freakshow Posted June 2, 2009 Share Posted June 2, 2009 (edited) Has anyone used the solid ball and socket rod kit from black dragon? It says it replaces the bushings with an aluminum ball and socket, I was just wondering if anyone had tried it. Here's a link http://www.blackdragonauto.com/icatalog/z/full.aspx?Page=47 Edited June 2, 2009 by freakshow added link Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dsommer Posted June 2, 2009 Share Posted June 2, 2009 I've got them on the Scarab, it's what came from the factory (Scarab) works well for me. The ball is teflon not aluminum and you preload it with the U shaped guage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lowrider Posted June 2, 2009 Share Posted June 2, 2009 I also have this on my 260, i have no complaints so far. Its been on both my cars and does the job well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jtl260z Posted June 2, 2009 Share Posted June 2, 2009 Has anyone used the solid ball and socket rod kit from black dragon? It says it replaces the bushings with an aluminum ball and socket, I was just wondering if anyone had tried it.Here's a link http://www.blackdragonauto.com/icatalog/z/full.aspx?Page=47 Descent product. I've had them on my 260 for a few years now with no problems. Way better than stock. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LowCarbZ Posted June 2, 2009 Share Posted June 2, 2009 Seems like a good idea. I'm assuming that these eliminate the worry of busting the rod and losing control? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PETEW Posted June 2, 2009 Share Posted June 2, 2009 The only application I see it for is the 79-83 280ZX. How are you guys mounting them onto older S30 chassis stuff? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freakshow Posted June 3, 2009 Author Share Posted June 3, 2009 The only application I see it for is the 79-83 280ZX. How are you guys mounting them onto older S30 chassis stuff? Black dragon also sells the one for the early s30 chassis http://www.blackdragonauto.com/icatalog/z/full.aspx?Page=44 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jtl260z Posted June 3, 2009 Share Posted June 3, 2009 I don't recall who I originally purchased mine from but I didn't get mine from Black Dragon. I am sure there is more than one source for those parts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gnosez Posted June 4, 2009 Share Posted June 4, 2009 They were also sold by the above mentioned company. Before installing a set of TechnoToy TC rods, I replaced my teflon TC sets once a year due to failure of the ball. They may seem to still be working but once you look under the cover you'll find a chewed up piece of teflon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jgautosport Posted June 4, 2009 Share Posted June 4, 2009 I got mine from MSA with the new rubber stock bushings for the back. s30 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
New-to-240z Posted June 4, 2009 Share Posted June 4, 2009 They were also sold by the above mentioned company. Before installing a set of TechnoToy TC rods, I replaced my teflon TC sets once a year due to failure of the ball. They may seem to still be working but once you look under the cover you'll find a chewed up piece of teflon. Was wondering . . . do those put a lot of strain on your frame rails? I've heard of the rails cracking because there is no give between the TC rods and the frame rail connections. I used to have the same setup on my 240sx and LOVED the feel, and plus you can adjust the wheel back or forward a little bit as well. ( Great for our Z's cause some peoples wheels hit the front air dam !!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gnosez Posted June 9, 2009 Share Posted June 9, 2009 No frame rail issues so far.....alignment and caster adjustments easy to make. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony D Posted June 9, 2009 Share Posted June 9, 2009 Loadings in compression are not that big a deal. If you hit something with the road wheel hard enough to damage the frame, you've bent the TC rod into a "U" anyway. I have a 240Z that is 3/8" shorter on the left side than the right. Door gap is less than 0.020" front and back---had just the situation I mention above---hit HARD and compressed the frame backwards. The whole car flexed because that section of the frame rail is so stout! The Firewall flexed so far the back of the throttle linkage for the SU's popped out! I've got them on my 73, but when they go together again, they will have a real ball-socket type arrangement like VA engineering makes, or something with a heim joint on it (is that what Techno Toys sells?). Really deflecting the bushings isn't the most precise way to do it, and it can screw with the spring rate of the wheel drooping. A ball or heim let's it pivot freely and doesn't affect suspension movement. Just my .02 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
New-to-240z Posted June 9, 2009 Share Posted June 9, 2009 Here is a link to their page regarding the TTT TC rods . . http://www.technotoytuning.com/productdetail.php?p=668 Here is some picstures of them . . They look pretty beefy if you ask me, and from what I hear they have great customer service. I have yet to buy from them tho . . . I'm waiting to make my decision on the rear end conversion they make. (Sorry to thread jack:hijack: if that's what I did.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horatio Posted June 10, 2009 Share Posted June 10, 2009 This requires the use of one of the two stock rubber bushings on each side. Anyone see a problem with using this kit along with poly bushings? I know you're not suppose to use two poly bushings because of the rigidity that it causes. Don't know if the flexing allowed with the ball and socket would be enough to keep things from being to rigid, as the two poly bushing setup would be. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMortensen Posted June 10, 2009 Share Posted June 10, 2009 Use one of your old stock rubber bushings. Poly gives no advantage whatsoever when it's installed in the back. Save the money and put less stress on the rods by using rubber. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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