Hello guys/gals

When swapping out the torque arm, or LCA's is the improvement in how the aftermarket pieces are made.. or in the much stiffer bushings?

 

Both. The rubber gives (I think the rubber gives more than the metal), and the metal flexes. The aftermarket tubular ones hardly, if at all, flex.

 

Improvements are both in the fabrication of the TA and LCA as the stock pieces are stamped steel and can flex, as well as with the connecting points. With the rear LCA's however, poly bushings are bad for handling due to the fact that they bind and dont allow the axle to rotate, it is best to go with a poly/rod or rod/rod ended, or even stock/1LE to prevent binding of the LCA's, poly/poly would only help on a primarily drag car and they would still benefit more from the solidness(?) of rodends.

 

Thanks for the replies. Whats up Shibby!

Just curious. I have joined a few forums and there always seems to be a prevailing theory.. but i am the kind of guy that likes proof. Has anyone thats NOT making 800HP twisted the torque arm? Any under the car video showing the stock pieces twisting?

 

I'm with you dubb, I want proof of it actually twisting under a "normal" car. I've seen pictures of guys that have a super/turboed car and it's twisted like a pretzel, but I think normal cars will not feel that much difference. I think the torque arm does not get that much flex under an average car or even a car with under 400bhp.

The LCA and PHR I can see flexing a lot though. The car is wanting to go and there is a lot of power in the axle trying to push a 3500 pound mass of steel. The LCAs would have to flex to a point. Also, the PHR gets a lot of force on it going around corners. Another thing, rubber is softer than steel, the rubber is going to give way more than the steel ever will. Personally if I were to make some LCAs and a PHR, I would make them out of complete metal, no bushings period.

 

I doubt we'll get a real answer on the TA debate. I can see alot of load being places on all of these components, but think that the 'movement' thats felt is because of sloppy stock rubber and not the metal twisting.. int like 99% of the cases.. where 1% of the people are making serious HP.