Best suspension part manufacturer (RUCA's, tie rods, etc...

[moulton712]

tein tierods are different than the oem s13 counterparts. they are way beefier than stock. for those that have seen them side by side in their hands can attest. the s14 tierods are beefy as well but the teins are still made with slightly different material making them stronger. another thing about the beefiness is that you can mod them easy (besides the spacer) to give you more steering angle. want more steering angle like noumuken? mod your knuckles and change your tierod angle. if you drift you'll be drifting backwards.

example go to 3:20 in this video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFwDaC5K5nw

i know most of you don't plan on drifting, but this stuff is still very important.

[wynnEZ]

I think you may have caster and camber mixed up.



You adjust camber with the mounts on the coilover and rucas in the rear.

[Broadfield]

I had to give Cusco the upper hand in this one..... and not just because I am a dealer. If I thought there was a better brand then I would become a dealer for that company. Cusco spends millions on R&D and most other companies just copy them. I've never really had any problems with all the Cusco stuff that I have sold.

[thefro526]

I got a new job as an engineer at a place that designs shipping containers and other stuff and I've learned so much about design and manufacturing and I've realized that people like Brian Harte are right. 2 parts may do the same thing, but they may not be built to the same standards. If you look at most parts the basic design is the same but companies like Tien, Cusco, Powered By Max, SPL, Battle Version and JIC have extensive R&D behind their products and they know why they work and are constantly improving them to be better than the rest. That being said, most of these companies also stand behind their products completely.

So here are a couple of things I figured out:

2 products may do exactly the same thing on the streets but when put under high loads they will have massive performance gaps dues to differences in manufacturing, materials, welds, and overall quality.

A company with R&D behind their products will usually produce a better product than a company that is reverse engineering and knocking off another part.

Generally, if a company is always updating their products (SPL comes to mind) the product is generally well made and well designed to perform well.

Quality parts will usually out last your car if properly maintained so why not just buy good stuff the first time.

Quality control is Key in operations like this. One weldor may make amazing welds and make amazing arms but the guy next to him may not be as good but a lot of factories that make cheaper parts don't invest in good quality control.

*And a note to prospective suspension buyers, the most common failure that I have seen with knock off and low quality suspension arms are welds or weld related. If you're going to buy cheap arms thoroughly inspect the welds for consistency and penetration on make sure the whole arm is welded. If you can't do this yourself than go to an experienced weldor and get them to check the welds out. A lot of the time your life or at least your vehicle is riding on these welds.

Sorry for the rant, but it makes me mad when people don't invest in well engineered products.

*EDIT* I totally forgot to add companies like Tien, SPL, Powered by Max, Cusco, JIC, and Battle Version Listen to us! (or tuners in their local markets) If you don't believe me just look at SPL or Powered by Max's new arms that are angled to give extra clearance for our slammed cars. When was the last time you saw so no-name brand changing their stuff because we like to drive our cars too low?
Modified by thefro526 at 3:37 PM 10/22/2008

[BrianHarte]

<3

<3

<3 <3 <3

[thefro526]

<3

<3

<3 <3 <3

was that for me?

[BrianHarte]

It sure was.

[slide4satan]

i make PVC Rucas and tie rod ends PM if interested.

get a room you guys

[adrianfromthecastle]

I got a new job as an engineer at a place that designs shipping containers and other stuff and I've learned so much about design and manufacturing and I've realized that people like Brian Harte are right. 2 parts may do the same thing, but they may not be built to the same standards. If you look at most parts the basic design is the same but companies like Tien, Cusco, Powered By Max, SPL, Battle Version and JIC have extensive R&D behind their products and they know why they work and are constantly improving them to be better than the rest. That being said, most of these companies also stand behind their products completely.

So here are a couple of things I figured out:

2 products may do exactly the same thing on the streets but when put under high loads they will have massive performance gaps dues to differences in manufacturing, materials, welds, and overall quality.

A company with R&D behind their products will usually produce a better product than a company that is reverse engineering and knocking off another part.

Generally, if a company is always updating their products (SPL comes to mind) the product is generally well made and well designed to perform well.

Quality parts will usually out last your car if properly maintained so why not just buy good stuff the first time.

Quality control is Key in operations like this. One weldor may make amazing welds and make amazing arms but the guy next to him may not be as good but a lot of factories that make cheaper parts don't invest in good quality control.

*And a note to prospective suspension buyers, the most common failure that I have seen with knock off and low quality suspension arms are welds or weld related. If you're going to buy cheap arms thoroughly inspect the welds for consistency and penetration on make sure the whole arm is welded. If you can't do this yourself than go to an experienced weldor and get them to check the welds out. A lot of the time your life or at least your vehicle is riding on these welds.

Sorry for the rant, but it makes me mad when people don't invest in well engineered products.

*EDIT* I totally forgot to add companies like Tien, SPL, Powered by Max, Cusco, JIC, and Battle Version Listen to us! (or tuners in their local markets) If you don't believe me just look at SPL or Powered by Max's new arms that are angled to give extra clearance for our slammed cars. When was the last time you saw so no-name brand changing their stuff because we like to drive our cars too low?

Modified by thefro526 at 3:37 PM 10/22/2008

quoted for the truth!

*EDIT* I totally forgot to add companies like Tien, SPL, Powered by Max, Cusco, JIC, and Battle Version Listen to us! (or tuners in their local markets) If you don't believe me just look at SPL or Powered by Max's new arms that are angled to give extra clearance for our slammed cars. When was the last time you saw so no-name brand changing their stuff because we like to drive our cars too low?

thank you

[tEknoS13]

Lol, look a post above yours, hahaha.

Tension rods:

i totally fail ......... but thanks, and peak performance wins

[94_240sx]

A friend of mine just gave these arms to me today. I like the quality.

[240lookis]

^^ those look like some quality NISMO parts

[mrgreeneyes]

i heart this thread.

i personally love Powered By Max. I have their tension rods, coils, rucas, and subframe collars on the car now... and will be ordering traction and toe arms soon.

the johnny fraz (check fabricators market) brace is amazing for the price. i have one, its beefy as all get-out and is made with crazy precision... youll have to see one to fully appreciate it. (great NISMO powerbrace alternative for 1/2 the price)

ill post in here more once i get the rest of my stuff

[supreamS14]

How do you like the PBM coilovers? Good for the street even tho they have a higher spring rate? Have you had other coilovers so you could compare them in a short review? I think when I get coilovers it will be ether PBM or KTS.

[kevinarich]

how exactly do you get caster on 240 suspension. any tension rod isn't going to do this. caster in the front would directly come from the way the lower control arms are designed and the way they would pivot. when you think of caster think of raked out chopper. the front wheel is slanted. when the suspension compresses it does this at a massive angle. not straight up and down. caster is that angle.

a tension rod is used to stabilize the the control arms. and the lower suspension area. tension rods are important to give you steering wheel feedback and proper suspension movements.

Modified by moulton712 at 5:34 PM 10/22/2008

Modified by moulton712 at 7:49 PM 10/22/2008

The length of the tension arm moves the lower control are forward or backwards to change the angle of the dangle of the coilover. Shortening the tension rod would increase the caster (make the coilover lean back more)

[kevinarich]

A friend of mine just gave these arms to me today. I like the quality.

anyone who can mig weld can make nismo parts. that looks stock with some boxing done. a slightly harder bushing can also be swapped and there you go a genuine nismo part. Same goes for that power brace.

[mrgreeneyes]

How do you like the PBM coilovers? Good for the street even tho they have a higher spring rate? Have you had other coilovers so you could compare them in a short review? I think when I get coilovers it will be ether PBM or KTS.

i LOVE the pbm coils. ride verrrry smooth for 10/8 spring rate. i daily them a minimum of 30 miles a day (assuming i only go to work and back), a mix of backroads and highway and city. keep in mind that i also sit in a buddyclub spec bucket seat... so i feel a lot of the car's movements. they dont get all "out of shape" when you hit a bump, they just react accordingly, without much drama/bouncing at all...

i used to have ksport (when they first hit the 24o market)... boy was that a mistake. those bishez completely blew out in the front in just under 4 months of dailying... not even beating on them. they felt HORRIBLE and rode even worse. build quality SUCKED, customer service treated me horribly, and i never really liked them from day one.

going from the bottom of the barrel with ksports to a NICE coil setup like PBM is a night and day difference.

every other 240/rx7 owner i know who's ridden in my car, now plans to get PBM coils/products due to how they ride/build quality/ customer service, etc.

heck, PBM's shop drop-shipped my coils from their shop in japan, directly to my door for half the normal shipping cost, cus they were out of stock in the USA and i needed coils asap. thats service.

[Razi]

I have the Jonnie Fraz brace and it made a very big and positivie difference in the car's handling. I love it.

I also have Cusco front upper and rear upper strut bars, quality stuff very well made.

[mattblancarte]

from my experience thus far with cars and modifying them... you gotta pay to play. thefro526 spoke gospel.

[carmo]

You are correct with the "chopper" idea. That is a good example of extreme positive caster. With the tension rods pulling on the lower control arms thus pulling the hub more forward in relation to the top of the strut; wouldn't this give you more positive caster?

Has anyone checked out the extreme steering kit from. PBMhttp://www.gtfactory.jp/cms/page.php?15

It doesn't look that hard to make yourself and neither to any of the Nismo stuff for that matter, or at least the arms and the power brace.

[ArticDragon192]

Is there seriously no heim joint here? If so, say hello to bind city. Only thing I don't like about these arms.

[ChampaignSilviaS14]

No idea what that is but mine work fine

[LayNLow240]

Is there seriously no heim joint here? If so, say hello to bind city. Only thing I don't like about these arms.

Actually they have a spherical bearing in them. Mine are badass. I love them.

[ventrex]

Moonface anyone?

[ArticDragon192]

it almost looks as if that collar would limit movement though.

[94_240sx]

it almost looks as if that collar would limit movement though.

It'll move up and down a lot, not left and right, so that should be enough.

[mrgreeneyes]

i run gen 1 pbm rucas and i have NO binding and my **** is LOOOOOWWWW...

so no talkie unless you have them...

and i have them. they are win. end of talk.

[got chub]

Moonface anyone?

i have a friend that has just about all the MF-R products. i love it the parts are quality my pockets arent as deep as his so i have cusco which looks just like his MF

[BrianHarte]

I wouldn't expect USA to do well with Moonface.

Too expensive...

[ventrex]

Modified by ventrex at 8:29 PM 3/19/2009