Twinfan said:
OK, here's a question for you suspension experts. Is there any benefit to running a kit like this but at the same settings acheived via the standard parts or with a couple of LCA shims like on my car? Or is the benefit just further adjustment and increased camber etc?
There is a pure technical benefit...
Ref the parts in the specific kit:
Top Mounts
When you had increased the neg camber at the front via just shims alone - you are increasing track width... and to achieve this you also need to wind off from the tie rods. You need to maintain a certain amount of thread to be engaged on the tie rod to maintain safety. This is ought to be a limiting factor on how much neg camber the shop puts on the car too.
The offset top mounts allow you to increase neg camber without increasing track and therefore you aren't need to wind off from the tie rods to the same level, allowing more adjustment within the safe range of the OEM part.
When changing with the OEM Top mount there is also a side effect of not taking castor out of range... as Jeff says -. the problem here is that changing castor:
[ol][*]changes the wheelbase - which can be used for a benefit -[*]but it also affects the position of the wheel in the wheel well - so could bring rubbing when you apply steering lock.[/ol]MR do also offer the extended tie rod separately, recommended when you go switch to their 3-Way KW setups.
Extended Tie rods also are included in the 981 version of this kit - but we didn't get top mounts in the kit.
Rear Toe Links
If you have adjustable rear toe links already - then you don't need the ones in the kit - but you may not be able to buy there kit without them. If you want the kit - you can always swap to the provided ones - and sell on your existing one.
Benefit of the Adjustable rear toe links has already been discussed.
The other thing you should have to get the proper benefit of these is to have replace the OEM eccentric bolt with a lock out plate.
Hopefully your shop will know this - or what can happened is you set toe via the toe link but impact over the kerbs or pot hole etc - can start to move the eccentric bolt. Lock out plate replaces the eccentric bolt and all the adjustment is isolated to the toe link - as it should be.
Others
The other thing that is a benefit with these types of kits e.g LCA inners, Top Mounts, Caster/Thrust bearings/ is the fact that you'll be swapping about rubber bushes for solid bushes.
This enhances geo stability under loading... where rubber can, by definition, deform regardless of how hard it is.
The trade off is that removing the compliance of the rubber means that you may get more feeling and vibration through and also maybe wear over time although dust boots/cover are available to keep the crud out and the joint/bush clean.
This kit is designed to allow you to have a very wide range of adjustment for a proper geo with full hardware safety - this is really really important.
You can do it piece meal - but you'll end up wanting more and needing to buy more parts anyway...
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