Topic: what are steering arms made of?

[kyle_22r]

i've been doing some research into doing a lowsteer conversion eventually on my truck.  it seems that many people have successfully welded another passenger side arm upside down on top of the stock arm, and gussetted them heavily down the middle with some 1/2" plate or something.  now, my question is, is this stuff safe to weld?  i've heard conflicting reports that it's cast, and some say they're forged.  i'm a good welder, but i'm a little worried about the material here, never welded cast steel before(if that turns out to be what it is)

[brainlessfool]

well I not a "good" welder, butt i get by. I've done some welding on cast steel and not had any porblmes yet. once tried to weld cast iorn, not for my. heat it up and go. forgetit . if its steel, go for it. if its cast i'd try a mild rod and just some cold rolled .25 plate as a gusset.  and weld the h:ack:l out of it!

[brainlessfool]

as i set here thinking of it i think those ARE forged arms.

[WHITE_TRASH]

No problem in welding the arms together.  My big truck has billhilly crossover.  I gusseted it with 1/2" plate, no problems as of yet.
WT

[Brandon]

man for the price of hi-steer kits these days I would not even think of welding an arm! I used to run a welded arm but I wouldn't do it again only because arms are so cheap..

[Thumper]

400 bucks for highsteer vs like 50 for the hilly billy way hmm im going with the hill billy way too ive seen lots of trucks like that and ive got a friend that has no probs with his and most people dont got the extra 400 500 bucks too drop for highsteer/ crossover steering.
just my .02 cents
adam

[Brandon]

actually the hillbilly is basically free if ya got the arms, but once ya go hi-steer you won't go back

Well the arms are what, $100? So add some ends for $20 ea and your under 200, steel for the rods is pretty cheap if you get get it tapped free, or buy inserts for like $15 ea or save your effort and bolton a $399 kit

[Thumper]

where can you get the ends for 100 bucks and is that for both ends or just one side?