here's the idea i just came up with -- please don't flame me if it's stupid...

i recently bought a set of Skunk2 adjustable UCA so that i could easily play with my camber settings. not too long ago, i began hearing about people having issues with the balljoints on the skunk2 arms so i set out to find a possible replacement and came across this:

which is an offset balljoint designed by comptech with the original intent of using it to correct camber. after looking at it for a while, i started to thing that if you rotated it 90 degrees, you might be able to use it to play with your caster as well. this seems like it would not only fix the design flaw of the skunk2 arms, but also allow for more adjustment in the form of caster. what do you guys think? decent idea or just stupid?
i'm curious to hear your input...

-tony

 

I don't know about the dependability of this type of adjustment mechanism - having never played with one.

Anything that increases the distance from the top of the upright to the top of the control arm is a loser - you'd be throwing away bump travel.

Having 2 possible caster settings via swapping of arms is relatively foolproof. Continuous adjustment increases the possibility of error. L/R front caster difference/error is undesirable.

Assymetric camber settings however can be useful - this mechanism severely restricts the ability to do this.

This particular mechanism has for any camber setting two caster settings. If you're going to be able to adjust both parameters, you'd prefer the adjustments to be independent.

Scott, who wouldn't choose this mechanism generally, and would not encourage adapting it to the Skunk arms (which would mitigate some of the limitations noted above)....


[Modified by RR98ITR, 9:44 PM 2/13/2003]

 

why would you describe the theortical setup as a "continous adjustment"? it seems that once the balljoint is bolted down, the caster is going to be just as constant as swapping the arms. obviouslly l/r difference is undesirable, however once you have the balljoints bolted in, you could simply make sure that you have an equal degree of caster on each side. the increased adjustability does create a greater margain of error, and i suppose that is the tradeoff.
it seems that if installed correctly, and measured correctly, this setup can offer the, as you put it: "assymetric camber settings." maybe i'm missing the point of what you're trying to say...

-tony


[Modified by delinquent, 10:16 PM 2/13/2003]

 

Think about how it works.

You can rotate the mechanism thru whatever displacement it provides (it's an eccentric) - that is continuous adjustment as opposed to discrete adjustment (for example two positions).

Yes, if you applied these ball joints to a set of Skunk arms you could have relative independence (like I alluded to in my signature line).

Scott, who's main point is "don't do it"...

 

specialty products makes that kit.. And I agree w/ what Scott says...

 

okay -- i understand your point. it just seems like that this setup could, theoretically work -- margain of error aside. if you could get it adjusted equally on both sides, this would offer far more possibilities than just "two" points.

-tony

 

Those pieces are built by SPC. They supplied me with a set three years ago to test out when I was having problems with the K-Mac units I was using on my G2 Integra.

I have used them for three years with no slippage problems, generally 2.75 to 3.0 degrees Camber, and my Caster adjustment is done through OMP Radius rod bushings with varying length sleeves.

Like RR98ITR said as a result of the height you give up bump and also clearance between the inner fender and top of the ball joint adjustment shaft and nut. I ground the ball joint adjustment shaft and nut reducing the height too achieve the clearance I needed at the inner fender.

While speaking to the SPC people at SEMA this year I was informed that the newer production pieces had been altered to reduce the shaft length and nut height.

Personally the Skunk arms are a better arrangement but they don't make them for G2's.

At some point this year I am going to move to these or locally fabricated arms.






[Modified by DB1-R81, 10:54 PM 2/13/2003]