Yes, the Xa has much better tires/wheels and the rear suspension still feels a little funny when cornering near the limit but it's a pretty amazing car for what you pay for it. I don't like the torsion beam either but it's WAY better than my old bug... Can you say "swing axle tuck under"??? Talk about pucker factor!

My BMW also needs some rear suspension upgrading, the front is now much better than the rear.

The most noticable improvement with the urethane end links is when transiting a series of fast corners with no striaght in between them. The car used to lean a little before the swaybar "grabbed" it then going into the next corner it would flop to the other side (quickly, but I could still feel it) before the swaybar "grabbed" it agian. Now I don't feel anything like that at all. There is a series of 5 corners close together with hills thrown in.... It's more fun than a rollercoaster!!
ken

 

need pic!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Patience, I have a roll going in today and another to finish off and get developed.
ken

 

I give you props for your hard work man

 

Thanks, my wife thinks I'm nuts for modifing a new car... she thinks I need rehab! She says "it does everything well, why do you want to mess with it?" I respond "yes, it does everything well but there are some things it could do BETTER!". She'll never understand so I just tell her it could be worse, I could be going to bars and chasing other women! She just shakes her head and goes back in the house...
ken

 

 

dude Ken, are you going to the Sacramento meet? We need to get together and talk shop, so much this little grass-hoppa can learn...

 

I may make it up there, don't know yet. If I do I'll look for you.
ken

 

Pics at last....

http://www.imagestation.com/album/?i...ulation_page=Y

The half of header is for a BMW 320i 1.8L. The pipes are tacked and ready to be Tig welded and coated. I will finish the other 2 pipes this week. Just thought you might like to see it.

ken

 

ken, there's a password on the album... PM me if you don't want to share it... else post it here, pleeeeease! :D

 

Sorry, I've never used that before so I learned something new... Password removed! Let me know if there is any more problems.
ken

 

Sounds interesting. I'm gonna try this one.
So, we need something like this:
http://store.summitracing.com/defaul...1&autoview=sku

Thanks

 

i just finished putting the end links on tonight. i bought the red ones from summit.
autozone has them too in sizes larger than 1", which is okay considering that it needs to be trimmed anyway. i think that they want $20.

i used a band saw to trim down the polyurethane bushings by 3/16" each. btw, use something to hold the bushing if you use a band saw. i held it with a thin piece of scrap wood that i shoved into the hole.

i used a belt sander to take 1/8" off of the metal bushings.

i replaced the bolts with 4" long 3/8" bolts.

i don't have a lift, so i had to turn my wheels to the extreme for each side.
i found it difficult to get the nut onto the end though. so i put the nut on without the last bushing in place. then i jacked my car up and put a jack stand under it. then i used the jack to lift the A-arm up closer to the anti-sway bar. worked like a charm.

i tightened it until about 2-3 threads were showing.

i don't know how it reacts yet. hopefully, i will notice a difference at the solo 2 next weekend.

ken, have you gotten the greasable bushings yet? i might try that next, but it looked a little hairy under there.