955, 957, 958 Front lower control arms all the same?
#46
Three Wheelin'
Thread Starter
Someone be sure to report back on the quality of that $17 API lower arm.
#50
RL Community Team
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
Just received my closeout arm from Rockauto. It looks to be of decent quality although there are no markings other than a stylized "R" on the unit.I think it's is the same unit as the Centric. I'll post pictures when I can. Man, that arm is seriously light compared to the steel one. Less unsprung weight, here I come!
Cheers,
Tom
Cheers,
Tom
#51
Three Wheelin'
Thread Starter
Just received my closeout arm from Rockauto. It looks to be of decent quality although there are no markings other than a stylized "R" on the unit.I think it's is the same unit as the Centric. I'll post pictures when I can. Man, that arm is seriously light compared to the steel one. Less unsprung weight, here I come!
Cheers,
Tom
Cheers,
Tom
Yes sir! The rear bushing is quite a bit larger, solid, and non fluid filled. In stock form it seems to be a great upgrade Add the poly bushings and..... I just got my full suite of Powerflex Poly bushings. I'm pretty pumped to drive the difference. I think its going to be pretty serious overall. After looking at the UPPER arm bushings again it is painfully obvious they are wayy under-engineered for the application. I'm so sick of the uneven tire wear. Overall it should make a big difference in cornering and braking.
#52
RL Community Team
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
Yes sir! The rear bushing is quite a bit larger, solid, and non fluid filled. In stock form it seems to be a great upgrade Add the poly bushings and..... I just got my full suite of Powerflex Poly bushings. I'm pretty pumped to drive the difference. I think its going to be pretty serious overall. After looking at the UPPER arm bushings again it is painfully obvious they are wayy under-engineered for the application. I'm so sick of the uneven tire wear. Overall it should make a big difference in cornering and braking.
Best,
Tom
#53
Instructor
Not to divert the topic here but I recently fitted a powerflex bushing to my torque arm. It made a night and day difference, it feels like sport mode is engage when initially accelerating. I used to think the lag was just how the car was, now it just pulls away. Best thing I've done yet.
I have a thread on a UK forum where you can see my thoughts and pics of fitting.
http://911uk.com/viewtopic.php?t=133062&start=0
I have a thread on a UK forum where you can see my thoughts and pics of fitting.
http://911uk.com/viewtopic.php?t=133062&start=0
#54
Three Wheelin'
Thread Starter
I will probably install the Powerflex bushings when I change out the control arms. Interesting to note that Powerflex also has a replacement bushing for the torque arm. At $47, it is a no brainer compared to replacing the whole arm- increased stiffness and longevity.
Best,
Tom
Best,
Tom
Not to divert the topic here but I recently fitted a powerflex bushing to my torque arm. It made a night and day difference, it feels like sport mode is engage when initially accelerating. I used to think the lag was just how the car was, now it just pulls away. Best thing I've done yet.
I have a thread on a UK forum where you can see my thoughts and pics of fitting.
http://911uk.com/viewtopic.php?t=133062&start=0
I have a thread on a UK forum where you can see my thoughts and pics of fitting.
http://911uk.com/viewtopic.php?t=133062&start=0
#55
Rennlist Member
I window welded my old, sheared engine strut bushing a few months back as a test. It has seemed to make shifts a bit snappier, without any extra NVH. Considering what they charge for that thing, you can't go wrong filling the bushing with a $20 tube of WW and letting it cure for several days. So far, I'm only getting about 25k miles of driving out of the stock, unmodified ones which seems ridiculous.
#56
Rennlist Member
BTW, when I redid my front suspension earlier this year, my original plan was that I was going to save a buck and press factory CTTS bushings into a quality aftermarket LCA. Ultimately, however, I got tired and didn't want the extra side project of installing the bushings - - I just wanted to be done. Knowing what we know now, I should have bought the aluminum LCAs... Oh well.
Anyway, here's some pictures comparing the "normal" versus CTTS bushings. What surprised me was that the normal bushings appear more substantial at first glance - - there appears to be more rubber than the "solid" CTTS bushings. But what you can't see until you look at the old bushings is that the normal ones are hollow inside (and may have been liquid filled). But those hollow cavities create a weak point.
Same goes for the upper control arm bushings. They look solid when new, but they are not. They just have a big rubber ring on both ends that hides a big gap in the bushing. I agree that they're pretty weak when you examine one that's failed. J warned me of this. I should have listened.
Anyway, here's some pictures comparing the "normal" versus CTTS bushings. What surprised me was that the normal bushings appear more substantial at first glance - - there appears to be more rubber than the "solid" CTTS bushings. But what you can't see until you look at the old bushings is that the normal ones are hollow inside (and may have been liquid filled). But those hollow cavities create a weak point.
Same goes for the upper control arm bushings. They look solid when new, but they are not. They just have a big rubber ring on both ends that hides a big gap in the bushing. I agree that they're pretty weak when you examine one that's failed. J warned me of this. I should have listened.
#57
Three Wheelin'
Thread Starter
BTW, when I redid my front suspension earlier this year, my original plan was that I was going to save a buck and press factory CTTS bushings into a quality aftermarket LCA. Ultimately, however, I got tired and didn't want the extra side project of installing the bushings - - I just wanted to be done. Knowing what we know now, I should have bought the aluminum LCAs... Oh well.
Anyway, here's some pictures comparing the "normal" versus CTTS bushings. What surprised me was that the normal bushings appear more substantial at first glance - - there appears to be more rubber than the "solid" CTTS bushings. But what you can't see until you look at the old bushings is that the normal ones are hollow inside (and may have been liquid filled). But those hollow cavities create a weak point.
Same goes for the upper control arm bushings. They look solid when new, but they are not. They just have a big rubber ring on both ends that hides a big gap in the bushing. I agree that they're pretty weak when you examine one that's failed. J warned me of this. I should have listened.
Anyway, here's some pictures comparing the "normal" versus CTTS bushings. What surprised me was that the normal bushings appear more substantial at first glance - - there appears to be more rubber than the "solid" CTTS bushings. But what you can't see until you look at the old bushings is that the normal ones are hollow inside (and may have been liquid filled). But those hollow cavities create a weak point.
Same goes for the upper control arm bushings. They look solid when new, but they are not. They just have a big rubber ring on both ends that hides a big gap in the bushing. I agree that they're pretty weak when you examine one that's failed. J warned me of this. I should have listened.
#59
Instructor
Ahh man!! I'm in the UK, ordered from a seller showing the Ally arms, £120 for the pair, I did think it was strange as the next cheapest were £200 or something..
Package arrived today, the UPS guy was struggling, ut ohhhh, opened the box and fears confirmed, the original HEAVY arms!
I need to fit new arms this weekend as I'm going on a roadtrip next week so I am going to have to fit these!! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH They're so DAMN heavy!!! My GTS which is my wifes daily, is no race car but still, to know I've saved some weight, it would have been nice and I'm sure it will have made some difference, even if it is only driven around London! Doh
Package arrived today, the UPS guy was struggling, ut ohhhh, opened the box and fears confirmed, the original HEAVY arms!
I need to fit new arms this weekend as I'm going on a roadtrip next week so I am going to have to fit these!! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH They're so DAMN heavy!!! My GTS which is my wifes daily, is no race car but still, to know I've saved some weight, it would have been nice and I'm sure it will have made some difference, even if it is only driven around London! Doh
#60
On the rockauto link you posted they have the 17$ (2 left) arms and they have the other side for 72$ a little further down the list by the same company. Both sides in aluminum for under 100$ shipped. I ordered a set of them as my GTS will need it soon. Still trying to decide if I wanna do the poly bushings from powerflex.