best rear control arms

[SHO92]

I don't see why people seem afraid of bending the control arms. From the few episodes I've heard about, the control arm was bent because the car hit something or went off track.

I would much prefer an easily replaceable control arm bending, then something else bending like the strut or knuckle, or even worse, the shock tower.

The weakest link should ideally be the easiest thing to replace, which is the control arm.

 

[SHO SPD]

Would it bend under normal driving conditions? Or were they just off track/ hitting something type of bends? I dont see why they would bend just from driving.

 

[60kmaintenance]

I got GM one's for like $15-40 a set of 4, from a junk yard, they're in perfect shape. (I'd have to find recievt for them). That and $50 for adapting stuff from SHO Nut, so under $100 total.....

 

[Hack]

I don't see why people seem afraid of bending the control arms. From the few episodes I've heard about, the control arm was bent because the car hit something or went off track.

I would much prefer an easily replaceable control arm bending, then something else bending like the strut or knuckle, or even worse, the shock tower.

The weakest link should ideally be the easiest thing to replace, which is the control arm.

Bill, FWIW the one instance I have seen personally the car did not have any off track excursions or accidents. It just bent. Otherwise, I agree with your sentiments on making the weakest link the easiest to replace.

 

[gosho89]

I don't see why people seem afraid of bending the control arms. From the few episodes I've heard about, the control arm was bent because the car hit something or went off track.

I would much prefer an easily replaceable control arm bending, then something else bending like the strut or knuckle, or even worse, the shock tower.

The weakest link should ideally be the easiest thing to replace, which is the control arm.

Bill,
I believe I'm the source Hack is speaking of, and yes I bent two GM arms during an open track event at Portland Int Raceway. Both were the rearward arms one from each side. Not by going off track or striking a curb, I didn't notice the problem right away but while driving home from the track I felt the car wasn't tracking right. Once under the car I quickly notice the bent arms. It appears the g-forces from the hard cornering was to much for the hollow tubed GM arms. I quickly ordered the BMR bars overnight freight to get them installed and the car aligned before the '04 Convention.

have a nice day,

I would recommend the GM arms for street use but not for tracking........

 

[SHO92]

Bill, FWIW the one instance I have seen personally the car did not have any off track excursions or accidents. It just bent. Otherwise, I agree with your sentiments on making the weakest link the easiest to replace.

You were one of the people I was thinking of! :wave: I was remembering when you were posting on techsho about the problem. I don't remember if you had more then just the bent arms though.

I'd still rather replace a control arm...

BMRs do look nice though. I'll be getting arms soon, I haven't ruled out BMRs.

 

[Hack]

With Kerry's permission, I posted about his bent arms on TechSHO a while back. Personally, I had an off track incident in which I bent both rear struts. Besides the fact that I cannot get replacements for my TCE arms, I would have much rather replaced them!

 

[SHO Continental]

Those BMR arms look AWESOME.

but for now I'm riding on stockers..

 

[Minnesho]

what GM car are these from??

 

[Minnesho]

never mind I see now its a GTP or similar like alero

 

[rksc90]

if they are hollow can they be filled with some resin, epoxy or something?

 

[rlw001]

I have had GM arms on 2 street SHO's for years with no problems. I did the swap to get my alignment back in spec.

 

[RAYJAY]

any part number's for the BMR'S ???/ also is there a contact person ??

Jeff

 

[K-Dawg]

http://www.bmrfabrication.com/W-Body.htm

I think that its the forward arms that you want. You'll need two pairs of them.

 

[rktmn]

So the ones to get are the lateral arms-forward mount, and I need 4 of these.

What are the sleves for? This is to make up the difference in mounting bolts diameters?

Jose

 

[Lance Cheney]

So the ones to get are the lateral arms-forward mount, and I need 4 of these.

What are the sleves for? This is to make up the difference in mounting bolts diameters?

Jose

Yes... Alternatively you could probably drill out the knuckle to fit. I think the GM arms must be 14mm (vs. 12mm). You could easily fab up a brace for the two mounting ears while you are at it.

BTW, I bent a GM arm in a slow-speed off-track excursion ( I was a passenger, which is even scarier than being the driver...). I have since added a piece of square tube around them on the long section to help keep them from bending in the future, but still allowing them to deform in a severe-enough accident, hopefully without taking out the center mounting box (I'd rather have the $50 arm break). I hadn't seen any problems prior to that during track events.

The BMR are stout enough that they won't be bending unless there's a real good reason. For 2x the price if you are tracking you might as well do it (I already had the GM arms, so I spent $15 on steel to help them out instead...)

-Lance

 

[K-Dawg]

I'm not sure if this has been mentioned in this thread, but the BMR pieces come with poly bushings where the stock GM arms have rubber bushings.

 

[SHO_Diehard]

Didn't someone try getting the adjustable arms from another taurus and putting them on in place of the non-adjustable ones? How well did that work?

 

[rktmn]

I will be getting the BMR control arms. They seen to be very well made and I do not think that there is any advantage to making a set for myself.

I just got my car aligned, but the camber is off, so I am going to take my SHO to a specialty shop. The BMR control arms should be all that is necessary to adjust the camber on my rear wheel? I guess that by pulling them in, the shop should be able to correct the negative caster. Am I right?

Right now I am considering making a brake kit for my SHO.

Thanks for the input.

Jose

 

[SHOZ123]

I made a brace for mine to help keep the GM arms parallel under stress. This should help to stop them from bowing out while still give some slight independent movement. I like them and for the money are a good deal IMHO. Sure is nice to get any adjustment for any alignment needed.