First Line continues to adapt its replacement steering and suspension components to reflect the new types of material that vehicle manufacturers are now featuring in their original components in order to make weight savings.

Every gram counts to car makers as a 10% weight saving can lead to an impressive 6-8% reduction in fuel consumption and subsequently, emissions. By adopting new materials, VM’s can find some of these weight reductions within Steering & Suspension components. This means for example that plastic is increasingly used in load bearing structural elements like Engine Mounts. For example mainstream production vehicles such as on the Opel Astra 09> (First Line - FEM4097) and on the Vectra 02>09 (First Line - FEM3999) utilise plastic construction.

In technical terms, the material used is PA66+50GF, which is polyamide reinforced with 50% fibreglass. In addition to weight saving reductions, which can be as much as 35% when compared to steel or aluminium, this material has many benefits such as better load distribution on the axles. Load reduction on the front axles has a positive effect on the driving dynamics and enhances driving safety. Two other benefits come in the form of being resistant to rust and corrosion and they exhibit the same or improved noise, vibration and harshness properties.

New materials are also impacting in other component areas such as link bars. For example, in a number of VAG applications carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) is used due to its immense strength to weight ratio. First Line can supply this new technology (First Line part number FDL7441), it also offers the preceding traditional design Link Bar (First Line number FDL6732). Although First Line provides both parts, best practice is not to mix the two versions on the same vehicle and that they should always be replaced in pairs.

First Line MD, Dan Joyner, commented, "There is a danger that the use of plastic in these components may cause technicians to think that they are of less quality and strength, however this is not the case. The plastics used are incredibly strong and have some great advantages compared to aluminium and steel, such as weight reduction and greater comfort and control. CFRP is an expensive material, commonly used in the aerospace industry and for the production of sports cars so it’s move into mainstream automotive manufacturing must offer significant benefits. First Line will naturally adapt to the changing OE specifications to continue to provide our customers with the products that give them the widest choice and most suitable repair solution.”