Can somebody explain or show me a picture locating the torque arms? Because I was under the impression that torque arms/lower control arms were the same thing. Thanks.

 

the torque arm is the triangular bar that attaches the rear axle to the tail shaft of the transmission. it keeps the axle housing from rotating around the axles, and keeps the pinion at a proper angle. when you accelerate or decelerate hard the factory torque are flexes and stresses the tail shaft of the tranny. a stronger aftermarket arm will relocate the tailshaft mount to a new crossmember and will not flex under load. thus you put more power to the ground and stop and go faster.
the control arms ar the bars that run from each end of the axle up to the subframe and help to keep the axle located and pushed to the ground.

 

The TQ arm is the long stamped metal arm that runs from the rear end up along side the driveshaft and attatches to a bracket that is bolted up to the tranny. Here is a link off of BMRs web sight that shows their aftermarket tq. arm mounted.

http://www.bmrfabrication.com/torque...-installed.jpg

Aaron

 

Thanks guys.. now what about torsion arms?

 

toursion arm is the tourq arm, control arms are also called trailing arms.

 

This picture will show you all the elements of the 4th Gen rear suspension, including:

Torque arm - running from tranny tailshaft (or from a front mount on the floorpan on some aftermarket designs) to the center section of the rear axle assembly. As noted in the post above, its purpose is to keep the axle from rotating in response to torque transmitted to the wheels.

Lower controls arms - connect the body to the ends of the axle assembly. Purpose is to locate the axle front-to-back. When the tires establish traction, the LCA's are the only things that push the car forward.

Rear sway bar - hanging under the rear axle assembly and linked to the body, for the purpose of reducing body roll in cornering.

Panhard rod (the only thing in the picture that isn't red) running diagonally from the left side of the rear axle assembly to the right side of the body (visible just in front of the muffler). Main purpose is to keep the body centered side-to-side over the rear axle assembly.

 

GOD FRED!!!!!! You're such a show off!!!!!!!
Just kidding!

 

Fred, are you comfortable with the strength tunnel brace mounts? They seem a little flimsy for a torque arm mount.

 

Yeah i was thinking the same thing. It doesn't seem like it would be as strong as the stock one.

 

There is an LS1 (Mikey) pulling 1.2X 60-foots with the Spohn TA and the front mount bolted to the pads for the g-load brace. He has never had a report of a problem with that location. You've probably seen videos of his totally insane wheelstands.

Everything Steve Spohn builds is tested before he sells it. Other than his very first TA with the slider tube, I can't think of any product that ever had a problem. I wouldn't be using it if I didn't think it was the best available - and that includes the new 1-5/16" chrome moly "drag" rear sway bar shown in the picture above.

After Steve got through with George Baxter's 3,900# 30th SS convert, it was pulling low 1.3X 60-fts, and made the 9.04@155pmh pass.

As far as my own car, I've only run it with the 125-shot (11.1@128MPH 1.63 60-ft.), and the mount is holding up fine. But in the very near future we'll see how everything under the car holds up to 800+ft-lb with the 300-shot off the line, on a 5K flash stall convertor......