Are the SPL rear camber arms appropriate for a DD car?

BGTV8

Dude, you have a choice:

1. Return the car to stock ride height and the stock alignment and your amenity and enjoyment will not suffer and your rear tyre wear moves back into the OEM zone
2. Stay with the lowering springs and put up with excessive rear tyre wear
3. Fit SPC components and enjoy the amenity of your ride because NVH will only be marginally increased
4. Accept the fact that a lowered "look" implies you are stepping away from OEM NVH (which is not that flash anyway) and do it right, which is SPL

I know which choice I would make - but no matter what we think, it is your choice to make.

vqpower

Fair enough, only options 3 and 4 are being considered. I keep hearing that SPL will increase NVH but I can't find any description on how much worse it really is. If the difference is only mild, I think I'll just go SPL and call it a day.

synolimit

I don't hear any suspension noise and I have 18k front and 12k rear springs. Also heard no noise from the solid spl rear diff bushing. Only thing that's increased my noise was the hard tranny mount.

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13 370z-

BGTV8

Problem is NVH is terribly personal .... I subscribe to the theory that is it is too noisy, I will turn up the stereo. It is more noisy, but IMHO it is a modest increase in noise.

The fact that SWMBO hates the "noisy sports car thing" and refuses to get into it is the counter-point (and a side-benefit perhaps).

For a definition of SWMBO, refer to acronyms finder dictionary and abreviations finder dictionary - acronyms and abreviations list, definitions and funny acronyms from medical, military, army, training, business, internet, and emails. and search for this acronym.

Rusty

Thanks for the link. It will be great at work! By the way, think you have it backwards. HWMBO. She just lets you get away with it.


I have the complete SPL front end. I haven't notice any increase in noise. But then I have the complete FI exhaust.

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vqpower

How often do the spherical bearings on the SPLs need to be cleaned/lubed? Since they aren't sealed bearings, don't they get dirty quickly?

synolimit

Teflon...they say never.

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13 370z-

Vrg37s

I try to clean mine once a month. My car stays pretty clean since its garaged kept, but it is my DD. The SPL Lower control arm bushings make a big improvement in overall handling and front end response, however they transfer a lot of NVH. It almost sounds normal to me now, ha ha. Just wanted to give my .02 cents. Good luck on your decision

vqpower

I thought that since the bearing isn't sealed, dirt and stuff can get into it and hence you regularly need to keep it clean and lubed. Correct me if I'm wrong.

critical

stock arms are fine. just get a good alignment.

next option is go SPL

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Quaife w/ gears |Stillen Gen 3|SOLD FI Resonated Test Pipes |SOLD FI 18'' | 25row Stillen Race | Progress 35mm/25mm sways | Swifts/Koni|Volk G25's| Stoptech SS lines||SPL Front/Rear Arms|

vqpower

If I could, I would stay on the stock arms but I'm not sure my current alignment is acceptable.

It looks like this:

Toe
Front: 0.00 0.00
Rear: 0.01 0.04

Camber
Front: -1.2 -1.3
Rear: -2.3 -2.2

Too much camber in the rear I think? Not sure how fast the tires will wear out with the current settings. Hard for me to tell since I don't drive a ton.

critical

that's not a lot of camber. you're fine

__________________
Quaife w/ gears |Stillen Gen 3|SOLD FI Resonated Test Pipes |SOLD FI 18'' | 25row Stillen Race | Progress 35mm/25mm sways | Swifts/Koni|Volk G25's| Stoptech SS lines||SPL Front/Rear Arms|

vqpower

This is my first time running any decent amount of camber, at -2.3 would I wear out the tires that much faster than say -1.4 assuming near zero toe?

Also isn't it undesirable to have such a large difference in camber from front to rear? More understeer at the limit?

clkio

I always say when you want to do something, do right from the first time so it doesn't cost you any issues in the long run (especially on a sports car). When you lower the car, you change the geometry of the suspension a bit and the stock arms just cant keep up anymore with the change that's when SPL arms come in. I dont have anything against SPC, but for me all it takes is for somebody to say I snapped my spc arms so I just stay away all together. Hope that helps a little

vqpower

I would like to do this right, but it seems like there aren't very good options for those who want to lower their car but mostly maintain an OE ride. The SPLs are very well built but there is no denying that the spherical bearings will transmit more NVH and will require regular cleaning and lubing since they aren't sealed. The only reason I haven't just jumped on the SPCs is because I don't like those reports of the arms snapping.

SPC did recently release some new beefier arms though:
Specialty Products Company | SPC Alignment | The Automotive Alignment Leaders

They have a different design and are forged for increased strength and use a new bushing type that is supposed to perform like a monoball but have the durability of the OE part. They claim it doesn't require regular maintenance.

Specialty Products Company | SPC Alignment | The Automotive Alignment Leaders

Since it is so new, I can't find any reviews on it.


EDIT: I should also mention that SPC has revised the design on all rear camber arms for the Z/G to remove the curve. The arms are all straight now for increased strength. I guess this means that SPC's original design was deemed to have inadequate strength.