M3 ARB pickup mod worth doing

Fri Mar 02, 2012 11:13 am

Is it worth while moving the ARB pickup from the wishbone to the strut? I'll be sending the struts of for powdercoating in a few weeks, could weld on some tabs before doing so. Has anyone any info on doing this? I've got coilovers so it might not be possible either?

Fri Mar 02, 2012 11:21 am

Jozi wrote:Is it worth while moving the ARB pickup from the wishbone to the strut? I'll be sending the struts of for powdercoating in a few weeks, could weld on some tabs before doing so. Has anyone any info on doing this? I've got coilovers so it might not be possible either?

Why wouldn't it be possible with coilovers? M3's run coilovers ok..

It is a worthwhile mod. IMO.

Fri Mar 02, 2012 11:25 am

An info on where it should be located etc?

I'm running Bc coilovers which seem to be a little different, not sure if there's enough strut to play with.

pic of the m3 setup I found

Unless the tab can be located near the top of the strut as high up as possible?

---edit---

Think I'll also be making something similar to these

http://www.turnermotorsport.com/image/s ... 18_325.jpg

Fri Mar 02, 2012 11:30 am

You can mount it most places.. You will just have to run an adjustable rose jointed drop link.

My Intrax had an 'L' shaped bracket to clear the spring..

Fri Mar 02, 2012 11:35 am

Can you not use a shorter drop link than what the M3 has?

Just found this as well:

Basically the bracket will move down to the top of my strut and either use a rose jointed drop link or one to suit? Is the bracket centred on the strut or of centre in towards the arb?

Fri Mar 02, 2012 11:56 am

Jozi wrote:Can you not use a shorter drop link than what the M3 has?

Just found this as well:

Basically the bracket will move down to the top of my strut and either use a rose jointed drop link or one to suit? Is the bracket centred on the strut or of centre in towards the arb?

Jhonno wrote:You will just have to run an adjustable rose jointed drop link.

Adjustable goes shorter also..

The bracket faces toward the rear, iirc, parallel with the ARB 'arms'.

Fri Mar 02, 2012 11:57 am

I might be able to get a pic of mine, if I can dig them out over the weekend.

Fri Mar 02, 2012 1:33 pm

Jhonno wrote:I might be able to get a pic of mine, if I can dig them out over the weekend.

Cool would appreciate that!

Are the rose jointed links available to motorfactors or where are they found/got?

Fri Mar 02, 2012 1:50 pm

Google Rosejoints.. You can make up your own to your required length. Or places like Rally design/Comp brakes.

Fri Mar 02, 2012 9:20 pm

I found this to be an excellent mod for standard struts, makes the front arb much stiffer and the m3 links last much longer than regular ones on Irish roads.

For mine I made the brackets quite large to allow for lots of adjustment on standard links. I dont really like rosejoints on a road car because they rattle a lot when they wear.

Cheapest rosejoints I have found online are http://mcgillmotorsports.co.uk/ thats where I get them for my racecar and have never had a problem.

Sean

Sun Mar 04, 2012 4:15 pm

Can you notice much different between the 6 positions?

Sun Mar 04, 2012 10:59 pm

Is it worth looking for adjustable droplinks over rosejoints?

Something like this: http://www.ebay.ie/itm/SUBARU-STI-WRX-A ... 35afffffc4

Mon Mar 05, 2012 1:57 pm

Theoreticaly the 6 positions will allow me to alter the roll stiffness under acceleration or braking and according to steering angle but whether this can be felt on a road car I dont know because I never changed it after fitting.

The anti roll bar itself also has three positions for stiffness added to it but this was far more trouble than it was worth.

For a road car I would be looking at those adjustable ARB links because even slightly worn rose joints rattle like a bastid.

Sean

Tue Mar 06, 2012 11:01 am

I've been looking for adjustable drop links, seems to be a few available for different cars.

Would a threaded bar and a tie rod end be up to the task?

Wed Mar 07, 2012 7:02 pm

A tie rod end will most likely have a taper which may make fitting them more difficult but they would be more than strong enough.
Threaded bar should be fine locknuts if you get the thread to match the tie rod, they often use a fine thread.

Sean

Wed Mar 07, 2012 7:06 pm

I've seen a few adjustable drop links for other cars for not to much, might be worth getting one just to try out. Was talking to Dave about him making me a threaded bar with opposite threads either end. The above I think came of a landrover, have to see is it a tie rod or part of a adjustable drop link.

Tue Mar 13, 2012 5:24 pm

Those landrover ones come in at 25 each from a local motor factors so thats a no go. Found some V-maxx adjustables that I'm trying to find out the height of.

I've built up the front again to have a play around.

Just from looking at it the drop link will be at quite and angle away from the ARB when connected to the strut, is this going to be a problem? Is it the same on an M3 or does this have a wider ARB?

Also from looking around and reading about this upgrade, how is this going to effect how the car drives on the road?

Also shouldn't I be looking for something for the rear ARB also to get it back down with the car lowered?

Ohh and why is it so difficult to get the bush bracket over the bush!!!! It seems next to immposible!

Tue Mar 13, 2012 5:40 pm

Awesome, i'd be interested to see how you do this with the BC coilovers, as i also have BC coilovers on my e30.

Are you going to have to use a wider ARB or an e30 m3 arb?

Tue Mar 13, 2012 7:04 pm

I can't find anything really about the M3 one being wider, I know it's not a thick but thats all. If anyone knows I'd love to hear it.

How did you fix the ABS and pad sensor wires to the strut with the BC's? Also, looking at the above pic, do yours go lower? Thats mine wound as far as it will go, think maybe I left the stub a little to long

Tue Mar 13, 2012 9:13 pm

I don't use abs or pad sensor wire, but when I did, cable ties worked for me

I don't understand the other question sorry
My car is very low, 1cm off the ground at the is lip so it must go lower

Will get pics for you

Wed Mar 14, 2012 5:48 pm

Got something knocked up earlier, let me know what you guys think:

Better/clearer view of it

I made it a little short, reckon I should extent it a little and chamfer it back to the strut bit like so

Possible the end nearest to the strut could be bent down an also welded to the strut?

I'd appreciate some feedback on this before I go and weld this onto the strut!

Thu Mar 15, 2012 7:12 pm

Anyone?

Drop links I found adjust from 280mm to 170mm approx, think it might work with them.

Wed Mar 28, 2012 3:11 pm

Got the adjustable droplinks, they come with 2 lengths of bar, I'm using the shorter one in the pics.

Can anyone comment on how it looks if it were welded as in the pics? The ARB is roughly horizontal and the coilovers are adjusted with the ride height at more or less how I want them. Should the link be parallel to the strut or does it matter if it's at an angle?

I need to re-make the bracket but you get the idea.