C34 Adjustable Front Radius Rod/caster Rods

[DaveB]

Can somebody please tell me *definitively* (ie. with evidence) what the difference is, if any, between 2WD and 4WD adjustable tension rods?

I have had some sellers tell me that these rods will fit 4WD:

http://justjap.com/hardrace-heavy-duty-rubber-bushed-adjustable-tension-rods-nissan-s14-s15-r33-r34-2wd.html

When I look elsewhere, the only ones I can find advertised for 4WD are all pillow-ball, and I want bushes.

I can't imagine what the difference would be, having seen both the 2WD and 4WD factory original versions, but I suspect there might be a bend in the 4WD versions which isn't present in the 2WD versions... can anybody confirm one way or the other?

cheers

DaveB

[KiwiRS4T]

There is no way Driftworks (and everybody else) would make two different arms if one would do:

http://www.jdmgarageuk.com/suspension-braking/adjustable-arms/tension-rods/driftworks-gtr-tension-rods.html

I think there is a bend in the 4wd and you could also measure the overall length and the distance between the two bolts.

I wouldn't be buying the 2wd version.

Ikeya offer the choice of pillow or standard bush but its top quality gear and priced accordingly (although strangely the WGNC34 is priced cheaper than the GTR one although I am pretty sure its the self same item!):

http://www.greenline.jp/catalogue/bproduct.php?type=suspension&subtype=Rods%20and%20Control%20Arms&brand=IKEYA+FORMULA&series=&name=Tension+Rods&fromlink=1

[wolverine]

Dave, I would need to take a pic of the ones on the Stagea but I can't do it till Thurs. I also have a set off my R33 sitting in a box at work, so I should be able to post up pics of both. I thought there was a difference between 2WD and 4WD versions but I have never compared them directly so I am going off what I have been told.

[DaveB]

There is no way Driftworks (and everybody else) would make two different arms if one would do:

http://www.jdmgarageuk.com/suspension-braking/adjustable-arms/tension-rods/driftworks-gtr-tension-rods.html

I think there is a bend in the 4wd and you could also measure the overall length and the distance between the two bolts.

I wouldn't be buying the 2wd version.

Ikeya offer the choice of pillow or standard bush but its top quality gear and priced accordingly (although strangely the WGNC34 is priced cheaper than the GTR one although I am pretty sure its the self same item!):

http://www.greenline.jp/catalogue/bproduct.php?type=suspension&subtype=Rods%20and%20Control%20Arms&brand=IKEYA+FORMULA&series=&name=Tension+Rods&fromlink=1

Good point. Yes, in that picture of the Driftworks rods I can definitely see a bend. I don't have any to be able to measure the distance between the holes though. That pricelist you posted shows the different models pretty clearly, cheers for that.

Dave, I would need to take a pic of the ones on the Stagea but I can't do it till Thurs. I also have a set off my R33 sitting in a box at work, so I should be able to post up pics of both. I thought there was a difference between 2WD and 4WD versions but I have never compared them directly so I am going off what I have been told.

Pics of the two would be awesome. I'm assuming that GTR is the same as 4WD stagea, same as Bob. Is your R33 GTR or GTST?

[DaveB]

I just checked my standard ones, and I can't detect a bend. I'm still not sure about the hole spacing though.

[wolverine]

Hole spacing might be the issue from memory.

Push comes to shove I can take the rods from work to the workshop and compare them directly...but that will be Friday morning.

It was so long ago I can't remember what is what. I seem to remember the Stagea had R33 GTR suitable rods. The ones in the box are R33 GTS-t.

[KiwiRS4T]

I have Cusco GTR rods (pillow though) in my WGNC34

[260tech]

Mine are straight, clear of anything dangling, if your originals are straight the new jobs should fit one way or another being adjustable.

Cheers,

GW

[DaveB]

Thanks guys, I will know today.

[roboat]

How did you go?

[DaveB]

Sorry I got waylaid with brake issues, another story. But I held the arm up to the stock ones and I can tell you that the length and hole spacing at least appear to be compatible. I will have a go at fitting them tonight, since the car is already up on stands without front brakes. Should be updating this thread in another couple hours or so

[DaveB]

Well, looks like they're not going to fit.

Here is one of the Hardrace arms next to a stock arm:

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First thing I noticed was that the captive bolts were shorter. Unfortunately, even though the spacing is correct, they're not long enough:

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There's also a very slight bend, which I don't think is crucial:

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...but without it, the swaybar links get rather close:

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...there's not actually much space there now:

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Another issue, is that the bush end appears to be too narrow - pretty sure this would just be clunking back and forth on the bolt:

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So, unfortunately I'm going to have to try to return this and exchange for a pillow-ball style arm, because they're the only ones I can get. Doesn't look like I'm going to get that 7 or 8 degrees of caster any other way.

cheers

DaveB

[DaveB]

So I've spoken to the seller, and it looks like these are the ones he should have told me about:

http://www.hard-race.com.au/index.php?route=product/product&path=25_717_731&product_id=845

HardRace advertise them as R33/R34 GTR and the picture shows they are visibly different to the S14/R33 type (including, apparently, longer bolts). They also appear to have a slight bend... but it's hard to tell.

Bob, I'm really hoping that since you've got a GTR rod in yours (which is 4WD), these will fit as well since they're for GTR.

Oh well, have to wait another week to find out I guess.

[KiwiRS4T]

Yep GTR castor rods fit the Stagea and so do the GTR camber arms.

[DaveB]

Great news, thanks Rob, confirms the details I found on the Cusco arms here: http://www.rhdjapan.com/cusco-adjustable-pillow-ball-tension-rods-nissan.html

Just out of interest, what is the piece of flat metal with the bolt holes which is welded onto the side of the Cusco ones for?

[KiwiRS4T]

Great news, thanks Rob, confirms the details I found on the Cusco arms here: http://www.rhdjapan.com/cusco-adjustable-pillow-ball-tension-rods-nissan.html

Just out of interest, what is the piece of flat metal with the bolt holes which is welded onto the side of the Cusco ones for?

No idea - mine doesn't have it. Here is a pic from the Cusco web site:

http://www.cusco.co.jp/en/catalog/pdf_catalogue_suspension_parts.html

[roboat]

Ah k looks the go I have rose joint type hard race rear camber arms and rubber bushed hard race toe arms. I've only seen the spherical bearing type castor rods but clearly they make bushed ones from the link on here, much prefer the bushed ones should last longer.

Edited October 1, 2014 by roboat

[DaveB]

Thanks Bob, I can confirm that the R33 GTR Hardrace arms fit RS4

http://www.hard-race.com.au/index.php?route=product/product&path=25_717_731&product_id=845

(pic in post above)

Wish I had've got this right the first time around, but oh well. This upgrade is not actually much more expensive than bushes (actually cheaper than what I paid since I did it myself this time). I will have to wait and see if I can get my 7 degrees of caster out of them though - the arms didn't actually need much lengthening, so they won't go much shorter to gain caster I guess.

[wolverine]

Unless you move the plastic forward it is hard to get 7 deg, mine are around 6 deg.

[DaveB]

Well, the arms definitely fit, but after taking the car in for an alignment, I only have about 4.5 degrees of caster... About as much as I could manage with caster bushes. Apparently the arms are at their shortest. Sounds like bad design to me - who would be buying adjustable arms to get *less* caster? Or have I missed something?

Wolverine what is the plastic that you needed to move forward? Also, what traction rods have you got with 6 degrees?