As the opposite, with a Glide or Hydraulic front end you know that a change in rake and length from stock dimensions and geometry can seriously alter suspension performance. The particularity of this type of front end is also that the length of the forks and the rake in the forks or frame does not determine how well a Girder works because the “suspension part” is always the same and keep working as intended. In addition to awesome looks, Girder strength comes from its triangular shape. Many Durfee Girders manufactured in the 60’s and 70’s are still on the road today. Army in the Sahara Desert during World War II. For example, the Girders developed by Earl Durfee in 1969 and inspired by the one used on the Indian motorcycles of the 1930’s and 40’s which were of very good design, rugged enough to be used by the U.S. Not necessarily.Īt the opposite of the choice spectrum, Girder front ends are perceived as the choice fondly for looks and strength, and it’s not true that a well designed Girder cannot provide excellent performance for handling and front suspension. If you notice wear and tear that’s uneven, it may be due to some bushings.When building a custom motorcycle from the ground up one of the first important decisions you have to make is to choose a front end style, probably among 4 styles: Glide or Hydraulic, Springer, Spring Leaf or Girder, with the hydraulic system being the most popular because of the overall perception that it works better. It’s a good idea to get in the habit of checking the wear of your tires, as it can help you spot problems before they get too severe. If a car’s wheels aren’t aligned properly, the tires won’t wear evenly. That part up there about broken front control arm bushings hurting the alignment of your car? You’ll notice that in the tire wear. When in doubt, pay attention to your car when it doesn’t feel right. You also might notice that it’s harder to steer than normal. Damaged bushings will impact the alignment of your wheels, which is a common cause of pulling. But your car can also begin to pull if the front control arm bushings are busted. Most common among them is uneven wear and tear on your tires. Your car can pull to the left or the right for a few reasons. You’re not moving the steering wheel, but the car is pulling to the left or the right. Pulling is when your car isn’t really driving in a straight line. The control arms will move over as the car does, which means that when you drive over bumps or other imperfections in the road, you’re likely to hear some bumping and thumping. This is the result of the bushings struggling to hold the control arms in place. If your car’s front control arm bushings are failing, you’re likely to hear a knocking noise. And when you hear abnormal ones, you should pay attention to them because they’re only going to get worse. Other than the roar of your engine and the music you like to blast, your car shouldn’t really make many noises. Here’s your first lesson: Noises aren’t good. Hey, welcome to your first day of Cars 101. Symptoms of failing Front Control Arm Bushings When that happens they’ll need to be replaced, and, depending on your car, the control arms may need to be replaced as well. While the front control arm bushings are designed to withstand lots of wear and tear, they can give out over time. The bushings, which are made of metal but covered in either rubber or polyurethane, keep the metal control arms from excess contact with the metal frame of the car. Most control arms have two bushings, which are located where the control arm attaches to the frame of your car. So, now we move on to the front control arm bushings. And it’s not what you get, thanks to the front control arms. Left on their own, the steering knuckles would move around quite a bit, and that would get transmitted to your car, your steering wheel, and your hands. When the vehicle travels over a bump, the control arm pivots on bushings, allowing your car’s wheels to move up and down. Front control arms usually connect to the frame at one end and the steering knuckle at the other. Many cars have at least four control arms: One for each wheel. They reduce the amount of force that is dealt to the car, which in turn limits unnecessary movement. The control arms serve to connect the steering system to the frame of the car. Let’s start with what the control arms are, and work our way backwards, shall we?