Lower control arms

[OMY005]

Hello, I'm looking into making some mods to my suspension. I want to make it have adjustable ride height without affecting the spring rate. So I'm after a front and rear lower control arm off a NA. Does any body in Brisbane have any laying about they don't want? Even damaged ones are OK as I'm just in the design stage. Thanks.

[CT]

I'll bite - how?

If you change the LCA's height relative to the steering rack you are in all sorts of trouble in the front, not to mention what it will do to camber/toe during suspension deflection. Tein Flex shocks (for one example) allow you to change height without affecting spring preload or suspension geometry. Is that easier? (Sorry, I don't have any LCA's but I am extremely curious as to how changing only an LCA could do this!)

[OMY005]

If you change the LCA's height relative to the steering rack

Hello CT, I'm not changing the position relative to the steering rack. I'm going to modify the shock pick up point on the lower arm thus having a different ride height but same travel. This is effectively changes the over all length of the shock which affects the ride height.

In my original post I said spring rate which is incorrect.
Adjusting the lower spring perch as is done on all after marker shocks changes the pre-load on the spring thus changing the ride height and your amount of shock travel.

What I'm aiming to do is similar to high end motorcycle rear shocks where they have both spring pre-load and ride height adjustment.

[Ted]

Try John Kraschnefski - 38120616. Still quite a few bits sitting there. I can't recall any front LCAs though, but there could be.

If you went to a small ID coilover, your choice of springs is almost limitless including rate and free length. Getting more travel (esp on droop) is always a good idea, but you will probably need to revalve the shocks to cater for this as well at which point the costs have already gone up.

[CT]

Adjusting the lower spring perch as is done on all after marker shocks changes the pre-load on the spring thus changing the ride height and your amount of shock travel.

Hi OMY005 - Ok then - that's why I was wondering. So,why not buy a set of Tein Flex which are double height adjustable. Where you screw the bottom of the shock up and down without touching the lower coil mounts. Height does change but preload doesn't. As I said earlier, Tein Flex are one such shock (I use them on my race car for that very reason). D2 racing shocks are another that are double adjustable in the body length. Good luck then.

[OMY005]

So, why not buy a set of Tein Flex which are double height adjustable.

Hello CT, Because I'm am $$$ poor but time rich and where I work I have access to some CNC machine tools, 3D design software and I have a TIG welder. At the moment I'm intending to just use the standard springs and shocks. This whole exercise is just a case of trying some thing different. I want a low ride height with good travel. And if I can get some arms for nothing then there won't be any cost either. If it works out who know where it will go.

Thanks.

[CT]

Don't forget to post pics when you're done. I'm interested to see how it ends up.