Upper Metal
Description
Forged Aluminum Shock Upper Mount (Offset Eye): Shock Mounting Seat
This forged aluminum upper metal is the mounting seat at the top of a shock absorber. It consists of a cylindrical body with a round top face and an eye boss offset to the side, which takes a bolt or pin to fix the shock to the frame. The offset layout lets the shock reach a suitable mounting angle in a confined space.
The seat carries repeated axial force from the shock, concentrated where the body meets the offset eye. Al Forge Tech (AFT) hot forges body and eye together so grain flow turns continuously through the junction, then completes the pin bore, threads and mating faces after in-house T6 heat treatment and CNC machining, with anodizing available.
Key Features
- Cylindrical body and offset eye hot forged in one piece
- Offset layout achieves mounting angle in tight spaces
- Pin bore, threads and mating faces CNC-finished
- In-house T6 heat treatment and anodizing
Forged Aluminum Shock Upper Mount (Offset Eye) Specifications and Manufacturing Capability
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Product category | Aluminum Forging Vehicle Parts |
| Application | Shock absorber upper mounts for powersport vehicles and ATVs |
| Primary process | Closed-die hot forging (hot forging presses 600T–8,000T) |
| Material | Per customer specification; 6xxx alloys common for chassis and suspension parts (e.g. 6061, 6082, 6110), 7xxx evaluated for higher strength |
| Heat treatment | In-house T4 solution treatment (8 units) and T6 artificial aging (7 units), set by alloy and strength requirement |
| Secondary machining | CNC machining (52 machining centers, 30 lathes), deburring, vibratory finishing |
| Surface finish | Anodizing (including hard anodizing), shot blasting, e-coating or painting, as required |
| Inspection | Zeiss CMM (4 units), hardness testers, spectrometer, fluorescent penetrant inspection line |
| Dimensions and tolerances | Per customer 2D/3D drawings |
| Quality system | IATF 16949:2016, ISO 14001:2015 |
Forged Aluminum Shock Upper Mount (Offset Eye) Manufacturing Process
- Drawing review and DFM: we confirm alloy, load direction and critical dimensions, then run QForm simulation to predict metal flow and defect risk.
- Die design and manufacturing: the number of die sets (for example, blocker and finisher dies) is planned around part complexity, and die contours are checked with a portable 3D scanner.
- Hot forging: closed-die forming on 600T–8,000T hot forging presses creates a continuous grain flow that follows the part contour.
- Heat treatment: T4 solution treatment and T6 artificial aging are performed in-house, with parameters set by alloy and strength requirement.
- CNC machining and finishing: holes, threads and mating surfaces are machined, followed by deburring, vibratory finishing, shot blasting or anodizing as required.
- Inspection and shipment: dimensions, hardness and chemical composition are verified with CMM, hardness testers and a spectrometer, with lot traceability kept under IATF 16949.
FAQ
Why is an offset-eye shock mount well suited to forging?
The offset eye makes the part asymmetric; machining it from bar would remove a lot of material to create the offset boss. Forging the offset contour first saves material and lets grain flow follow the turn from body to eye. For a shock mount under repeated loading, continuous grain flow helps fatigue performance.
How does this upper metal differ from AFT’s other shock mounts?
AFT produces several shock upper mount styles: this one has a cylindrical body with a side-offset eye; another has a double-round-head form; and a third is a suspension joint with a flat connecting ear. Each style reflects a different shock design, mounting space and load direction, and can be developed to your drawing.
Is heat treatment for the Forged Aluminum Shock Upper Mount (Offset Eye) done in-house?
Yes. Al Forge Tech operates 8 T4 solution treatment units and 7 T6 artificial aging units on site, so the Forged Aluminum Shock Upper Mount (Offset Eye) can be solution treated, quenched and aged in the same facility before machining and inspection. Keeping heat treatment in-house removes inter-plant transport, reduces lead-time risk and keeps lot traceability within one quality system. Parameters are set according to the alloy grade and your specification.
How do you keep the Forged Aluminum Shock Upper Mount (Offset Eye) consistent from lot to lot?
Al Forge Tech runs incoming (IQC), in-process (IPQC) and final (FQC) inspection under IATF 16949:2016, supported by 4 Zeiss CMMs, hardness testers, a spectrometer and a fluorescent penetrant inspection line. First, middle and last pieces of every lot are checked against the die; when wear causes dimensional drift, the die is reworked to keep the Forged Aluminum Shock Upper Mount (Offset Eye) stable across lots.
How does a forged aluminum Forged Aluminum Shock Upper Mount (Offset Eye) compare with casting or machining from billet?
Forging shapes aluminum in the solid state under pressure, so the grain flow follows the part contour and the porosity and shrinkage common in castings are avoided. Compared with machining from solid billet, a near-net-shape forging removes less material and shortens machining time. For a Forged Aluminum Shock Upper Mount (Offset Eye) under repeated loads, forging balances strength and weight; the final choice still depends on design loads and volume.
Request a Quote for the Forged Aluminum Shock Upper Mount (Offset Eye)
Developing a new Forged Aluminum Shock Upper Mount (Offset Eye) or converting an existing part to aluminum forging? Send us your 3D/2D drawings, alloy and temper, annual volume and finishing requirements. Our engineering team will reply with a feasibility review, die plan and quotation.
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- Email: [email protected]
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