LCA Spherical bearings

[Todd98SE]

Just gauging interest at this point but is there any interest in replacement front lower control arm bushings with spherical bearings. This is typically considered a race only application but I know it would benefit you guys that HPDE/autocross your MS3's. I'm considering tackling this project just for the educational aspect.

My idea is a press fit CNC 6061 aluminum housing holding a QA1 teflon/kevlar lined spherical bearing and appropriate sized misalignments. Plenty of companies make these for more mainstream racing cars (Honda, Acura, etc.) but nobody seems to be very interested in hardcore MS3 suspension parts. I have no idea on price at this point but the more interest there is the bigger initial run I can do which would drive down the cost per set.

I'm also interested in looking at a pillow ball upper mount for the rear suspension.

Discuss?

Thanks,

Todd

[Nliiitend1]

Originally Posted by Todd98SE Just gauging interest at this point but is there any interest in replacement front lower control arm bushings with spherical bearings. This is typically considered a race only application but I know it would benefit you guys that HPDE/autocross your MS3's. I'm considering tackling this project just for the educational aspect. My idea is a press fit CNC 6061 aluminum housing holding a QA1 teflon/kevlar lined spherical bearing and appropriate sized misalignments. Plenty of companies make these for more mainstream racing cars (Honda, Acura, etc.) but nobody seems to be very interested in hardcore MS3 suspension parts. I have no idea on price at this point but the more interest there is the bigger initial run I can do which would drive down the cost per set. I'm also interested in looking at a pillow ball upper mount for the rear suspension. Discuss? Thanks, Todd

Pillowball upper mounts for the rear of the MS3??

What on Earth would you gain from that??

...unless I'm misunderstanding what you're suggesting.

[DISITRB]

Very Interested. I have been researching this my self. Maybe something like this. I found this on a Focus forum.
CFM Front Tubular Control Arms for '00-07 Ford Focus.

uses a spherical bearings for the ball joint mount and poly for the rest.

Seems to be more streetable.

or even just poly bushing replacements.

[Nliiitend1]

I'm somewhat familiar with those Focus arms...I know CFM claims that theirs address the shortcomings that the earlier (now defunct) Focus Central arms of a similar design had (they completely broke on several cars with very little use), but for me to put something like those on my MS3 I'd have to be certain that they'd been tested under pretty extreme use and held up...

[Todd98SE]

I wasn't planning on something as extreme as replacement arms just sphericals for the stock arms.

As for the rear pillow balls if my brief inspection of the rear suspension was correct there is some significant shaft travel taken up by the stock mount. I need to take some more measurements to be sure or not.

[Nliiitend1]

Well, I think you're just mis-applying terminology, as there is no need for a spherical bearing at the top of the rear shocks on the MS3...

If you're simply talking about a more rigid top mount that removes any "freeplay" that is inherent to the stock design,

I'm all for it. On my old Focuses, there was some play in the upper rear shock bushing that (because of the Focus's mount design) could be eliminated with the insertion of a Delrin washer into the stock mount...The MS3 uses an different upper shock mount design, but I'm sure you're right that there is some bushing flex before the shaft is engaged...

[Todd98SE]

The rear shock mount is typically replaced by a pillow ball mount which is essentially a spherical bearing which removes any flex from the stock rubber mounts. The spherical bearing holding the shock shaft in place allows for a small amount of articulation as the shock moves through its range of travel. I think we are both on the same page but are describing the same thing differently.

[Nliiitend1]

Yeah, I think you're right.