8 replies to this topic

[Punchy]

Question..

 

For those that are using the harrop steering arms...what are people using as steering stops now as they were built into the old tie rod arms.

 

I fear without implementing something this may put genuine strain on the steering rack components on full lock and risk a pinion drive failure...

 

 

thanks

scott

[ls2lxhatch]

I think the main purpose of the steering stops is to prevent the steering arms binding with the Lower Control Arm.

 

The A9X had UC style lower control arms which have a steering stop ramp welded to the arm. The LX and LH lower control arms do not have the steering stop ramp. You may be able to fit a larger ramp to suit the Harrop steering arms.

 

 

If you fit the K-MAC front mount sway bar to UC lower control arms you have to remove the steering stop ramp from the control arm and risk the steering arm binding with the sway bar control link mount.

 

I have tubular lower control arms which do not have provision for steering stops. I put a 10 mm ( from memory ) spacer in either end of the steering rack tube to reduce the steering travel to prevent the steering arms from contacting lower control arms. If the wheel takes a hit on full lock the pinon will not take any load. The tie rod and steering rack tube will take the load. The tie rod and/or steering rack could be damaged if the wheel takes a big hit on full lock but should not suffer from normal usage.

 

 

The spacer is like a thick washer that fits in the end of the steering rack tube and is held in place with an internal circlip. The rack is inserted through the shim, the lock nut on the rack will now contact the spacer at full lock instead of contacting the end of the steering tube reducing rack travel by the with of the spacer.

 

Picture from web

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Picture by 76lxhatch

Edited by ls2lxhatch, 08 March 2016 - 07:41 PM.

[Punchy]

Ah yes ! Splendid idea. !

 

On another note

 

Where can one get the kmac front and rear bars from ideally ?

 

I ordered the 2 inch lowered springs and the pedders 90/10's today so looking forwards to putting the finishing touches on the front end with a kmac or similar bar.

The rep at pedders said the VN pacemaker headers most likely will interfere with standard fit rear mount sway bar...not sure if this is true or not as I don't have either front or rear sway bars presently to try it

 

Thanks for the detailed reply ls2lxhatch man !

[76lxhatch]

Yeah the steering rack housing/ends are designed to be the stops, you only need external ones (or extend them as lx2lxhatch) if something is fouling before full lock.

 

Most aftermarket headers hang too low and a factory bar runs straight under the chassis rails/cross member. If it almost clears you can make/find some hardware to space the bar down a little where it mounts.

[ls2lxhatch]

You should still be able to buy the K-MAC sway bars direct from K-MAC http://www.k-mac.com/

 

The K-MAC front mount adjustable front swaybar can have tyre clearance issues. K-MAC have a extremely poor reputation for quality control. I have bought three swaybars from K-MAC on three separate occasions and each time there were either bushes and/or bolts missing or parts that had been incorrectly made. They even managed to supply metric bolts with imperial nuts. This was several years ago so they may have got their act together.

 

Whiteline also make a front mount fixed front swaybar. The Whiteline swaybars are well made however I prefer the K-MAC design.

 

I think you would be better off fitting a Whiteline rear mount front sway bar if you can.  You can get a rough idea of the header clearance by sitting a broom handle in the swaybar position. The K-MAC and Whiteline swaybars are 24 mm and mount about 5 mm below the k-frame arms. A 5-10 mm spacer is usually ok but much more than that will probably cause ground clearance problems.

 

Whiteline BHF37 with alloy spacers. Picture by A9X

 

K-MAC make an adjustable rear mount swaybar however it is more suited to a track car side exit exhaust as there is no much room for exhaust after the diff.

 

The UC style rear swaybar is a better design than the LH/LX trailing arm mounted rear swaybar.

 

You will find pictures of swaybars at the bottom of this page.

Edited by ls2lxhatch, 10 March 2016 - 02:36 AM.

[myss427]

I have the White line front mount sway bar and I agree that the K-Mac bar is a better design, you can not fit air ducts with the Whiteline without making major mods to the mounting brackets etc.

[Toranamat69]

The whiteline front mount bar bracketry is an abomination.

[Punchy]

thanks for that awesome information there LS2.

 

Appreciated greatly. It covers off on alot of areas of interest!!!

 

 

cheers

Scott

[ls2lxhatch]

You're welcome.