Problems with new Ridetech suspension with 3 degrees of positive camber

[bret]

Originally Posted by Old66Tiger

Bret, Thanks for the response. I understand that things need to be made somewhat neutral and in the past the extremes were dealt with at the frame shop...to cure the sagging a-body frame problems. My car apparently does not have that problem. I worked on it a bit tonight and I think I have a good neutral alignment - enough to make it to the alignment shop without chewing up my tires.

Here are a couple of observations from the end user point of view.

1. I understand that the upper arm geometry re-design was to allow easier fabrication of the parts by allowing the tubing to be welded at a right angle to the bushing shell. This is good from the manufacturing side, but bad from the user side. The openings in the wheel wells of the GTO's are pretty narrow and requires some cutting to get them to fit. A triangulated design allows installation that is easy to achieve without tons of modifications. This is especially key after the car has been painted.

2. I like the off-set slugs for the cross shaft, but to be truly effective, these need to be included in the kit to allow them to be used at the time of alignment. My alignment guy gets a minimum of $100 every time the car rolls onto the alignment rack. Without these in hand, it can get kind of pricy and time consuming waiting to get a set of the slugs mailed to you.

3. A set of shims included with the kit would be nice. They cost about $0.030 each but are a bear to come by in small towns or places where the parts stores just can't get them. In my case, i need them to make it out of the garage and down the road to the shop. Without them, the tires hit the lip and I can't go anywhere. I got lucky, I found a source, but it took 8 calls to get them.

4. The offset cross shaft is a great idea and even more offset would be better. In the case of the Ridetech cross shaft, there is only 1/8" of additional camber that is achieved by rotating the shaft.

there might be others, but that is the start. Everyone in your organization was very pleasant to deal with and got back to me very quickly. Britt even e-mailed me late on Friday night with an answer to a question I had.

All very good points.

1. I think you're referring to the inner fenderwell opening. Yes it's close, especially when big caster numbers are used. It came down to a choice between fit and function. The particular panel fitment from car to car is also a contributing factor.
2. Agreed. The current problem is cost of manufacture and availability. We are working to get the cost down so we can just throw the entire range in each package.
3. Agreed, but most people take their car to an alignment shop where they have them by the 5 gallon bucket. Washers will do nicely in a pinch.
4. Agreed, but the amount of offset is somewhat restricted by the diameter and cross section of the cross shaft. Gotta leave some material there for strength.

[GrabberGT]

Originally Posted by bret

All very good points.

1. I think you're referring to the inner fenderwell opening. Yes it's close, especially when big caster numbers are used. It came down to a choice between fit and function. The particular panel fitment from car to car is also a contributing factor.
2. Agreed. The current problem is cost of manufacture and availability. We are working to get the cost down so we can just throw the entire range in each package.
3. Agreed, but most people take their car to an alignment shop where they have them by the 5 gallon bucket. Washers will do nicely in a pinch.
4. Agreed, but the amount of offset is somewhat restricted by the diameter and cross section of the cross shaft. Gotta leave some material there for strength.

I dont actually own any Ridetech parts or even a GM for that matter so Im not sure why I keep reading this thread. Ridetech doesn't even make parts specific to my vehicle but perhaps, somewhere in my sub-conscience, I know there is going to be great support and advice from what has to be the most supportive company known to our hobby. Thanks Bret and team. I learn something new every time you post.

[Vortech404]

I'm glad Bret is helping you through this.

Still would have been a good idea to give Blake a call first since you already
had his a arms on your car. A simple shock and spring change would have made all the difference.

good luck
John