9 replies to this topic

[adam_93rio]

Does anybody know of anyone who has made top arms for the mini. I've done a search and found force racing ones. Titanium is a tad on the expensive side, and I'm not looking for a full on lightweight solution.
Does anybody know of anywhere that can replicate them in tubular steel. Preferably just the bearing end so I can weld to that and have a play around welding to it

Also, I noticed the force racing ones say they use phospher bronze bushings. What are these and what different purpose do they serve? With these fitted would I be able to weld the steel or would I have to remove them every time I wanted to weld

*****BEFORE PEOPLE JMNP ON A RANT ABOUT SAFETY OF SUSPENSION COMPONENTS OR ASKING WHY I NEED THIS INFORMATION***** they are not for a road car, or in fact, a car at all really

[adam_93rio]

Can nobody shed a little big of light on at least what I'd need to use for the bearing end of the top arm?

[M J W J]

Anything with a metal bushing in it would have to be machine so welding it may be tricky as the heat could distort the machined surface. You'd be best welding everything together and then machining it after it had cooled.

 

I don't know of anyone who has made tubular arms but what you are asking for does not sound to hard.

 

My advice is draw up the designs for what you want and talk to a local machining place. They may be able to help you. I doubt it will be cheep though.

 

In answer to what are phosphor bronze bushings and what are their purpose.

 

Phosphor bronze is an alloy metal that is suitable for making bushing surfaces because of its wear characteristics. Different materials are used for bushing surfaces because this lessens the surface friction which reduces the wear on them. A bush is able to take a higher static load than a roller bearing but can not take movement across its surface at such a fast rate. Something like a suspension arm that does not move that much and that fast, they are ideally suited to.

[GraemeC]

I would contact Force - if they can make them in Ti, I'm sure they can make them in steel. You might have to convince them of application though so they can be satisfied you won't be using them in an unsuitable way.

[Tupers]

We had a local machinist make a set of stepped steel inserts in go inside sections of 38MM CDS for some tubular radius arms. I'll see if I can find some pictures of them for you. 

[adam_93rio]

Thanks for the helpful replied guys, I was thinking a way to make the bearing end without it distorting etc would be to make that end from solid bar, then weld the two arms to it etc, then have it machined afterwards to accept bearings

[ANON]

rose joints!!!

[cal844]

rose joints!!!

+1

[Ethel]

I really can't see it being worth the effort if you're using a standard subby with rubber cones. The original needle rollers are pretty much bombproof, the only problems I've ever seen is when they've never seen grease & seized. Solid bronze bushes would withstand a higher load, I can't see any advantage in Rose joints, they'll not be as durable & you won't want to adjust them as it'd mess with geometry for your springs & dampers - tuning caster & camber is easier with the bottom wishbone.

[adam_93rio]

rose joints!!!

+1

Not sure how I'd use rose joints, has it been done?