Coil-Over Conversion front lower control arms... Arraut Motorsports? (Page 1/3)
Svenge AUG 06, 11:04 AM
Hi to the forum - first post here.
I'm working on a coil-over suspension conversion on my '85 Fiero. I bought a kit off a friend, which came with control arms and bushings for the front (stock width) as well as a new front coilovers with rod end mounts fitted to a new upper bracket and lower control arm. New upper control arms provide clearance for the new shocks. The shocks came from QA1.

The kit was originally purchased from Arraut Motorsports / West Shore Fabricating back in early 2013 by the friend I bought it from. He never installed it into his car, he wanted out of the project so that's when i picked it up from him.

UNFORTUNATELY... I got 3/4 of the way through the project and realized that I had TWO OF THE SAME lower front control arms. See picture below...

https://imgur.com/1LT6J9h

I'm not a fabricator, so I'm looking for whatever help I could get procuring a modified control arm that will work for this type of setup, or if anybody knows where I might find one of these lowers from this kit - if anybody recognizes it or knows somebody who knows somebody... etc.

I know it's a long shot but I figured I would ask. Thanks for any consideration.

If worse comes to worse, I am considering modifying the original control arms to add a clevis for a shock mount or I will have to find somebody to fabricate new ones.
FYI - I'm in the Buffalo NY area.
-Svenge

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1985 Fiero - Silver - GT - V6

[This message has been edited by Svenge (edited 08-06-2019).]

wftb AUG 06, 12:33 PM
Those are definitely Arraut sport suspension lower contrlol arms. You could call West Shore Fabricators (they used to run Arraut) and see if they have any laying around. As far as I know they do not make them anymore. You could get a set from West Coast Fiero but you would have to buy both of them as they are completely different.

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86 GT built 2.2 ecotec turbo
rear SLA suspension
QA1 coilovers on tube arms

olejoedad AUG 07, 06:36 AM
I would be very cautious about installing anything from Arraut/WSF on my car.
I have had personal experience with their poor quality welds and overall fitment - on many of their products.

As a disclaimer, I do not have experience with their lower control arms.

WSF and Arraut are/were owned and operated by the same person.

[This message has been edited by olejoedad (edited 08-07-2019).]

wftb AUG 07, 08:14 AM
The Ryane/Held/Arraut sport suspension is what I have on my car and they have been trouble free. I have not heard of any problems with them. Problems reported here on Pennocks have been mostly about the front drop spindles they built. I stayed away from those because I did not like the design. I bought Street Dreams drop spindles and they work great. No longer made either unfortunately.
wftb AUG 07, 09:23 AM
I do need to mention that without modifying the upper shock mount that comes with the sport suspension kit you will not be able to lower the car very much. There is not enough compression travel to prevent the shock from bottoming out. Hit a bump hard enough and you might break a shock. I raised my upper spring mount and I still went with drop spindles to get the spring travel and ride height I wanted.
Spadesluck AUG 07, 09:34 AM
Wow, that stinks you got two of the same control arms. Not sure what you can do at this point if the above vendors dont have anything Ethan try to get someone to make one for you. I have this setup on my 87 currently. I had to do a few things and I am continually tweaking it for better ride. Here is my thread about it Front Coilover

Best of luck to you.
Svenge AUG 07, 11:15 AM
Thanks guys - very helpful info from everyone.

No luck contacting anyone from WSF or Arraut. Numbers are disconnected and email doesn't work either (invalid email domain). Right now I'm experimenting with re-using the duplicate by cutting it and rebuilding it for the passenger side by flipping the rear support and the swaybar mount plate accordingly.

Spadesluck - your coilover thread is extremely helpful... I'm super jealous of your setup. Nice job. When I get everything going back together on mine, want me to post into your original thread with questions / results?
Spadesluck AUG 07, 03:06 PM
Thank you.

If it were me I would start a new thread and label it something to represent what you are going to do. You can always link this thread in the new one for reference. If you have any questions PM and I help through on the thread. Many folks have the same setup and will help out.

[This message has been edited by Spadesluck (edited 08-07-2019).]

madisonm55 AUG 07, 10:23 PM
Fiero factory/Tffauto bought Arraut. Not sure if they have set up shop yet. Let me know if they can help you I need some custom work done myself that Arraut was supposed to do.
Svenge AUG 16, 09:34 AM
Incase anybody cares, I was able to get one of my two driver side lower control arms refabricated for the passenger side. I was able to fit it into the car with a little elbow grease no problem.

https://imgur.com/gallery/TxYBmt5

Things are starting to come together now... might post final results later in a separate thread.