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build diary September 7, 2005: I've been a bit tough on CMC for various things in the past, sometimes a little too much. While working on the fender stays, I discovered the studded rod end used to join the steering knuckle to the upper control arm was worn. On one side, there was axial play. On the other, there was both radial and axial. In both cases the amount of play was significant. I know that rod ends are prone to wear but this sort of lifespan is ridiculous. It's not play in the pressed-in stud but in the ball of the joint itself. It squeaks too. Looking through my FK Bearing catalog - the supplier of rod ends to CMC I believe - I identified the part as a CM10Y. Low carbon steel, no teflon liner and no load rating. It's the cheapest studded rod end they sell based on their cheapest rod end. On a critical high-load suspension part! I know it was intended to be a budget kit but I made my intentions fairly clear when talking to CMC and it might have been smart to offer an upgrade. After some discussion with an FK supplier I've ordered a pair of HJMX10T rod ends to replace them. They're much better steel, high misalignment and teflon lined. They're rated at 28,109 lbs radial load versus the non-studded version of the supplied part which is rated for 9,813 lbs. Granted, they're $41 each instead of $7 or so but I'm willing to pay that for a critical part. There's no play in any of the other rod ends in the suspension and they are a better chosen M8SB with an oiled sintered bronze lining for lubrication. I'll have to use a bolt with the new rod end but that's not such a hardship. I also checked the front camber. My driver's side wheel is running less than the passenger side. Why? I suspect it's because of a change I made at Thunderhill when a peanut gallery insisted things didn't match and so I altered one side to shut them up. It would explain the understeer on long right turns at the track though. The fender stays are done and I'm quite happy with them. I'll have to take them for an extended test drive to make sure I haven't cut my clearances too tight, but they fit better than the originals ever did. It was embarassing to always have the fenders cockeyed before as it made the whole car look badly assembled. And the engine? Well, it's getting happier. Bill Cardell helped me solve a stumble on part throttle by helping to synchronise the throttle plates. I had been making changes, then blipping the throttle. He told me to hold the throttle open at the problem spot and in 5 seconds he had it dialed in. Duh. Jeremy Ferber also spent some time setting up the fuel so the engine is running pretty nicely with the throttle bodies. It's still upset on a cold start but that will come. entry 980 of 1439 |