Evaluating the Quality of Suspension Component Stamping & Forming

Evaluating the quality of suspension component stamping and forming is one step in the process of sourcing high quality auto parts for OEM manufacturing, ODM or aftermarket distribution. No matter which market you are in, you need to be reassured that your suspension component manufacturer can supply you with the quality you need to satisfy your customers.

Suspension component quality depends on manufacturing standards

We’ve seen how Central American aftermarket suspension component distributors look for specific standards when they assess automotive components. It’s easy to recognize that the key success factors are high quality suspension component manufacturing processes, materials and techniques that achieve the strength, durability, ease of fitting and service reliability that customers want.

How do you identify high quality stamping & forming of suspension components?

There are many clues you can use as signs to identify better or worse products when comparing the quality of suspension components supplied by different OEM and aftermarket auto parts manufacturers. Some of these are more obvious than others, and some things that may seem important are not as significant as others.

• Steel should be of appropriate gauge & quality
• Look for complex geometry & progressive forming
• Components must have the same fitting dimensions as OEM original parts
• Automated welding is preferable to manual welding

Is steel gauge an indicator of suspension component durability?

Material thickness is often used as an indicator of suspension component durability, but this is not necessarily a good indicator. High tensile steel forming allows the use of thinner gauge sections of stronger steel alloys for higher strength and better resistance to vibration and suspension impacts.

Thicker gauge steel can indicate low quality materials that affect handling

Very thick steel sections can be an indicator that a manufacturer is using very low quality materials and needs to compensate for this by increasing the gauge, but this of course increases the unsprung weight, and has a negative impact on vehicle handling and responsiveness.

Complex, progressive curves indicate higher quality stamping & forming

If you compare an aftermarket component to an OEM component you will often see that although the outer dimensions may match, the curvature of the component does not, with shallower, longer curving sections being used instead of sharper, more complex, or progressive curves.

Low quality suspension component manufacturers use simpler parts geometry to reduce costs, and avoid the costs associated with the expensive tooling required to create complex geometric shapes using high performance, modern, forming machines. However, this simplification of the OEM design geometry affects performance and can also have a negative impact on ease of installation.

Why is precision forming very important for aftermarket suspension components?

Precision forming that matches the dimensions of OEM suspension components is very important for maintaining customer confidence in the quality of components, and improving the ease of installation of aftermarket auto parts.

Suspension components have very specific mounting and installation requirements, and if your aftermarket component does not have the exact profile of the OEM component it will probably be more difficult to install, as well as being potentially less durable, heavier and exhibiting worse performance characteristics.

Automated welding is essential to ensure strong welds for suspension components

If you look at an aftermarket suspension component and see clear signs of manual welding, this should concern you. Expert welders will produce excellent weld lines with very high strength joints, but a suspension component production line at a low-cost auto parts manufacturer is unlikely to be staffed by expert welders.

Suspension is essential for automotive safety, so ask for evidence of automated, robotic welding in a controlled environment. This ensures consistently strong welds that can be relied upon to have the same lifespan as the rest of the suspension component.

Simplified geometry & cost-cutting processes reduce consumer confidence in your auto components

The problems with aftermarket components that are based on simplified geometry and cost-cutting manufacturing processes are significant. They not only affect the durability, reliability and handling of suspension components, but they can also be much harder to install. This runs the risk of both losing the confidence of consumers and alienating aftermarket repair workshops and parts distributors who do not want their jobs made more difficult, or their customers to complain about the parts they supply and install.

SH Auto Parts manufactures high quality, high precision suspension components

If you are looking for high quality suspension components that have the correct geometry, precision formed from high tensile steels, and assembled with reliable robotic multi-axis welding, then SH Auto Parts can meet your needs. We have an exceptional tooling library that we use to manufacture IATF 16949 certified OEM equivalent and ODM improved aftermarket control arms, tie rod ends and stabilizer links.

Our vertically integrated Smart Factory in Taiwan includes robotic ball joint manufacturing and in-house bushing for consistent quality control. Contact us to discover our extensive ACES/PIES compatible range of precision formed, robotic welded suspension components that will enhance your OEM equivalent aftermarket suspension component catalog.