With the MEYLE-HD control arm for BMW and Mini, the Hamburg-based spare parts manufacturer MEYLE offers a technically improved aluminum control arm with a replaceable support joint and fastening material
The kit consists of both control arms (left and right), matching MEYLE-HD bushings with holders and the necessary fastening material. The MEYLE-HD control arm kit was first presented at Automechanika 2018 and is now available under the parts numbers 3160500135/HD and 3160500136/HD.
The MEYLE-HD kit with the aluminum control arms was developed by MEYLE engineers in Hamburg, Germany, and was tested at every stage of the process – from the initial idea to production and comprehensive quality tests. MEYLE says the kit scores with numerous advantages compared to its OE counterpart. Manufactured from high-quality aluminum, it provides improved strength and durability of the part. The smooth surface, which is created from a single piece, is not only a visual highlight, but also is less susceptible to cracking. In addition, the control arms are very well-protected against corrosion by the aluminum used.
At 4.2 kilograms, the control arm is just under 20% lighter than OE. This not only reduces the total weight of the vehicle, but also lowers costs on day-to-day workshop and shipping activities, and saves required storage space, according to MEYLE. One additional detail makes the control arm particularly sustainable: The MEYLE-HD ball joint, which is larger than the OE part, is individually replaceable and offers the advantage that not the complete control arm, but an individual component can be replaced selectively.
The durability of the new MEYLE-HD control arm has been confirmed in an independent TÜV NORD test report commissioned by MEYLE. The MEYLE part was tested in comparison to the OE part.* In contrast to its OE counterpart, the MEYLE control arm survived the test under realistic load situations without damage, according to the company.
“On the basis of the operational durability tests carried out, it was found that the MEYLE-HD control arms of type 3160500128/HD achieved more than twice the number of load cycles under the same dynamic loads and under identical test conditions as the triangular control arms by the vehicle manufacturer, and thus a significantly longer service life.”
Looking Into The Future Of Production: 3D-Printed Control Arm As A Showcase At The Automechanika 2018 Event
As one of the leading manufacturers of automotive spare parts, MEYLE already uses its engineering and manufacturing know-how today to integrate potential future manufacturing and production processes into its development processes. At the Automechanika in Frankfurt, the company presented a fully functional and resilient 3-D printed prototype of the MEYLE-HD control arm for BMW applications. The result: a further reduction in weight of almost 30% (more than 40% compared to OE) due to the saving of production material and at the same time potentially improved stability and load capacity of the control arm.
*The TÜV report for the individual MEYLE-HD control arm from the kit was issued exclusively for the operational strength criterion. Further criteria were not tested.
