Front Control Arm Chains? Anyone ever use them for racing??

dls322 · May 29, 2009

Hi,
I just picked up a set of ford motorsport front control arms. The set is used, got a really good deal. It's got an interesting setup on it. It has eyelet bolts with chains attached. It's designed to attache the chain to the frame rail to limit front end motion durning launches?

Anyone ever run or hear of a setup like this?

Thanks,
Dave

85_SS_302_Coupe · May 29, 2009

Isn't this basically what a swaybar does? I thought the whole idea of removing the swaybar was to allow the front end to rise up on launch, so wouldn't this counter that?

dls322 · May 29, 2009

Yeah, i'm kinda unclear on the whole seup. The chains are removable. Probably would ride stiff with them on. Any ideas?

85_SS_302_Coupe · May 29, 2009

Maybe this is a sort of "removable swaybar" kind of idea...except that it wouldn't have the same effects of a swaybar. A sway bar works by applying force to the opposite wheel to try to keep the nose parallel with the ground...chains alone wouldn't do that because they don't connect each side. Maybe the idea is to use the chains on the street to keep the nose from rising too much, but then be able to unlink them for the track.

Darkwriter77 · May 29, 2009

I remember seeing something like that on the car they used for filming "The Punisher" (the Thomas Jane one, not the Dolph Lundgren travesty), except they used straps instead of chains:

I was under the impression it had something to do with the scene where they jump it off that bridge, like to limit the suspension travel so the car didn't bounce all over the place when it landed...

dls322 · May 29, 2009

Yeah, thats a good idea. I tried to do a google search but really didn't come up with anything. I guess not allot of people run this setup.....usually if something works good, eveyone else runs it too.
I guess it's used to help limit the geometry of the launch.

dls322 · May 29, 2009

Darkwriter77 said:
I remember seeing something like that on the car they used for filming "The Punisher" (the Thomas Jane one, not the Dolph Lundgren travesty), except they used straps instead of chains:

I was under the impression it had something to do with the scene where they jump it off that bridge, like to limit the suspension travel so the car didn't bounce all over the place when it landed...

Sweet avitar!!

Dethklok Rules!!

Thanks for the info....still trying to figure this out.

justabigkid · May 29, 2009

Just a thought but could it be a tether strap, in a racing application if you wreck it keeps the parts attached to the car instead of flying into the crowd.

Shaolin Crane · May 29, 2009

justabigkid said:
Just a thought but could it be a tether strap, in a racing application if you wreck it keeps the parts attached to the car instead of flying into the crowd.

doubt it, if the accident generates enough force to break the spindles bolts, struts bolts and C/C plates i doubt that chain is gonna do much

1991notchbackLX · May 29, 2009

Maybe those chains are for quarter mile cars that drag the bumper and pull hard wheelies? Maybe they stop the car from bouncing wildly (by limiting the suspension travel) when the driver lets off the gas and the front end slams back down onto the track? Just a shot in the dark...

dls322 · May 29, 2009

1991notchbackLX said:
Maybe those chains are for quarter mile cars that drag the bumper and pull hard wheelies? Maybe they stop the car from bouncing wildly (by limiting the suspension travel) when the driver lets off the gas and the front end slams back down onto the track? Just a shot in the dark...

That makes sense too.....

Hmmmm, so should i attach the chains or just take them off?

Anyone else have any ideas? This is a head scratcher

1991vert · May 29, 2009

maybe they were used as a place to use tiedown straps for towing/trailering

capri debris · May 29, 2009

They are only used for one thing. For someone who is almost getting the front tires off the ground during launch at the track but just can't manage to do it. They bolt on some chains or straps and ta-da... now they can brag that they got an inch of light under the tires. Look at the pic below, the car is almost lifting the front tires, but the front suspension is fully extended keeping the fronts on the ground. If this guy would put some straps or chains on that limit how much the suspension can extend, the tires would be off the ground. It's just a gimmick IMHO. Don't bother with them.

dls322 · May 30, 2009

capri debris said:
They are only used for one thing. For someone who is almost getting the front tires off the ground during launch at the track but just can't manage to do it. They bolt on some chains or straps and ta-da... now they can brag that they got an inch of light under the tires. Look at the pic below, the car is almost lifting the front tires, but the front suspension is fully extended keeping the fronts on the ground. If this guy would put some straps or chains on that limit how much the suspension can extend, the tires would be off the ground. It's just a gimmick IMHO. Don't bother with them.

That makes sense...so if i attached them i would look super cool at maple grove speedway (my local drag strip) hahaha. Seems like more of a hassle than it's worth. Does anyone know of any drive ability issues with this setup?
Glad to bring a fresh question to the forums

dls322 · May 30, 2009

capri debris said:
They are only used for one thing. For someone who is almost getting the front tires off the ground during launch at the track but just can't manage to do it. They bolt on some chains or straps and ta-da... now they can brag that they got an inch of light under the tires. Look at the pic below, the car is almost lifting the front tires, but the front suspension is fully extended keeping the fronts on the ground. If this guy would put some straps or chains on that limit how much the suspension can extend, the tires would be off the ground. It's just a gimmick IMHO. Don't bother with them.

Those are some sweet Capri's!!!!

Adams91LX · May 30, 2009

dls322 said:
Those are some sweet Capri's!!!!

true and true...

double true.

Beasty306GT · May 30, 2009

they look like someone added the chains ...doesnt look original

85_SS_302_Coupe · May 30, 2009

The question is, are you even making enough power and hooking well enough to care about this?

Mustang5L5 · May 30, 2009

Take them off. They bolt where the swap bar goes anyway.

If chains worked, you would have heard more about that.

The car is going to pitch the nose up no matter what.

NoSloCoupes · May 30, 2009

Its a cheap version of a front end limiter. Not allowing the cars front suspension to fully extend on launch...limiting rise. Used in drag racing to keep the front end "down" for cars that wheelie to hard. Not a gimmick, they don't make you pull the front wheels off the ground.

Ditch the chains and put the end links back on for the swaybar.

Front Control Arm Chains? Anyone ever use them for racing??

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