very true. Glad it got worked out, now I feel the need to check mine..........lol

 

I, like a few other posters on this thread, was wondering where to get the MINI-X control arms. I did a "Google" search and found what I believe to be the company (Motion Motors, in CA). Their website doesn't load, nor has anybody returned my calls.

If anybody knows where to get these, I sure would appreciate a post.

Thanks,
Gene

 

Gene,

The website is getting a new look. Sorry about not calling back quicker. I do not as yet advertise on NAM (4 Mark ) but will be very soon. (4 Mark again)
It is not fair for those Venders that do so I must be very careful what I say until I do advertise on NAM. My apologies to those Venders.

 

Spoke with the good fellow at Motion Motors, he was GREAT!! Much good advice about control arms and MINIS in general. I was at work or I could have talked his ear off. He is currently out of the control arm ends, but has an order from me when he gets more.

Great guy, give him a try.

Gene

 

how could you post that pic and not my uber-MSPaint version???

 

LOL...I was gonna, but then it felt mean, so I just posted the original

 

Hello Control Arm Students,

I've been selling the Megan and IE arms for months now and have had 100% positive feedback on both. I put the Megan's on my R50 Friday and was very happy with the product and easy install. I have added pics of the arms and parts to the NAM product link https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...uct/232/cat/75

My Wrench thought the Megan's were some of the nicer arms he had seen on many cars in the last 10 years. The pics do not show just how beefy the arms are. I would say bending them would involve a very hard slide into a curb at which point a bent arm will be the least of your problems .

I welcome your questions after your review of the above link and this very helpful thread.

 

I have a comment about your (AutoXCooper.com) product use description in which is says “They can either be set to adjust camber or to adjust toe depending upon where they are installed.” If adjustable arms are used to adjust toe, it will also alter track. It is better to make toe adjustments using the trailing arm bracket at the chassis, if minimal change to rear track is desired. Of course if you want wider or narrower widths between wheels, then adjusting with all four arms is the ticket. BTW, camber can be adjusted using adjustable arms in either the lower or upper mounted position. It gets complicated when toe adjustments are attempted using the control arms because when camber is adjusted, toe is affected, if you start with toe (both uppers and lowers are adjusted together), it alters track, and when you try to change camber, you’ve altered toe again.

The main advantage for having all four adjustable arms is uniform pivot mechanisms.

I’ve owned H-Sport arms, the bushings didn’t last and the Zerk fittings were useless because the grease channels in the bushings collapse. I owned the Megan arms pictured here, very solid pivot mechanism but it also added firmness which bordered on uncomfortable. I have the SPC arms now, they match the OEM arm bushing in vibration absorption and exceed in rigidity.

 

Hello K-Huevo, Thanks for the great feedback. SPC arms are the best of the best if I had a larger budget I too would have 4 of them in my MINI.

For the price, the IE's and Megan's work very well for a large number of MINI owners for daily driving and Auto X which is my target market.

Would you please expand on "...added firmness which bordered on uncomfortable.." I don't fully understand what you are addressing.

 

The pillow ***** are great at providing feedback, well suited for competition use or the hard core street user. The feedback includes road noise and vibration, a trade off I was no longer comfortable with after 10k plus miles, through perpetual road construction zones.

 

Thanks I will watch for that and report my findings when I get 10K on them.

 

I don't think you need 10k miles on them to know I think he meant after 10k miles of living with it, the performance !> than the NVH trade-off

 

Toe is adjusted via the trailing arm, not any of the rear control arms, ever. Plot the curves and see...

Yes, there may be some forward and backward relationships to contend with on a car that is lowered, and, have adjustable control arms. But, the techs should know how the car works, and how to align the car given the new adjustability. Adjusting toe via the control arms will alter the camber/toe curves...and in my experience not anywhere near the good side of handling.

My personal advise is to adjust camber with the lower link and set the upper to stock. This will help maintain tire to fender relationships and keep rear track basically the same..

Kieth, I've often thought of using the adjustable links as a way to alter track...

My SPC arms are very stout, but are sitting on a bench...

 

A search has not turned up any instances of actual failures of any of the aftermarket control arms mentioned in this thread. So despite the arguments in multiple threads about center turnbuckle designs like Megan or H-sport being weaker than designs that are adjusted at the end links, such as Alta or Helix, has anyone actually been witness to arms of either design failing? Also, I realize that the Altas, H13s, and Ultriks have heim joints that behave differently from stock style bushings, but my question is whether any arms have either bent or snapped.

 

and to add to the list of arms, there's the NEW TSW Arm


and the new redesign of the IE arm

 

Any reviews or input on the new TSW control arms? They look like the H-Sport control arms.

 

While they look similar, we have a different center section and very different ends - we use a spec'ed durometer of rubber in the ends, which is sandwiched between the metal insert and outer housing. They require no lubrication and provide compliance and yet quiet operation. They've been hammered around several tracks and autocross layouts - they make zero noise, add no additional NVH and are VERY beefy...

 

The zero noise and no additional NVH is GREAT news. My rear camber is all out of wack.

 

My customers that have installed the TSW love them. One changed out another set of aftermarket arms and really like the TSW's ones.

 

I have the Alta V1 arms, and I think many of the squeaks I hear from the back come from them, at least one of them. I was thinking about changing them, but I want something that will grant me zero noise so maybe rubber will be better of heim joints, what do you think? Also, I've seen Alta has a v2 of their arms, has anyone tried them out and can tell me if they are noisy or not?

 

Bump. Any failures?

 

The TSW Arms would be the ones you want. TSW claims zero noise and my customer running them confirm the same zero noise.

I have researched for a year now and can't find any failure of that type (center turnbuckle designs like Megan or H-sport) of arm.

 

Yeah, I've seen the TSW and they seem very nice. I guess I'll have to confirm the noise comes from the arms and then save money for the change...

 

I will add here, based upon actual experience, that having the bushing inside, as is the case with TSW control arm, is the way to go. Any bushing that is installed as two halves with a steel dowel in the center will not hold up long term...I had two rear lower control arm failures and one was at about 90mph at Lime Rock and it wasn't fun. The rod end failure was accelerated by driving too many miles on bad public roads...and I didn't inspect them often enough at 250 miles a day of driving. The other was a a bushing designed in two halves as above...

As far as I am concerned, these are no joke parts...the rear control arms have the potential to really help your set-up, but also to ruin your day, or in the least, a pair of very nice new underwear

In addition, for those designing and selling these, I also believe that the rear lower inner joint receives a majority of the load...meaning more than all of the other rear links...based upon observation, ie, what broke.

 

I just installed the TSW arms that I bought from Dustin at Auto X Cooper. The arms are very very well made and very beefy. Adjustement is easy and the arms make no noise or vibration of any kind. I think they look prett classy too! I would highly recommend these arms as well as Auto X Cooper. Outstanding customer service! Thanks again Dustin!