SEMA Report: Speedtech's New Torque Arm Rear Suspension
 

So I have wanted to write some SEMA reviews of my favorite products at SEMA. Sorry it took a few days. Lots of catch up after Larry’s MotiV8tr, SEMA, being gone 10 days is brutal. So now that I can catch my breath……………………

Speedtech’s new Torque Arm Rear Suspension for first generation F bodies.

We sell and install a lot of suspension here at Prodigy Customs. We are dealers for the best names in the industry including Air Ride, Art Morrison, ATS, Chris Alston, DSE, Hotchkis, Speedtech and Total Control. Each of these companies have excellent product for different needs and budgets. We use and install every one of these suspensions in projects in our shop. Today in our shop we have projects with full DSE front and rear suspension, Art Morrison’s front clips combined with our Prodigy Bars rear suspension and even one combined with a independent rear. There are a few Hotchkis TVS equipped projects, a Air bagged Speedtech Project. With 12 projects going we pretty much have all combinations going. So we use what we sell. And each product has its place in the pro touring market.
There is a Lot of suspension products out there and it is confusing to say the least. Call any manufacturer and they will preach the attributes of THEIR system. Some companies have HUGE advertising budgets and their name just keeps popping up everywhere. Funny enough, some of the most recognized names make the worst products. We do not sell a lot of these highly advertised product by street rod based companies. Hobbyist and custom shops from all over the world come to us for project planning advice including help selecting the best suspension for their project. Because we have so many different products, this means we can have a consultation with you, determine your desires, needs (sometimes not the same) and budget, and make product recommendations that are best for you, and not just choose what product is best for us! Because we can make a profit on whichever product you choose, you do not have to worry about us pushing a product because it is the product we manufacturer. I like to call this:

Non Financially Motivated Recommendations!”

There are so many rear suspension products available. Leaf springs, 3 links, 4 links, Weld in with major fab to 100% bolt in. Rear suspensions from $500 up to $5000, $6000 +. 4 links have been very popular over the last couple years and some of the good ones (good ones being all important, not all are good) can really improve the car a lot. Most of these systems start around $2000.
Speedtech has muddy the waters a bit now and introduced at SEMA 2008 a new Torque Arm rear suspension system that is interesting to say the least. Torque arms are run in many factory built cars. For example if you have a 3rd or 4th gen F body, it is a torque arm. The Speedtech kit is an interesting possibility as it is in that couple grand price range of 4 links, and is MOSTLY a bolt in solution. I say MOSTLY bolt in because if you just buy the suspension kit, it does require some minor welding on the axle for some brackets, much like bolt in 4 links do to. If you are doing suspension and rear at the same time, the Speedtech Torque Arm is a 100% bolt in as Speedtech also has readymade housings with the brackets all ready welded.

I must say the system did look very nice in their SEMA display. Nice enough for me to request a pre production unit immediately for a installation and test. In fact we may get the SEMA exhibit unit. We have the perfect car to test this new suspension with. We have a running / driving / racing car with a modded front subframe, a LS motor and a aftermarket leaf spring mini tub rear in it. We already have baseline dragstrip numbers and will have autocross numbers before we do the 4 link. We will be swapping the torque arm into the car and taking it back to the dragstrip and autocross, keeping the car the same in everyway to note improvement, if any. We will take into account any notable changes in weather or track surface.

We will also cover the install and see if it is as easy to install as Speedtech says it is. I have used plenty of their stuff, I am not too worried. And most importantly we will give a ride report, because for me, at the end of the day, ride is the very most important thing.
So check out these pics, and look for a full report very soon.
http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u...s/DSC00055.jpg
At the Speedtech SEMA display coupled to thier subframe.
http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u212/ProdigyCustoms/DSC00055.jpg[/IMG[/FONT][/URL]]
http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u...s/DSC06393.jpg
In the Speedtech test car. I hear good things.
http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u...s/DSC06396.jpg
Articu-links on the outer arms is a very interesting idea.
http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u...s/DSC06396.jpg
Nice adjustability for pinion angle
http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u...s/DSC06399.jpg
This is pre production, modifications are being made to the panhard bar for easy tailpipe clearance

Great looking setup! I spent a little time looking it over at SEMA.

Look forward to hearing the test results.

Frank,
Thanks for doing this, It should work out great.
David

i'm glad i went with the speedtech front subframe, now i have something to look foward to ... i was hoping someone would do this at somepoint in time, i'm happy its sooner rather then any longer!

Very nice products! :thumbsup:

Frank,
that looks perfect for my car and the timeing could not be better,lol rick

Realy liked the look of this set up, I think we'll be trying one soon

Frank thanks for doing the a-b testing! You have many cars with many differant combos, I look forward to hearing your thoughts and seeing what the test results are!!

LOL! Perfect timing, it is just about show time if your ready. Call me.

I just like to test everything we sell before I speak on it. Just makes sense. It is a funny situation, because I really have no problem with our present (4) link products. But there are a few torque arms coming out so this needs to be looked at.

Order of importance for me will be:

RIDE: Ride is number one. If you drive your car much, you don't want to be kicked in the Kidneys all the time. You can have a good ride and have good handling, so I expect this.

Handling / Autocross: 95% of local aggressive driving is most like autocross. Very rarely do we get chances to duplicate open road coarse type driving on the streets. It's one thing to throw the car around a bit on a back road at 30, 40, 60 MPH. If your running 120 on the streets through long sweepers, your a freakin idiot! More of us will autocross then open road coarse.

Drag racing / Hooking on the street: Again, 90% of our spirited street driving is a little launch, first gear, second gear, lift!! Lots of people brag about not being to hook up, "My car spins the tires at 60MPH". this does not interest me! It is nice to be able to hook decent. Also, I think many G machine owners also like to drag race at test and tune type events from time to time.

Open Course / Road Racing: Some of us from time to time will do a open track session. But most will never push the car to the limits of any suspension system and risk their $15K paint job or their life in a car that does not have the proper cage and safety equiptment. So as long as the car is good at speed, I will be happy.