Q Tension Rod Part Numbers

[Professor_Mike]

Here are tension rod #'s for Q45 to help drift if alighment is OK. They adjust caster.97-01 (Must use both) 54468-6P071 (right side-for drift to right) 54469-6P071

96-90 (use 1 on same side as pull) 54468-60U10 (.5* change) 54468-60U11 (1.1* change)

Active Q 54468-66U11

[fxjackso]

I have never been clear as to why the active suspension had a different part, even for the standard length.

Does it have to do with the hardness of the rubber insert?

[Professor_Mike]

Probably related to the insert, INFINITI has made tension rods with different stiffness to balance handling with the amount of road feel transmitted.

[Q45tech]

The current upgrade generic tension rod is the 60U20 ?????????

[maxnix]

Thanks Professor Mike. Were these a production running change at a specific date, or only available as an after production part?

How does one identify the installed part number?

Thanks for illuminating the ignorant.

[Professor_Mike]

54468-66U20 would be the standard tension rod. The different rods are only available from parts to be installed if the client feels there is a problem. The only way to recognize them is a different length.

[maxnix]

So, Professor Mike, are these to be used on the side the car drifts to only if the caster is out of specification range, or even if it is in range but the drift persists?

Thanks for researching this. I don't think the dealer knows about this part.

[AZhitman]

I need a LH tension rod (mine's leaking silicone fluid). RH was replaced under warranty, but the warranty co. says they made a mistake and should never have covered that one - therefore, I'm on the hook for the LH side.

Anybody got one laying around? (j/k)

[Q45tech]

The in the WIDE factory range is what causes the drift problem:Caster 7.25------5.75 perfect is 6.5 degreesCamber -1.6-----zero perfect is 0.7-0.8 degrees negative

More than 0.3 [some say 0.5] degrees difference [side to side] is enough to allow a drift problem to start yet FACTORY acceptable range is 3-5 times this amount.Actually some offsets may help depending on the road design , flatnesss, and individual lane camber. Unfortunately the trend is for weird road camber to help drainage to protect idiots with bad/bald [more than half worn] tires!

The question is do you want the car to track perfectly on ZERO camber roads and run off the road on cambered roads or the converse......it is almost impossible to have both at the same time!

Different tires react to cambered vs non cambered roads differently.Do you want the car to be perfect with just you inside or with front and rear passengers [how much will they weigh?]........the load wil change the camber significantly......1" drop [575 pounds inside] is 0.8 degree [more negative] camber change.

[Professor_Mike]

The tension rods are to be used when there is a drift perceived by the client. Usually the caster will be close to equal on both sides and the client is used to no drift on normally cambered roads. Quite a few people were unhappy with the Q driving straight on level roads only.

[maxnix]

Thanks Professor Mike. I wish I could find a runway somewhere and could tweak the rods at a location nearby.

The front end definitely follows any crown or irregularity, so it is very difficult for me to determine when there is no drift. About a mile and a half of runway would do it.

God forbid I am getting as fussy as Dennis.

[Professor_Mike]

I suggest you look for having to hold the wheel constantly with a little pressure to keep the car straight. If this is necessary on the roads you normally drive then you might look into adjustment. If the car is following road irregularities then the toe-in or steering rack adjustment may be off.

[maxnix]

Thanks Professor Mike. Rack has been adjusted, alignment is well within specifications and very symmetrical side to side.

Drift is very slight and dependent on road crown. Mostly to the right, but will drift left when crowned that way.

I'll be driving my other one in TX tomorrow, so I will check against it, but it has different tires and is not a t model.

[3Q Jay]

revisiting an oldie.... whatever happened to professor Mike? so has anyone actually used the tweak length tension rods?

my trig says longer tension rod-->decreased positive caster.not intuitive how reducing caster affects drift. thinking....

[Q45tech]

Actually the caster rod also affects toe and wheel stagger. THRUST ANGLE.

The suspension triangle is positioned in the rear by the toe [tie rod] and in the front by caster rod [tension] and sway bar to some extent

[elwesso]

Personanlly id just use an adjustable tension rod if thats what your going after.. Too bad no one makes an adjustable rod for fine tuning that uses the OEM bushing... Solid tension rods are kinda harsh.