SMF (Street Modified FWD) Madness Front Control Arms

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
  #1  
Old 01-25-2008, 03:56 PM
minihune's Avatar
minihune
minihune is offline
OVERDRIVE - Racing Champion
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Mililani, Hawaii
Posts: 15,260
Received 67 Likes on 65 Posts
Madness Front Control Arms

They aren't too cheap at $799 per pair.

Are they legal for SM class and would they be helpful for autocrossing?
No question they would be good for track.

http://www.mini-madness.com/browsepr...trol-arms.html

Anyone already using them for autocross? What do you think?
 
  #2  
Old 01-27-2008, 12:00 PM
AstroBlackS's Avatar
AstroBlackS
AstroBlackS is offline
5th Gear
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: CT
Posts: 945
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 3 Posts
Also Interested to see who has these and how they hold up on a street car. Also if they can withstand the winter on a daily driver.
 
  #3  
Old 01-27-2008, 12:21 PM
rpob5t's Avatar
rpob5t
rpob5t is offline
2nd Gear
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: West New York, NJ
Posts: 117
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
dig through the old threads some had a set of tubular lower arms fail on them. I can't recall all the specifics (or whose they were) and I'm not trying to crap on madness' product, but I'd be weary towards buying a set.

Especially since they are chrome moly steel, Chrome moly has to be welded in a very specific manner or the joint becomes very brittle (why SCCA and NASA kinda shy away towards suggesting its use in roll cages, its allowed but not encouraged). That and I don't see the 5lbs total weight savings worth the $800 they cost, buy a new set of tires and go to an evo school, that will make you faster
 
  #4  
Old 01-27-2008, 12:53 PM
Beecher's Avatar
Beecher
Beecher is offline
4th Gear
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Somewhere that no longer exists
Posts: 585
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
i had to get a new set, so i got the madness arms. The handling they provide is amazing, however, for the cost, i would probably say put alta psrs in if they are allowed, if not, they are expensive, but man, the turn in is ridiculous. I havnt had my on the autox yet tho, but have tracked them. I took them for a run in the twisties (really tight twisties, is only it was an autox run), and they were very nice, no increase in noise that i noticed.
 
  #5  
Old 01-27-2008, 06:55 PM
minihune's Avatar
minihune
minihune is offline
OVERDRIVE - Racing Champion
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Mililani, Hawaii
Posts: 15,260
Received 67 Likes on 65 Posts
I think the Madness front control arms are stong enough.

Any weight savings is good.

I think it is legal for SM class based on rule 16.1 E

Suspension components are unrestricted as long as they use the original attachment points. "Suspension" includes shocks and struts, control arms, steering knuckles, uprights, etc., but not tie rods, steering racks, or subframes
 
  #6  
Old 02-09-2008, 07:06 PM
minihune's Avatar
minihune
minihune is offline
OVERDRIVE - Racing Champion
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Mililani, Hawaii
Posts: 15,260
Received 67 Likes on 65 Posts
Something of concern.

The front control arms are designed by MINI with some built in safety in case of crashing. The arms will absorb some of the impact and spare damage to the undercarriage.

Since I use my MINI for daily street driving I will be keeping my stock front control arms.
 
  #7  
Old 02-10-2008, 07:20 AM
snid's Avatar
snid
snid is offline
6th Gear
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Burlington, VT
Posts: 2,021
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts
Originally Posted by minihune
The front control arms are designed by MINI with some built in safety in case of crashing. The arms will absorb some of the impact and spare damage to the undercarriage.
Exhibit A:
 
  #8  
Old 02-10-2008, 01:27 PM
minihune's Avatar
minihune
minihune is offline
OVERDRIVE - Racing Champion
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Mililani, Hawaii
Posts: 15,260
Received 67 Likes on 65 Posts
Originally Posted by snid
Exhibit A:
Exactly.
I've seen several front crashes resulting in quite a bit of front suspension damage and pretty good protection for the occupants or driver.

I like the safety design of the stock part and appreciate it. Parts are easy to replace.
 
  #9  
Old 03-08-2008, 08:57 AM
MiniStupidfun's Avatar
MiniStupidfun
MiniStupidfun is offline
6th Gear
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Orange County, NY
Posts: 4,398
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I ahve heard horror storys of these breaking
 
  #10  
Old 03-10-2008, 11:34 PM
YakiMini's Avatar
YakiMini
YakiMini is offline
5th Gear
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: MN
Posts: 767
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
Of what breaking? Madness Control Arms? OEM? Or those that belonged to a DIFFERENT vendor?
 
  #11  
Old 03-11-2008, 07:31 AM
ScottinBend's Avatar
ScottinBend
ScottinBend is offline
6th Gear
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Oregon, USA
Posts: 3,589
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
LOL the front arms from vendor M# were the ones that failed and were reported on here.
 
  #12  
Old 03-11-2008, 06:36 PM
YakiMini's Avatar
YakiMini
YakiMini is offline
5th Gear
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: MN
Posts: 767
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
Myself nor George have ever heard of his Madness arms failing....
 
  #13  
Old 03-11-2008, 08:34 PM
cooper99's Avatar
cooper99
cooper99 is offline
Banned
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Columbus, Ohio
Posts: 1,179
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
I'd buy them if they were $400 a pair.
 
  #14  
Old 04-23-2008, 06:32 AM
MiniStupidfun's Avatar
MiniStupidfun
MiniStupidfun is offline
6th Gear
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Orange County, NY
Posts: 4,398
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by YakiMini
Of what breaking? Madness Control Arms? OEM? Or those that belonged to a DIFFERENT vendor?
the madness arm
 
  #15  
Old 04-23-2008, 06:56 AM
ScottinBend's Avatar
ScottinBend
ScottinBend is offline
6th Gear
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Oregon, USA
Posts: 3,589
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
The arms that were failing were made by a different vendor......something like N6 O8 or something in there
 
  #16  
Old 04-25-2008, 09:32 AM
chadtoolio's Avatar
chadtoolio
chadtoolio is offline
5th Gear
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Charleston, SC
Posts: 919
Received 11 Likes on 9 Posts
I don't think the Alta PSR's are legal in SM either are they??? I think you can change control arms, but can't change the material that the bushing that was used in OEM equipment. IE:Bearing or solid mound instead of a Rubber bushing.

Chad
 
  #17  
Old 04-25-2008, 09:55 AM
hemiheaded18's Avatar
hemiheaded18
hemiheaded18 is offline
Banned
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 3,673
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Originally Posted by MiniStupidfun
I ahve heard horror storys of these breaking
I thought those stories were of rears failing, not fronts. Any ideas?
 
  #18  
Old 04-25-2008, 04:07 PM
ScottinBend's Avatar
ScottinBend
ScottinBend is offline
6th Gear
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Oregon, USA
Posts: 3,589
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Actually both.............
 
  #19  
Old 06-13-2008, 07:13 PM
El_Griton's Avatar
El_Griton
El_Griton is offline
6th Gear
iTrader: (10)
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Carmel Valley Village, CA
Posts: 1,158
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Any posts about it. I searched and couldn't find ANY.
 
  #20  
Old 06-13-2008, 07:44 PM
ScottinBend's Avatar
ScottinBend
ScottinBend is offline
6th Gear
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Oregon, USA
Posts: 3,589
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
The member who had these fail on him was banned and all of his posts were deleted.

You might want to email Jan at RMW and ask him about these arms.
 
  #21  
Old 06-13-2008, 07:54 PM
El_Griton's Avatar
El_Griton
El_Griton is offline
6th Gear
iTrader: (10)
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Carmel Valley Village, CA
Posts: 1,158
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
rustyboy had them fail........?
 
  #22  
Old 06-13-2008, 09:00 PM
ScottinBend's Avatar
ScottinBend
ScottinBend is offline
6th Gear
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Oregon, USA
Posts: 3,589
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Jan did (the M7 ones)
 
  #23  
Old 06-17-2008, 03:11 PM
Guest's Avatar
Guest
Guest is offline
6th Gear
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: SoCaL (Agoura Hills)
Posts: 3,902
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Originally Posted by El_Griton
rustyboy had them fail........?
Not me.

Talking about Jan (Before he was a vendor again). He used to post on here but was banned a few years back. He was later allowed to rejoin as a vendor.
 
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
W0TM8
General MINI Talk
23
12-19-2019 07:50 AM
ebowling
R50/R53 :: Hatch Talk (2002-2006)
90
08-04-2019 09:15 AM
wkp1219
MINI Parts for Sale
27
11-13-2015 07:52 AM
Minibeagle
Stock Problems/Issues
6
08-13-2015 10:00 AM
OutMotoring
Vendor Announcements
0
08-06-2015 09:32 AM



Quick Reply: SMF (Street Modified FWD) Madness Front Control Arms



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 05:08 PM.