Lower Control Arms? 
Lower Control Arms?
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Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 451
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From: Spring Hill, TN
As the single first upgrade it's not the best bang for the buck. What you get with aftermarket LCAs is less flex, therefore better transmission of power to the ground.
But it's best to start with a good torque arm and lower control arm relocation brackets (this gives more anti-squat).
for corner carving, subframe connectors are one of the best upgrades. I'd leave new LCAs for the about the 3rd suspension/chassis mod.
But it's best to start with a good torque arm and lower control arm relocation brackets (this gives more anti-squat).
for corner carving, subframe connectors are one of the best upgrades. I'd leave new LCAs for the about the 3rd suspension/chassis mod.
The best 1st mod is shocks, the stockers are crap. SFC and STB really are a minor improvement compared to shocks. Relo brackets are not good for handleing unless the car is lowered( bringing the LCA angle back to stock) they do help at the strip. Swaybars also help alot, unless its a drag car then you remove them. Talk to Sam Strano He know his stuff
TECH Regular
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 451
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From: Spring Hill, TN
Originally Posted by BillS
The best 1st mod is shocks, the stockers are crap. SFC and STB really are a minor improvement compared to shocks. Relo brackets are not good for handleing unless the car is lowered( bringing the LCA angle back to stock) they do help at the strip. Swaybars also help alot, unless its a drag car then you remove them. Talk to Sam Strano He know his stuff
The relo brackets also cause roll cased oversteer which is not good. but on a lowered car they correct the angle of the LCA's. For best handleing you want the lca's to be level to slightly down in the front, for best traction under power you want them down in the rear.
TECH Regular
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 451
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From: Spring Hill, TN
Originally Posted by BillS
The relo brackets also cause roll cased oversteer which is not good. but on a lowered car they correct the angle of the LCA's. For best handleing you want the lca's to be level to slightly down in the front, for best traction under power you want them down in the rear.
Can you please elaborate on how the angle of the lower control arms help/hinder 'handling'? (I don't know what you mean by handling, you seem to mean something other than traction).
I thought putting the front of the lca's down increased anti-squat you are saying it's the other way around.
What is 'roll cased oversteer'?
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I see traction as the ability to transfer the power to the pavement, and handleing as the ability to maintain grip while turning. You need a mix of both to be fast.
If the rear of the LCA( axle end) is lower than the front( chassie end) then the cars weight is used to force the tires into the pavement under load, increasing forward traction( this is good) But when the car is turning the changed angle decreases the amount of lateral grip in the rear and causes a oversteer condition.
All the traction is a straight line in the world will not help if you have to scrub off soo much speed to make a corner.
This is an example of why you must think thru the use of the car and how the parts will effect it when modifying the suspension. What helps the dragracer, can hurt the autoxer or vice versa. My car launches like crap, but cornners extreemly well, Brad Noyes car launches like it was shot off a aircraft carrier, but his cornering is non existant. Two cars built for very different uses.
If the rear of the LCA( axle end) is lower than the front( chassie end) then the cars weight is used to force the tires into the pavement under load, increasing forward traction( this is good) But when the car is turning the changed angle decreases the amount of lateral grip in the rear and causes a oversteer condition.
All the traction is a straight line in the world will not help if you have to scrub off soo much speed to make a corner.
This is an example of why you must think thru the use of the car and how the parts will effect it when modifying the suspension. What helps the dragracer, can hurt the autoxer or vice versa. My car launches like crap, but cornners extreemly well, Brad Noyes car launches like it was shot off a aircraft carrier, but his cornering is non existant. Two cars built for very different uses.
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Verdad Gallardo TECH Regular
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 451
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From: Spring Hill, TN
Bill, as I pondered this Friday evening I realized that I had momentarily had the control arm angle issue reversed. You're right that lowering the rear increases anti-squat. It seems we both agree this helps apply power either in a straight line or when exiting a turn (good thing).
But I've never heard that lower control arm angle affects oversteer. I have read and re-read Herb Adams' book, Chassis Engineering. That doesn't make me an expert by any means, but I don't recall there being anything covered in that book that credits lower control arm angle with having anything to do with lateral road-holding. That has to do solely with weight distribution. (as far as I know).
Can you elaborate? I may have a chance to learn something here.
Thanks.
But I've never heard that lower control arm angle affects oversteer. I have read and re-read Herb Adams' book, Chassis Engineering. That doesn't make me an expert by any means, but I don't recall there being anything covered in that book that credits lower control arm angle with having anything to do with lateral road-holding. That has to do solely with weight distribution. (as far as I know).
Can you elaborate? I may have a chance to learn something here.
Thanks.
