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Not quite a DIY or How-To, but I finally convinced myself to at least buy some cheap Ebayspeed lower control arms to help with the horrid roll-centers I have:
(Item 1: Horrid roll-center)
It was insanely hot today so I didn't take too many pictures during, but some notes of what occured during the install:
1. The Z32 spindles are either thicker than the stock S14 rear spindles at the ball joint mount, or the taper for the pin on the Ebayspeed arms is way off (it wasn't perfect, but it went in). The nut wouldn't thread down enough to get a cotter pin in, so I loaded it with lock-tite and called it a day, until I can at least get a deformed thread mechanical lock nut on there.
2. The lower nuts (below the monoball) are longer than necessary. They didn't even come close to binding with the top tilted as far as possible. Because of this, I went ahead and ground the crap out of them to get myself more adjustment. I was able to get another 12mm (4x 3mm washers stacked) of roll center adjustment thanks to the extra clearance.
(Item 2: Washer stacks!)
3. The inner ball joint spacers aren't long enough. I jammed washers in there to soak up the extra space.
4. My car isn't crazy low, but the suspension looks that way due to the huge rear tires (315/30/R18). Because of that, I'm still short of where I want the roll center. It may be for the better, though, as a huge difference in angles between the LCA and rear upper/ toe arms might create some funky geometry, not that having the arms pointing sky-high is great to begin with anyways. Either way, the main goal right now is to reduce unnecessary roll (let the suspension soak up bumps instead of body roll).
(Item 3: Almost corrected roll center)
Right now, I'm ordering new conical inserts for the z32 spindles, to try reaming/ drilling them out on the side. Once that's done I can just swap the tapered pin assembly for some bolts and give myself more adjustment. I might have to look into welding new mounts for the toe arms, or just making an entire drop spindle altogether, but that'll come over winter. I've got to do the fronts tomorrow, which will likely be a copy of Def's project but with M18 bolts instead of the 3/4", at least until I feel like ordering new bearings.
(Item 5: One last shot of it all together)
(Item 1: Horrid roll-center)
It was insanely hot today so I didn't take too many pictures during, but some notes of what occured during the install:
1. The Z32 spindles are either thicker than the stock S14 rear spindles at the ball joint mount, or the taper for the pin on the Ebayspeed arms is way off (it wasn't perfect, but it went in). The nut wouldn't thread down enough to get a cotter pin in, so I loaded it with lock-tite and called it a day, until I can at least get a deformed thread mechanical lock nut on there.
2. The lower nuts (below the monoball) are longer than necessary. They didn't even come close to binding with the top tilted as far as possible. Because of this, I went ahead and ground the crap out of them to get myself more adjustment. I was able to get another 12mm (4x 3mm washers stacked) of roll center adjustment thanks to the extra clearance.
(Item 2: Washer stacks!)
3. The inner ball joint spacers aren't long enough. I jammed washers in there to soak up the extra space.
4. My car isn't crazy low, but the suspension looks that way due to the huge rear tires (315/30/R18). Because of that, I'm still short of where I want the roll center. It may be for the better, though, as a huge difference in angles between the LCA and rear upper/ toe arms might create some funky geometry, not that having the arms pointing sky-high is great to begin with anyways. Either way, the main goal right now is to reduce unnecessary roll (let the suspension soak up bumps instead of body roll).
(Item 3: Almost corrected roll center)
Right now, I'm ordering new conical inserts for the z32 spindles, to try reaming/ drilling them out on the side. Once that's done I can just swap the tapered pin assembly for some bolts and give myself more adjustment. I might have to look into welding new mounts for the toe arms, or just making an entire drop spindle altogether, but that'll come over winter. I've got to do the fronts tomorrow, which will likely be a copy of Def's project but with M18 bolts instead of the 3/4", at least until I feel like ordering new bearings.
(Item 5: One last shot of it all together)
. After taking measurements the taper of the pin is not even close to the Z32/S13 BJ taper. I just assumed I got the wrong set of pins, but maybe their all like this?!? FWIW, I'll eventually do the Def recommended mod of reaming it out and using a bolt instead.
. And since I couldn't find anyone with a replacement pin, I just decided to go with the bolt setup at a future date, probably the same time I correct the front RC.
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