Add Upper Control Arms?
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Jan 2021
Posts: 12
Likes: 1
From: Durham, NC
Add Upper Control Arms?
I need to convert an 84 to use CV half-shafts because this car is getting a Tesla rear drive unit, so I'm trying to figure out a way to incorporate upper control arms. Has anyone done this? Looking for tips on mounting locations and geometry.
My initial plan was to graft in a complete C5 or C6 rear suspension and carry the drive unit in the subframe, but I want to explore all my options. A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush, right?
Thanks,
Sam
My initial plan was to graft in a complete C5 or C6 rear suspension and carry the drive unit in the subframe, but I want to explore all my options. A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush, right?
Thanks,
Sam
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 6,102
Likes: 1,981
From: St. Charles MO
I think your problem will be that a C5 rear suspension is set up for the width of a C5 halfshaft, but I would think the yokes are a different width apart on the C5 (probably wider) since it's a transaxle. The way to make that work would be the use the whole C5 rear setup as you said, but since that's a transaxle I seriously doubt you can fit it. You'd be far better off adapting the Tesla unit to work with the stock C4 halfshafts and suspension. If that's not possible, then I'd honestly suggest you stop and switch to a whole C5 platform.
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Jan 2021
Posts: 12
Likes: 1
From: Durham, NC
I wouldn't be using the transaxle if I went to the later model rear suspension. I also won't be trying to mix C4 and C5 suspension parts. It's either "out with the old and in with the new" or modify the old to use an upper control link instead of the half-shaft as a locating member. My questions right now are about the latter.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 6,102
Likes: 1,981
From: St. Charles MO
I wouldn't be using the transaxle if I went to the later model rear suspension. I also won't be trying to mix C4 and C5 suspension parts. It's either "out with the old and in with the new" or modify the old to use an upper control link instead of the half-shaft as a locating member. My questions right now are about the latter.
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Jan 2021
Posts: 12
Likes: 1
From: Durham, NC
Ah, I see. Yes I do have concerns about fitting it in a C5 subframe.
This thing is already fully caged, but I could even foresee modifying the batwing-frame mounts and building an upper "subframe" that hard mounts to the batwing for the control arm mounts. That subframe could be tied into the the diff cover portion of the batwing because I won't be using the diff. My main concern is having a good place to mount the arms to the knuckle. The area where the sway bar bolts in seems like the best spot to me, but I'm not sure if there's enough beef there.
This thing is already fully caged, but I could even foresee modifying the batwing-frame mounts and building an upper "subframe" that hard mounts to the batwing for the control arm mounts. That subframe could be tied into the the diff cover portion of the batwing because I won't be using the diff. My main concern is having a good place to mount the arms to the knuckle. The area where the sway bar bolts in seems like the best spot to me, but I'm not sure if there's enough beef there.
