.Thanks.

I would say VERY important. It helps hold the lower control arm in position. I don't think you'd get a proper wheel alignment either, with a bent strut rod.

[RallyeMike]

If its slightly bent the overall length change is miniscule and it wont make any difference to your alignment tech or the drive-ability of the car. I also agree with Chryco that suspension components on a 2 ton street car should remain steel, though the strut rods are not what I would call a fracture-critical component (meaning, it breaks - yer F'd). 

[Rolling_Thunder]

i'd never run aluminum strut rods....        i just dont trust them

[Mopar2Ya]

Mancini also told me to use steel. What about the CAP rods?

[Hemidog]

Did you decide to go with aluminum Bill? I'm in the same boat now, and can't seem to decide....

[bill440rt]

Did you decide to go with aluminum Bill? I'm in the same boat now, and can't seem to decide....

YES, I went with the aluminum. 
I spoke to the people at American Muscle, the manufacturer of these pieces. According to them, these parts have undergone numerous, rigorous testing. They are made of aircraft aluminum & are supposed to be much stronger than the original ones. The people at A.M. also have them installed on their street driven cars with no problems.

I polished them, cleared them, & they fit nice. I also installed their aluminum tie rod sleeves. I went with the oversize ones for the larger 11/16" tie rods.

[Ghoste]

That looks fantastic but I have to be honest and say that the idea of aluminum still gives me the creeps when it comes to front end components.  (i'd likely cry though if I knew how much aluminum was in the front end of our newer cars) 

[Hemidog]

Did you decide to go with aluminum Bill? I'm in the same boat now, and can't seem to decide....

YES, I went with the aluminum. 
I spoke to the people at American Muscle, the manufacturer of these pieces. According to them, these parts have undergone numerous, rigorous testing. They are made of aircraft aluminum & are supposed to be much stronger than the original ones. The people at A.M. also have them installed on their street driven cars with no problems.

I polished them, cleared them, & they fit nice. I also installed their aluminum strut rods sleeves. I went with the oversize ones for the larger 11/16" tie rods.

Will regular bushings fit on the bigger strut rods? or do you have to find some bigger ones?
Also, what is better about bigger tie rods?

Looking good BTW, can't wait for some pictures after a day in the rain 

[Ghoste]

Sadist. 

[bill440rt]

Did you decide to go with aluminum Bill? I'm in the same boat now, and can't seem to decide....

YES, I went with the aluminum. 
I spoke to the people at American Muscle, the manufacturer of these pieces. According to them, these parts have undergone numerous, rigorous testing. They are made of aircraft aluminum & are supposed to be much stronger than the original ones. The people at A.M. also have them installed on their street driven cars with no problems.

I polished them, cleared them, & they fit nice. I also installed their aluminum strut rods sleeves. I went with the oversize ones for the larger 11/16" tie rods.

Will regular bushings fit on the bigger strut rods? or do you have to find some bigger ones?
Also, what is better about bigger tie rods?

Looking good BTW, can't wait for some pictures after a day in the rain 

Sorry, I just modified the post. I meant the oversize TIE rod sleeves.
Yes, the original type bushings will work on their strut rods.

What's rain?? 

[Mike DC]

Nobody complains about the idea of entire control arms & K-frames being made of aluminum when it's an XV front suspension setup for these cars.


But honestly I'm not convinced of the gains in a lot of cases.  Aluminum can be made to work if you make it a lot thicker than the stock steel was.  But by the time it's strong enough to really do it, the weight savings have often become a lot smaller than it looked on the surface.