Our HCR Control Arms Review, First Impressions

This isn’t our first rodeo when it comes to using aftermarket chassis components for our UTVs. Up to this point, we’ve had a handful of other brand’s parts installed on our rigs- we won’t name names for the sake of this article but we’ve utilized 3 other brands (before HCR) and, obviously, the OEM. We know the shortcomings of each and when it comes to this topic we are well versed, to say the least. That being said, from the second we pulled our new HCR components out of the box we were beyond impressed with the craftsmanship and sheer structure. While we all know that these are expensive parts, atleast compared to other alternatives, we’re pretty confident we can convince you that the benefits far outweigh a couple dollars in cost savings. Read on and we’ll tell you exactly why.

Round Tube or Boxed?

Approximately 80% of aftermarket arms for your SxS are constructed out of round-tube. Often times, the tube is of a much thicker wall (0.125″ or so) than the OEM (usually 0.060″ to 0.075″). The outer diameter of these arms are usually larger than OEM. From an engineering standpoint, the greatest adversary to bending, with round tube, is outer diameter- modulation of this characteristic has the most pronounced effect on preventing your arms from crumpling. Unfortunately the second you ding one of those tubular arms against a rock, you exponentially decrease the rigidity of your control arms. Why does this occur? Consider the transfer of force like the flow of water- it runs against the path of least resistance and doesn’t like interruption. When a tubular arm becomes dented, the path of least resistance (where this force then focuses) centers at the ding- a small lever arm, where bending/moment can occur, is effectively generated. Some people run control arm skids to prevent this occurrence, others make the switch to boxed control arms (like the HCR). Boxed control arms, particularly when they are internally gusseted, maintain structural integrity on an entirely different (and much more complex) set of principles.

So What’s the Catch?

Compared to OEM, these will be approximately 12% heavier. If you’re trying to build the lightest possible SxS- you may need to look elsewhere. The way we look at it, however, is it’s not about how fast you can go, it’s about how long you can go fast. These parts are built to let you go fast for as long as your heart desires. The cost can be another stumbling block for some. To this point, we’ve almost had our car completely totaled from failed chassis components of other brands- the HCR may be pricey at first but will save you some serious headache in the long run. It’s tempting to cheap out but don’t make the mistake we once did- if you like riding aggressively with your UTV, get a set of HCR and don’t look back.