What are these called?

[Shoboy3]

With the car on the lift and looking underneath it there are (4) bars which go to the rear wheels from the center of the car....2 bars to each wheel. I ask because both the bars on the driver's side of my car are bent like it was either in a wreck or someone tried to pull it out of a ditch using these bars. Not to mention the one on the driver's side (rear most) is on backwards. I do not get any vibrations, and the mechanic tells me its not a safety issue but I am still skeptical! Please inform me what these bars are called and what they do.......THANKS!

 

[sdpatt]

They are referred to as the rear control arms or the lateral links and the one arm does face the front of the car while the other three face the rear.

It may not be safety issue but the bending of the arms will definitely affect the distance between the center and outer pivots and therefore the camber and likely the toe-in if the bending is not identical for the front and rear bars. The rear suspension is adjustable for toe-in but not for camber in stock form so this could be a problem.

<small>[ March 19, 2002, 11:02 PM: Message edited by: sdpatt ]</small>

 

[jcostantino]

Your car was probably put on a flatbed towtruck and the ***** who hooked it up used the rear control arms as his back chain mounting point.

I would expect that they are pulled towards the back of the car? That area is a common (wrong!) place to hitch up the chains on the flatbeds.

Jeff

 

[89 Gary]

Yes,Shoboy If bent your alignment is most likely a good ways off. Get the adjustable/tubular control arms and the "H" box if you can afford it. To me it was worth every cent. Also,soon after my new arms were installed my front wheel fell off because the studs broke. Well,the Morons did hook their chain around my new arm and bent it bad. Guess they couldn't see the big tie hooks under the bumper! They caused other damage also @$1500 (bent fender etc) They wanted to give me $600 which I rejected and my insurance paid for fix with no deductable and no surcharge (of course).They went after the dopey tow company.

 

[SilverSHO]

[plug]
Mark Nunnally (drivinhard) can hook you up with a good, high-quality H-brace for a **** of a price. You can also choose what color you want, too. thumbs_u
[/plug]

 

[Shoboy3]

jcostantino: yes they are pulled towards the back of the car. The car does not shake at all, but there is a very slight vibration around 80mph which I can feel through the gas pedal (odd)! The car was aligned 4-01. What kind of price am I looking at for the control arms from Mark?

Thanks

 

[jcostantino]

The tubular control arm upgrade is parts from a Grand Prix GTP and I think they are $30 each and the bushing kit from ShoNut is $40... I've never done that mod but others seem to love it.

The H-box brace would be the strongest point on a SHO if you got it and it seems to be recomended with the control arms.

Jeff

 

[philw349]

The tubular control arm upgrade is parts from a Grand Prix GTP and I think they are $30 each and the bushing kit from ShoNut is $40... I've never done that mod but others seem to love it.

Are those as good as the "moog control arms"? And are they adjustable? I'm not sure if they all are adjustable or not. But I know I need adjustable controls arms or bushings to fix the rear alignment.

 

[jcostantino]

I've got no experience with the GTP control arms.. I believe they are adjustable though. If I recall correctly, the GTP has adjustments on two of the 4 but you can put on 4 adjustable ones.

Jeff

 

[jthomas68]

The two rears from the GTP are the ones that are adjustable.They are only around $30 if you get them from a junkyard.