SPL - F8X Full Suite

[x.shell]

After alignment and corner balancing. Here are a couple pictures showing the ride height and how flushed I got the wheels.

[ninekrpm]

Looks great, who ended up doing the alignment?

[x.shell]

Originally Posted by ninekrpm

Looks great, who ended up doing the alignment?

PM sent

[x.shell]

Okay, got to drive it around in various settings for a couple hundred miles. Here are my initial thoughts.

There is definitely an increase in NVH. It's more noticeable for the front vs the rear. After installing the rear arms, I did my diy alignment and took it out for a test drive. There was minimal NVH introduced but all the slop and chatter was gone in the drive line.

However, after putting the fronts in and getting it aligned, I noticed a big jump in NVH while driving under 20mph on rough roads; you simple feel and hear everything. Since the rod ends are new, everything feels nice and tight; even while hitting bumps. But as they wear out, I'm afraid it might start to feel more "crashy".

I just discovered the rod-end boots/covers available for these arms. I wish I knew that before I installed everything. Regardless, I may purchase and install those to protect the rod ends.

If the front starts to annoy me, I think I'm gonna get the SPL adjustable monoball for the OEM caster arm and reinstall that along with putting the OEM toe arm back in. This way, I can still have the adjustability I want while keeping some ball joints in the mix — thus decreasing some of the NVH.

Despite the added NVH, the car drives fantastic. Body roll has decreased and the steering, acceleration, braking is more planted.

[1000hp]

Originally Posted by x.shell

I just discovered the rod-end boots/covers available for these arms. I wish I knew that before I installed everything. Regardless, I may purchase and install those to protect the rod ends.

Damn. I thought I had mentioned this earlier, but I guess that was in the other thread about the rear links.
This is why I chose the Fall Line rear links (they were also cheaper, and I'm a cheapskate).
Keeping dirt and grit and water out of the rod ends should definitely extend their life. But if they're quality joints they should last a while.

[Rokoz]

Originally Posted by x.shell

Okay, got to drive it around in various settings for a couple hundred miles. Here are my initial thoughts.

There is definitely an increase in NVH. It's more noticeable for the front vs the rear. After installing the rear arms, I did my diy alignment and took it out for a test drive. There was minimal NVH introduced but all the slop and chatter was gone in the drive line.

However, after putting the fronts in and getting it aligned, I noticed a big jump in NVH while driving under 20mph on rough roads; you simple feel and hear everything. Since the rod ends are new, everything feels nice and tight; even while hitting bumps. But as they wear out, I'm afraid it might start to feel more "crashy".

I just discovered the rod-end boots/covers available for these arms. I wish I knew that before I installed everything. Regardless, I may purchase and install those to protect the rod ends.

If the front starts to annoy me, I think I'm gonna get the SPL adjustable monoball for the OEM caster arm and reinstall that along with putting the OEM toe arm back in. This way, I can still have the adjustability I want while keeping some ball joints in the mix — thus decreasing some of the NVH.

Despite the added NVH, the car drives fantastic. Body roll has decreased and the steering, acceleration, braking is more planted.

Really appreciate this thread - looking to do a bit more in the front of my car. Where are the boots for the rod-ends available? Definitely want to add those to anything I put on the car.

Any changes in NVH now that they've likely broken in a bit more?

[x.shell]

Originally Posted by Rokoz

Really appreciate this thread - looking to do a bit more in the front of my car. Where are the boots for the rod-ends available? Definitely want to add those to anything I put on the car.

Any changes in NVH now that they've likely broken in a bit more?

Here are the boots for the rod ends.

https://www.fkrodends.com/products/s...roducts/boots/

I ended up taking all the front control arms back to stock with the exception of a new SPL adjustable caster monoball.

I might end up putting the SPL adjustable lower control arm back in though. It'll all depend on what I want to do with the alignment.

Unfortunately I'm also trouble shooting a bad creaking noise from the drivers side strut; so that's been first priority for me.

[TopJimmy]

+1 on finding those boots!

I'm thinking if you pack a boot with grease it'll keep any water out?

[x.shell]

Originally Posted by TopJimmy

+1 on finding those boots!

I'm thinking if you pack a boot with grease it'll keep any water out?

I'm pretty sure those boots aren't meant to be greased. FK rod ends come with a Teflon coating that is not supposed to be greased. I think these covers/boots are just meant to keep dirt and contaminants off the rod ends.

[TopJimmy]

Originally Posted by x.shell

I'm pretty sure those boots aren't meant to be greased. FK rod ends come with a Teflon coating that is not supposed to be greased. I think these covers/boots are just meant to keep dirt and contaminants off the rod ends.

Stuff it in, no lube (she said…heh heh).

U da man X. Thanks!

[deli333]

I remember the nightmares I had when I installed all 8 arms in the rear axle all together. I think it took at least 10 shops to find a good one. SPL was like "SIR ISN'T THERE A GOOD ALIGNMENT SHOP?"

[F80Speed77]

Can confirm that the ride starts to go to hell over rough surfaces after about 10000 street/track miles haha. Still worth it though!

[Rokoz]

Originally Posted by F80Speed77

Can confirm that the ride starts to go to hell over rough surfaces after about 10000 street/track miles haha. Still worth it though!

Did you do all the SPL parts at once?

[hellokitty]

Originally Posted by Rokoz

Did you do all the SPL parts at once?

That's how you are supposed to do it… piece by piece is a waste of time, install money and alignment money lol