50's steel used for forged auto part? 1

[Rink]

Can anyone suggest the variety of steel types that might have been used by Volkswagen and Porsche (1955-1960) in the manufacture of forged front suspension trailing arms? I'm curious to know if there are several or only a few possibilities.

I realize that I could sacrafice a part and have an analysis done to get a better approximation. But that might not be necessary if someone knows this or a source for an answer.

R. Reinking

 

[Pressed]

.
A spectrometer test is non-destructive for a part your size. You could also do a spark test comparison to known metals if you have enough meat to spare, so to speak.

_______________________________________
Feeling frisky.........

http://www.tailofthedragon.com

 

[CoryPad]

I can't be certain, but I think it is very likely that the steel used for forgings would have been a carbon steel, carbon concentration (in mass percent) of approximately 0.2 to 0.5, manganese 0.5 to 1.0, and maybe silicon or aluminium of 0.2 to 0.3.

Regards,

Cory

Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips Fora.

 

[redpicker]

You can get a fairly good idea with a simple hardness test. Below 80 HRB, you are probably dealing with a low carbon plain-carbon steel (<0.15%C). Up to 20 HRC or so, probably medium carbon plain-carbon (.4-.5%C), perhaps normalized. Above 25, you are probably dealing with a heat treated low alloy steel. A lot of the automotive suspension parts (particularly back then) were either cold-formed or warm-formed (meaning low carbon, low strength) with increased section size making up for reduced strength. Weight wasn't a concern and steel was cheaper than heat treatment.

rp