ReplicaR- I don't think it's fair *Torque Arm Installed*
- Thread starter cntchds
- Start date
Re: ReplicaR- I don't think it's fair
Working out some bugs, man. As soon as I'm totally happy with it, I'll post about it. I've also recently installed Brembo kit up front, and was having issues with that as well, but I finally got to the bottom of that. Time is an issue, since I'm in the finals week in the university.
Working out some bugs, man. As soon as I'm totally happy with it, I'll post about it. I've also recently installed Brembo kit up front, and was having issues with that as well, but I finally got to the bottom of that. Time is an issue, since I'm in the finals week in the university.
Re: ReplicaR- I don't think it's fair
I'm just hassling you man.
I remember that I was wanting to bug you about something else, but have yet to remember what it was... Good luck on your finals, and figuring out what's up with your brakes and torque arm.
And now I remember, I sent you a PM. :icon_rr:
I'm just hassling you man.
I remember that I was wanting to bug you about something else, but have yet to remember what it was... Good luck on your finals, and figuring out what's up with your brakes and torque arm.
And now I remember, I sent you a PM. :icon_rr:
Ok, finally solved the issues, so I could do a write up.
So, a while ago I was looking at the pictures of my car at the track day, and I just did not like how much body roll the car had. Granted I was on the RA1s which are pretty sticky, but I still wanted less roll, so the car would not transfer as much weight, and it would have more grip. I have considered other options such as going to stiffer sway bars. One thing that did not excite me about the sway bars was that I would not be able to tune them, and that once I would get a torque arm, I would have to remove them and sell them. The second option was more expensive, but at least it was a move in the right direction. Get a torque arm and get stiffer springs front and back. So that's exactly what I did.
I've ordered standard duty torque arm, 300 lbs front coilover springs, and torque arm track rear springs (415-515 rate). After I've received all the parts, the car went to Yannick Sire at Sire Custom Performance. This guy did all the welding on my car, so I figured he could install the torque arm as well. Got the shop, and 4 hours later we were done.
Impressions: So far from very limited street driving, I can already tell that it's working better than my 4 link did. When you would stuff it into a fast 90 degree corner, you can feel that the rear no longer wants to pick up the outside wheel and oversteer. It's planted, and it's composed. Also, where before I would get one tire fire at times, this time either both tires lay the power down pretty evenly. What's more is that by deleting the upper control arms, there was now more room for the rear exit exhaust by comparison to 4 link and panhard setup. Ground clearance is not as much of an issue as I thought originally. The only part that's kinda low is by the differential, and if you're hitting that part, you're probably doing something that you're not supposed to, like rock climbing.
Downsides: Warning, this product is not for the faint of heart. People will say stuff like the ride quality will get better and yadi yada, but when you remove all the compliance on one end, replace the soft rubber bushings with a tiny bit of polyurethane, and then replace the springs with something twice as stiff just to keep the roll stiffness the same, there is no way it will be as comfortable as 4 link was. Another problem is if you have any problems at all with rear end, or gear box, or a bent wheel, or a bad u-joint, and you have not felt it before, you will now. When torque arm was first installed I would get a pretty bad vibration on the hwy between 65-80mph, which means my whole hwy driving range was screwed. I went through hell and back trying to find the problem. I've rechecked the pinion angle, redid u-joints, had the drive shaft rebalanced, replaced motor mounts, and nothing was helping. Finally I pulled the transmission, and had the local guys examine it, and they had to replace 5th gear. Sure enough that solved the problem.
Long story short. Torque arm works very well. I have not had a chance to test it at the track yet, but I'm going next weekend to the Streets Of Willow, so I'll find out how it works in the tighter stuff where I had traction problems before. It was a huge hassle to get everything working properly, but pros outweigh the cons. I'll post pictures later on tonight.
So, a while ago I was looking at the pictures of my car at the track day, and I just did not like how much body roll the car had. Granted I was on the RA1s which are pretty sticky, but I still wanted less roll, so the car would not transfer as much weight, and it would have more grip. I have considered other options such as going to stiffer sway bars. One thing that did not excite me about the sway bars was that I would not be able to tune them, and that once I would get a torque arm, I would have to remove them and sell them. The second option was more expensive, but at least it was a move in the right direction. Get a torque arm and get stiffer springs front and back. So that's exactly what I did.
I've ordered standard duty torque arm, 300 lbs front coilover springs, and torque arm track rear springs (415-515 rate). After I've received all the parts, the car went to Yannick Sire at Sire Custom Performance. This guy did all the welding on my car, so I figured he could install the torque arm as well. Got the shop, and 4 hours later we were done.
Impressions: So far from very limited street driving, I can already tell that it's working better than my 4 link did. When you would stuff it into a fast 90 degree corner, you can feel that the rear no longer wants to pick up the outside wheel and oversteer. It's planted, and it's composed. Also, where before I would get one tire fire at times, this time either both tires lay the power down pretty evenly. What's more is that by deleting the upper control arms, there was now more room for the rear exit exhaust by comparison to 4 link and panhard setup. Ground clearance is not as much of an issue as I thought originally. The only part that's kinda low is by the differential, and if you're hitting that part, you're probably doing something that you're not supposed to, like rock climbing.
Downsides: Warning, this product is not for the faint of heart. People will say stuff like the ride quality will get better and yadi yada, but when you remove all the compliance on one end, replace the soft rubber bushings with a tiny bit of polyurethane, and then replace the springs with something twice as stiff just to keep the roll stiffness the same, there is no way it will be as comfortable as 4 link was. Another problem is if you have any problems at all with rear end, or gear box, or a bent wheel, or a bad u-joint, and you have not felt it before, you will now. When torque arm was first installed I would get a pretty bad vibration on the hwy between 65-80mph, which means my whole hwy driving range was screwed. I went through hell and back trying to find the problem. I've rechecked the pinion angle, redid u-joints, had the drive shaft rebalanced, replaced motor mounts, and nothing was helping. Finally I pulled the transmission, and had the local guys examine it, and they had to replace 5th gear. Sure enough that solved the problem.
Long story short. Torque arm works very well. I have not had a chance to test it at the track yet, but I'm going next weekend to the Streets Of Willow, so I'll find out how it works in the tighter stuff where I had traction problems before. It was a huge hassle to get everything working properly, but pros outweigh the cons. I'll post pictures later on tonight.
It looks awesome. At first glance at the pictures I thought "where are his upper arms?" Then I promptly hit myself. What exhaust is that you are running? I'm trying to find something to use instead of my side exhaust that will be able to fit around my watts.
NCMystic
Active Member
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Do you mind if i ask how much the springs and torque arm ran you? i want to get to work on my cobras suspension. thanks.
MustangChris
Mythic Level
SRT Handz said:
his driveshaft looks terrible too.....
nice stuff ReplicaR!!! i hope to see videos of you testing this bad boy out soon. :-D
Sire Customs, did they do that wild two-motored car?
Torque arm looks sweet, let us now how much you love it on the track!
Torque arm looks sweet, let us now how much you love it on the track!
Yeah, the two motor hot rod they did is theirs. It was on a cover of the Hot-Rod if I remember correctly. I have seen in person, looked pretty interesting to say the least.
I'll bring my Go-Pro, and record a few sessions.
I'll bring my Go-Pro, and record a few sessions.
marq.fcb
Well-Known Member
looks nice
Bullitt5339
Active Member
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This is the first one I've seen that didn't use coilovers on the back, and actually used the torque arm springs. I've been waiting to see someone's feelings on them. I already have the panhard bar, and have been thinking about adding the torque arm, but couldn't afford the coilover kit, springs and torque arm plus install at the same time.
Now that I see you're happy with yours, it gives me a reason to go ahead and order the torque arm and springs next month.
Can you PM me any tips and tricks for install? I'm sure it's going to be a pain, I don't trust my welding enough for something like this, so I'll have to pay to have it welded in, but anything else that you would find helpful for me would be appreciated.
Now that I see you're happy with yours, it gives me a reason to go ahead and order the torque arm and springs next month.
Can you PM me any tips and tricks for install? I'm sure it's going to be a pain, I don't trust my welding enough for something like this, so I'll have to pay to have it welded in, but anything else that you would find helpful for me would be appreciated.
DropTopPony
Post Whore
Did you lose much clearance with the T/A? I've been intrigued ever since Dalamar installed his.
Bullitt5339
I actually had a chance to do some testing this weekend on a fairly tight track (Streets of Willow), and I gotta say that the torque arm impresses me a lot. There is a corner on the track where it's absolutely flat, and it's essentially a 180 degree turn. It's called skidpad. Back when I had the 4 link, I would feel as if I can not put the power down, even on the race tires. Inside wheel would also want to spin. This time the rear felt completely planted, and the only thing I had to worry about is understeer. As far as the installation goes, I did not do it. From observing it though, I can tell you that it's not a difficult process, but do make sure that you measure twice.
No ground clearance lost at all. Or at least I did not come to a point where I have experienced it yet. The only thing that kind of a pain is that the torque arm goes right under the diff, which means picking up the car in the back is now a much more complex process than it used to me. Tips were completely custom, so no clearance issues there either.
I actually had a chance to do some testing this weekend on a fairly tight track (Streets of Willow), and I gotta say that the torque arm impresses me a lot. There is a corner on the track where it's absolutely flat, and it's essentially a 180 degree turn. It's called skidpad. Back when I had the 4 link, I would feel as if I can not put the power down, even on the race tires. Inside wheel would also want to spin. This time the rear felt completely planted, and the only thing I had to worry about is understeer. As far as the installation goes, I did not do it. From observing it though, I can tell you that it's not a difficult process, but do make sure that you measure twice.
DropTopPony said:
No ground clearance lost at all. Or at least I did not come to a point where I have experienced it yet. The only thing that kind of a pain is that the torque arm goes right under the diff, which means picking up the car in the back is now a much more complex process than it used to me. Tips were completely custom, so no clearance issues there either.
We all know that you have gone to hell and back when it comes to suspension stuff, but what else have you done to your car? Maybe it's in your sig, and I just don't know because I have sigs turned off, but I'm curious to what else you've done other than the suspension.
My car is stock in my sig...
But seriously, suspension/chassis/brakes.
MM Caster Camber plates
MM Strut tower brace
MM Coilover kit
MM Standard geometry front lower control arms (poly bushings)
Poly rack bushings
Koni SA
MM subframe connectors
MM Torque Arm
MM Panhard bar
MM Rear lower control arms
Torque Arm springs (road and track)
Brembo brake kit
Quantum Motorsports brake cooling ducts.
But seriously, suspension/chassis/brakes.
MM Caster Camber plates
MM Strut tower brace
MM Coilover kit
MM Standard geometry front lower control arms (poly bushings)
Poly rack bushings
Koni SA
MM subframe connectors
MM Torque Arm
MM Panhard bar
MM Rear lower control arms
Torque Arm springs (road and track)
Brembo brake kit
Quantum Motorsports brake cooling ducts.
