- Joined
- Jul 30, 2002
- Location
- Rockville, MD
I hope I don’t get excommunicated for this but I did something silly, I made some stuff to try to get the FWD 850 to handle decent. Most think its a waste of time and a futile battle but I am up to the challenge. Biggest issue besides the unchangeable fact that its FWD is there is no way to align the car from the factory, no camber, no caster, no fun! So I decided to try to eliminate those sloppy bushings on the factory arms and build an adjustable control arm.
I went through many design iterations and the final product looked nothing at all like the initial. I first attempted to do something similar to the 240 with a couple tubes and a main body. Due to the odd packing constraints of the 850 That was not a viable option.
This arm is all 4130, just like everything else i make and it is 100% TIG welded.
It is my first time designing something in this style, It is sort of an evolution on the sub frame design that i did for the 740.
The initial prototype is slightly lighter then the factory arm which isn't bad because the adjustability aspect always adds weight, It is also plenty strong.
Here are some pictures from the design process
The factory arm which helped to establish base line strength requirements and packing constraints
First design that used adjustable length arms and spherical bearings,
First version of the prototype
Prototype as built
Parts for the construction (4130 threaded sleeves and a Moog Balljoint)
Making small fitment adjustments
Welding Stage
TIG welds
Assembled
Triangles Galore
Bottom side
Solid
I did a test fit on our 96 R to check clearances and what not, Overall it was pretty good, it needs some slight adjustment on the size and height of the wheel stop but overall I think it is 95% of the way there.
New vs. Old
Up in there
I went through many design iterations and the final product looked nothing at all like the initial. I first attempted to do something similar to the 240 with a couple tubes and a main body. Due to the odd packing constraints of the 850 That was not a viable option.
This arm is all 4130, just like everything else i make and it is 100% TIG welded.
It is my first time designing something in this style, It is sort of an evolution on the sub frame design that i did for the 740.
The initial prototype is slightly lighter then the factory arm which isn't bad because the adjustability aspect always adds weight, It is also plenty strong.
Here are some pictures from the design process
The factory arm which helped to establish base line strength requirements and packing constraints
First design that used adjustable length arms and spherical bearings,
First version of the prototype
Prototype as built
Parts for the construction (4130 threaded sleeves and a Moog Balljoint)
Making small fitment adjustments
Welding Stage
TIG welds
Assembled
Triangles Galore
Bottom side
Solid
I did a test fit on our 96 R to check clearances and what not, Overall it was pretty good, it needs some slight adjustment on the size and height of the wheel stop but overall I think it is 95% of the way there.
New vs. Old
Up in there