Cusco Tension Rods Castor Rods

[djr81]

Those posted above remind me of the Ikeya formula kits..

http://www.ikeya-f.co.jp/ja/car_type/bnr32.html

ROLL CENTER ADJUSTER PILLOW LOWER ARM (KIT) - 89,250Y

They are a nice idea. They relocate (in the case of the front, lower) the roll centre by changing the inclination of the suspension arm. Different front & rear roll couples are one of the best ways of adjusting the handling balance of a car (& reducing the understeer that GT-R suffer from). Unfortunately I don't think that increasing the amount of roll at the front end will be of much help to anyone which is what the first picture shows. Not sure what the second one is of - rear end perhaps - because the babelfish translation isn't up to the task.

[Beer Baron]

the cusco kit looks like it's front roll centre adjustment. cost is around $1200 not $1500 and it is adjustable (not just a fixed spacer).

I'll probably put in the cusco rods this weekend. got some cusco rear upper arms too, but couldn't get cusco traction rods (they dont make them?). I'm going to try the ikeya formula traction rods instead.

[jlnewton]

I have had the Cusco adj caster rods on 2 x 33 GTSTs and my old 33 GTR. The GTR ones definatetly had a bend in them and were much thicker than the GTST ones. . . 32s wouldn't be too much different I wouldn't think???

I also have the rear upper arms and the tension rod aswell on the GTST, I couldn't fit the tension rod to the GTR as the TRUST extended sump that I had got in the way. . . . most annoying. . . .

[Beer Baron]

thanks mate. yes I am now told they were the old version cusco rods. the new ones are straight and now have better rods ends in them. I was curious so just had a play with my cusco tension rods, and the upper arms (rear) i bought last time in japan. They are very good looking arms now. The rods ends have a very nice shell, and a very durable looking (and tight fitting) rubber boot. I couldn't help myself so got the boot mostly off to have a good look at the bearings and they look as good as any of the $$$ american ones we use on the race car. all the fittings look nice too. I can't wait to put them on now and see how they go. I'm just sorry they don't make traction rods as I would have liked to keep all the arms cusco. but I had to buy ikeya formula ones instead. I'll be interested to see how their quality compares with the cusco stuff, and in particular the rod ends.

[Beer Baron]

just a little update.

I can confirm the new straight rods do fit GTR, and yes there are different part numbers and different parts still between 32 GTR and 32 GTST. Cusco got smart and realised that a bent rod was not ideal. so they now use a straight rod BUT they made the little sleeves that sit either side of the bearing different lengths. so you put the big sleeve on the outside and the shorter one on the inside which means the rod is angled slightly towards the centre of the car and gives the same end result of the bent rod, but without the weakness that a bent rod induces. plus their new rods ends are very nice, thick steel shell and a very nice tight fitting rubber boot, and a BIG threaded end. all in all, very happy with them.

[Beer Baron]

just to put this to rest. here's a little pic to explain what I mean about the new design cusco rods. these are the GTR ends. the GTST ones look similar, but have equal sized spacers each side of the rod end. also not the new, much higher quality rod ends they are using now.

[BHDave]

Interesting that cusco look to have gone the press in route rather than an outer with integral thread.

Not that there was anything wrong with their old caster rods, mine are still good after 4 years and they were very second hand when i got them.