First Line, under the Borg & Beck brand, has recently increased its steering and suspension range for CV applications. The additions boast some new features, including an ‘E-coating’.
Alongside its usual passenger car range, First Line has a growing reputation for its commercial vehicle programme, which has been further strengthened with the addition of more than 100 new-to-range steering and suspension components so far this year.
Launched in 2015, the CV range has experienced considerable year-on-year sales growth, resulting in a particularly successful 2018. The launch of these new part numbers will ensure this upward trend continues, and that the company’s customers have access to the parts they need to compete in an increasing and diverse market.
The additions comprise anti-roll bar bushes, ball joints, centre rods, rack ends, stabiliser links, tie rods, tie rod ends, torque rods and V-stay bars. These, along with the existing products in the range, cater for many popular applications, including a number of the latest Euro 6 compliant vehicles such as Mercedes Atego/Actros, MAN TGL, Scania P Series, Mitsubishi Canter and Volvo FE/FH. Naturally these Borg & Beck products are produced to OE specification by the company’s partner manufacturers, who operate under ISO9001 and TS16949 certification.
E-coat
As well as being branded and batch-coded for full traceability and subjected to First Line’s testing and approval processes, all of the steering and suspension parts are fully E-coated. This procedure delivers several key advantages, starting with its exceptional corrosion resistance in all weather conditions and a high resistance to stone chips and other road debris. It also provides protection from chemical degeneration such as oil/brake fluid, affords a uniform covering across the entire surface of the product, and is environmentally friendly.
The steering and suspension range is all fully E-coated using a process called electrophoresis, an organic, water based technology that uses positively charged ‘paint’ to adhere to the part. Electrophoresis is commonly used throughout the automotive industry for parts that operate in hostile road conditions.
Development and production parts are routinely tested to meet the specifications of the OE component, going through more than 18 different assessment types, including metallurgical analysis, dynamic load, destructive fatigue and product specific tests, such as ball pin pull load and radial movement measurement. Borg & Beck suspension parts also feature forged ball pins on torque rods and V-stay bars, to ensure increased longevity versus the cast parts which are common in the marketplace. As a result, all Borg & Beck CV components are supplied with a 24- month, unlimited mileage warranty against manufacturing defects for total peace of mind.
