OK, I'm lookin into gettin some Spohn LCA's and relocation brackets and just was wondering what I should get. Now is there any other reason for buying the adjustable ones besides if your car is lowered or will be lowered in the future? Because I highly doubt I will ever lower my car just because Michigan roads suck. Do I really need the Adj. ones then?? My car's not an everyday driver. I just take it out in the summer like 3-4 times a week. I wanna take it to the drag strip quite a bit this year too. Also, I noticed the adj. ones come with Spherical Rod ends which look better than the poly bushing ends. Are they?? and what's the difference?

 

most will say that adjustable LCA's are not needed for occasional strip duty, one reason to have them is to center the wheels in the wheel well when running bigger slick tires

personally i would suggest some LCA relocation brackets as a 1st mod over LCA's themsleves, they increase the angle of the LCA creating more bite to the pavement and are cheaper too

 

For most people I do NOT suggest the Spherical rod ends. They make for a great racing style suspension, but most of the "street" people I know, can't stand the ride or noise that they can have.

The adjustability is nice to allow for an alignment to be completed on the rear axle of the car. In stock form there is no alignment they can do to your car, with the adjustable LCAs and Adjustable PHR a complete 4 wheel alignment is obtainable.

If you still want the adjustability, they do sell adjustable non-heim jointed (spherical rod ends) adjustable LCA's and PHR.

PLus most often the Heim joints need replacing after 10-20K miles of driving, and for the good ones at $30 ea it can get expensive.

 

Slight correction here... with the adjustable LCA, the only rear alignment possible is the thrust angle - cannot adjust camber, caster or toe.

Actually, I'm not sure anyone ever adjusts caster on the rear of a car, I'd be curious if someone knows.

Dave

 

Nope, no rear caster adjustment on our cars!!

AND... the LCA's do not center the axle, that's the job of the panhard rod.

 

I meant rear caster on *any* car - presumably one with IRS....

Dave

 

I know you knew Dave!!

 

even centering the wheel in the wheel well?
how does the panhard rod center the axle in the wheel well, front to back not side to side?

seriously i want to know, not being a smartass or anything

 

The panhard rod centers left to right. Non adjustable LCA's don't change anything. Adjustable LCA's actually change the angle of the rear end relative to horizontal. In other words, tilts it up or down. But it pretty much stays in the same place. They also prevent each end of the axle from moving front to rear.

 

hmm i've seen it mentioned a few times that adjustable LCA's are good for centering bigger slick tires (for drag racing) in the wheel well
i think i've seen that anyway....

 

You would also need an adjustable torque arm too...

 

Adjusting the length of the LCA's will move the axle assembly forward and backward in the wheel opening. I have done it for clearance on slicks.

Based on my measurements and calculation, they can not significantly change the angle of the pinion shaft to the main axis of the car... that angle is held by the torque arm. Moving the axle forward and backward will simply cause the stock TA to move forwards or backwards in the front bushing. The change in the angle, if any, will be insignificant. In a case where either the TA or the LCA departs significantly from the horizontal, the angle would be affected to a greater degree. If you had a TA that did not allow for the front-to-back movement, it would alter the angle, but a well designed TA needs to accomodate front-to-rear movement of the axle simply to avoid bind.

 

alright then, it doesnt really seem like I need the adj LCA's then. Guess Ill save some money and get the non-adj ones and use the extra money towards somethin else. Thanx guys.