Unbalanced Engineering update:

[hockeyman]

Point of info:
Ordered the Rag Joint Eliminator Kit from http://www.unbalancedengineering.com/Camaro/
When they received my payment, I got an email confirming it and kit was shipped extremely fast!
I sent the money order out on the 20th of March, and I got the kit in the mail on the 27th.
Nice people to deal with! [img]graemlins/thumbsup.gif[/img]
Not sure if this post belongs here, but I figured most of their products are suspension related.

-Marc

[whtefbrd96]

Did you notice any differnce with the kit? How was install?? sounds like a worthwhile mod, especially for the $$

[hockeyman]

Just got it in the mail today. The install will be Saturday. I'll update this post as soon as I take the car for a ride when the installation is done. Hopefully the new metal joint will eliminate the looseness/wandering I feel in the steering unit when I run into ruts in the street.

-Marc

[Wicked 3800 V6]

Dude I can't wait to hear how the install goes, as I've got a kit with me too. The service, and communications from Jason (at Unbalanaced) were great! We chatted about Autocross, etc.
But I'll let you do the first install. [img]smile.gif[/img]
-Rob

[viper98885]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by hockeyman:
Just got it in the mail today. The install will be Saturday. I'll update this post as soon as I take the car for a ride when the installation is done. Hopefully the new metal joint will eliminate the looseness/wandering I feel in the steering unit when I run into ruts in the street.

-Marc<hr></blockquote>

Are you running bump stop tie rod ends? This may also help to clear up the "wander" that you feel when hitting bumps.

[hockeyman]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by viper98885:


Are you running bump stop tie rod ends? This may also help to clear up the "wander" that you feel when hitting bumps.<hr></blockquote>

Uh Oh, here's another mod I'll need to do now. Where do I find these Bump Stop Tie Rod Ends?
I want to do every mod possible to eliminate the wandering.

-Marc

[viper98885]

Baer makes a REALLY good set. These are made specifically to eliminate your steering wander when you hit potholes or rough areas on the road while in a turn. Link is listed below:

http://www.truckperformance.com/prod...LET&sf2=1998&s f3=CAMARO

Copy the link and it's the 3rd item down.

I can get these cheaper than listed so drop me a line if interested.

[ March 28, 2003: Message edited by: viper98885 ]</p>

[hockeyman]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by viper98885:
Baer makes a REALLY good set. These are made specifically to eliminate your steering wander when you hit potholes or rough areas on the road while in a turn. Link is listed below:

http://www.truckperformance.com/products/?searchtype=d&sortorder=&urlsubcategory=Suspension +%26+Chassis&productcategory=Control+Arms+%26+Comp onents+-+Front&sf1=CHEVROLET&sf2= 1998&s f3=CAMARO

Copy the link and it's the 3rd item down.

I can get these cheaper than listed so drop me a line if interested.

[ March 28, 2003: Message edited by: viper98885 ]<hr></blockquote>

Man, I'm gonna be busy this spring time with all of these parts I gotta install.
You got mail!

-Marc

[V6Bob]

"I want to do every mod possible to eliminate the wandering."

You need to understand how these tie rod ends work to decide if they'll do you any good. "bumpsteer" is change in front toe when the wheel goes over a bump and moves up and down. If your car's suspension geometry causes bumpsteer and just one wheel goes over a bump, it causes the car to steer.

Our cars are designed with little or no bumpsteer. It can only become serious if you lower the car, and probably only if you really lower it. That is when some people get the bumpsteer adjustable tie rod ends. It is a fairly serious deal to set them up right (you have to measure the toe while moving the wheel up and down).

A far more likely cause for wandering over ruts than bumpsteer is simply that low profile tires just do that, or, if you have a more than 5 year old car, something may be wearing out.

What tires are you running? Have you lowered the car? How old is the car?

[viper98885]

V6Bob, would you tell a noticable improvement from installing the bumpsteers on:
1) a near stock suspension car,
2) a mildly modified suspension (springs, takeoff shocks, 1LE sways, etc.)
3) very well modified setup including 35mm sway bar, KYB Adjustable shocks, H&R Springs, tubular control arms, etc.

I would like to get a set, but I also understand that they are a pain to install. I have a horrible time with "steering wander" when I am in a heavy corner and hit a large bump or decent pothole. I am running Nitto NT450 245/50-16 tires.

[V6Bob]

1) No

2) and 3)

Depends. Bumpsteer occurs because the geometry (angles) of the suspension arms and the steering arms don't match. The bumpsteer kit works by raising or lowering the steering arms.

Swaybars and shocks don't affect the geometry, so, don't affect bumpsteer. Springs can, if they lower the car. Control arms can, if they have different geometry than stock.

On a '93 I'd be checking the condition of all the bushings, ball joints, tie rod ends, wheel bearings, before I'd suspect bumpsteer as the cause of your wandering.

The bumpsteer kit will do nothing to help you unless the geometry is the problem and you have bumpsteer.

[hockeyman]

Ok, well my car is a 1996, not lowered (never will be), and I am running Kumho ECSTA 255/50/16's all around. They are BMF'ers, I know, but I guess I should look into updating my stock bushings first. I would like to get the Poly bushing front end set for it, do you think that would make a difference?

-Marc

[V6Bob]

"Ok, well my car is a 1996, not lowered (never will be), and I am running Kumho ECSTA 255/50/16's all around. They are BMF'ers, I know, but I guess I should look into updating my stock bushings first. I would like to get the Poly bushing front end set for it, do you think that would make a difference?"

I don't know much about poly bushings (except not to use them where you need the flexibility of rubber, like on lcas), so I can't say.

50 series tires will nibble some over ruts, so I don't even know if your car is doing anything wrong. If you have a friend with an fbody and 50 series tires you could compare. If you have a friend with stock 215/60s you could swap wheels and see how much is the tires.