I am curious if there were any issues with the above,(on 04-08) the reason i asked is that i noticed , as i was looking under an '09 late Thanksgiving day, (no sales guys to bother you...lol) , the lower control arm has changed back to a steel stamping, like 97-03. It was getting late and gets dark so fast, but it certainly wasn't the "old" style. I've been on other forums also and i do not recall seeing any issues with the aluminum 04/08 control arm. Just curious........ paul

 

I noticed too that the '09's have a metal lower control arm. I haven't heard about any problems with the aluminum lower arms,as beefy as they are I don't expect to see any problems with them unless some beats the crap out of their truck. I also noticed that the new Ford Raptor has aluminum control arms and if they're good enough for an SVT truck that is designed for desert racing they should hold up good on our trucks.

 

When my truck got tboned on the front wheel at 50 mph....the lower control arm didn't even need to get replaced....

 

ever hear that steals cheaper then aluminum to buy and make ..and it cheaper to steap out parts then to cast them

 

From what I've heard, they went back to the stamped steel, for strengthness! Honestly I can't see them being more stronger than the aluminum cast ones that are on our current trucks......

 

Also, if you watch the Sales DVD for the 2004 to 2008 models they talk up the benefits of the aluminum control arms with regard to helping with noise reduction. I looked at the 2009 control arms and they seemed to be cheaply made and not very thick. I was surprised that Ford had made the switch.

 

Well the new RAPTOR is going to continue to use aluminum arms....so i'm guessing they're stronger and lighter......Its gotta be cost...

 

I think that "Cost Cutting" had mostly something to do with that judgement!...

 

too bad the window sticker doesn't show it