Help choose rods and arms: SPL, Peak, Bings and BV

[dongoesby]

After lowering my S14, I found out it is necessery to change the stock suspension rods and arms. By reading a lot of articles, I really admire the constant improving products of SPL and customer service, and that makes it number one on my list. However, with the equal quality and high standard rod ends like QA1 and Aurora. It is hard to decide which brand I should go with, especially Peak Performance is $60 cheaper on outter tie rods.

Tie rods:
Peak: $169 (Aurora rod end)
SPL V4: $229 (QA1 rod end 65deg steering)

Toe rods:
SPL V2: $219
Bing: $160
Peak: $219
BV: $220

Also, Battle Version's package is $700 for RUCA, Toe and Traction rods.
Bing's package is $570 for the same three.

I keep hearing good things about SPL. From SPL website, their tie rods are durable and increase steering angle. I have never tried other brands myself; however, with my budget, I want to choose the best for a long run. I like a lot of mountain road drivings and track weekends. So if anyone have their products, please chime in and tell me about their driving differences and durability. Thanks!

[5t341tH]

those seem like hard choices to make. i would go with the cheaper alternative :). but remember, when u go too low, the toe arm and ruca might hit your car's frame. pbm has angled arms so it can prevent that. im not sure if any of the brands you listed are angled. good luck though.

[INeedNewTires]

unless you are going to go immediately to a shop, and have it PROFESSIONALLY aligned by someone who knows how to adjust bump steer and all that, i'd say go with Tein inner/outter combo. Nothing against SPL, they make an incredible product, but the heim outter tie rods are funny things and if not setup properly your doing yourself no good but spending extra money. Teins are stronger, no maintenence, have steering angle spacers, and are $150 shipped for inner and outter. I just put some in my car and LOVE them, drifting is quite a bit easier now when you get in really deep. On the other products SPL is king and your lucky you dont have to pay tax like us texans!

[dongoesby]

FYI, the SPL V4 outter tie rod ends require no maintanence too. It is self-lubricate.

I'd like to know people who use the metal spherical bearing compare to other rubber bushing. How does the driving feel and comfort wise?

[Sileighty_85]

Battle Version FTW

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i235/Neil_85/VFSH1345.jpg

[Dousan_PG]

SPL parts
for 2 big reasons!!

CUSTOMER SERVICE and SUPPORT!

[spool_sample]

SPL parts
for 2 big reasons!!

CUSTOMER SERVICE and SUPPORT!

+ eleventy billion.

[az_240]

SPL is the shit! its what I use and I love em!

[!Zar!]

SPL.

Nothing else.

[INeedNewTires]

yea it says self lubricating, and no doubt it is, but when you look at it after a month or so, or a nice drift day, its caked with dirt and debris, and your going to want to spray it off with brake cleaner and then lube it up a bit. Thats how all heim joints are. you dont "have" to do it, but you probably should.

as for your other questions, i'm in an s14 and when i bought it it had completely stock suspension. Now I've replaced every single arm with a heim joint arm except for RLCA and its obviously quite stiffer, tracks better, no slop, but i still daily it every day and love it. great road feel, and response.

[red240]

SPL has been great with customer service and standing behind there product AAA+++++

[dongoesby]

as for your other questions, i'm in an s14 and when i bought it it had completely stock suspension. Now I've replaced every single arm with a heim joint arm except for RLCA and its obviously quite stiffer, tracks better, no slop, but i still daily it every day and love it. great road feel, and response.

Thanks INeedNewTires. Is the ride become alot more harsh after you changed all with heim joints? I'm more of a mountain road driving person, so I don't want the ride to be extremely harsh.

As for Peak, no body in here use it??

[Sileighty_85]

I use them, I love them no issues with them,
I just took a 800 mile trip on them, No problems, felt good.

I love the response on them

[dongoesby]

I use them, I love them no issues with them,
I just took a 800 mile trip on them, No problems, felt good.

I love the response on them

I thought you are Battle Version FTW! lol!!

SO how much of a steering angle your gained? Any pics it would be great!

[A Spec Products]

SPL or Battleversion

Fo sho

Peak isn't bad either, I run their traction and toe rods

[Sileighty_85]

I thought you are Battle Version FTW! lol!!

SO how much of a steering angle your gained? Any pics it would be great!


opps Sorry Brain fart, i just got gone runnin didnt read that one too well

[ThatGuy]

Another vote for SPL Parts.

Kuah and company are awesome.

:bow:

[dongoesby]

Despite the customer service and support from SPL, what about the quality and actual driving effects between these brands??

[ThatGuy]

I've never heard of anyone having issues with SPL.

I live close to the beach (salty sea air) and see ALOT of rain, and I've not had any problems personally. Everything still looks shiny and new after at least a year and a half of driving.

[oneviaman]

spl for sure. if i break an arm or rod i can get replacement parts/hardware for a few bucks. if your going to "use" your car spl for life.

[Teambadrun]

Don't use pillowball end's on tie rods. they all fall unless you go Ikeya Formula.

Stick with Cusco for all the arms they generally last a long time!

[Dousan_PG]

Don't use pillowball end's on tie rods. they all fall unless you go Ikeya Formula.

Stick with Cusco for all the arms they generally last a long time!

thats not true
ive used my spl for nearly 2 years
and they aer still awesome
regulary tracked too
and previously daily driven.

ikeya is overpriced jdm nonsense. as are most jtown parts.

[az_240]

^werd.... SPL tie rod ends are the way to go... super durable and mine have no play whatsoever.

A friend of mine even hit a big ass curb in my car and everything on that passenger front was mangled.... SPL rod ENDS were fine.

[dongoesby]

:duh:
what about the quality and actual driving effects between these brands??

thanks guys!!!

Do you guys also daily drive your ride?

[OptionZero]

thats not true
ive used my spl for nearly 2 years
and they aer still awesome
regulary tracked too
and previously daily driven.

ikeya is overpriced jdm nonsense. as are most jtown parts.

see abovea sdfdsg

[FaLKoN240]

:duh:


thanks guys!!!

Do you guys also daily drive your ride?

I had Peak Performance outer tie rods, and the shank broke.

I sent my outer to Peak to get another replacement... that was 6 months ago, still no word. I've given up hope.

Some asshole hit my car and broke my SPL tie rod. I got another one shipped to my house that week.

GET SPL.

[dongoesby]

good reason enough to convince me to buy SPL, FaLKoN240!!

How did your break the shank from Peak??

[Bushido]

i'd say spl for the steering and part shop max for the sus links.

[kandyflip445]

SPL parts
for 2 big reasons!!

CUSTOMER SERVICE and SUPPORT!

Done and done. :bigok:

[redsuns3838]

go with SPL or BV. both stand by their products.

SPL has great customer service whenever i've dealt with them
BV is also very good, and alex is a great welder and stands behind his products.

[GSXRJJordan]

I bought my S14 with Battle Version tension rods already installed, and they definitely look to be the best quality. Aurora ends too. I was planning on getting SPL pieces for the rest, but then read AceInHole (http://www.zilvia.net/f/member.php?u=1853)'s writeup on using cheap arms with top rated heim joints I can get online - their M16x2.00 heim joints are rated the same as the Aurora ends, and we've both had good luck with them so far...

The big problem with cheap suspension pieces is that the ends bind and then the piece breaks from the added stress - the upgraded end's "should" make the cheap stuff work as well... not to mention the 'cheap' arms can be found for 1/4 the price, and the heim joints are ~$10/ea including shipping when you order a 6 or 8.

I'll be sure to post up if I ever have problems with them ~

[drift freaq]

Another voter for SPL I have their version II TC rods and Z32 inner ties with the SPL outers. Customer service is top notch.

[FaLKoN240]

good reason enough to convince me to buy SPL, FaLKoN240!!

How did your break the shank from Peak??

I broke it parking... after the like 4th day of having it AFTER I got aligned. I was pretty mad.

Yeah just get SPL, their shit is the jam... never broke on me while parking and I daily drive it.

[dongoesby]

I broke it parking... after the like 4th day of having it AFTER I got aligned. I was pretty mad.

Yeah just get SPL, their shit is the jam... never broke on me while parking and I daily drive it.

have you hitted anything, a curb as such?

[dongoesby]

I bought my S14 with Battle Version tension rods already installed, and they definitely look to be the best quality. Aurora ends too. I was planning on getting SPL pieces for the rest, but then read AceInHole (http://www.zilvia.net/f/member.php?u=1853)'s writeup on using cheap arms with Midwest Control heim joints - their M16x2.00 heim joints are rated the same as the Aurora ends, and we've both had good luck with them so far...

that sounds like a very good alternative option. Around how much is the overall cost for a complete outter tie rod or tc rod?

[GSXRJJordan]

I didn't do tie rods, because I believe that high quality tie rod ends are crucial (I like steering) - also didn't do tension rods, because I already had Battle Version (came with my shell) - but it's the same deal as any of the other arms, just buy the cheap Motoria/ebay/Godspeed/whatever arms and replace the heim joints with the units I can get. Cost of the heims is about $20/ea by the time they get to ya and the arms can be found as low as $50/set sometimes.

I'm not saying it's for everyone, but I believe it's a viable alternative and am willing to try it for the benefit of the community :)

Edit: people have been asking me about this, and I can't get the super cheap ones any more... Chrome-moly, teflon race, 17,000 lb static load strength are what I can get now.

[dongoesby]

definitely let us know how it goes. For $60 total cost of a complete rod verses $200+ of high quality product, it seems a very good option!

[Teambadrun]

I bet your tie rod ends have play.. Ikeya formula is actually extremely CHEAP.. check out yahoo auctions...

[dongoesby]

for some reason, yahoo auction is closed down. And I found Ikeya formula extremely EXPENSIVE! way out of my budget.

[Sway500]

I will also vouch for SPL. They have the best customer service ever.

[INeedNewTires]

I thought you are Battle Version FTW! lol!!

SO how much of a steering angle your gained? Any pics it would be great!

enough difference to go from drifting okay, to drifting deep and saving shit i would never guess could be saved, also rub in reverse at full lock different, BIG difference.........

I prefer the feel now over OEM even daily on shitty dallas roads. yes its a bit rough, yes its stiff, and yes i love it. wouldnt go back!