A-Arm Mounting Plate, Pair

OVERVIEW

When you are building a custom long-travel suspension or reinforcing a heavy-duty off-road chassis, the mounting points are the literal foundation of your vehicle''s handling and safety. These A&A Manufacturing A-Arm Mounting Plates are engineered for the hardcore fabricator who refuses to compromise on structural integrity. Designed to provide a rock-solid pivot point for control arms, these plates take the guesswork out of fabrication. Whether you are building a custom sand rail from the ground up or converting a classic Beetle into a high-performance Baja Bug, these plates offer the thickness and precision needed to withstand the violent cycles of off-road racing. The 3/16-inch steel construction ensures that your suspension geometry remains true even when you are hammering through deep whoops or landing off a dune crest.

A&A Manufacturing is a legend in the fabrication world, known for producing components that professional builders trust for their consistency and weldability. These FAB-1016 mounting plates feature a precision-drilled 9/16-inch hole, which is the industry standard for many heavy-duty rod ends and suspension bolts. Because these are sold as a pair, you have the matching set required to start your front-end geometry with perfect symmetry. These aren''t just flat pieces of scrap; they are professional-grade chassis components designed to be welded directly to your tube frame or boxed sub-frame. If you are tired of ovaled-out holes or flimsy brackets that flex under load, upgrading to these high-tensile steel plates is the only way to ensure your air-cooled project stays on the trail and out of the shop.

FITMENT

• Custom Sand Rails: Ideal for all tube-chassis rails using A-arm front suspension.
• Baja Bugs: Perfect for custom front beam replacements and long-travel conversions.
• Dune Buggies: Compatible with Manx-style bodies on custom fabricated frames.
• Woods Buggies: Heavy-duty enough for tight, technical trail riding and rock crawling.
• Universal Fabrication: Fits any project requiring a 9/16-inch pivot point and 3/16-inch plate thickness.

SPECS

• Manufacturer: A&A Manufacturing
• Part Number: FAB-1016
• Material: High-Quality Mild Steel (Excellent Weldability)
• Thickness: 3/16 Inches (0.1875")
• Hole Diameter: 9/16 Inches
• Quantity: Sold as a Pair (2 Pieces)
• Weight: Approximately 0.22 lbs per plate
• Finish: Raw Steel (Requires Painting or Plating after welding)

PRO TIPS

1. Prioritize Precision Alignment

When welding these plates to your chassis, alignment is everything. Even a fraction of a degree of misalignment can lead to premature bushing wear or binding in your suspension travel. I always recommend using a "dummy" bolt or a solid piece of 9/16-inch threaded rod passed through both mounting plates during the tack-welding process. This ensures that the holes remain perfectly concentric and parallel to one another. Don''t rely on your eyes alone; use a digital protractor to verify that your pivot axis matches your planned suspension geometry before you lay down your final beads.

2. Prep the Surface for Superior Penetration

Because these plates come in a raw steel finish, they may have a light coating of mill scale or shipping oil to prevent flash rust. For a professional-grade weld that won''t crack under the stress of off-road abuse, you must grind the mounting area back to shiny, bare metal. Clean both the plate and the chassis tubing with a flap disc and then wipe them down with acetone. Ensuring a clean surface allows for maximum penetration of the weld, which is critical when you are trusting these plates to hold your front wheels on at high speeds.

3. Manage Your Heat Cycles

While 3/16-inch steel is robust, it can still warp if you dump too much heat into it all at once. When welding these A-arm plates to your frame, use a "staggered" welding technique. Place several heavy tacks around the perimeter first, then weld in short increments, moving from one side of the plate to the other. This helps distribute the thermal expansion evenly and prevents the plate from pulling or "walking" away from its intended position. Allow the metal to air-cool naturally; never quench a critical suspension weld with water, as this can make the steel brittle and prone to failure on the trail.