G2 front lower control arms -- wow
12-27-2003, 07:02 PM
#1
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G2 front lower control arms -- wow Today I installed the G2 adjustable lower control arms. These are fantastic. Everybody with $500 will have to get these parts. There's less suspension bind so the front end feels precise and a lot lighter now. There's 4 pounds less unsprung weight per side but that is only part of the improvement, imo, as the suspension is not hanging and binding is really a big part of the improvment. Both 1LE bushings on my 98 Z-28 were torn part way through on the rear pick up point, and I'm reasonably sure that everybody with about 80,000 miles has torn bushings like mine. It was a driveway install that took about 7 hours, including about 2 hours of clean-up and screwing with my bubble alignment tools to make sure that it was driveable and that the range of alignment was within bounds for an alignment shop to finish the alignment on Monday. I set it for about negative .5 camber and roughed-in the toe to zero, but it is just approximate as the hand tools really don't cut it for accuracy. Anyway, this is a great part to consider. I should have done this a long time ago.
12-28-2003, 06:18 AM
#3
I went back and forth with my alignment guy. It was on the rack a total of 3 times.
I wanted:
-1* negative camber
+5* positive caster
ZERO toe
WITH:
Heim thread engagement maxed (for strength)
the mounting bolt in the center of the chassis slot
It took a lot longer to get that than I ever imagined.
My final settings are:
-1.3* camber
+5* caster
zero toe
The front is much tighter, now. I don't feel any mush in the steering. Actually didn't realize I had mush till the lowers were installed. Turn in is crisp and I can feel the car under me so much better.
The down side is the ride is "harder". By that, I mean that bumps or changes in road surface are felt in the SOTP. I guess those rubber bushings absorbed a lot of subtle road bumps. It's not annoying, just a different feel.
I wanted:
-1* negative camber
+5* positive caster
ZERO toe
WITH:
Heim thread engagement maxed (for strength)
the mounting bolt in the center of the chassis slot
It took a lot longer to get that than I ever imagined.
My final settings are:
-1.3* camber
+5* caster
zero toe
The front is much tighter, now. I don't feel any mush in the steering. Actually didn't realize I had mush till the lowers were installed. Turn in is crisp and I can feel the car under me so much better.
The down side is the ride is "harder". By that, I mean that bumps or changes in road surface are felt in the SOTP. I guess those rubber bushings absorbed a lot of subtle road bumps. It's not annoying, just a different feel.
12-28-2003, 10:41 AM
#4
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No I don't have an aftermarket K-member. Maybe I will weld some supports on the ears of the front pick-up point of the stock k-member. They look a little flimsy.
The ride quality (in terms of comfort) is great -- absolutely no increase in noise or vibration. I somewhat disagree with the use of the word "harder." The suspension has no slack in it now, and that isn't harder.
The trick about these, and what intimidated me from doing it sooner, is that you have to just eyeball the length of the arms, and then install it. Then, if the range of alignment is not where you want it to be, you have to take whole thing apart again to twist the adjusting arms out.
I measured my stock alignment camber with a bubble gauge, then measured it again with the car up on floorjacks and the springs at full drop, and added -1.2 camber to the full drop. Then I installed the arms in the all-the-way-out K-member slots, so when I kicked the bottom of the wheels back in (less negative camber) it would end up between zero and -.3. If that makes any sense at all.
The ride quality (in terms of comfort) is great -- absolutely no increase in noise or vibration. I somewhat disagree with the use of the word "harder." The suspension has no slack in it now, and that isn't harder.
The trick about these, and what intimidated me from doing it sooner, is that you have to just eyeball the length of the arms, and then install it. Then, if the range of alignment is not where you want it to be, you have to take whole thing apart again to twist the adjusting arms out.
I measured my stock alignment camber with a bubble gauge, then measured it again with the car up on floorjacks and the springs at full drop, and added -1.2 camber to the full drop. Then I installed the arms in the all-the-way-out K-member slots, so when I kicked the bottom of the wheels back in (less negative camber) it would end up between zero and -.3. If that makes any sense at all.
12-28-2003, 11:37 AM
#5
I guess it's a terminology thing.
Ride quality hasn't decreased, however, the SOTP feel of the road is increased.
I wanted MY alignment settings in the slot, not against the stops, primarily the inside stops. My thought was when I curbed the car when going through some twisties, I wanted a little "cushion" before hitting those stops.
My thoughts.
Ride quality hasn't decreased, however, the SOTP feel of the road is increased.
I wanted MY alignment settings in the slot, not against the stops, primarily the inside stops. My thought was when I curbed the car when going through some twisties, I wanted a little "cushion" before hitting those stops.
My thoughts.
12-29-2003, 07:51 PM
#6
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Yeah Mitch I knew what you meant but didn't want to discourage others from a good mod -- maybe "sharper" instead of "harder" is the term I was looking for.
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12-31-2003, 12:51 PM
#9
Is that like the saying 'You don't know what you have till you lose it'?
Or is it more like 'You don't know what you're missing till you have it'?
Or is it more like you're ex telling you 'You don't know squat, I'm not going to miss you, and I'm taking/have everything'? <- NOT from personal experience.
Or is it more like 'You don't know what you're missing till you have it'?
Or is it more like you're ex telling you 'You don't know squat, I'm not going to miss you, and I'm taking/have everything'? <- NOT from personal experience.
12-31-2003, 05:56 PM
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Yes the lower front control arms are sometimes called a-arms. They have aluminum spacers and heim joints (threaded rod ends) instead of rubber or poly bushings.
01-01-2004, 09:16 PM
#13
Originally Posted by jRaskell
Is that like the saying 'You don't know what you have till you lose it'?
Or is it more like 'You don't know what you're missing till you have it'?
Or is it more like you're ex telling you 'You don't know squat, I'm not going to miss you, and I'm taking/have everything'? <- NOT from personal experience.
Or is it more like 'You don't know what you're missing till you have it'?
Or is it more like you're ex telling you 'You don't know squat, I'm not going to miss you, and I'm taking/have everything'? <- NOT from personal experience.
01-03-2004, 04:52 AM
#19
Originally Posted by mitchntx
That is a misnomer.
I am an old man and drive it that way.
I just like buying parts once and installing them once. All this tear down and rebuilding BS is for you young guys. It keeps you off the street.
I am an old man and drive it that way.
I just like buying parts once and installing them once. All this tear down and rebuilding BS is for you young guys. It keeps you off the street.
And how long has your car been on jack stands now?
