My friend was kind enough to let me install his new Z10 Radius arm kit on my ITR while he is in the process of installing another motor in his hatch (thanks Jeff)

PRELUDE TO INSTALLATION
My car was built for playing on a Road course, but I find myself at the Dragstrip on occasion with my domestic car friends to earn bragging rights. On Sat. (15th) I took the R to the 1320 in full street trim (full interior, stock seat, spare and all) The car was pulling 2.1 -2.2 60ft times with Sh!tty Yok parada 205/40zr-17 tires and 2.1 Degrees of negative camber in the front. LOTS of wheel hop, in first and second. If I don't back off the gas It almost bounces like a ball BAM BAM BAMB BAMB BAM you get the point.

SO Jeff lets me install his brand new z-10 radius arm kit. I'll skip the install which is pretty easy. ( for more details see http://www.z10eng.com or check out the Hybrid-honda sight in the tech articles).

I put 80mile on the car last night after the install, can't find any negative effects yet. I took the car to a industrial park and launched the car about 10 times. I increased the rpms higher each time. Until I was trying to get the car to wheel hop. Nothing! except long straight burnouts through first and second! I'm sold at this point. Started to push the car more and more in the corners and it felt great. It feels solid and planted when exiting the corners. Jeff (the kits owner)is concerned about the Z10 kit acting like a front swaybar causing the car to understeer. For hard street driving I saw non, However I'll be on Gratton oct 6-7 and I'll report after then. When making left and right turns from a stop I was flooring the car and shifing hard into second to try and upset the tires. Again the car was just pulling hard.

I will try to hit the dragstrip again this coming sat. and see what happens.
Overall Z10

Later Mattj

 

Good info! I was thinking about getting either the Z10 or the Competition Engineering radius bars (I think they're pretty much the same thing) but wasn't sure it would benefit the R. How much preload did you put on the arms?

 

The Competion eng. ones are not for street use. The tires won't clear when turning. I started with 2 turns (they recommend 2-3) and got just a hint of wheel hop into second gear as I ruined a Mustang owners day. Quote from Mustang owner to 2nd Mustang owner overheard at the light as we where all sitting there (4 lanes wide) "My car is all 1st and 2nd gear, I can take anything out of the hole" Apparantly not! I had him by a full car by the end of first. Anyway, went home and dialed in one more turn for a total of 3 turns.

Side note: I forgot to mention that I already had poly engine mounts in the car to try and reduce wheel hop.
2nd note: I can fit my thumb between the arm the inside of my wheel at full lock, no chance of making contact.

Mattj

 

so your saying CE arms are for drag only not street use?

 

That is what is stated in there ad. I don't have any experiance with the Comp. Eng ones.

Mattj

 

So who sells the Z10 or Comp Eng radius arms the cheapest?

 

ok ok after hearing all this good things about the arm's sounds like its gonna be yet another suspension mod i'm gonna get after installing my itr rear sway...

 

but do these effect cornering/ turning?

Downside to these things (besides extra weight up front)?

 

Are you using stock rims? If not, what size wheel tire combo are you running?

Mike

 

So how big is your thumb?

 

Cant be any bigger then his head!

 

Cant be any bigger then his head!

Thanks Mike, With friends like this who needs enemies.

Shipping weight was 12 pds

AS far as best price I think Jeff paid $320 from Z10 on a group buy?

As far as effect on cornering with very "spirited" driving on the street no problems so far but I'll let you know after my next track weekend on oct 6-7

Wheels are 17x7.5 SSR competition with a 205/40/17 tire

My thumb is as wide as the area between these lines on my monitor >.............. <

Mattj

[Modified by Dropspeed, 12:27 PM 9/17/2001]


[Modified by Dropspeed, 12:28 PM 9/17/2001]

 

LOL...I actually put my thumb up to teh screen to compare

 

How big is your monitor?

 

And on what setting...hehehe

 

Matt, I've got a couple of questions. Did you have any problems installing the bolt for the center support bracket? The bolt mine came with doesn't seem to fit through the bracket. Also, Which way did you turn the radius rod to provide tension? Did you turn them clockwise, or counterclockwise? I'm still in the process of getting everything ironed out on these things. So far they get a big

 

When you pre-load the radius arm, I believe they're under compression, not tension. As to what way you turn them (clockwise or counterCW), that would depend what way you're laying underneath your car So where can I buy these radius arms online??? Or am I going to have to do it the old fashioned way?

 

This is cut from Z10's site under the installation instructions for the radius arms.

"Preload the arms by spinning them counter clockwise for negative, and clockwise for positive caster. Be sure to keep preload equal on both sides. Tighten locknuts on the rod ends to keep them from moving."

I was actually curious as to which way he had installed his. By turning the arms clockwise it lengthens the radius arm, and counter clockwise shortens the radius arm.

 

Dust, I shortened the rods when I installed them, so counter clockwise. As for the center bolt, it does not fit through the hole in the bracket. I used the recommended 5/16 dril bit and just ran it through the bracket and the core support.

Mattj

 

FYI,

For those with 99-00 Civic Si's w/ITR brakes, the Z10 kit will hit your caliper slide bolts......result no brakes

Otherwise nice mod

BTW I have pics if someone can host them

 

There is a simple solution for the hitting issue. Contact Brian Hasty for it...

it has been discussed on here before. check this link out :
https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=66463

unfortunately we couldnt get it to fit every single application, but the ITR brake caliper is the only problem we have had to date. The wilwoods clear just fine.

Also we have the kit on a number of type Rs with no interference problems. Only civics with the R brakes.

 

our bars are completely different from the competition engineering ones. Their kit will cause your suspension to bind and you will also be unable to make any turns.

If you have time, search the archives, we have discussed a number of the differences in the past. Also, on bbs.theoldone.com we have discussed this stuff about 2 years ago, so its still in the archives. Hope this helps

 

THey will make steering/braking/cornering more stable, and tehy only weigh 8 lbs. 8 lbs really wont make or break you. The weight really is worth it.

 

Turning the rods to effectively shorten the radius rod and pull the Lower control arm forwards will net you the best performance. We dont recommend that anyone push the LCA back, as you will lose caster, something that high power fwd cars really like.

 

Z10 is in NJ....hmmmmm....can I test your product?