Installed RacingBeat Rear Links, ..goodbye TwosRUs Options

[azian_advanced]

So here's the story. As i was in the middle of upgrading my suspension from teins to even better teins, i had sheared one of the studs off of the TwosRUs links because it had fused with the sway bar. apparently links should always be greased up since they swivel and rub with the sway bar while going over bumps so i can imagine the heat or friction occurring and cause the bolts to seize. so instead of ordering another pair, i decided to try something else. after a quick search, i found out a couple of members are using racingbeat rear links off of a 90-97 miata without problems.

After a quick comparison between the two I have to say that not only are the RacingBeat links more affordable than the TwosRUs ones ($59 vs. $75 for the pair), but they're imo beefier and better designed. the studs don't have spherical joints unlike the TwosRUs links and instead have urethane bushings so it provides a stiffer connection with the sway bar and the struts. these can also be adjusted in length just like the TwosRUs links.

..so if you're going to upgrade springs and/or rear endlinks, go for these.. just make sure you grease all the bolts and between the washers and swaybar for easy removal in the future. Now I just need to find similar ones for the front...


Link: 90-97 Miata Sway Bar Rear End Links














RacingBeat Miata vs. TwosRUS ST185 Rear Links





The TwosRUs links in their prime






This post has been edited by azian_advanced: Sep 21, 2012 - 2:01 AM

[azian_advanced]

i could be wrong on this but since the twosrus links have spherical bearings, during a turn the sway bar will put a horizontal force on the end links, the joints will rotate a bit of distance before meeting the maximum it can bend so technically there is a bit of play before the sway bar absorbs the forces.

right now, i have the endlinks set just a few millimeters shorter than stock (or shorter than how the twosrus links came in as). by shortening the end link length, it sort of tightens the connection between the sway bar and struts so it stiffens the suspension in the rear end. i read up on wiki how shortening the end links "pre-loads" the sway bar so i guess it means the sway bar is always put under some load.

after driving for a few days with these, it really shows in the handling how bad i need to replace my worn rear suspension arm bushings.. i'll be replacing them this weekend or the next, but more importantly, it stiffened up the rear than before. i'm not sure if it's just the links or the fact that i shortened them a bit more than stock, or if it's because of my new gt4 rear springs, but it feels much stiffer than the effect of adding the gt4 rear strut bar that's for sure (which didn't feel any different imo). on semi-snowy/semi-paved roads, it feels easier to break the rear tires loose with quick braking to shift the weight to the front, and a quick turn of the wheel (w\o using the e-brake).

i can't say i'm fully satisfied just yet until i fix my rear bushings and re-evaluate.

This post has been edited by azian_advanced: Feb 4, 2010 - 12:17 AM