Which is better? Machined or Forged?

Tacoma747

Tacoma747

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Joined
Mar 20, 2005
Location
Winston-Salem
Gotta get a new pitman arm, getting a flat one from either Sky or Trail-Gear. Which is better, the machined arm from Sky or the forged one from Trail-Gear? I know forging usually makes the material stronger, but I will probably have to drill out the end so I can bolt a 3/4" heim to it (w/ high misalignment spacers).

My main worry:

I need a 5/8" hole, but I am thinking that the taper that is in the Trail-Gear arm will be larger than 5/8". So no matter what I do I will probably have to weld in a spacer.

I am going to call Sky and see what they can do tomorrow.
 
machined

I would go with a machined part but thats what i do for a living. you have to think that part is more than likely going to be hardened and stress releaved. so i would say machined
 
I don't think you're going to bend either one.

I'd get the Sky one, but it's only because Geiger is a prick.
 
I always been told forged due to the grain structure,

Just get a forged piece and machine it, then it's all good!
 
Mech. engr. here and forging is stronger no doubt. Forging is stronger than cast or machined parts. This is a fact because during the forging process the metals grain structure follows along the contour of the part, making it stronger.
 
russ0943 said:
Mech. engr. here and forging is stronger no doubt. Forging is stronger than cast or machined parts. This is a fact because during the forging process the metals grain structure follows along the contour of the part, making it stronger.
Click to expand...


Thats what I thought...

Either way, getting a machined one from Sky, because they can make one with a 5/8" hole so I don't have to modify it.
 
with that said, a forged part is stronger than a cast or machine part of Equal size. So a beefier machined part can still do the job just fine. Also, if you had to drill out a forged part then the grains would follow the contour around the original smaller hole, somewhat weakening the area around the larger hole.
 
werent people breaking the Trail-Gear pitman arms when they first came out....

did i say that out loud...:shaking:
 
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