Front knuckles/spindles....

[Dinzdale40]

I know this is probably a really stupid idea to do economically….but for the time being….let’s ignore the fact that this will cost an *** load of money. I’ve always been kinda disappointed with my suspension setup being so low and useless in the front. The rear is ok…it still works fine. The front tho…is way too close to the shock tower to have adequate suspension travel. I have the ingalls A-arm camber kit to give me as much suspension travel possible while still being able to adjust camber a bit, but I still am not satisfied. I love the Omni’s and they are great for riding slammed but I think the car can do better.

This isn’t some new idea or anything. I don’t take credit for it in any way. What I was thinking about doing was designing some shortened front spindles. I was thinking like 2” shorter. Im dropped at least 3” in the front on the omni’s right now….so by doing this…I could retain my current ride height….but my suspension would have the geometry and travel as if the car is only dropped like 1.5” or so. Im not totally sure 2” is feasible or not. After all we would have to design it around what wheels would go on the car cause I wouldn’t want the A-arm too close to the tire…and really I haven’t measured it to see how much room there is to play with this….

Another thing….which may also be a dumb idea. If im having to most likely have new spindles CNC machined….why not use Aluminum? This could cut down on unsprung weight like crazy. Is aluminum strong enough? I’ve heard aluminum will eventually break due to repeated stress loads…but then again I’ve also heard that if it’s CNC machined out of one piece and designed correctly then it could work. I’ve researched a little and I know a lot of race cars like in F1 do stuff like this but I wanna know if the materials and processes are economically feasible for my car.

I for one would pay upto $1000….maybe more for a set of these if they were aluminum and got my suspension geometry right and saved me a good 10lbs of unsprung weight…..not to mention the bling factor would be pretty intense….

What do you guys think?

also check out this thread on an engineering forum...talking about same subject
http://www.eng-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=117900&page=1

 

[Dinzdale40]

after thinking about this more....i could just start out with seeing if a Integra's steering knuckle is shorter....hmmm

 

[BlkCurrantKord]

I've thought that we could benefit from some aluminum front LCA's but the spindle/knuckles would be a good idea. It seems also that sometimes the shock body gets too close to it sometimes depending on how far you're dropped.

 

[Dinzdale40]

yea i want aluminum front LCA's too...now that im thinking about the aluminum thing tho...the knuckle has to stand up to the same exact forces that your wheels do....and they are aluminum...so i am thinking it can be done...economically...i don't know yet

...but im gonna try and see if some integra knuckles are shorter first before i go machinist shopping...im afraid tho that you'd have to run a smaller tire size to keep your clearance...which would drop the car even more...so that would mean this mod could drop the car too much...but on the other hand it may be just right...Sakura is running 17"s with thin tires and he's pulling off the look...so i think it's doable...may only need like a 1" drop via coilovers/springs to be slammed and dailyable...

 

[BadgerType]

hmmmmm........

it will cost alot of money dan just for R&D of it

 

[Dinzdale40]

If integra knuckles aren't any shorter than the accord knuckles....these are shorter than integra knuckles by 1.5"...and look pimp too...i should find out soon the measurement of an integra knuckle is tho...just posted a thread on honda-tech asking someone to measure it for me...

http://www.heldmotorsports.com/Honda/Front_Spindles.htm

 

[talontsiawd]

You could get probably an inch or more in front by cutting the alignment tabs off the shock body. I know it seems like a hackjob way but it may be less hack job than a bad set of fabbed spindles, depending on the capability of who you get to do it. The pro's of this way is you maintain the travel. The con is you still change the geometry. But wit the extra travel, it might not be such a big deal. However, it's far less elegant of a solution (assuming the spindles were made to oem quality).

I never got why these don't exist for imports (well, i never saw the integra ones you posted but i know they don't make them for any car i've ever owned). I'd love a 1.5 in drop from the spindle and ride on prokits. Perfect IMO.

 

[Fuzz]

Just curious... Why not just adjust the ride hight, or buy coilovers. Some Tein SS should be cheaper than what your talking about.

 

[talontsiawd]

Just curious... Why not just adjust the ride hight, or buy coilovers. Some Tein SS should be cheaper than what your talking about.

He has coilovers capable of the drop he wants and has the drop he wants, more or less (see his sig). When you drop a car to this level, you reduce travel to the point where it creates problems with handling and you have clearance issues. Being able to use spindles would help or even eliminate changes in suspension geometry, as well as allow for more travel. With a 3 in drop spindle, if possible, you basically have a 3 in drop with the same travel as stock, as well as the same geometry. So it would handle better, have better damping, and more ride comfort (depending on spring rate).

 

[BlkCurrantKord]

If integra knuckles aren't any shorter than the accord knuckles....these are shorter than integra knuckles by 1.5"...and look pimp too...i should find out soon the measurement of an integra knuckle is tho...just posted a thread on honda-tech asking someone to measure it for me...

http://www.heldmotorsports.com/Honda/Front_Spindles.htm

Those actually aren't a good product.