WARNING: Arraut Motorsports Slalom Kit & Drop Splindles (Page 1/7)
RatsunRacing APR 14, 04:24 PM
I posted the following on the 3800SC Swap Facebook page, but wanted to make sure that it was broadcast to a larger Fiero audience.

I’m not one for business bashing, but if this message prevents an accident or even prevents someone’s death, then it’s worth posting it. This is a message to anyone using the Arraut Motorsports Slalom kit or any of the Arraut drop spindles. I ordered a slalom kit for our 24 Hours of Lemons F40 replica build. During our 1st race last weekend in NOLA we had both the DS & PS side steering knuckles break during the race. BOTH knuckles BROKE during the race. These are supposedly race proven parts that broke during the very 1st race!!! (See attached pics) WARNING: If you are running the Arraut Motorsport Slalom kit or their drop spindles on your Fiero,... PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE check your spindles/knuckles ASAP. This is a serious danger to anyone using these parts on their Fiero. PLEASE help spread the word. Thank You!











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~Allen Wilson
Ratsun Racing

RatsunRacing APR 14, 04:31 PM
Race Video from the suspension failure last weekend

Ratsun Racing WTF40 front suspension breaks during NOLA race
IMSA GT APR 14, 04:56 PM
Wow, I've never seen their products installed but man, how much thinner could they have gone with the metal? That is a horribly manufactured part. Hopefully no one was hurt.

[This message has been edited by IMSA GT (edited 04-14-2018).]

JohnWPB APR 14, 05:08 PM
Wow! That is a serious problem! From the video you posted, it even appeared that you were simply driving pretty much in a straight line when it failed.

It is hard to tell by looking at the photos, but the metal almost looks like a porous cast type metal, aka pot metal.

The bottom line is that there is something seriously wrong if the failed on the first race, on such a smooth and well maintained track.

[This message has been edited by JohnWPB (edited 04-14-2018).]

IMSA GT APR 14, 05:13 PM

quote
Originally posted by JohnWPB:


It is hard to tell by looking at the photos, but the metal almost looks like a porous cast type metal, aka pot metal.




I was thinking the same thing. If that is cast, there is no way those will hold up safely under any driving conditions.
olejoedad APR 14, 06:31 PM
Not cast, they are.fabbed from tubing and plate steel.
I've installed a couple of sets, was not impressed by fitment or quality.
Flyboygt86 APR 14, 06:48 PM
When did you purchase the spindles? I am running on two of my cars
Blacktree APR 14, 07:34 PM
After having a set of those spindles in my hands (I installed a set for a local club member), I'm not surprised that they broke. The spindle is a critical part, so IMO it needs to be over-engineered. But the Arraut spindles appear to be made "just good enough".

That said, I have the Arraut cradle conversion kit in my Fiero (for installing an '88 cradle into a pre-'88 Fiero). And it's great! No complaints at all.
fieroguru APR 14, 07:49 PM
It looks like it had been cracked for a while. A clean break will be a light grey, but if there was a hairline crack for a while, that material starts to rust and discolor. From the picture, there are several areas that look discolored and would indicate a pre-existing crack prior to the final failure event.
pokeyfiero APR 15, 12:50 AM
Well the design itself leaves all the pressure literally on a piece of pipe that is cut in half. Thin metal or not I bet I could put a pipe wrench on there and twist those ends off.

Those need to beefed up considerably . They look like cheap lawn mower parts.