Control Arm Question

stng

New Member
Jul 27, 2005
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So you will have to bear with me here as I really know nothing about newer suspension set ups. Here is what I am trying to understand, what EXACTLY does swaping out the lower control arms do for you? How does this improve your 60' times? The only thing I can think of is that they are simply stronger and therefore allow you to launch harder withour bending/braking anything? Do they do more for you than this?

Sorry if this is a total new b question but I am used to old school set ups eg. traction bars...

Thanks in Advance :SNSign:
 
In theory, the aftermarket ones don't flex as much as the stock ones do. The stock ones have large rubber bushings and the arms themselves are said to bend and flex. So when you launch hard, a lot of energy is spent compressing the rubber bushings and bending the control arm. This also allows the rear axles to move around a lot. Not just forward but also up/down and sideways. With aftermarket LCAs, the bushings are either stiffer or replaced with steel bearings. They are also build different to where they don't flex. So, your axle stays in place better during launch and you don't waste some of your energy flexing the rear suspension. Kinda like trying to run a 100 meter dash in big bouncy balloon shoes vs. snug sprinter shoes.

With that said, I just got MM LCAs installed in my car. The most evident change is the rear end of the car seems to be more predictable when I punch it. Squealing the tires on the street is a more constant squeal instead of the choppy skipping squeal. I always thought that choppy squeal was due to irregular road conditions. Now I think it was wheel hop because with the aftermarket LCAs, it's like on long squeal. On the downside, you feel and hear more of the road. Much like having your tires overinflated. Not really bad since my exhaust is pretty loud already.
 
They improve rear end bite,and increase noise levels as tad.
Kinda like explaining to someone what sex is like to someone who has never had it. You can say its great all day, but they will never know until they try it.(Just get the MM adjustables already, paralysis by analysis sux )