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slacking off radius arm bolts or elongating mount holes
Posted: Tue Jun 22, 2010 12:19 pm
by rockcrawler31
Hi all.
This is probably a stupid idea but what the hell.
Instead of going to all the trouble to install an x link, is there any reason i can't run 4 Nyloc nuts on the radius arms and when going off or in a comp road slack them off slightly so that they can move in the small amount of play available in the holes? Would it make that much difference?
Also, if on the front of ONE of the arm mounts i elongated the holes to an oval shape, say 1/4" up and down of the normal position so that particular arm could move a little more, approximating the effect of taking a bolt out but without the safety aspect of only one bolt? For on road you could put a milled washer in that fit the extra space either side of the bolt to stop it being able to move again.
M
Re: slacking off radius arm bolts or elongating mount holes
Posted: Tue Jun 22, 2010 5:29 pm
by BadMav
Sounds like alot of trouble for little gain. Just take the bolt out when wheelin and put it back in when on the road. It's as close as you'll get to true x link flex but without the permanent-ness of the x link and your elongated hole idea. Don't get me wrong, I think it would work, just not as well as you'll expect. I'm actually drawing up an x- link design that won't have the need to axe the mounts off the diff, the idea is it can theoretically be returned to standard.
Re: slacking off radius arm bolts or elongating mount holes
Posted: Tue Jun 22, 2010 6:06 pm
by def90
rockcrawler31 wrote:Hi all.
This is probably a stupid idea but what the hell.
Instead of going to all the trouble to install an x link, is there any reason i can't run 4 Nyloc nuts on the radius arms and when going off or in a comp road slack them off slightly so that they can move in the small amount of play available in the holes? Would it make that much difference?
Also, if on the front of ONE of the arm mounts i elongated the holes to an oval shape, say 1/4" up and down of the normal position so that particular arm could move a little more, approximating the effect of taking a bolt out but without the safety aspect of only one bolt? For on road you could put a milled washer in that fit the extra space either side of the bolt to stop it being able to move again.
M
'holey' radius arm bushs are what rovers do for more front end travel, to stop the front bush binding - either with elongated holes both sides of the bush and top and bottom centered vertically in the arc of up down travel (if that makes sense) but the hole doesn't go all the way through the bush, or bushs with a conical shape - bigger in he middle of the bushtappering down to outer edges all the way around the bush, they would be relatively easily made, by peoples in the business.
makes a good easy improvement, but obvioulsy dont last as long as stock bushes when u wheel frequently. worth it though - on a rover at least
Re: slacking off radius arm bolts or elongating mount holes
Posted: Tue Jun 22, 2010 6:19 pm
by A.J.
You will love the clonking and knocking noises it will make offroad
Believe me, I had elongated holes, it was the worst thing ever, you can tighten the bolts as much as you want, under braking they will still move and clonk and drive you insane.
Get a superflex arm mate.
Re: slacking off radius arm bolts or elongating mount holes
Posted: Tue Jun 22, 2010 7:37 pm
by rockcrawler31
A.J. wrote:You will love the clonking and knocking noises it will make offroad
It already makes some alarming noises so what's one more 
Believe me, I had elongated holes, it was the worst thing ever, you can tighten the bolts as much as you want, under braking they will still move and clonk and drive you insane.
Get a superflex arm mate.
Can't do that, arms are longer than standard. It would have to be a custom length, custom geometry. Big dollars.
Re: slacking off radius arm bolts or elongating mount holes
Posted: Tue Jun 22, 2010 8:31 pm
by toughnut
You would only need to get one arm remade with the bush eyes closer together like the rangerover arms. Then it would just be a matter of making the mounting bracket to suit your custom needs. If you were able to get those arms made then you would easy be able to get one more made. The position of the bush holes isn't as important as getting the mounting bracket done correctly which could compensate for any inacuracies in the bush alignment on the arm.
Re: slacking off radius arm bolts or elongating mount holes
Posted: Tue Jun 22, 2010 10:05 pm
by Struth
Have you tried running off road with one bolt out, or the bolts loosened yet.
You should get an instant appreciation of wether or not it is a worthwhile mod.
Cheers
Re: slacking off radius arm bolts or elongating mount holes
Posted: Wed Jun 30, 2010 8:06 pm
by 80's_delirious
A.J. wrote:You will love the clonking and knocking noises it will make offroad
Believe me, I had elongated holes, it was the worst thing ever, you can tighten the bolts as much as you want, under braking they will still move and clonk and drive you insane.
x2 my 80 has elongated holes just from wear and tear. it clunks and knocks just from crossing speed humps, driveways and braking, accelerating etc no matter how tight the bolts are done up, I can feel the diff housing shift when braking and it only has a few mm of play.
I think the amount of slotting you are suggesting could cause some disturbing changes to geometry on braking etc.
Re: slacking off radius arm bolts or elongating mount holes
Posted: Thu Jul 01, 2010 12:33 am
by rockcrawler31
80's_delirious wrote:A.J. wrote:You will love the clonking and knocking noises it will make offroad
Believe me, I had elongated holes, it was the worst thing ever, you can tighten the bolts as much as you want, under braking they will still move and clonk and drive you insane.
x2 my 80 has elongated holes just from wear and tear. it clunks and knocks just from crossing speed humps, driveways and braking, accelerating etc no matter how tight the bolts are done up, I can feel the diff housing shift when braking and it only has a few mm of play.
I think the amount of slotting you are suggesting could cause some disturbing changes to geometry on braking etc.
That's why i was talking about machining up some washers to fill that gap when used on road. Imagine a washer outside the mounting plates as usual but they've got raised bits either side of the holes that fill the gaps. Could also be used for castor correction now that i think of it.
The main reason is that i have no room for an x link. Crap is going to foul everywhere, particularly on the panhard.
Re: slacking off radius arm bolts or elongating mount holes
Posted: Thu Jul 01, 2010 11:24 am
by RUFF
So how is this washer going to work as the hole gets bigger every time you loosen the bolt and go wheeling?
Get some slotted Bushes.
Re: slacking off radius arm bolts or elongating mount holes
Posted: Thu Jul 01, 2010 1:57 pm
by Struth
Can you fit a couple of 5 link upper arms in. To be bolted in for off road once the rear castor bush bolts are pulled? If so then why not fit a couple of lower arms as well.
Cheers
Re: slacking off radius arm bolts or elongating mount holes
Posted: Thu Jul 01, 2010 7:16 pm
by rockcrawler31
RUFF wrote:
Get some slotted Bushes.
Are they all that?
Re: slacking off radius arm bolts or elongating mount holes
Posted: Thu Jul 01, 2010 8:26 pm
by BadMav
It will achieve what you're suggesting without the clunk.
Re: slacking off radius arm bolts or elongating mount holes
Posted: Fri Jul 02, 2010 6:48 pm
by rockcrawler31
Ok, so where can i get them. Asked around a couple of 4wd places today and apparently they're not exactly an off the shelf part.?
Re: slacking off radius arm bolts or elongating mount holes
Posted: Fri Jul 02, 2010 7:18 pm
by BadMav
I always thought the GU ones were slotted so available from nissan, but I'm not 100% sure. Anyone else know?
Re: slacking off radius arm bolts or elongating mount holes
Posted: Fri Jul 02, 2010 9:15 pm
by 80's_delirious
rockcrawler31 wrote:Ok, so where can i get them. Asked around a couple of 4wd places today and apparently they're not exactly an off the shelf part.?
