Knuckles are found on the front and rear corners of almost every vehicle. They influence the ride, handling and wheel alignment (caster, camber toe) and serve as the anchor point for the bearings and tires, brakes, suspension components, and steering components. They are a critical part of the safety of a vehicle - without them braking and steering would not be possible.

Metaldyne manufacturers knuckles of varying materials, depending on weight, cost and performance considerations. All come with full in-house engineering support, providing short lead time to market and the ability to deliver custom designs. Choices include:

• Cast ductile iron - offers lower cost, high strength and the ability to be used in multiple vehicle applications, including military
• Forged or cast aluminum - delivers lower mass for improved fuel economy
• Forged steel - provides a high-strength product that is ideal for tight packaging situations. Also used in complex geometry applications and severe duty cycles such as police and military applications

The Engineering Process
Every knuckle we develop benefits from a design process known as "D-FEMA." It's a formal approach that includes clearance studies, kinematic design and packaging, CAE, FEA and computer simulation. These vital engineering lead-time activities provide benefits that have a long-term impact and assure a smooth, successful delivery.

Our engineering team develops prototypes to supply the OEM's test fleet and perform design verification (DV) testing. We continually implement new software to improve and shorten this phase without compromising reliability or safety.