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Adjustable ARB / Swaybar end link options & recommendations
In an effort to increase my front roll stiffness on a budget, i tried the good old rx8forums "redrill the front bar" holes inboard. well, i got that done, but when i went to install the end links, they are too fat and they contact the larger-diameter lower shock body of my fortune auto coilovers.
hence, i'm looking for some slimmer-profile, length-adjustable ARB end links. My thought is that if i shorten them, they will gain a little more clearance to the damper body (i'm at 13.5" front ride height). Heims seem a bit pricey (for GOOD ones) and high maintenance so I've been mainly looking for sealed ball-joint style links. The racingbeat ones look nice, but they also seem as long or longer than stock. i couldn't figure out if their measurements were total length, or stud-to-stud, or what. The studs are also ludicrously long. Adjustable Sway Bar End Links - Front for 06-15 MX-5/04-11 RX8 - Racing Beat That brings me to the Roadstersport ones, which seem to have great adjustability. https://www.good-win-racing.com/Mazd...t/61-1796.html Has anyone here used either and can comment of fitment and durability, or recommend looking elsewhere? |
There's also the ones from EVO-R, but they are sold in a set of 4 and i'm not sure how the durability would stack against the others. Marc Monnar in his DSP RX8 claims he's running them.
MAZDA RX-8 SE3P Front / Rear Adjustable Stabilizer End Links |
For what its worth, I have the Evo-R ones and have run them through ~25 autocross events and they have held up well. I run a Hotchkis front bar and have ran both a Progress and a stock rear bar (Currently no rear bar).
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Originally Posted by hufflepuff
(Post 4875239)
There's also the ones from EVO-R, but they are sold in a set of 4 and i'm not sure how the durability would stack against the others. Marc Monnar in his DSP RX8 claims he's running them.
MAZDA RX-8 SE3P Front / Rear Adjustable Stabilizer End Links i have had the evo-r endlinks on my car for over 10 years, and at least 80k miles of which i would guess 3 to 4k are track miles. no issues. bars are progressive, and front set in middle and rear set on stiff. beers :beer: |
The racing beat ones are junk. I'm using the 949 Racing NA/NB endlinks on my rear bar (same stud diamater as the front) and they seem as slim as you can get. If that doesn't work you'll need to get a better bar probably.
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i'm checking to see if the EVO-Rs are available just the front pair... right now it looks like you can only buy the set of 4.
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Powergrid is great for the front and what I use there, which is what Goodwin sells or did sell. Not sure if it’s the same now. The threaded head is too long for using them on the rear though. I have the Evo R on the rear. Been on both of these for the last 10 years or so. The rear is so short that you can’t get an adjustable barrel between the two ends. So to adjust the Evo you have to pull one end off and make a full turn with it. Not usually a problem because there’s enough slack between the threaded stud ends and the mounting holes to get it all into an unloaded position. I use a big flanged nut from McMaster Carr on the front powergrid threaded ends though. Their nut kind of sucks imo. I bought one of the RB front sets when it first came out and sent it right back. They didn’t even have reverse threads on the center adjuster. Not sure if it’s the same now, but it was just cheap overseas junk imo. The Miata stuff is basically the same sizes needed, I just prefer sealed ball ends over racing heim joints. IMO heim joints are nothing but a disadvantage in every regard compared to the current generation of ball ends. I did originally have the full EvoR kit, but boogered up a front one and swapped in the Powergrid/Goodwin links. Whiteline sells some too. . |
I put the Flyin's Miata end links on my NB Miata and tracked it for 2 years. They held up well, so I put a set of NC Miata links on my RX-8. No problems so far, but that car has only been to 6 track days since then.
I had a set of Whitelines on my RX-8 for a while, but they started popping pretty quickly, and the fronts were too long for a 13.5" ride height. |
Mid season update, been running the roadster sport end links from GWR all season at their shortest length. Even jumping through the air at weatherly Hillclimb they are holding up.
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Unless you’re jumping sideways the sways won’t be under much load if any :)
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Agreed. But, based on 5:45 in
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It’s still likely less than someone with bigger, stickier race tires pulling high load Gs cornering. In your situation the suspension is mostly just going up and down together, even if high impact slamming. Swaybar ends only get loaded based on the side-side difference. The shocks and such are taking a beating in your situation, the bars/ends not so much.
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that looks awesome but you are brave man with all those trees around. going to seat time at summit on Saturday, are you going to be around?
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Update...
My right side end link has developed play in both ball joints The left side is still tight. D'oh... |
Well there’s no shortage of cheap stuff out there. Goodwin used to sell Powergrid, which they cost more but are a top quality product. So it looks like they just changed to that cheaper option and I’m sure they sold more. I didn’t realize that Powerlink does have a shorter rear offering (#10M-5 rear vs #10M-10 front), but it’s not as short as some as the other rear links. I think the length deal is a bit overplayed myself, especially in the rear with the bent odd angle arm ends that most rear RX8 sway bars have. People nitpick that detail, then go cheap on the product purchase. Typical ...
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the pair i picked up were not chosen based on cost. They were sealed balljoint style that looked like they could get very short. fitment is excellent. i am also not running a rear swaybar, so i didn't need a set that included rears.
It looks like i still might give EVO-R or powergrid (if i can find them) a try. |
It wasn’t my intention to imply that you did. There’s a lot of cheap overseas junk out there, including sealed ones. Which on the rear may be ok since it’s not under as much load as the front. I would recommend a quality set for the front for sure.
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No more EVO-R
I guess I’ll the that guy who resurrects a year old thread, but I placed an order for EVO-R links a couple days ago and was just issued a refund for them. No communication or anything. I’m assuming they aren’t sold anymore. A few others mentioned in this thread are seemingly unavailable as well. I’m considering buying P2M links for the front and rear from Enjuku since they seem to be affordable ball join end links
https://www.enjukuracing.com/product...IaAu0nEALw_wcB |
I generally don’t recommend the open heim-end style like that
somebody just bought a set of Evo R, it may just depend on whether a supplier has some in stock or not, you might send him a pm and ask where: https://www.rx8club.com/rx-8-racing-...2/#post4921280 . |
update: used to EVO-R for the (abridged...) 2020 season. about 6 time attack events and one autocross. no issues yet. will report back if they ever fail.
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