Daily driver with solid type tension rods?

[Fred Allen Burge]

Looking to upgrade my worn out tension rods. I daily drive this thing (s13) on less than perfect roads and don't want to cringe and flinch every time I cross a bridge at 75mph on I44.

Are solid type tension rods really a smart choice for a daily driver or should I get some ES bushings to put in there (I know ES has to be the best choice, but I want some input first). With no rearward compliance I'd think sharp impacts with small expansion joints and potholes would be sharp and hard.

How do you guys like your solid rods on the street, really?

Thanks,
Fred

[jspaeth]

I would definitely do it....

Solid TC rods, along with some good rear subframe spacers will really make the car feel way better in terms of front/rear load transfer.

You can stop from like 60mph, and the car doesn't feel like it "lurches" forward at all, and all front-to-back oscillations disappear.

Plus you can adjust caster if you go with solid TC rods.

Obviously, as you had more solid linkages and eliminate rubber bushings, the rod gets harsher, but you also gain an amazing amount of response and the car feels like it actually goes where you want it to.

[kuruptR]

Continuuing with adding more linkages can be a bad thing. Most products on the market, will wear quicker and break. I hate sqeeeky heim joints, they will also get really loose the more use they get.

Its always good to have some urathane in your subframe, as the solid linkages wont be able to take the impact the street dishes out. Impact will directly transfer over to your subframe, especially the front cross member. My two front lca pivoting bolts have ovaled out the holes that hold them. :( awww well you can always get a new cross member.

[S14DB]

Continuuing with adding more linkages can be a bad thing. Most products on the market, will wear quicker and break. I hate sqeeeky heim joints, they will also get really loose the more use they get.

Its always good to have some urathane in your subframe, as the solid linkages wont be able to take the impact the street dishes out. Impact will directly transfer over to your subframe, especially the front cross member. My two front lca pivoting bolts have ovaled out the holes that hold them. :( awww well you can always get a new cross member.

What are you talking about?

More linkages? The joint is there stock replacing a bushing with a heim.

Only crappy unsealed joints squeak.

I dunno what you are talking about on the rear subframe.


To the OP. TC rods will ride better than the stock ones as it will not allow the wheel to jump around on bumps. I Would use Nismo inserts before ES. But a quality Heim first.

[Fred Allen Burge]

I Would use Nismo inserts before ES. But a quality Heim first.

Thanks, I think I'll go with the Nismo bushing inserts. I know I'd love the heim type for the first week or so then hate it for the rest of this cars life - I'm getting old :)

Fred

[madd ocx]

good thing i searched and found this thread, now i don't have have to make one lol.. being that i was wondering the same thing about solid tension rods on a daily driver, what would be a nice upgrade over stock? i know spl, battle version and peak perfromance are more track oriented from what i've read? i was thinking maybe tein? i heard they were a little more daily driver friendly, correct me if i'm wrong.. any suggestions!

[Johny5]

i would NOT do this, man these will rattle your teeth out. what are you people, crazy?? the streets are not a race track!!!

[FaLKoN240]

Haha, seriously, I didn't even notice any deterioration in the quality of my ride when I put on my Kazamas way back...

No regrets.

[az_240]

I originally bought the SPL tension rods to replace the shitty stock ones...
It was nice when I had the stock suspension and collars.

As soon as I added KTS coilovers and a bunch of other heim joints the ride sucked nuts on semi-bad streets but super solid on the smooth stuff.
I got some nismo inserts and the ride is muuuch better over cracks and still pretty solid feeling. But I cant adjust caster:(

Tires make a pretty big diff as well I noticed

[madd ocx]

well i just need something a better than stockl but not to harsh! so i heard tein rods would be a good choice. spl prices aren't to bad but i think that there's are a little more stiff, but like i said correct if i'm wrong.

[Silvia_S13]

if you get battle version TC rods, they chatter and feel weird.

i use powered by max, they feel awesome. no noise, no nothing. it feels stock, but nicer. no regrets

[Prok0]

I believe there were actually some issues with the ES tc rod bushings not allowing enough movement and ripping the bolts which attach the tc rod to the control arm out..
http://www.zilvia.net/f/showthread.php?t=104472&highlight=tension+rod+bushing

Anyway, I dd my car with peak tc rods, no real difference in ride comfort over stock, no noise, no need for maintenance really since they are quality rods and ends, and the car does feel a bit more confident compared to stock blown t/c rods.

[pbcstylez]

Why not use the SPC products?

http://www.zilvia.net/f/showthread.php?t=175487

I personally have BV tension rods and am thinking about swapping these out since i have bought all the rear SPC suspension parts. I was hoping to still have some stock driveability (comfortwise) and the adjustment of having an aftermarket by using the SPC parts.

I noticed that witht he tension rods up front i get more of a feel of the tires, ie i hit my brakes on a pothole infested area i can feel my one tire lock up.

I dont know if this helps

[PoorMans180SX]

Fred, heim joints really don't increase road harshness that much, and especially in your tension rods. They keep the control arm from moving around, and aren't really supposed to do much in terms of damping bumps and road irregularities.

I think you might have misunderstood S14DB:
I Would use Nismo inserts before ES. But a quality Heim first.




Get a good Heim jointed tension rod. You won't regret it.

[logik23]

I have bings.ca TC rods with coilovers and rear subframe spacers and i also have poly bushings in my front control arms and i daily drive (in the summer lol) on the worst roads in North America (Montreal, Canada) and i have no problem what so ever, i love how the car rides and feels.

Heim joints are the way to go!! I have ES bushings before and they were def better then stock, but not nearly as nice as the TC rods I have now.

[Sileighty_85]

Battle Version FTW I just installed the full Suspension Arm set up on my DD.

Steering Response is awsome as for Road feeling I cant really comment on that Cuz ALL the roads here in Lousiana Suck Donkey Balls!

So no matter what type of suspension you have here your ride quality Sucks! lol

[aznpoopy]

i've had ES 3 piece. not really noticeable at all
i have SPC adjustable. not really noticeable at all
buddy has spl's /w heims. not really noticeable at all

[pbcstylez]

aznpoopy how do u like the spc stuff?

[Fred Allen Burge]

Fred, heim joints really don't increase road harshness that much, and especially in your tension rods. They keep the control arm from moving around, and aren't really supposed to do much in terms of damping bumps and road irregularities.

I think you might have misunderstood S14DB:





Get a good Heim jointed tension rod. You won't regret it.

Hmm, choices, choices, so hard to decide. I REALLY wish I knew someone around here with some of these so I could test drive on them.

Fred