Adjustable Control Arms in!!

[twr]

I picked up a set of used adjustable control arms last week from someone on Techsho (not sure if he post here or not) Got them installed a couple of days ago and got the car aligned. I had to make up some spacers to get them to work. But man, the rear of the car is considerable tighter.

 

[SinisterSHO]

Did you use the original hardware off the car? And did you need to use the shonut reducing kit?
Looks great.

 

[twr]

I used my factory bolts. I made the spacers and used grade 8 washers to center the arms in h-box openings. The rod ends are the right diameter for the bolts, so no reducer sleeves required.

 

[Stracey R]

Did you install them while the rear wheels are on ramps?

 

[Bizzy]

very nice, I jsut got some reducing sleeves to use GTP arms from ebay for $15 and secured 2 GTP arms for $35 shipped, need to find 2 more.

BTW are those the ones from Phil? Cause if they are they don't look nearly as huge as the ones Fred H got from FPS last year at the convention.

 

[twr]

Yep, I got them from Phil. I'd say that they are atleast 1" diameter. I may look into making a set up based off these and come up with a different connection. Something a little more stout.

 

[SinisterSHO]

While I was diong my exhaust, I wondered what was to be done with the proportioning brake valve lever [I think thats what its called, the small arm that connects to the control arm] Does everyone just unhook these, or is tht what the bias plugs are for?

 

[twr]

...or is tht what the bias plugs are for?

Bingo

 

[twr]

Did you install them while the rear wheels are on ramps?

No... That would be incredibly dangerous and stupid. Without the latteral support of the arms you would wind up with a car on your head. I had the backend of the car up on jack stands and the wheels off.

 

[Bizzy]

bias valves on an ABS equipped SHO are for wusses.

I think the newer FPS design used huge 2-2.5 in thick AL, and mega rod ends

 

[SHO92]

BTW are those the ones from Phil? Cause if they are they don't look nearly as huge as the ones Fred H got from FPS last year at the convention.

I was thinking the same thing. As far as I know the FPS ones never came with the spherical bearings. I wonder if those are actually the arms that Zach Leahy made a few years ago. His were aluminium and had the spherical bearings. I thought the FPS ones were more like the TCE arms and used poly bushings. I wanted to jump on these arms when I saw what Phil was asking for them, but alas I didn't have the funding at the time. Time to start looking for GTP arms now.

 

[SHOZ123]

I just got 4 new arms in the mail yesterday from GM Parts Direct. It is my understanding that about a 1/2" needs to be cut off of each threaded end?

 

[yamahaSHO]

I just got 4 new arms in the mail yesterday from GM Parts Direct. It is my understanding that about a 1/2" needs to be cut off of each threaded end?

1/4" from each end... a total of 1/2"

 

[DHMag]

1/4" from each end... a total of 1/2"

unless he plans on lowering the car. i cut 3/8" from each end and still ran out of camber adjustment with my 2" rear drop. another 1/8", totalling 1/2" each side should suit me just fine.

 

[shojuan]

I was thinking the same thing. As far as I know the FPS ones never came with the spherical bearings. I wonder if those are actually the arms that Zach Leahy made a few years ago. His were aluminium and had the spherical bearings. I thought the FPS ones were more like the TCE arms and used poly bushings. I wanted to jump on these arms when I saw what Phil was asking for them, but alas I didn't have the funding at the time. Time to start looking for GTP arms now.

Mine are FPS arms. They indeed use spherical bearings. They more or less look just like Terry's arms. Mine had 1/2" bolts. I just used a cheap step drill bit and right angle adapter on my makita to hog out the knuckles to accept the bolts.

Edit: In reference to what Todd mentioned below, my FPS arms have teflon lined rod ends. Big bucks (at least when you add up 8 of them!) compared to unlined ends.

 

[Hack]

Ahh, that explains the picture you posted in another thread a couple of days ago with stock control arms on the left, and tubulars on the right.

 

[Todd TCE]

Damn dude, buy some new quality rod ends for those links. Those rusted, non lined two piece rod ends are for holding a lawnmower together. Not the butt end of a street car. Teflon lined, three piece mid grades are at least worth the effort.

Links can be had in 1/2" inc from sprint car suppliers like AZ Racemart here where I get mine for the race car. About $12-15ea I'd guess.

Rod ends from me, or any Aurora or FK or other vendor of such. Racemart has them too but they use the throw-away type on sprint cars. Like the ones you have now. Short life, cheap, replace often.