Spherical bearings for A-arms
April-16th-2002, 02:33 AM
#1
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Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Detroit
Posts: 79
Spherical bearings for A-arms
Okay...I've got another one for you guys! We make these spherical bearings that replace the vertical rubber bushings at the rear of the a-arms. They have an aluminum housing that presses into the a-arms and a stainless steel spherical bearing that slides into the housing that is retained by snap rings on either side.
I have been running with this setup in both my VW and my Protege rally cars for several years. It makes the front suspension/steering more responsive and eliminates the cheezy rubber that wears out. (On rally cars, we were lucky to get 2 rallies out of them. The bearings last a season and a half!)
When the bearing is getting loose, it lets you know by rattling when you drive over the railroad tracks. You can replace the bearing by simply removing the snap ring from one side and pushing it out. The housing can stay put.
Most of the VWs in SCCA ProRally use our bearings. Just wondering if there is any interest in them for Proteges, too.
Whaddya think? Is there a market for these things? If you email me I can send a pic.
Thanks for your opinion!
I have been running with this setup in both my VW and my Protege rally cars for several years. It makes the front suspension/steering more responsive and eliminates the cheezy rubber that wears out. (On rally cars, we were lucky to get 2 rallies out of them. The bearings last a season and a half!)
When the bearing is getting loose, it lets you know by rattling when you drive over the railroad tracks. You can replace the bearing by simply removing the snap ring from one side and pushing it out. The housing can stay put.
Most of the VWs in SCCA ProRally use our bearings. Just wondering if there is any interest in them for Proteges, too.
Whaddya think? Is there a market for these things? If you email me I can send a pic.
Thanks for your opinion!
Last edited by Lurch; April-16th-2002 at 02:36 AM.
April-16th-2002, 05:32 PM
#3
P.A.C.T / P.A.APC Member
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Smyrna, GA
Posts: 269
I'd be interested but only if they have PTFE liners in them. I use spherical joints in the rear suspension of my Mustang and they can be VERY noisy if they don't have the liners. But these things help a LOT with handling, response and stability.
April-16th-2002, 07:52 PM
#4
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Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Detroit
Posts: 79
They are teflon lined spherical bearings and are the most durable/longest lasting things we have found. Currently also looking into custom seals from Seals-It for the units, though mine have been open for seasons at a time in rally conditions and seem to hold up very well.
April-21st-2002, 04:07 AM
#9
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Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Detroit
Posts: 79
Pic of bearings
Here's a pic of the VW version.
The Protege version is the same large size bearing, but the outside diameter of the aluminum housing is smaller. The 2 hat bushings fit into the bearing to provide proper clearance and angular movement.
The housings get pressed into the a-arms, but then replacement of the bearings is done with snap-rings.
I just pulled my a-arms out today to modify for RX7 brakes and the bearings are still as tight as the day I installed them 5 (ROUGH) rallies ago. The units should last most guys (who don't jump their car on a daily basis
)forever. In the event they do get a bit sloppy, you can just replace the bearing.
$195/pr.
The Protege version is the same large size bearing, but the outside diameter of the aluminum housing is smaller. The 2 hat bushings fit into the bearing to provide proper clearance and angular movement.
The housings get pressed into the a-arms, but then replacement of the bearings is done with snap-rings.
I just pulled my a-arms out today to modify for RX7 brakes and the bearings are still as tight as the day I installed them 5 (ROUGH) rallies ago. The units should last most guys (who don't jump their car on a daily basis
)forever. In the event they do get a bit sloppy, you can just replace the bearing.$195/pr.
May-11th-2002, 05:39 AM
#13
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Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Atlanta, Georgia
Posts: 154
yeah stainless steel that doesnt do jack when compared to the new feeling youd have from your steering system after these babies! since you rather would pay large amount of money for larger amounts of material, i got this bridge i want to sell in brooklyn......
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