torque arm

[6spdmalibu]

anyone put a torque arm on their car,
albeit GNX or Camaro torque arm?
am contemplating a torque arm setup for my malibu,
will be swapping a new frame in, so...... why not redesign the rear suspension? right?!
the stock setup has good qualities for drag racing, but not for handling.
my plan actually calls for a decoupled torque arm.
so i can use a shorter torque arm, maintaining anti squat without the brake hop tendencies.
separating the braking from the acceleration allows for fine tuning of each separately.
thinking of using a panhard bar over a watts linkage for simplicity.
roll center can be adjusted on either design.
now i have an 8.5" rear end that would like to use instead of the weaker camaro rear,
though the camaro rear has provisions for mounting the torque arm.
have checked around for a GNX rear cover manufacturer to no avail.
anyone have any suggestions?

 

[Hippi]

if you want handling go watts link,the panhard bar setup makes the chassis respond differently to left and right hand turns,as for the torque arm I see no benefit from changing the factory four link,the only reason it is on the fbodys is for packing problems there is simply no room for a triangulated four link with the stock floorpan.I have both currently an 02SS as my DD and have had a slew of gbodys and with a decent set of aftermarket trailing arms and bushings I really do believe the four link is the way to go.

 

[6spdmalibu]

would agree with you if it was a satchell link setup from the factory,
as that would give me a low roll center vs the factory setup.
the packaging issues are what made me decide to pursue a torque arm setup.
as a satchell link setup would negate a useful rear seat.
since it will be a weekend track/road car would like a good performance out of it.
the g body front suspension is a better design than an f body, but that is reversed when it comes to the rear suspension. for clarification that is with after market products installed on the front. IMHO.
currently running a global west front and rear kit, the thing that i would like to correct is the cars rear suspensions tendencies to over steer the car at its limits.

 

[Canadian-T-Bone]

not to start a fight or anything , but if the 4 link in these cars is so good , then why did they come out with the watts rear in the turbo regals & the torque arm in the gnX?

https://secure.mysuperpageshosting.com/kirbanperformance.com/gnx.htm

jusy curious as too am looking for a better handling car . I hope Norm chimes in .

 

[LS6 Tommy]

...currently running a global west front and rear kit, the thing that i would like to correct is the cars rear suspensions tendencies to over steer the car at its limits.

What are you running in terms of spring rates & anti-sway bars? Did you use GW's parts for that, too? Doug's usually pretty good with spec'ing them out. If you're oversteering I'd go somewhat smaller in the rear bar or softer on the rear spring. I'm no susspension engineer, but I can't see how a torque arm (which is more of a traction device & a centering unit than anything else) will help eliminate body roll. Hopefully Norm will chime in. He knows more than I'll ever even begin to understand.


Tommy

 

[6spdmalibu]

eibach springs f/r, 660lbs/in front, rear ??
GW negative roll system with Del a lum bushings top and bottom.
B body spindle with 1LE rotors
1 1/16 front sway bar with poly mounts and links.
Edlebrock IAS shocks f/r.
GW lower rear contol arms del a lum axle side, spherical frame side,
stock upper arms with stock rubber to limit bind.
stock g body rear sway bar for now, have a camaro style bar setup waiting to install.
i run the car on the street with out the rear sway bar in,
it under steers without it but handles better over rough pavement (less skipping = G's)
but when i push the car, it tends to snap over steer over rougher pavement,
hence why the torque arm set up. as it will allow me to set up the rear control arms to provide roll under steer while providing good anti squat characteristics.
torque arm setup will allow for a better performing suspension then the factory setup.
that is why i am trying to figure out proper setup for the g body.

 

[Hippi]

ok I really don't want to start a war here but why are your trying to reinvent the wheel instead of trying to adjust what you have,I see a few weak links in your setup one being the stock uppers and bushings they will flex like hell on the initial turn in of the corner then try to spring back,second the stock rear sway bar really doesn't do much I have had better luck with a modified a-body.It really also looks like the back is bouncing more than what the shocks can compensate for,if you could slow the rebound of the shocks more that would be great.again just my opinion

 

[Canadian-T-Bone]

not on topic but found this for your b body spindles to correct bump steer.

http://www.lefthanderchassis.com/67.html

1/2 way down the page there is a centerlink with adjustable ends . Hope this helps out .

 

[6spdmalibu]

ok I really don't want to start a war here but why are your trying to reinvent the wheel instead of trying to adjust what you have,I see a few weak links in your setup one being the stock uppers and bushings they will flex like #### on the initial turn in of the corner then try to spring back,second the stock rear sway bar really doesn't do much I have had better luck with a modified a-body.It really also looks like the back is bouncing more than what the shocks can compensate for,if you could slow the rebound of the shocks more that would be great.again just my opinion

yes the shocks will be upgraded eventually on all 4 corners for adjustable ones, rebound and compression.
not trying to reinvent the wheel,
wanting to improve past what the stock setup with better arms can produce.
yes i could just get adjustable upper rear control arms with spherical ends, better designed sway bar, and call it a day, but that doesn't change the height of the rear roll center.
from what i understand the front needs more camber gain and caster because of the rear roll height

 

[6spdmalibu]

not on topic but found this for your b body spindles to correct bump steer.

http://www.lefthanderchassis.com/67.html

1/2 way down the page there is a centerlink with adjustable ends . Hope this helps out .

thanks thats what i've been looking for!