Gen 3 Subframe Control Arm Clearance

[K-Dawg]

I've got my Gen 3 Subframe and car ready to become one, but I just noticed this as I was bolting on the driver's side control arm. I had the notch for the trans boxed in, but didn't think about the control arm being there. I'm going to be running Tokicos and Intrax with a coil cut, so I'm worried that the control arm is going to make contact when the suspension compresses. I'm not sure where the control arm is going to end up with weight on the car, so does anybody have any input? I might just throw it together and hope for the best, because I don't feel like cutting and grinding if I don't have to.

Control arm at rest:


Control arm all the way up:

 

[Jonny Cash]

Looks like its already been banged in a little for clearance. Did you notice anything before you painted it?

It should clear, the slot on my SF had wasnt modified, and my car was really low when the KYBs where on there.

 

[92sho16]

Ive got tokico, intrax(one coil cut) with gen3 swap and worried about the same thing. Ive been driving the car for a couple weeks and havent heard any contact, i havent been able to look and see for any rubbing though.

 

[K-Dawg]

No, I had that "box" welded in by a local guy. Kirk didn't do that. So nothing has been done to make clearance.

BTW, where I'm worried about is on the backside of the box in this picture. that has been added to make clearance for the transaxle:


In the second picture in my first post, you can see how the control arm is contacting the box.

 

[Kens1992mtxSHO]

I would grind it down a little bit.

 

[Jonny Cash]

Didnt even notice that. Mine was just a hole now that I think about it.

Looks like its time to bust out the grinder. You can probably give yourself 3/4 of an " just smoothing the welds. I wouldnt take the chance.

 

[K-Dawg]

Rotary tool and some spray paint made quick work of it. Didn't even have to remove the control arm.

Man, I need to get some sleep.

 

[Ishodu]

Thats way more notch then was needed, you have to be careful that you don't go too deep just for that reason.

 

[K-Dawg]

I think it depends on what subframe you use. With the way it is, the trans just barely fits in there.

 

[smokin joe]

On the 3 I have made its close like yours, but I just made sure when the A-arm is all the way up that It didnt hit, but I also didnt weld it on the inside because I wanted to make sure I had enough room for the A-arm so I only welded the outside. I have about 10k miles on mine and its all good.
I never took a pic after I notched mine out but this is how I do it on the ones I have made



Then ya just lay angle iron in and a piece to seal off the front part

Thats way more notch then was needed, you have to be careful that you don't go too deep just for that reason.

I think it depends on what subframe you use. With the way it is, the trans just barely fits in there.

I have done it with both style gen 3 SF's and you need to go that deap like K-Dawg said it just clears the bottom of the trans case and it is the same with mine