The rule book says links that control "lateral suspension location" are unrestricted including their mounting method and positioning. Does that mean that the rear trailing arms on a G3 Integra can be replaced with links that use metal spherical bearings? It would seem so but somehow it seems fishy to me...

 

if i were you, i'd do _nothing_ to my car until the 04 rulebook comes out.

nate

 

I'd leave it alone. The guys that are winning are using stock arms with new bushings. The big 3" bushing should be replaced, that makes a heck of a difference.

 

replaced with a spherical bearing? I'm doing this because my job may require me to start designing suspension parts for street cars, and I need to start testing somewhere...

--Joe

 

you release rear LCA's wit spherical bearings and im sold .... also see if you company can design one for those with ITR LCA's

 

They're not talking about LCA's.

Progress Suspension makes a bushing kit for the front LCA, but i'm not sure about the rear - contact them.

 

I would say that your question mostly answers itself. You ask about replacing the TRAILING ARM because of a rule allowing unlimited replacement of LATERAL LOCATING ARMS. Per the current rule I think you could replace the upper and lower arms and maybe make a case for the toe link, but not the trailing arm itself. Changing the length of the upper and lower arms would allow changing the camber curve, changing the toe link would allow changing the toe-in variation from suspension movement.

Given how much change the current rules allow and the likely changes for 2004 to reduce them, I would change nothing until the rules are finalized. If they limit the rules next year, the only place to use those suspension parts would be EP or possibly SM and I think those would be too limited a market for a manufacturer to bother with the expense.

I hate to say it but a "Ricer" trailing arm that really does nothing but "Looks just like the racers use" would probably sell 10x as many as a real racing one.