Cybertruck engineers bend upper control arm in testing

[JBee]

Great close up’s. You can see the difference in the upper ball joint rubber boot.

The Cybertruck would have to encounter one hell of an impact to bend an upper control arm.

It nearly looks like the wheel came off and pushed it up, or a rock or large branch was lodged between the wheel and the arm, and the wheel turning lodged it in between and bent it.

Either way that front alignment would be out, and probably by more than the rod tie ends can adjust for. Without that bush being intact it would also make a racket.

 

[LiveFreeOrDieBob]

Definitely seems like the UCA needs boxing around the whole outer end instead of having the upper ball joint mounted in flat steel with no reinforcement around the end.

 

[ÆCIII]

Repeated Testing to Failure, has been part of Tesla and SpaceX processes to develop with an agile approach. To me the bent upper control arm is a good sign because it means they were doing some rigorous thorough testing.

What's needed as a result of the testing is hard to tell, without knowing the exact test condition and event that caused the damage. Either way, an upper control arm is an easy part to substitute or manufacture in aftermarket if the Tesla stock part is not adequate for intense off-road use.

But I would think Tesla will increase strength of the stock part after such test results. Time will tell. This seems like a topic for a next Sandy Munro video. They've made videos about Cybertruck photos similar to these before.

- ÆCIII

 

[Bill837]

Repeated Testing to Failure, has been part of Tesla and SpaceX processes to develop with an agile approach. To me the bent upper control arm is a good sign because it means they were doing some rigorous thorough testing.

What's needed as a result of the testing is hard to tell, without knowing the exact test condition and event that caused the damage. Either way, an upper control arm is an easy part to substitute or manufacture in aftermarket if the Tesla stock part is not adequate for intense off-road use.

But I would think Tesla will increase strength of the stock part after such test results. Time will tell. This seems like a topic for a next Sandy Munro video. They've made videos about Cybertruck photos similar to these before.

- ÆCIII

Yeah, there's a backlog of stuff for him to go over.

 

[Petertsai]

Possibly bent due to side impact on wheel?

 

[Amuma]

I just see dirt and scratches but not bent when factoring in the difference in angles

 

[msdg137]

I've field bombed sh!tbox cars with better A arms than that(jumping for both distance and air). Those balljoints would egg out if they managed to survive without bending. Where's the beef!?

 

[Rutrow]

Definitely seems like the UCA needs boxing around the whole outer end instead of having the upper ball joint mounted in flat steel with no reinforcement around the end.

I'll bet it changes to a welded clam shell. Stamped steel would've been the far cheaper and faster but just doesn't seem to work. Cast would be stronger, but weight and expense would be higher... ? Bean counters will probably make the final decision.

 

[msdg137]

I'll bet it changes to a welded clam shell. Cast would be stronger, but weight and expense would be higher... ? Bean counters will probably make the final decision.

I would expect a pressed dish design with a welded cross brace behind the balljoint access. Cheap and strong.

 

[samroy92]

Latest image of the new matte black RC upper control arm, same “bent” look. It may be a lighter duty control arm but this whole discussion is probably a nothing burger.

 

[Bill837]

Latest image of the new matte black RC upper control arm, same “bent” look. It may be a lighter duty control arm but this whole discussion is probably a nothing burger.

I would guess because the only thing new about the matte black one is the color

 

[samroy92]

I would guess because the only thing new about the matte black one is the color

Just making the point that the evidence is pointing to the original post not actually showing a bent control arm due to off-road use. This is a newer rc unit — I am not saying the upper control arm isn’t light duty just that the original premise was probably wrong!

 

[JBee]

Latest image of the new matte black RC upper control arm, same “bent” look. It may be a lighter duty control arm but this whole discussion is probably a nothing burger.

Do you have a source of that photo where there might be more of them? Thx!

 

[samroy92]

Do you have a source of that photo where there might be more of them? Thx!

no prob! I think it was from this walk around:

 

[TacoTuesday]

That upper control arm looks flimsy af for a heavy truck. Keeping good alignment is going to be a pain.

I’ve had upper control arm problems with my m3 and my. Seems like Tesla should have gone heavy duty here