Two control arm prices are not comparable unless they describe the same application, side, assembly content, quality scope, packaging, quantity, and trade term. A lower unit price can exclude ball joints, bushes, inspection, packaging, domestic transport, or claim responsibility.
1. Lock the application branch
Record the OE reference, vehicle platform, build period, chassis, RHD/LHD, drivetrain, ride height, left/right position, and configuration exclusions. Do not compare a standard-height arm with a lift, adjustable, or caster-corrected arm.
2. Define the commercial unit
State whether the request is one bare arm, one complete assembly, or a left/right pair. List installed ball joints, bushes, sensor brackets, nuts, bolts, and any separately packed hardware. Ask for a labelled BOM photo.
3. Compare manufacturing scope
Request steel grade and thickness, forming or forging method, welding process, weld inspection, coating, ball-pin material and heat treatment, bush specification and hardness tolerance, assembly, final inspection, and outsourced operations. A factory label does not prove that every process is in-house.
4. Compare product-level evidence
- Controlled drawing and critical dimensions
- Ball-pin taper and mounting centres
- Pull-out, torque, fatigue, or other applicable test records
- Coating or corrosion-test conditions and acceptance criteria
- Current production, marking, packaging, and carton photos
- Sample and batch traceability
General ISO or IATF certificates support system review but do not approve a specific arm.
5. Normalize price and quantity
Use the same currency, quantity, and Incoterm. Separate sample cost, tooling, labels, private-label packaging, domestic freight, export charges, and bank fees. Ask for prices at the intended trial quantity and later scale quantities rather than comparing unrelated web prices.
6. Calculate landed cost
Add product value, packaging, inland logistics, export handling, freight, insurance, destination duty and tax where applicable, customs/broker charges, local delivery, inspection, expected claims, and currency risk. Confirm actual weight and carton dimensions because control arms are bulky relative to their value.
7. Test mixed-SKU feasibility
Record MOQ per left/right part number, carton multiples, total order MOQ, whether related OE branches can share the trial order, label cost, lead time, and production scheduling. A workable mixed order can be more valuable than a lower price that requires excessive stock.
8. Compare traceability and claims
Require a batch code, production/inspection record link, wrong-fitment process, early-failure evidence requirements, credit/replacement rule, response time, and warranty exclusions. If responsibility is undefined before the order, the lowest quote may carry the highest commercial risk.
Supplier comparison output
Mark quotations as comparable, partly comparable, or not comparable. Do not rank price until all critical fitment and BOM fields match. Gerui uses a supplier scorecard with one-vote rejection items for identity, fitment, dimensions, certificates, and traceability.
Request a controlled comparison
Send the OE references, vehicle data, side, required BOM, quantities, packaging, and destination through the RFQ form. Review the lower control arm sourcing scope before preparing the list.