LCA and PH bar
Re: LCA and PH bar I don't like poly/poly bushing combinations for LCA's and PHB's. With that said.... The Hotchkiss parts are durable and will hold up for a very long time. They have been in this game for a long time and they are pretty good at it. If you are ok with the handling compromises that a poly/poly bushing control arm has, then they are an excellent choice.
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 40
Likes: 0
From: Utah
Re: LCA and PH bar What does poly/poly bushings do to handling? I thought that the poly bushings were more durable and rigid than rubber... The durability is an issue, but I don't want to sacrifice handling...in other words I want it to grab the road better than it does now...
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 40
Likes: 0
From: Utah
Re: LCA and PH bar Thanks for the info as I do understand the binding part. But with all the other control arms that I've seen, they all do not really allow for the body twist even though they have a heim bushing on one side. I work on aircraft which I know is a different animal, but the LCAs that are being made are simply a control rod with cheaper parts on it. Thus, would a more effective rod be one similar to an aircraft control rod with a swivel bushing??? I already bought the Hotchkiss LCA...spent $$$ for it thinking it was a good design beings they are made with a CNC machine, heavy duty construction...etc... Does anyone make a Heim bushing that will fit the Hotchkiss LCA? Again thanks for your input as I have learned to start asking on this web site before purchasing anything else in the future.
Re: LCA and PH bar If you know the thread pitch and the shank diameter, you should be able to find heims to fit your bar.
The problem will be the spacers needed for the mounting bracket and bolt.
The problem will be the spacers needed for the mounting bracket and bolt.
TECH Apprentice
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 360
Likes: 0
Re: LCA and PH bar From what I understand the polygraphite
bushings Hotchkis uses are low deflection.
I ordered the PHR should have it on next week.
Rod ends seem like overkill for me cause
I don't really drive it that hard.
bushings Hotchkis uses are low deflection.
I ordered the PHR should have it on next week.
Rod ends seem like overkill for me cause
I don't really drive it that hard.
Trending Topics
Re: LCA and PH bar
But with all the other control arms that I've seen, they all do not really allow for the body twist even though they have a heim bushing on one side. I work on aircraft which I know is a different animal, but the LCAs that are being made are simply a control rod with cheaper parts on it.
As for the "control rod with cheaper parts on it" theory. I will put any heim/heimi LCA on the marked up against the poly/poly style from any manufacturer and I bet you will find the heim/heim to be stronger (in tension and compression). That "cheap" poly bushing will very likley fail before any reasonable (even inexpensive) 3/4" heim joint ever does. And the rods that they are mounted to are much stronger than you think. You can buy a bushing kit from www.ground-control.com that is designed to put spherical bearings into the stock LCA's. You may be able to adapt that kit, but it is expensive and probably not worth the hassle.
As usual, just my thoughts....
The problem will be the spacers needed for the mounting bracket and bolt.
LS1 Tech Stories
The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them
Pouria Savadkouei
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked
Pouria Savadkouei
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP
Verdad Gallardo
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes
Verdad Gallardo
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power
Verdad Gallardo
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die
Verdad Gallardo Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 40
Likes: 0
From: Utah
Re: LCA and PH bar Thanks for all your info as I appreciate it... I learn more everytime I discuss issues with everyone here on this site...
As for the cheaper parts...what I meant was that the parts for cars are made less expensive then that made for aircraft... Control rods are designed for compressive and expansive forces...not designed for bending forces... LCAs have all three forces acting on them (expansive, compressive and bending) thus I just thought that they would not be as strong as a CNC manufactured LCA. The LCAs are designed just like the aircraft control rods, but with a variation in the heim join area. Aircraft use a steel swivel bushing that prevents any binding and allows for smooth quick transitions. If they could make a similar set up with the Heim joint, it would truly offer a nonbinding LCA.
What I'll end up doing in the future is buy another set of LCAs and either keep the Hotchkiss for drag racing, or sell them. Wish we would have talked before I purchased them...
As for the cheaper parts...what I meant was that the parts for cars are made less expensive then that made for aircraft... Control rods are designed for compressive and expansive forces...not designed for bending forces... LCAs have all three forces acting on them (expansive, compressive and bending) thus I just thought that they would not be as strong as a CNC manufactured LCA. The LCAs are designed just like the aircraft control rods, but with a variation in the heim join area. Aircraft use a steel swivel bushing that prevents any binding and allows for smooth quick transitions. If they could make a similar set up with the Heim joint, it would truly offer a nonbinding LCA.
What I'll end up doing in the future is buy another set of LCAs and either keep the Hotchkiss for drag racing, or sell them. Wish we would have talked before I purchased them...
Re: LCA and PH bar I"m not so sure about the bending loads on an LCA. It has a heim joint on each end, so it can't be bent by turning the part that it is attached to. It has no weight resting on the center so it wont kink or bend that way. Lateral loads will simply let the axle swing sideways (the Panhard Rod has to deal with these) since the ends are bearing mounted and not "fixed". I'm not sure that you will find anything but compression and tension loads on heim/heim LCA's....
Where's Critter when I need him???
Where's Critter when I need him???