C-4 beam plates
12-24-2012, 12:39 PM
#4
Team Owner
Pro Mechanic
What is the "science", exactly?? 
I can't see how this could possibly affect "kick out" ...AKA loosing traction.
I can't see how this could possibly affect "kick out" ...AKA loosing traction.
12-24-2012, 12:57 PM
#5
Le Mans Master
Member Since: Oct 2007
Location: Akron Ohio
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St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11
If all 4 bolts are tight there is no need for the plates. I use my car for road race and have never had an issue with "kickout" or shifter movement. I have had the transmission out several times.
12-24-2012, 01:28 PM
#6
Safety Car
my guess is that is reinforces the area and assists in shifting and flexing and secondarily eases locating of the bolts on assembly, i still kick out with i spin my tires...
12-24-2012, 01:59 PM
#7
Team Owner
Pro Mechanic
12-24-2012, 02:12 PM
#8
Race Director
I never used the plates and my car tracked straight with the C-beam.
12-24-2012, 02:23 PM
#10
Tech Contributor
12-24-2012, 03:42 PM
#14
Melting Slicks
I didn't pay much attention to the "science" behind the plates. I do know that before I installed them the rear end kicked out to the right during hard acceleration. There was also evidence on my rear sway bar that the rear was shifting. The C beam bolts were tight and still had the factory adhesive.
I installed the C beam plates when I replaced the transmission. The primary reason was the ease of reinstalling the C beam. But I am also happy with the fact that the kick out is gone. The new transmission and torque converter allow me to put more power to the rear than ever before and it's tracking straight.
Theory is great for developing a concept. Testing is necessary to prove the concept. I'm not saying that all C4's experience the kickout problem. To say so would assume that all C4's are built identically. There are too many tolerances in the manufacturing process for that to be true. I do know that in my case the plates worked.
I installed the C beam plates when I replaced the transmission. The primary reason was the ease of reinstalling the C beam. But I am also happy with the fact that the kick out is gone. The new transmission and torque converter allow me to put more power to the rear than ever before and it's tracking straight.
Theory is great for developing a concept. Testing is necessary to prove the concept. I'm not saying that all C4's experience the kickout problem. To say so would assume that all C4's are built identically. There are too many tolerances in the manufacturing process for that to be true. I do know that in my case the plates worked.
12-24-2012, 06:11 PM
#16
Melting Slicks
what beam plates do is spread the clamping load over a much larger area than the washer / nut arrangement used by the factory; this prevents, or at least greatly reduces, elongation of the mounting holes in the (soft and expensive) aluminum C-beam; it also prevents the mounting bolts from wearing against and elongating and stressing the mounting holes in the webbing of the tailshaft houising and differential nose.
do they make installation of the c-beam bolts easier ? definetly.
do they protect the C-beam and mounting webs on the tailshaft housing and differential nose ? without a doubt.
are they expensive ? the price speaks for itself.
prevent loss of traction ? probably not.
do they make installation of the c-beam bolts easier ? definetly.
do they protect the C-beam and mounting webs on the tailshaft housing and differential nose ? without a doubt.
are they expensive ? the price speaks for itself.
prevent loss of traction ? probably not.
12-24-2012, 09:01 PM
#17
12-24-2012, 11:46 PM
#19
Race Director
If you take the C-beam out a lot then I would definitely get them.
I didn't think I needed them because I figured I would only take the trans out once. Now that I've done it 4 times I'm starting to rethink that...
I didn't think I needed them because I figured I would only take the trans out once. Now that I've done it 4 times I'm starting to rethink that...
12-25-2012, 12:25 PM
#20
what beam plates do is spread the clamping load over a much larger area than the washer / nut arrangement used by the factory; this prevents, or at least greatly reduces, elongation of the mounting holes in the (soft and expensive) aluminum C-beam; it also prevents the mounting bolts from wearing against and elongating and stressing the mounting holes in the webbing of the tailshaft houising and differential nose.
do they make installation of the c-beam bolts easier ? definetly.
do they protect the C-beam and mounting webs on the tailshaft housing and differential nose ? without a doubt.
are they expensive ? the price speaks for itself.
prevent loss of traction ? probably not.
do they make installation of the c-beam bolts easier ? definetly.
do they protect the C-beam and mounting webs on the tailshaft housing and differential nose ? without a doubt.
are they expensive ? the price speaks for itself.
prevent loss of traction ? probably not.
could not have been said better
