Does anybody else besides me have trouble,, getting keeping their NUTS tight!? (trailing arm nuts) Options

[Andyrew]

yay!

See ya tomorrow Mike!

I'll let you guys know if the roller bearings loosten up on me. Doubtful.. but it would prove brads point (not like it needs to be proven)

[Brad Roberts]

They wont come loose.

There is NO drag on the shaft with the roller bearings like you get with the plastic bushings.

I checked them before every event on the first car we did back in 02 or so.



B

[Andyrew]

Cool beans..

YOu also stated that it loosens up the suspension a bit? making the ride less harsh..

so.. my 275 lb springs will feel like 250 or 240 lb springs?

just curious.. (the 275 lb springs felt fine though...)

[Brad Roberts]

The rubber bushings have "spring" in them amounting to something like 20lbs. The plastic bushings have "stiction" that is imeasureable (infinite spring rate)

Roller bearings: have NO effect on the overall spring rate. No drag.

The car will ride smoother than it did with the rubber bushings. The shocks now work and valving becomes more important. The shocks will not fight the "stiction" in the system.

Ever heard a 914 or 911 "creak" while going past you at a AutoX? Every time you hear it creak.. it is the suspension sticking.

Push down on the fender of a plastic bushing car and count how long it takes for it to "jounce" back. Some take several minutes. Do this with a roller bearing car and the car will follow your hand up and down.


B

[Andyrew]

Basically.. your saying this will go with everything I have with my car and transform it..

Its the "missing link"

275lb rear springs, koni yellows, nascar 1 1/4in to 3/4in front sway bar, 22mm T bars, T Trods and all the little stuff..



Goodie!

I was reading elephant racing's opinon on the roller bearings and it seams that they might not be able to handle a whole lot of load.. Would it be a good idea to run true slicks on it? They are in my plans.. I assume R tires are fine..

Andrew

[Brad Roberts]

Chuck isnt an engineer.

The bearings used in the kits are WAY overkill for the loads we can generate.

Throw all the engineers you want at it. We have real world sucess stories with street cars and race cars. The bearing kits have been around since 1998. If there was a HUGE scary problem with failures.. we would have heard about it 100's of times by now.

I even pulled apart one of the first kits to inspect it... I found NO wear on the bearings or the "race". I cleaned them up and set them side by side with a new bearing.. I couldnt tell the difference.


B

[John]

his is the only reason. We figured this out 20 years ago when we cut our first bushings. The serated ends HAVE to lock into the ear and the outer cup. If the bushings dont collaspe like the stock rubber when torquing the nuts down.. they will come loose. The shaft is NOT designed to pivot in the mounts.

Thanks Brad, I knew I wasn't imagining things for the last 18 years of working on and driving the crap out of these little cars.

However, Brandt has a point. Those ears are weak and will eventually tear loose given enough time and sticky tires.... I'm adding them when I flare my car and put larger wheels/tires on it.

[Andyrew]

Chuck isnt an engineer.

The bearings used in the kits are WAY overkill for the loads we can generate.

Throw all the engineers you want at it. We have real world sucess stories with street cars and race cars. The bearing kits have been around since 1998. If there was a HUGE scary problem with failures.. we would have heard about it 100's of times by now.

I even pulled apart one of the first kits to inspect it... I found NO wear on the bearings or the "race". I cleaned them up and set them side by side with a new bearing.. I couldnt tell the difference.


B

I have no worries..

Sweet. Im going to bed.. Gona help Mike out around the house, and he's gona help me install those sweet pieces!! Hopefully i'll be running by sunday! (maybe... maybe not.. lol)

[GBallantine]

Brad

While racing at Mosport this past weekend I had this very problem happen. The trailing arms were creaking and started to bind up and made handling rather interesting. I put new urethane bushings in over the winter and after 2 events they're already starting to bind. Brad do you sell the roller bearing kit and how much?

Thanks Gord B