Was thinking about getting Rodney Dickman 1" lowering ball joint. Since the upper a-arm is now angled up as it goes to the spindle, how will that effect roll center and therefor handling. I mean besides the greater camber gain with suspension travel. I can't remember all the rol center vs center of gravity vs ect
At stock ride height the 88 front suspension is pretty decent and the roll center only moves vertically about 19mm through 6 degrees of roll. So the imaginary lever arm between the RC and the CG remains pretty constant through the roll.
Lower it 1 1/2" (the amount I have data for) with springs or lowering ball joints and the roll center is lowered as well. But now the RC moves nearly 88mm vertically through the same 6 degrees of roll. So as the car rolls, the lever arm between the RC and the CG becomes increasing longer and increases the tendency for it roll further.
Most people lower it for looks and the less favorable geometry isn't really noticeable on a street car. However, start pushing it in the corners and you will likely find that you need to increase the front spring rate to help keep roll in check
I have a 86 SE and handling is more important than looks. So I am hesitating on buying the 1 inch lowering ball joints until I know if it will harm handling.
Anybody have any feedback as it relates to the 84-87? Besides, the effect to roll center is different between a lowering spring ( both arms are equally changed within original geometry) and using a lowering ball joint (changes the suspension geometry because it changes the relationship between the two arms).
I just ordered the 1" lowering ball joints, adjustable upper ball joints, and zero-lash sway bar links.
It does. Rodney's sketches show the angle of the a-arms, but suspension geometry is dictated by the locations of the pivots (bushings and balljoints).
Even with the lowering ball joints, the pivots of the ball joints remain the same as stock. But the car/chassis is lowered, so the inboard pivots of the bushings (both upper and lower) are lowered and that changes the geometry.
The only way to lower the car without significantly changing the geometry is to lower the ball joint pivots (upper and lower) the same as the chassis (bushing locations) is lowered. This is done with dropped spindles.
So does lowering with drop spindles effect the RC to CG lever arm? And if it does, is it a negative enough change to off set the advantage of lowering the cars CG?
How is an "adjustable" ball joint adjustable when you are required to grind the hole out. Wouldn't a "regular" non adjustable ball joint be the same? So grinding the UCA ball joint hole out and making it larger makes the ball joint "adjustable"?
How is an "adjustable" ball joint adjustable when you are required to grind the hole out. Wouldn't a "regular" non adjustable ball joint be the same? So grinding the UCA ball joint hole out and making it larger makes the ball joint "adjustable"?
Have you seen and compared the stock and the slotted mount ball joints? You need ball joints with the slotted mounts to get any adjustment at all. Sometimes the control arm hole limits how far the ball joint can move in the slots.
With the regular ball joint, you'd need to slot the ball joint mounting holes IN the control arm AND the large hole the ball joint goes through to get the same degree of adjustment.
Have you seen and compared the stock and the slotted mount ball joints? You need ball joints with the slotted mounts to get any adjustment at all. Sometimes the control arm hole limits how far the ball joint can move in the slots.
With the regular ball joint, you'd need to slot the ball joint mounting holes IN the control arm AND the large hole the ball joint goes through to get the same degree of adjustment.
Yes I have. Check the thread I linked for some pics and scribbles on said pics. The base of RD's adjustable ball joint, the actual part where the ball sits in is wider then a regular non adjustable ball joint. This base fills the hole in the UCA and prevents adjustments. This is what necessitates grinding. Check the linked thread.
