Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike C
Not using boxed arms because they don’t flex enough is a bizarre statement. Eliminating flex allows the suspension to do the work it is supposed to.
IMO, the more rigid the better when it comes to things like trailing arms. I would run the ECE with no worries if that is what you want.
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The engineers designed the Truck Arms to allow some flex. That flex & rubber bushings in the front mounts are what helped keep things cheap yet still survive the
articulation stresses of daily use. The T/A arrangement binds @ the limits in OE form. Take away those areas of flex & you get bind much sooner.
By swapping in hard poly bushings up front vs. rubber, the set-up will bind sooner or will require more flex of the arm.
By swapping the I-beam arrangement that allows for some twist in it's length to a solid steel beam that doesn't will induce bind sooner.
There are ways to improve the original for sure. The solid steel beam (tubular or square) promotes consistency vs. 'unwanted' flex when subjected to more aggressive loads (side loads/cornering or straight line/drag strip launches). The key to prevent the bind issue is to use a bushing that allows for some flex. Either the OE style rubber (which defeats the intent of eliminating flex) or something that allows articulation w/o being sloppy (a spherical joint).
Yes, steel tube arms & poly bushings are a common 'upgrade'. That doesn't mean they are
better just because the materials are stronger.