Front lower rear control arm compatibility question

Suspension, brake, and hydraulic/electric steering discussion.
Ilikemtb999
Posts: 220
Joined: Wed Feb 06, 2019 11:49 pm

Front lower rear control arm compatibility question

Post by Ilikemtb999 »

I have a 2014 ppv and I noticed the ball joint on my passenger front lower rear control arm has some play in it. Looking on gmpartsdirect they actually say both the 11-13 arm and the 14+ arm fit but they have different part numbers. I’d love to “upgrade” as I go and see that BMR makes g8 control arms (same as the 11-13 arm).

Can anybody clarify any of this for me?

This is the arm in question
73E810D7-4DF3-4CDE-81D1-9015A9A32ED9.jpeg
73E810D7-4DF3-4CDE-81D1-9015A9A32ED9.jpeg (934.56 KiB) Viewed 10162 times
Navy Lifer
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Re: Fron t lower rear control arm compatibility question

Post by Navy Lifer »

I could be wrong, but I believe 11-13 (WM) arms are steel, and 14-17 (WN) arms are aluminum....thus different PN's. Not sure if there's any difference as far as geometry, or sizing of any connection points.
Ilikemtb999
Posts: 220
Joined: Wed Feb 06, 2019 11:49 pm

Re: Fron t lower rear control arm compatibility question

Post by Ilikemtb999 »

Navy Lifer wrote: Fri Mar 08, 2019 3:14 pm I could be wrong, but I believe 11-13 (WM) arms are steel, and 14-17 (WN) arms are aluminum....thus different PN's. Not sure if there's any difference as far as geometry, or sizing of any connection points.
That arm on mine is steel (MY2014) and looks the same across all years and platforms.

The front arm is aluminum on mine.
Ilikemtb999
Posts: 220
Joined: Wed Feb 06, 2019 11:49 pm

Re: Front lower rear control arm compatibility question

Post by Ilikemtb999 »

So for others that may look into this. The Chevy ss, g8, camaro and caprice arms are all the same length EXCEPT the ball joint taper is different depending on application.

The camaro, g8 and caprice 11-13 use a traditional taper ball joint.

The ss and 2014+ caprice use the same style ball joint and the ss has a tab welded on for magnetic ride.
My 2014 one on top and the other style below.
694B8648-BBF1-4000-B92C-9D1D31E20F9C.jpeg
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Navy Lifer
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Re: Front lower rear control arm compatibility question

Post by Navy Lifer »

Since the photo is rotated, is the rusty part on "top"?

The new part fits VF/WN, the old part fits VE/WM....the new part appear to have a lube fitting--yes? Assuming it is aftermarket, does the OEM version also have a lube fitting, or is it sealed?

The taper is different, I'm guessing, because the later VF/WN chassis used aluminum knuckles. How closely the new part shown is to the OE part, it does appear to be more robust than the used part....but I think they are not from the same application, correct?
Ilikemtb999
Posts: 220
Joined: Wed Feb 06, 2019 11:49 pm

Re: Front lower rear control arm compatibility question

Post by Ilikemtb999 »

Navy Lifer wrote: Sat Mar 16, 2019 8:54 pm Since the photo is rotated, is the rusty part on "top"?

The new part fits VF/WN, the old part fits VE/WM....the new part appear to have a lube fitting--yes? Assuming it is aftermarket, does the OEM version also have a lube fitting, or is it sealed?

The taper is different, I'm guessing, because the later VF/WN chassis used aluminum knuckles. How closely the new part shown is to the OE part, it does appear to be more robust than the used part....but I think they are not from the same application, correct?
None of the pictures are rotated? The used one is the one from my car and the oem one (which is all there is out there) does not have a grease fitting. I was searching for something “better” than what comes stock but nobody has said what makes things different and also gmpartsdirect shows both the older and newer style fitting the 2014
s/c'd cav
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Location: PHOENIX AZ

Re: Front lower rear control arm compatibility question

Post by s/c'd cav »

i dont think our 13's used the aluminum arms , but these are a good upgrade for us 14-17 people

https://superpro.com.au/whats-new/163-h ... dMhLYf8bys
Ilikemtb999
Posts: 220
Joined: Wed Feb 06, 2019 11:49 pm

Re: Front lower rear control arm compatibility question

Post by Ilikemtb999 »

s/c'd cav wrote: Mon Mar 18, 2019 10:47 am i dont think our 13's used the aluminum arms , but these are a good upgrade for us 14-17 people

https://superpro.com.au/whats-new/163-h ... dMhLYf8bys
I couldn’t actually find them in the states for sale and couldn’t justify the shipping to get them here.
s/c'd cav
Posts: 1382
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Location: PHOENIX AZ

Re: Front lower rear control arm compatibility question

Post by s/c'd cav »

Ilikemtb999 wrote: Mon Mar 18, 2019 6:42 pm
s/c'd cav wrote: Mon Mar 18, 2019 10:47 am i dont think our 13's used the aluminum arms , but these are a good upgrade for us 14-17 people

https://superpro.com.au/whats-new/163-h ... dMhLYf8bys
I couldn’t actually find them in the states for sale and couldn’t justify the shipping to get them here.
HOLDEN PARTS USA , sells superpro though they are not listed on the site currently , but if you contact them karo can help you out
CrashTestDummy
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Re: Front lower rear control arm compatibility question

Post by CrashTestDummy »

Ilikemtb999 wrote: Sat Mar 16, 2019 11:39 pm
Navy Lifer wrote: Sat Mar 16, 2019 8:54 pm Since the photo is rotated, is the rusty part on "top"?

The new part fits VF/WN, the old part fits VE/WM....the new part appear to have a lube fitting--yes? Assuming it is aftermarket, does the OEM version also have a lube fitting, or is it sealed?

The taper is different, I'm guessing, because the later VF/WN chassis used aluminum knuckles. How closely the new part shown is to the OE part, it does appear to be more robust than the used part....but I think they are not from the same application, correct?
None of the pictures are rotated? The used one is the one from my car and the oem one (which is all there is out there) does not have a grease fitting. I was searching for something “better” than what comes stock but nobody has said what makes things different and also gmpartsdirect shows both the older and newer style fitting the 2014
Yeah, on everything except my iPad Pro, those arms are oriented vertically up and down. On the iPad, they are oriented horizontally with the rusty one at the top of the picture. Ya gotta love standards used to determine picture orientation, where everyone uses their own ‘standard’.

Bill, yes, the rusty one is the OEM part off the car.
Gene Beaird,
Pearland, Texas
2012 Caprice 9C1
1992 B4C 1LE Camaro
2018 Tahoe PPV (her car)
1995 DGGM Impala SS
1985 Firebird - 310 LS1 C Prepared autocross car.
1980 Bluebird Wanderlodge
And some others
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