[heavymetals]

FYI, most of the noise complaints from BMR installations (toe rods & trailing arms) are the result of a funky install.

I had to use fender washers of various thickness to shim them up to where the bolts could be properly torqued without distorting the metal.

 

[MotorMounts]

I'll order a few sets tomorrow. I think these joints are a great option but don't forget that the price to manufacture the arms just went up $74 +frt a set. Just like you guys I analyze costs. The arms I had in my car for three years worked just fine with the original set of poly bushings. I'm just sayin'...........Sounds like we will be making two models available. Choice is good.

 

[AAIIIC]

The old MAP trailing arms used a similar part from Rusty's Offroad. You can see them here - http://www.rustysoffroad.com/builder-parts/threaded-forged-ends-inserts/. I'm too lazy to look up the Ballistic Fab pricing, but might be worth comparing. I wouldn't be surprised if there are other options out there, too.

 

[BradCTSV]

Thanks for producing these trailing arms and I like your option for the Ballistic joint. Can you offer the arms in black powdercoat?
I look forward to info on your toe rods....would you consider making these with spherical bushings on both ends?

 

[liqidvenom]

I'm kind of leaning the same way with the front bushing. Ideally you don't want very much resistance for the up and down rotation this joint sees. You don't want it too soft either or else you'll end up with increased wheel hop and poor wheel stability. I'd be curious to see how easy it is to deflect a 70A poly bushing with the long moment arm of this trailing arm. I'm assuming it moves fine but I'm not sure how long the bushing will last from a durability perspective since poly isn't as soft and forgiving as rubber. Typically a bushing setup of this nature isn't meant to see more than 5° of side to side deflection.

Another thing to consider when replacing a rubber bushing with a poly bushing or cross-axis ball-joint is that it will definitely transmit more road noise into the cabin. For some this is a deal breaker, for others not an issue. Anybody that has a BMR trailing arm can comment on this as it should feel the same as what Max is offering, just have less wheel clearance.

Keeping in mind if enough of us want a cross-axis ball-joint in place of the poly bushing Max said in his original post he was willing to consider it based on interest. From a construction standpoint it shouldn't be too difficult to replace that captured bushing end on a jig with a self contained balljoint to weld on. Having a press fit balljoint insert put into the "pipe end" wouldn't be advisable due to the required material thickness needed to hold the balljoint in place. You'd want at least a 3/8" surround holding it in, preferably a cast iron link to maintain the "press fit".

I think I'd fall into the prefer a balljoint category. I'd already be degrading ride quality with a poly front bushing over stock setup and stepping up to a cross-axis ball-joint should be very similar in noise transmission to the poly bushing. I'd take the cross-axis balljoint for durability purposes at that point, only problem being that if they don't last very long, you'd have to replace the entire arm, versus replacing a removable bushing unless they were somehow rebuildable (ballistic fab weld on balljoints are rebuildable).

I think If Max offered this welded on to the front end
View attachment 128186

http://www.ballisticfabrication.com/263-Heavy-Duty-Ballistic-Joint_p_1226.html
it would be the perfect trailing arm.

Keep up the good work Creative Steel. We appreciate the never ending options that you are developing for this platform!

honestly this is good and constructive criticism.

 

[MotorMounts]

honestly this is good and constructive criticism.

Agreed........... I ordered 6 of the spherical bearings form Rusty's Off Road. That's enough for 3 sets of arms. I know that's not a lot but I don't need more money sitting on the shelf. I don't normally pre-sell product, but when these three sets are spoken for and paid for I will order more. The new price for the arms with the spherical bearings in the end towards the front of the car is $425 without the rear knuckle bushings. With the rear greaseable bushing is $485. We found that these arms will fit in one of the post offices large flat rate boxes, I will pay the shipping. So the above prices include shipping.

Another scenario for these arms is a prepaid group purchase. If you guys can put together 12 guys that are willing to prepay, I'll sell the arms for $365 shipped with the spherical bearings and the greaseable 90A knuckle bushings. When 10 guys have prepaid I will order the bearings and start bending the tubes.

 

[ctsv247]

In order to save you prospect clients a little search time and better promote your product, what tire sizes will these arms allow for and will we be able to use this much clearance without hitting something else?

Thanks for your efforts at producing quality products! I damn sure couldn't make these myself for what your selling them for, especially with the r&d time required.

 

[MotorMounts]

OK, This has been proven to be one of those topics that will have everybody and their dog chiming in with their 2 cents and no one will agree with anyone else.

The only information I can provide is from my car. It has the the stock wheels and tire size (245-45-18). It is at the stock ride height, which means it is not lowered. The stock wheels are 8 1/2" wide and the sidewall bulge of the 245-45-18 tires is only about 1/4-3/8" beyond the edge of the wheel. The next interference (after the stock trailing arm) will be the wheel hitting the lower control arm.

With a slight bending of an un-welded section (in yellow) at the rear of the lower control arm an 1-1/2" of added width to the inside of the wheel can be had for a total of 10". No bending of the arm would be a close fit but there is a bit of modification available if required on a per vehicle basis. The next interference after the control arm will be the shock (near the top of the wheel), that clearance is 2" with no modification.

I'm not going to get in to what specific tire sizes will fit. Each of our cars is a bit different so I will be best for each person to validate their own measurements. That is not meant to be a disclaimer, it's just not that hard to crawl under your car with a tape measure to check clearances.

 

[ctsv247]

That's a worthy investment!

----------

Thanks!

 

[MotorMounts]

That's a worthy investment!



Don't tell Fuzzy

 

[DavidBoren]

That is a killer deal for the group buy. I wish I wasnt such a [email protected]$$.

I like the thought of running 305's in the rear, though. Maybe some day.

 

[rand49er]

Coming to this thread a bit late, but speaking as someone who paid for the killernoodle trailing arms, these do seem to be a bit pricey.

From a purely business perspective, pricing is the same as why a dog licks his privates ... because he can. You can say anything you want about it, but until somebody else gets into the game, pricing comes down to a business decision by Creative Steel.

Killer, even though he strung a bunch of guys along for months and months, has apparently abandoned us. Had he been making a crap-load of money here with his arms, he would still be around, and CS would be looking at a much different pricing scenario.

I know I'm just pointing out what's as obvious as a fart in church, but it's my $0.02.

 

[ctsv247]

Cheap usually means getting strung along for months and months only to get abandoned in the end. You get what you pay for.....

 

[sssnake]

Good, fast, cheap. Pick two

 

[lollygagger8]

Good, fast, cheap. Pick two

Just how I like my dates.

 

[nikdsctsv]

So....who is organizing the group buy? Safe to say Fuzzy is out!

Max, what would the price be for the arms in a group buy without the greasable bushing as I already have the revshift bushings?

 

[sssnake]

Not up to leading the group buy bit I am interested. We just need someone to coordinate the buy.

 

[Talyon]

I will be having a set, please let me know when I can buy from the website or if a group buy happens. Thanks !

 

[Guest]

133k miles,On my 05 V slver, I have GC kit 500/550, 245/40/19f 19x8.5, 295/35r 19x10 ccw sp600 (Thanks for stepping up and picking up the slack) Making this Product. Received the CREATIVE STEEL trailing arms today, and having them Installed this weekend all redshift bushings,BMR Toe rods,McLeod RXT twin disc clutch.... Will post pics next week.... "He Who Hold the Gold Makes the Golden Rule"

 

[MotorMounts]

So....who is organizing the group buy? Safe to say Fuzzy is out!

Max, what would the price be for the arms in a group buy without the greasable bushing as I already have the revshift bushings?

Sounds like YOU are the Group Buy Leader (unless to can talk Fuzzy in to it?)

Group Buy Price w/o knuckle bushings $325

133k miles,On my 05 V slver, I have GC kit 500/550, 245/40/19f 19x8.5, 295/35r 19x10 ccw sp600 (Thanks for stepping up and picking up the slack) Making this Product. Received the CREATIVE STEEL trailing arms today, and having them Installed this weekend all redshift bushings,BMR Toe rods,McLeod RXT twin disc clutch.... Will post pics next week.... "He Who Hold the Gold Makes the Golden Rule"

Absolutely can't wait to see the pics.