I see a lot of companies offering "extended travel" front coil overs for the 120 series. These topics for discussion are based on the fact a large majority of us are running stock components except for the coil overs. Note: I am not talking about "Long Travel" kits.
Now we all know the factory uppers have to be replaced but has anyone looked at the lower ball control arm's range of motion? Having just replace my lower control arms for torn bushings (common failure at stock height) and worn ball joints this concerns me.
I know Total Chaos makes factory length lowers with uniball joints but for many reasons I don't use uniball or heim joints in street cars. Not to mention the TC arms are pricey.
Most of us use factory lowers, so my question is at what point in droop does the lower ball joint bind and at what point do we compromise the rubber in the bushings?
Second concern is CV axles.
The stock CV joints have a decent range of motion but they do have an interference issues with the shaft and the inner cup and the inner boot on itself.
With a diff drop we give ourselves a bit more room for droop but has anyone actually checked clearance at full droop with "extended travel" units installed?
Third is front/rear sway bar links / operation
Most of these kits come with a relocation/drop block. These are more for clearance than function. We need to take a look at the actual sway bar angle and what the end link is actually doing. I've seen a ton of 120's with marks on the lower coil buckets where the sway bar contacts them. Why and how is this happening? Will extended sway bar end links fix this? (Why does no one make a extended link with stock style ends?!).
The rear end links need to be extended with pretty much any lift as the angle goes wrong fast.
Any information / measurements/ facts would be greatly appreciated.
Any component failure information would be great too.
Please keep opinions to a minimum.
Now we all know the factory uppers have to be replaced but has anyone looked at the lower ball control arm's range of motion? Having just replace my lower control arms for torn bushings (common failure at stock height) and worn ball joints this concerns me.
I know Total Chaos makes factory length lowers with uniball joints but for many reasons I don't use uniball or heim joints in street cars. Not to mention the TC arms are pricey.
Most of us use factory lowers, so my question is at what point in droop does the lower ball joint bind and at what point do we compromise the rubber in the bushings?
Second concern is CV axles.
The stock CV joints have a decent range of motion but they do have an interference issues with the shaft and the inner cup and the inner boot on itself.
With a diff drop we give ourselves a bit more room for droop but has anyone actually checked clearance at full droop with "extended travel" units installed?
Third is front/rear sway bar links / operation
Most of these kits come with a relocation/drop block. These are more for clearance than function. We need to take a look at the actual sway bar angle and what the end link is actually doing. I've seen a ton of 120's with marks on the lower coil buckets where the sway bar contacts them. Why and how is this happening? Will extended sway bar end links fix this? (Why does no one make a extended link with stock style ends?!).
The rear end links need to be extended with pretty much any lift as the angle goes wrong fast.
Any information / measurements/ facts would be greatly appreciated.
Any component failure information would be great too.
Please keep opinions to a minimum.
