Caster Arm/tension Rods - Spherical Or Big Rubber Bush?

[No Crust Racing]

Are the rubber mounts an option for road going cars or is there a reason I'd choose those over the spherical unit for a track car?

http://www.hard-race.com.au/index.php?route=product/product&path=25_29_355&product_id=418

VS

http://www.isccoilovers.com.au/nissan-castor-arms

[GTSBoy]

Spherical work a bazzillion times better. Not really legal on the road, so sticklers for legality* would avoid them. For a track car, there is no argument for not using spherical.

*I'm a stickler for legality in most respects, but I used spherical bearing caster arms on my road car because of how much better they are, coupled with the unlikelihood of them even being noticed in a roadside pullover situation.

[No Crust Racing]

Cheers

[warps]

Only thing about spherical joints (apart from cheapo ones sometimes flogging out very quickly in certain applications) is that they generally aren't allowed in IPRA - if you decide to head in that direction. If it's just a track toy / WTAC toy then go your hardest.

The beauty of spherical joints is that they let the suspension move the way it was intended, so under load your geometry remains where it's supposed to be.

[No Crust Racing]

Thanks, not an issue for me thankfully.

I had someone tell me that ISC are junk, thoughts?

I have ISC rear camber arms and they "seem" fine.

The car doesn't do a lot of K's each year.

I didn't really wanna pay $200 for caster arms.

[GTSBoy]

I didn't really wanna pay $200 for caster arms.

Why? Given that they are likely to be the best (starting) solution to your problems?

[No Crust Racing]

#budgetracing

But if that's what they cost then so be it.

[hardsteppa]

2 words for u. Hardrace son.

[gtr jet]

HardRace here too. Been running camber and caster arms for around 3 years on the street and track and they've been great so far.

[Roy]

I have some very good condition cusco arms off my R32. Also got fill refurbished lower arms with RCA. If you are interested i can slap them in the mail...i need money for a new diff

[boostn0199]

Gktech ones are good also easy and quick to adjust if you are doing alignments yourself.

[No Crust Racing]

Do they fit an S13 though?

Do R32 LCA's widen the track?

What are you after Bris?

[iruvyouskyrine]

Yes they will fit S13.

And no, S13 and R32 LCA's are the same length (290mm of the top of my head)

[xALmoN]

hardrace +1

[Anfanee]

i dont know what a big rubber bush is but i want one.

[Neil]

Choose wisely mate,,, I have seen factory radius rods break over time and wis-bang spherical ones snap as well.

Whilst the Spherical ones are more direct they have no give whatsoever,,,sooner or later they will fail.

Lifeing both would be the idea,,but the question if for how long.

Cheers

Neil.

[No Crust Racing]

Lifeing both?

[warps]

Lifeing both?

Scheduled replacement interval. Work out how long you expect it to last, then replace them at an appropriate time (preferably before they fail). unfortunately, you need some failure history to be able to work out an appropriate life.

It is possible to crack test the items that are likely to snap (I have an MPI crack tester) and you can inspect the spherical bearings for wear. The latter is an easy check you can do, but unless you have access to the right people / equipment, crack testing becomes dearer than outright replacement.

Edited May 8, 2015 by warps

[No Crust Racing]

Ahh, my car is lucky to cover a few thousand ks a year - track ks granted, but still.

I assume inspecting the spherical bearing is as simple as giving it a yank and seeing what freeplay there is?

[GTSBoy]

No. Take it off, take it apart, have a good look, clean, regrease. Only takes a half hour or so.