Alloy steering arms
Discussion
I'm not in a position to comment on the design merits. I think good that the factory flagged their concerns especially as seen to be a safety concern. I also appreciate that wayne has shared some of his ideas. However I hope the debate can be kept constructive and factual and not get too heated.
While we are on the subject of steering arms, has anyone notice the amount of material ( Or lack of it) around the threaded holes in the front uprights... not what I class as perfect in a Cast ally material. Making a slightly bigger casting around that area would keep my mind at rest, but the (Its always been like that excuse) seems to be relevant here.
Funny enough the LM3000 uprights have more material there Funny that ???
and remember Cast ally is not as strong as Extruded ally (He15)....
Just for your information...
Funny enough the LM3000 uprights have more material there Funny that ???
and remember Cast ally is not as strong as Extruded ally (He15)....
Just for your information...
Ultima factory said:
The advice given by the factory is based on an enormous amount of data gathered over the years from the detailed analysis of accident damage which the company carries out as a matter of course on any Ultima that the company repairs.
It would be nice to see some R+D money spent on little things like the wheels rubbing the headlights, which has been around for years and not resolved. Wiper setup is another one that doesnt befit "the fastest car in the world".... why dont we ever get any comment or response on those issues?As a reader of this forum, the factory has expressed their opinion regarding the steering arms. It's really not a debate. Take it, or leave it. It's up to the individual to decide...just like the rest of the car.
What I gather from the factory's comments is that any sort of "responsibility" for safety, or parts warranty, ends as soon as you make mods to parts of critical systems. I would have to think all bets are off with the entire front end (rack to uprights and upper/lower arms, bushes, bolts, and mounts) should a builder choose to use other than factory-approved parts.
That said, there are clear advantages in lighter parts in the un-sprung components. I would love to have a set...and they look fantastic. However, without at least a computer finite element analysis comparison of the stock vs. optional parts, it seems that minimal pre-production due diligence requirements have not been satisfied for such a critical part.
Perhaps the maker of the optional parts has enough engineering experience to eyeball the requirements and tool it up. The factory has every right to decline endorsement without their test and analysis. I understand both positions.
I don't have that eyeball-it knowledge and would require some empirical evidence that they are just as strong, or stronger. Prove to me that they are just as strong with an FEA comparison and I might get a set, too.
What I gather from the factory's comments is that any sort of "responsibility" for safety, or parts warranty, ends as soon as you make mods to parts of critical systems. I would have to think all bets are off with the entire front end (rack to uprights and upper/lower arms, bushes, bolts, and mounts) should a builder choose to use other than factory-approved parts.
That said, there are clear advantages in lighter parts in the un-sprung components. I would love to have a set...and they look fantastic. However, without at least a computer finite element analysis comparison of the stock vs. optional parts, it seems that minimal pre-production due diligence requirements have not been satisfied for such a critical part.
Perhaps the maker of the optional parts has enough engineering experience to eyeball the requirements and tool it up. The factory has every right to decline endorsement without their test and analysis. I understand both positions.
I don't have that eyeball-it knowledge and would require some empirical evidence that they are just as strong, or stronger. Prove to me that they are just as strong with an FEA comparison and I might get a set, too.
crafty said:
Ultima factory said:
The advice given by the factory is based on an enormous amount of data gathered over the years from the detailed analysis of accident damage which the company carries out as a matter of course on any Ultima that the company repairs.
It would be nice to see some R+D money spent on little things like the wheels rubbing the headlights, which has been around for years and not resolved. Wiper setup is another one that doesnt befit "the fastest car in the world".... why dont we ever get any comment or response on those issues?There's a trend appearing here that the factory should take note of.
Every Ultima owner I've ever met has highlighted certain issues to me that they weren't satisfied with, but there has been a reluctance to push the point with the factory for fear of being isolated from factory support.
Last year I was dead set on building an Ultima, but after doing a fair bit of research and meeting a lot of owners, there are just too many issues unresolved / unsatisfactory for me to follow through with an order. As a potential new owner it's all too easy to get caught up in the Ultima obsession and plough in with rose-tinted specs. Take a step back and it ain't so rosy.
Don't get me wrong, the Ultima is a great car and one of the best developed self build kits around, but the underlying patronising attitude is very unsavoury and certainly won't prise £60k from my wallet.
Every Ultima owner I've ever met has highlighted certain issues to me that they weren't satisfied with, but there has been a reluctance to push the point with the factory for fear of being isolated from factory support.
Last year I was dead set on building an Ultima, but after doing a fair bit of research and meeting a lot of owners, there are just too many issues unresolved / unsatisfactory for me to follow through with an order. As a potential new owner it's all too easy to get caught up in the Ultima obsession and plough in with rose-tinted specs. Take a step back and it ain't so rosy.
Don't get me wrong, the Ultima is a great car and one of the best developed self build kits around, but the underlying patronising attitude is very unsavoury and certainly won't prise £60k from my wallet.
Sorry for the highjack Wayne... I dont want to see some of the other issues get lost in further discussions on the steering arms so have started a new thread here for the other stuff >>> http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
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