Aftermarket strut rods
 

I posted this question and poll for James Findell, div 5 stocker. He was having trouble posting the poll so here goes. These are his words....

"During recent conversations, NHRA Tech has stated that they believe the current use of aftermarket strut rods is extremely limited. Therefore, they believe by not allowing these parts, they will only affect a small amount of racers. Let's take a poll and see how this affects us...

Have you used aftermarket strut rods? yes / no
Do you believe aftermarket strut rods provide better stability / control thus promoting safety? yes / no
Would you utilize this product if ban was lifted? yes / no"

Re: Aftermarket strut rods
 

Have you used aftermarket strut rods? YES

Do you believe aftermarket strut rods provide better stability/control thus promoting safety? YES

Would you utilize this product if ban was lifted? YES

Re: Aftermarket strut rods
 

Question :
If the rubber bushings are the problem, why not just replace it with a spherical bushing and weld retainers in place? Why is it always aftermarket this ,that ?..Gotta have it


* I meant, why not allow you to fix the struts you already have....

Re: Aftermarket strut rods
 

I have them on my car and like them. The reason I choose to use them is to stabilize the lower A- arm, along with a gusset across the two stamped sheetmetal halves. Nothing top secret here, trying to eliminate deflection in the front end.

Think about this for a second . What happens to the front wheels when the brakes are applied at 130 mph or the car comes down from a wheel stand with rubber bushings? Answer is, the stock rubber is compressed and the wheels are forced into a toe out position. Some more than others as rubber is not a solid connection. Then what happens with the solid mounted heim ? Zero stretch or deflection and a consistent stable alignment of the front tires.

What other type connection will allow the a-arm to articulate throughout the range of motion without deflection better than a heim or spherical bearing and a solid connection to the frame?


Fuel cells, Seats, 3" wide belts, ( A F-15 uses 2" with No re certification ever and they see a hell of lot more seat time, but that's a separate matter) wheelie bars, bell housings, four wheel disk brakes and a roll cage are all allowed or mandatory in the interest of safety. This seems to be a commonsense addition.

Mark Madison 7995

Re: Aftermarket strut rods
 

A question for the people that voted against this, do you have a car that uses a strut rod and do you race a car in stock or superstock? If you do not, then explain why you would vote against it. This is a safety factor and nothing else. Try stepping on the brakes at 150 and keeping the car straight and under control. Not everyone who races a fast car has the necessary experience that is required to keep a race car under control. How many times have we witnessed a racer taking themselves into the wall and the racer next to them. Not to allow this would be stupid, selfish and unresponsible. NHRA is going to look at this, think about this before you voice an opinion. Dyno

Re: Aftermarket strut rods
 

Is there a difference between a spherical bushing and bearing? Either way they both are aftermarket and not factory or NHRA legal. Now do you see the problem?

Safety maybe?

Re: Aftermarket strut rods
 

I think you know which way I voted. I would also like to ask for those that vote against this to post their S/SS competition number and the car that they race that has a brake strut rod front suspension. Yeah I know that's not going to happen because they either don't have a S/SS competition number, or don't have a car with a brake strut rod front suspension. If NHRA doesn't pass this I'm going to propose that NHRA checks to make sure that every type of front suspension has all their factory rubber bushings at every pivot point. No more solid rollerized front bearings for anything, all rubber for everybody. Hey maybe they could get Trojan to sponsor that. "All rubber for everybody" LOL

Hey Ken,
Is there a way to see who voted for what? I know some polls are like that.

Re: Aftermarket strut rods
 

Not even considering the strut rod issue, people who race fast cars should absolutely have the experience to keep them under control.

Re: Aftermarket strut rods
 

I know that .That was not my point.
I couldn't vote because there was no option for being able to fix the struts a racer may already have.
I fixed the struts on the Tempest pictured in the other thread, for about 60 bucks.

Re: Aftermarket strut rods
 

I gotcha. Yeah the spherical bearing on the stock strut rod will fix the issue. Its doesn't have to be an aftermarket rod.

Re: Aftermarket strut rods
 

i can't see why anyone would be against this.

Re: Aftermarket strut rods
 

Chad, I agree! As being the chased car 99% of the time. I look at this as just as much safety for me, and my car. As the cars that have this type of suspension. Everyone has a large investment to race in this class, so it is a safety improvement.

Sean

Re: Aftermarket strut rods
 

My car uses strut rods, in fact the same as the Mustang. While I have never raced it in Stock class I would like to tell you what happens when on the street.

About 8 years ago while driving my car on the Interstate with my wife, I unintentionally hit a pretty serious bump and broke my right strut rod. I had no idea at the time just what it was but at 65 the steering wheel was acting real funny. The REAL problem was when I tried to brake. Let me tell you, I do not wish to do that ever again. The wheel went to jumping and hitting all of the inner fender and the steering wheel was all that I could handle. I finally managed to get to the shoulder and had it towed home. I attributed it to age and got a new one. But if there is an even better option, within the rules, I will gladly look at it.

Re: Aftermarket strut rods
 

Andrew, expecting those who drive fast cars to "have experience", I know of two new Mustang's that have inexperienced pilots.....just jumped in with $ and let er rip....

Re: Aftermarket strut rods
 

why is it everytime I read about this deal Larry Morgan comes to mind

Re: Aftermarket strut rods
 

I just voted. Allowing aftermarket has a slight lead @ 82%. :p

Cars that use strut rods:
All AMC
All Ford
All Mercury
All Plymouth
All Dodge
All Chrysler

To be fair, that would probably be all those built before 1974. Probably a very small percentage of the stockers use a strut-rod suspension system. I mean, how many AMC, Ford, Mercury, Plymouth, Dodge & Chryslers race in Stock? Can't be but a small portion of Stock. Right? :rolleyes:
And as NHRA can see, only a very few amount of racers need to be unsafe to make the other racers happy. :mad:

Re: Aftermarket strut rods
 

you forgot 1st gen novas...

Re: Aftermarket strut rods
 

Let's not forget Bob Bender's big Chevy wagon.

Ken Kopecky

Re: Aftermarket strut rods
 

And at 4600 # it beats the death out of the front suspension.
The strut bushings were completely disintigrated when I rebuilt the front suspension last year. as were the lower control arm bushings as well.

Re: Aftermarket strut rods
 

I think these numbers pretty much speak for themselves.

Re: Aftermarket strut rods
 

Well there are at least 19 dinosaurs or their combo isn't one of the above mentioned, or they feel too many changes in STOCK, maybe they don't even drive a car, what ever! Like Mark said maybe all this maybe could have been avoided, but now it's up for review and I was told super stock only, I was also asked if I had wheelie bars. WHY NOT? Still trying to figure out how this answered my question why not in STOCK? If aftermarket gets approved in stock it will be for safety in design, which is what we are basically asking for. We are all very creative and this may lead to too many untested/unproven designs. Again if allowed the aftermarket component would be the effective way to keep the suspensions uniform. Some of us remember the beginning of the DRAG PACKS when you got your body in white a trunk full of wires and parts and you ordered up all the rear suspension brackets and so on, creativity caused too many variables and some chassis builders were told you should have known better! CHANGE IT. I run a 43 year old big bad mope and feel the crank rule is good, old virgins are getting real hard to find, as far as the seats rule again safer in design. Don't think a 40/50 year old seat was designed for this type of use, when is the last time you heard a racer tell you YA I just had my seat rebuilt. The next item will be radiators, you can't use a replacement cause their different in design/materials etc.if your lucky enough to find the right stuff they usually want your first born and one of your nutz.

Re: Aftermarket strut rods
 

If wheelie bars fix the issue then why let SS'r run aftermarket strut rods. Pretty much every SS car has wheelie bars. NHRA THIS IS STUPID!!!!!!!!