Michael Ghia

I'm slowly building up my 44 turbo for the track, it's not going back on the road and as it's currently running the early turbo brakes and spindles, I'm wanting to change them for something stronger.
I've seen both the spindles and bottom arms fail in racing and an upgrade in brakes is always welcome.
I'm upgrading to the Turbo S brakes but are the Fabcar control arms worth the cash or are there other alternatives?
Thanks
Mike Ghia

GrantG

I use the Charlie Arms and they are works of art! Lighter than the Steel Fabcar units - they use billet Aluminum. Check them out! I got mine at Paragon products

eclou

There is a guy named Markus Blazsak in Canada that makes steel control arms for the 951 with replaceable HD ball joints. Costs much less than the other stuff. I just ordered some from him for track use.

Eugene

txhedg

How are things coming along, Eugene? Have you installed the MAF/chips from mine yet? Was the difference noticeable?

-tom

eclou

Tom,

not MAF install yet. Got lazy. Did Evo2's, rollbar, suspension, some limited bodywork. Still have to do control arms, clutch, re-index torsion bars. When do you get out of the box?

Eugene

txhedg

the box has become much more difficult to escape than initially expected. no light at the end of the tunnel yet. the other problem is that my WHOLE industry (Merchant Energy, including Enron, Dynegy, Reliant, El Paso) has fallen apart and is on the verge of being eliminated all together. This has not made the wife real receptive of me spending big $$ on new toys. I tried to explain that if I don't have a job its the perfect time to have a toy, but she wasn't buying it. Instead she just wants us to go buy a big 'ol West U McMansion (I swear I'm not joking). Why spend $50k on a toy when you can drop 7-figs on a house????? Gotta love that female logic.

You going to that BMW club race at TWS in Nov? Sounds like it should be good. My 7-er was in with Perk last week and he was bragging about having 6 of his custs cars in the race (which means 6 of his guys made the "cut" to be in the national championship club race). Pretty impressive, actually.

He's a good guy, but boy is his work expensive. The $7k I dropped on the 7-er in the last month should help him pay for that new addition he's putting on the BMS shop (he will have a dyno, plus many more bays, inside storage, etc). I assume you take the M3 to him??

talk to you soon

-tom

Robby

[quote]Originally posted by eclou:There is a guy named Markus Blazsak in Canada that makes steel control arms for the 951 with replaceable HD ball joints. Costs much less than the other stuff. I just ordered some from him for track use<hr></blockquote>

How much do these run Eugene?

Are there any other options out there for control arms?

Are the charlie & Fabcars still in the $1500 range? That's just a little steep for what they're worth IMO- maybe worth it more for a full track car...

Anyone else working on some better control arms for reasonable prices?

Also, what about rear control arms? Do people ever change them, and do they have replacable bushings or anything?

I would really appreciate any input I can get on both front and rears. Also, what about just replacing bushings only in either front and/or rear, if possible- I AT LEAST want to replace the bushings. I keep asking people how many bushings there are that have anything at all to do w/susp, and get all kinds of different answers- there's ALWAYS something that someone forgot- I want to replace everything that even resembles a bushing that has anything, even RELATIVELY, to do w/anything that even connects to susp- you know, since they're ALL worn out- I mean hell, 160K & 15yrs old... Anyone?

Thanks,
Robby

eclou

Markus will charge about about $500 for a pair of rebuildable steel arms.

Tom,
probably heading to the Nov BMWCCA event in the M3. Mike is putting in the euro dual-pickup oilpan and I also have a finned diff cover going on.

Eugene

TurboTim

We were thinking about making some tubular control arms out of chrome-moly with replaceable all joints. Price would be around $750 a set. What do you guys think?

Kevin M

[quote]Originally posted by TurboTim:
<strong>We were thinking about making some tubular control arms out of chrome-moly with replaceable all joints. Price would be around $750 a set. What do you guys think?</strong><hr></blockquote>

Great idea, especially for the 87' and later cars.
Kevin

Renn 951

At $750 a set, I would definitely buy them! <img src="graemlins/jumper.gif" border="0" alt="[jumper]" />

Mike Buck

[quote]Originally posted by TurboTim:
<strong>We were thinking about making some tubular control arms out of chrome-moly with replaceable all joints. Price would be around $750 a set. What do you guys think?</strong><hr></blockquote>

yeah, can I just setup a direct deposit account with SFR? Just send me the latest and greatest stuff you have.

john, you have got to buy their exhaust! I'm very happy with it


mike
'88 951
SFR 3" cat-back

QUICK'44

TO: TURBO TIM.......

In reference to the rear banana arms...If you fabricated news new arms,would/could you address the problem with the rear wheel bearings?

Under race conditions, these bearings have to be replaced often...several times a season sometimes.

The problem is that the aluminum "carrier" portion cast into the arms wears out eventually.
GREAT care is taken when we replace these bearings (freezing the bearing,heating slightly the arm) but this only prolongs the inevitable.

Alan C.

I'd be interested in a set for an 86