Wishbones etc

[DH2]

They're not in everybodys favourite shear loading condition, so fingers crossed eh?!
OT, but do you have an ETA on your car yet Dave?

I'm sure you'll be ok loading-wise, I personally wouldn't use them everywhere on a road car, too much hassle.

As for my car... I've been struggling to make more than slow progress lately. It's amazing/surprising, how small engineering companies don't seem very interested in taking my money to do some work for me. Perhaps it is a sign that work is picking up for them, that they can afford to not be interested in small jobs?
I've long given up setting an ETA, as I know I will miss the target! I'd like to have it done for next summer, but not sure I will, at present. I'm bogged down in fabrication, and tied up in a critical path, where lots of little things are dependant on others, and some of those are being done as favours by other people (since I don't have space for a lathe) which means the elapsed time is quite long.

Mine have been on the car since 2005 and it's no different to poly bushes ride wise , merely more precise
It's also VERY important to dry rag the rodends clean often

I'd beg to differ on there being no difference - particularly given the state of the roads these days - yours is no longer a road car.
I just think it's a load of unnecessary hassle for a road car, where a bush will outperform it in pretty much every respect.

Dave

[stylussprinter]

RE ---- the hassle , yes if you're not wanting to play around with set-up but those who ask me to make w.bones want that ability I assume OR possibly fancy tracking it at some point

Although I honestly didn't notice any difference Dave , in ride/comfort or vibration after changing to all rodends up front . It was still road registered for a year after the change because up till then I'd competed in road going class , so I used to be able to take it out for a test drive after set-up adjustment plus occasionally down to Sylva meets in Hampshire (30 to 200 mile trips) even though it got trailered to competition events. Steering exactness -- yes but nothing else felt.
I suppose mileage would influence the decision if doing 10,000 miles a year

[Craig-Chap]

Well I'll let you know soon!

Mine is to be a road car over track, but I wanted it adjustable so I can get it setup right without spending a complete fortune. Hence asking Rob! I considered using Mk2 Escort rally parts (which are available in bushed versions) but an 'off Rob's shelf' solution was more appealing. It's a Sunday toy really, with the odd longer trip to see uni pals, I'll post back how tolerable it is. The Mk2 Escort rubber rack mounts will be staying mind!

I know what you mean about getting people to do jobs. I got so frustrated one day I drove to machine mart and brought myself a welder as I was fed up waiting for people to do a worse job than I could do. It wasn't even a VAT free day, I must have been in a right strop! No room for a lathe/mill/drill press either, but would love to... next house maybe.

Won't be doing 10k a year, but I'm gagging to drive it as the master cylinder debacle has stopped play recently....

[MattD]

I'd beg to differ on there being no difference - particularly given the state of the roads these days - yours is no longer a road car.
I just think it's a load of unnecessary hassle for a road car, where a bush will outperform it in pretty much every respect.

Blimey - you two do like taking digs at each other

Well, for me the only real hassle was getting them all made & setup in the first place.
I have rod ends all round, save for poly bushes under the axle on the rear leading arms.
SSC made the rears, must be 8yrs back, & Rob made the fronts quite recently.

Mine is still intended for road use, Le Mans, etc, with some sprints, autosolos & track days chucked in. 80/20 split I'd say.
Do I regret my choice of development course - No not really. Probably the only one would be the return to windscreen rather than aeroscreen sometime.

With the suspension mods I can't honestly say I've noticed any difference in the "comfort" factor - my primary drivers for them were to allow full (& easy) adjustment all round, getting the wheelbase & track square (they weren't), and a personal want to get rid of the sherpa joint on the front (got very fed up with annually replacing rubber boots &/or buying new joints). Maintenance wise its does add hassle. Polys are fit & forget, rod ends definitely not, though with the rubber boots on its less onerous.

Live axle is certainly hard on the back side, but I don't think there's that much noticeable actual difference in polys vs rodends. That's more about spring rates & shock lengths & clicks in my opinion. Perhaps I've just got used to it or I'm just prepared to put up with something you aren't Dave, & if I was starting again, I agree with you in going the IRS route.

But for me the unnecessary (though highly interesting) hassle is in chopping off the rear to do the IRS conversion
Whatever, what's great about these cars (& why I keep it) is that that we can all indulge in our personal projects to get what we want from them.

Cheers, Matt

[DH2]

Blimey - you two do like taking digs at each other

Nah, not really, it's just that there is often more than one way of getting a result.

With the suspension mods I can't honestly say I've noticed any difference in the "comfort" factor

Well it's interesting that both you and Rob report the same - maybe I will be in for a surprise with the polys I am using on the inboard end of my wishbones.
But there again the whole suspension geometry has been redesigned to be much more compliant without losing control. So we're not comparing apples with apples!

Polys are fit & forget, rod ends definitely not, though with the rubber boots on its less onerous.

This is what I mean by the hassle factor really, the ongoing maintenance and replacement cycle. Versus the benefit of adjustment which most people don't use once set, or wouldn't notice the difference of a small change.

Perhaps I've just got used to it or I'm just prepared to put up with something you aren't Dave, & if I was starting again, I agree with you in going the IRS route.

I got somewhat frustrated with the non-compliance on my Westfield, though as you say, a large portion of it is down to the spring rates and getting dampers that work.

But for me the unnecessary (though highly interesting) hassle is in chopping off the rear to do the IRS conversion
Whatever, what's great about these cars (& why I keep it) is that that we can all indulge in our personal projects to get what we want from them.

Yep, that's a fair point. My personal project is to (hopefully) get my car how I want it, and not have to keep pulling it apart to change things - whether I achieve that, remains to be seen!

Dave