Author Topic: SSS spec U12 Lower control Arm Brace Review  (Read 4952 times)

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Offline rathies

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SSS spec U12 Lower control Arm Brace Review
« on: Dec 23, 2008, 12:19AM »
Just recently I received a U12 Lower control arm Brace in the mail from SSS. Its a damn fine build, well beyond anything fleabay has to offer.

Fitting it was a piece of piss, all you need is a large crescent, a Jack and a couple of pin stands. admittedly it needed a little bit of persuasion (read hammer) but once lined up dead straight it went on easy.
Upon first test drive my initial thoughts were that the steering felt alot more positve. The steering wheels tendency to centre itself when released was definately alot stronger. Stopped and re-tighten bolts as SSS suggested in his installation instructions. On first thought my U12 seemed to sit higher, I think that was due to the suspension needing to resettle.

Later that night it was game on, headed out to my favourite twisty roundabout littered road, upon throwing it into a roundabout its obvious that the
tendency to understeer is greatly reduced. It handled similar to a go-kart, throw it into the corner, release the wheel and then grab it again and you're on your way, this is especially handy when zig zagging is required.

My car runs Dobinson lowered springs all around and monroe GT gas shocks, all of which are approximately 18months old. It has a Whiteline swaybar on the rear and Nolthane D bushes which are all fairly new. This brace never ever scraped even on the most evil of speed humps, I think that was due to it being right in the middle of the wheels, the highest point at any given bump.

So all in all if your car is already well modded suspension wise this is the final piece you need to make your car handle like a go-kart.
Pics to follow.
Previous rides: KA24ET TRX,  2000 GUII Patrol 4.2 td, AntrxWA whore TRX owner 4/5, 99 Landrover Discovery TD5
Current Ride(s):  91 GQ Patrol ST-3 RB25DET Converted :)

Offline dozer

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Re: SSS spec U12 Lower control Arm Brace Review
« Reply #1 on: Jan 15, 2009, 03:27PM »
when are these pic's coming, will it fit hnu12 4wd's?

Offline SSS

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Re: SSS spec U12 Lower control Arm Brace Review
« Reply #2 on: Jan 15, 2009, 03:32PM »
I'll try and grab some pics of prototype #1 that's on my U12.

If you can measure (as accurately as possible) the distance between the centres of the front of the lower control arm pivot (they're the threaded part that has the large nut on it) and the approximate distance from the cross member to the centreline of those same pivots, i can tell you if it will fit or not.

Budge was supposed to measure those for me, but you know what budge is like :P

Offline dozer

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Re: SSS spec U12 Lower control Arm Brace Review
« Reply #3 on: Jan 15, 2009, 03:36PM »
where on the cross member, 4wd dose not have the cross member like fwd's as the rear engine mount is up on the fire wall not down underneath.

Offline Jono

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Re: SSS spec U12 Lower control Arm Brace Review
« Reply #4 on: Jan 16, 2009, 12:47AM »
On the subframes. The big nuts that hold the control arm on are what you are looking for.
#1 Post Wh0re
pringles was here!

Offline SSS

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Re: SSS spec U12 Lower control Arm Brace Review
« Reply #5 on: Jan 16, 2009, 07:42AM »
Can you take a pic of underneath dozer, looking toward the rear of the car?

If there is no cross member as you describe, the only concern is if there is anything else lower than where the fwd cross member usually runs, and the distance centre to centre of the LCA pivots.

Offline Sik_bb_trx

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Re: SSS spec U12 Lower control Arm Brace Review
« Reply #6 on: Jan 16, 2009, 09:54AM »

How much and when can I get one? im in Vic for a few weeks I can pick up rather than get it posted,

I have whiteline HD all round and kings and it handles pretty good but i do notice that it will understear way before the rear has lost any grip,

compared to my old pintara which i welded a bar across the two LCA plate mounts and to the engineX-member (the x-member ripped out of the floor pan had to dodge it) which handled like a go cart, your lower brace does the same thing?

 ;D

Offline SSS

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Re: SSS spec U12 Lower control Arm Brace Review
« Reply #7 on: Jan 16, 2009, 10:51AM »
Yep, but is not secured to the cross member. It stops the LCA pivot points from flexing in/out.

I'll get some pics of mine up tonight.

When/where will you be in vic? Let me know, i'll send you a pm soon about the brace.

Offline Budgie

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Re: SSS spec U12 Lower control Arm Brace Review
« Reply #8 on: Jan 16, 2009, 11:00AM »
Adam, I am CERTAIN that the LCA pivot pass-side to LCA pivot driver side is of identical length on AWD's and FWD's.
dont piss me off with your pillarless shit captain snappy wrist

Offline SSS

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Re: SSS spec U12 Lower control Arm Brace Review
« Reply #9 on: Jan 16, 2009, 02:57PM »
I'm assuming it is too, can you crawl under it and do a quick measure with a tape measure? Centre to centre should be either 750 or 725mm from memory.

Offline dozer

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Re: SSS spec U12 Lower control Arm Brace Review
« Reply #10 on: Jan 16, 2009, 04:50PM »
Can you take a pic of underneath dozer, looking toward the rear of the car?


hows that? i may have more.

Offline SSS

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Re: SSS spec U12 Lower control Arm Brace Review
« Reply #11 on: Jan 19, 2009, 06:53AM »
Front to the back would be tops dozer, like this first photo:

"18012009079"

"18012009080"

"18012009081"

This brace is on my own U12, it was the first prototype i built. The production ones have a gap approximately 5mm separating the crossmember and the brace, mine just touches the cross member.

The brackets on the production parts are laser cut, features on the actual bar itself are machined on a mill.

Offline chr1S

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Re: SSS spec U12 Lower control Arm Brace Review
« Reply #12 on: Jan 20, 2009, 09:50AM »
nice tyres pousti
Don't let the opinions of the average man sway you. Dream, and he thinks you're crazy. Succeed, and he thinks you're lucky. Acquire wealth, and he thinks you're greedy. Pay no attention. He simply doesn't understand.

Quote
to be fair, it wouldn't be ANTRX if we stayed on topic.

and if someone wasn't cranky at Chr1s for something he said...

Offline SSS

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Re: SSS spec U12 Lower control Arm Brace Review
« Reply #13 on: Jan 20, 2009, 10:29AM »
ha...you're just jealous cos i got them when the exchange rate was 98c to the dollar...and i found out yokohama don't even bring them into australia!

Offline SSS

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Re: SSS spec U12 Lower control Arm Brace Review
« Reply #14 on: Jan 23, 2009, 10:49AM »
Any luck with the measurements dozer?

Offline dozer

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Re: SSS spec U12 Lower control Arm Brace Review
« Reply #15 on: Jan 24, 2009, 06:58PM »
nah not yet, was hoping to chuck it on the hoist at work but will jack it up in the morning.

Offline dozer

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Re: SSS spec U12 Lower control Arm Brace Review
« Reply #16 on: Jan 26, 2009, 03:29PM »
about 720mm +/-5mm. big issue will be the gearbox and exhaust clearance especially as i have 3inch
system and stuff all ground clearance as it is. :-\




Offline SSS

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Re: SSS spec U12 Lower control Arm Brace Review
« Reply #17 on: Jan 27, 2009, 06:30AM »
The brace would clear the gearbox no problem, the exhaust is a concern though.
How much distance is there horizontally from the centre of the pivot to the piping? How much height from the pivot centre to the lowest part of the exhaust piping that is in the same plane as the washer behind the nut on the pivot?

Offline dozer

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Re: SSS spec U12 Lower control Arm Brace Review
« Reply #18 on: Jan 27, 2009, 05:56PM »
from the center horizontal to the exhaust is about 70mm.
from the center vertical to the lowest part of exhaust is about 50mm.
exhaust is 100mm off the ground at that point.

the brace will just hang far to low for road use, and not a good idea for the track.
if you collect anything it will potentially stuff the front end, straight away or over time.

Offline SSS

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Re: SSS spec U12 Lower control Arm Brace Review
« Reply #19 on: Jan 27, 2009, 07:27PM »
No worries, you are absolutely spot on, the offset in the vertical is too much to clear the brace. Oh well!