Probably because they did't have a real engineer looking at the design or maybe they are just using pieces designed for another application and don't want to go to the expense of manufacturing/or having manufactured a piece that will really work....................in any event, it's a poor design. The whole issue here, is that the piece going through the eye of the shock has to support the whole load of the front suspension when it is in compression..............which is a lot.............and anyone using All Thread rod really has no business manufacturing such a poorly designed product for the masses................................like I said earlier, and accident waiting to happen...............................................................IMHO Take a look at the Global West system...................and how it mounts to the lower control arm........................and this unit has been tested on a real car, because if this company had done testing on a real car they would have seen the design was.........................Xxss power....MO as an engineer for over 30 years.................enough said...........
Or....................another option would be to build a set that actually fit. So, just a question...........why would you consider this manufacturer if they made a product like this..............obviously allthread rod can't support any weight............and a shock mount is in compression most of the time....so the design is.............well................substandard...............I guess the engineer is coming out...............sorry to rant............but doesn't anyone throughly check out a product anymore before they spend their hard earned bucks..................just because it looks nice and costs a lot doesn't come close to saying it really works.......................IMHO
I wouldn't go so far as to call varishock products inferior .... it seems to be well respected in the racing community....when I was doing my research it was repeatedly recommended over the QA1's....not that QA1 isn't a good product but it's just that the varishock had a better rep for some reason during my research....as far as cost....I don't recall which one was more expensive....I'm not ready to give up on this yet.....let's see if the proper installation technique will fix the problem, if it does then great....if not, I will sell the varishock and get QA1....
Mo, Sorry, but being a mechanical engineer I can say without a doubt that the lower attachement is total junk................the rest of the shock may be fine..............but using allthread rod to attach the two pieces together, no matter how strong their 350% Urethane bushing is just not a trustworthy design and will eventually fail. Looking at their web site (and they are owned by Chris Alston.....I would have expected better of him/his company) they show this lower mount which would be totally acceptable from an engineering stand point, so why don't your shocks have this type of mount? http://www.cachassisworks.com/Attachments/DataSheets/VAS_86XMX-XXX_DS_WEB.pdf scroll down to page 4......this shows a lower mount. So, my question is, did you have these in the race last year? Rememeber you are driving at above normal speeds and subjecting the front suspension to more stress than you ever would on the street.......the other thing is that if you were to loose a lower shock mount it could be catastrophic at speed or in a high speed turn loading either side. My suggestion would be replace the allthread rod with a Grade 8 fastener, either have Bryant cut down some Grade 8 bolts, or contact ARP and have them make some special studs to replace the allthread rod..........that product should never, ever, never be used on any car suspension. Have you talked with anyone of authority at Varishock and voiced your concern and what was the response...............after you told them you would be racing the car in the SSC? I am not trying to be critical of their product, just the design of the lower mount.......................When a product is engineered for manufacturing the design of anything that will be subject to a mechanical load is ALWAYS designed for a minimum of 1.2 to 1.4 overload.............this is the real world of engineering...................the correct way...............again this is just my own opinion with more than 30 years of experience.
i have to totally agree here. when i had talked to them on the phone, i was in a bit of disbelief and shock when they were telling me this. its been a few months sense i talked to them and cant remember what exactly was said. they did send a new bottom mount assembly to mo. they said it had a revision in it. i have not looked at it to see what that is. we will check it all out next week if we have a chance.
In the link it says there is a 1/2" stud that connects the two pieces together. It does not specify hardened or anything. It does not say all thread. The person on the phone initially could have chosen the incorrect discription.
it has been a long time, but i do remember coming away from the phone call shaking my head about all thread being used. it started a thought process about what bolts to use when the load is in sheer vs clamping. also what to torque bolts in sheer to.
I'm having a set of headers custom made in a couple months by a local racer and Fabrocator and we've had alotta talks about the clearence at the collector and he had a great idea that we're using.He's goin to use a V-band Clamp like they use on turbo setups instead of a normal style flange should work great and give pleant of clleanernce.
Most of the clamps I have seen do give a little more clearance. It's my opinion that going to a clamp is not what you do for clearance issues. It's a connection solution. I suspect a clamp can get damaged or even swiped off if scraped just right. Other problems is the header it self is hanging down so low. I seen many a header mashed at the collectors. Nothing better than making a set if there is enough money to do so. One issue with that is finding someone who can do that to begin with. Good thing you found someone..
If anyone has just a little welding skills.......can you make a tac weld?...... then you can make a set of headers. Just cut and tac...............then take it to someone who can weld good...... and you are home free. Making headers is not rocket science.............just takes a little time, material....................and above all patience.
Not to sound negative but it takes more than being able to tack. Lotta different and possibly expensive tools required. The tacking is the easy part
Ok, you need some type of tool to cut the pipe....cutoff saw, or something, some files or grinder........................what else to you need other than a welder..................?
Good god you guys get awfully involved.LOL. My head is spinning just reading this thread. I am so glad my car is turn key and go. Couldnt pay me enough to get back into this racing life. Good for you guys who enjoy it though. Sometimes I think of more extreme mods for my car....then I read threads like this and I remember why I leave it simple.
I will contact Varishock, I have a feeling the tech meant to send out the better pivot ball style which they didn't have when I ordered my coil-overs. Unfortunately, the parts he sent me are the same all thread poly crossbar...
Without hacking the tubing and tacking to no end, a bender might be nice. Those come in alot of different types/styles for different diam tubing and radisusss. And using a bender will probably require mounting the unit to a stable platform or garage floor with space around it.. A little bit of a fight with a cutoff saw. An upright band saw is nice . Lets see..oh, a decent vise. Just saying it can be done yes, but most guys don't have what it takes tool wise. I build gates so I know steel can be a pain in the pocket book. Bout ready to use my dull sawzaw blades as butter knifes they cost so much lol.. And the flange? Pretty thick stuff to be using a regular drill. Then how about the port holes in the flange? Nahh.. Need more than standard home tools.. mashori, can we get a pic of the stud we been steering to and from topic?
