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

[blu94gt]

I'm surprised no one has done something like this before. End links are pretty simple lol

Thanks for the tip on these though, look like a much better replacement for our cars.

[SwissFerdi]

Very interesting thread, I will need this in the future. Thanks azian.

So can anyone chime in on these versus Autozone or equivalent end links?

[nics]

how long you had those twosrus links? looks like as old as a 6gc

[azian_advanced]

had them for a couple of years.. they look like **** cuz of all the sand and snow on the roads

[99GT]

Very nice.

[jordisonjr]

So how did you know what length to set up the end links at? Did you just set them at the same length of the TwoRU's? Will this add any proformance over the stock rear endlinks?

[BonzaiCelica]

Well since we all know you drive through sand and dirt like you said. So Im sure that if I were to install the two r us end links they wouldnt look so beat up like yours after a few years.

I do live in Southern California where it is 80% sunny all year around, So I dont think my end links would get that bad, but being that the TwoRu's are metal, they would seem to be more rigidy and dont require grease unlike the racingbeats links.

But Im still learning so correct me if Im wrong.

BTW nice Find azain advanced, now we have a cheaper and another alternative to aftermarket end links

[Remy]

Have you ever notified twosrus about that problem azian ?? Mines seems to be holding up just fine right now though they are less then a year old.

[GriffGirl]

That's a good question, about how you know what length to adjust the endlinks to. I have the Twosrus endlinks on my rears, I think I just kep them as they came, which was the same length as the OEM ones I was replacing. What's the advantage to them being adjustable, and how do you know what the correct adjustment is?

[b1gr3d]

typically the shorter they are the more the stiffer they are....hope that made some sense

[jordisonjr]

So If the shorter they are, the stiffer they are, what would be the advantages to having stiffer endlinks over softer end links? or what woudl be the difference from soft to stiff end links be?

[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

[GriffGirl]

This is great info, keep us updated on your findings please

[b1gr3d]

So If the shorter they are, the stiffer they are, what would be the advantages to having stiffer endlinks over softer end links? or what woudl be the difference from soft to stiff end links be?

i was refering to the action of the sway bar ..read what azian wrote in reference to your question

[playr158]

http://www.honda-tech.com/showthread.php?t=2231431
also
http://www.srtforums.com/forums/f163/do-i-...-stechs-416425/

^good explanation on endlinks and how to use them

(you want the endlinks to be EQUAL lengths, and try to make the sway bar parallel to the ground at static ride height.)

This post has been edited by playr158: Feb 4, 2010 - 9:40 AM

[Culpable04]

just ordered a set, I wasn't too thrilled by the whole " you'll be charge for UPS freight charges " so technically, they can charge me 40 bucks for shipping and there will be not much I could do, but will see.

[azian_advanced]

shipping to me was $13.45, which i consider to be fairly reasonable.

[Culpable04]

since they are adjustable, wouldn't the same links fit on the front as well ? they even advertise them for front or rear for the miata, so if hte length is around the same, it can be adjusted to fit on the front as well, or did you measure already and they are way off ?

[SwissFerdi]

Would you mind letting me know how long shipping took? I need these for next weekend.