SAI mod question

[JKleiner]

My best buddy Aaron44 just took delivery of a partially assembled Mk3 that we will be finishing up for him. Front suspension is already put together with '94-'95 dogleg SN95 spindles, FFR tubular lowers and the SAI kit. It should make for a nice setup! I see that the original owner installed the LCAs using the inner set of holes rather than the outers which would be customary for the tubulars or OEM '87-'93 arms. In reading through David Borden's posts detailing the SAI mod kit installation there is no mention of relocating the lowers to the inner set of frame mount holes. Did I miss something or are there later developments/discoveries that make the inner location preferable? If not we'll move 'em back to the outers.

Thanks in advance guys!

Jeff

[rich grsc]

Jeff, its always been my understanding the inner mount holes where for the donor lower control arms. I dont see how you could get a proper alignment using FFr's arms? OR maybe it was because he had the wrong backset on the rims?

[JKleiner]

Hi Rich,
The inners mounts are for '94-'04 donor arms and the outers are for '87-'93 donor arms or the FFR tubulars. Using the inner mounting points with anything other than the later donor arms brings the lower ball joint in by close to an inch and while I can't see a reason for that with the SAI mod I want to be sure. The original owner didn't get as far as tires & wheels so I know that isn't the reason.

Jeff

[rich grsc]

You are right on the different year control arms, I knew that, just didnt think that far ahead.

[Someday I Suppose]

Jeff, sounds like the wrong holes to me, you dont move the lower arms when you install the SAI mod.

HTH

-Scott

[Bill Waters]

Jeff, I have struggled with and investigated this issue for quite some time, as a search will show. You and others are correct in stating that there are no clear instructions accompanying the SAI mod stuff. I asked a number of knowledgable folks regarding which hole to mount the tubular LCAs, and was consistently told to mount them in the outer ones. Doing so and finding there's not enough length in the adjustable upper CAs led to discussions regarding finding longer upper sleeves from Speedway and other racing parts suppliers.

Quite some time ago, I had spoken to Jeff at Whitby's and he was surprised we were having this trouble with the SAI mod. I bought mine from them and I presume they have a tremendous amount of experience. For work-related reasons, I had suspended meaningful work on my Mk 3.1, but am now resuming a hard press to get finished.

My LCAs are mounted in the outer holes, and I do not have enough (safe) length in the upper adjustable arms to get to acceptable camber (i.e., making camber positive enough), making me think that the inner holes are the correct mounting locations, after all. I am going to call and get an updated opinion from Whitby's (and discuss taking my car to them for paint). I will post the results of that. Looking at the situation, I would wonder why it isn't desirable to move the LCAs inboard,, in which case the upper arms appear to adequate.

Bill

[d42davis]

There have been numerous posts warning of the danger of insufficient thread engagement when setting high caster values. The front adjuster sleeve needs to be replaced with a longer sleeve to insure adequate thread engagement. This is not a new problem and can affect SAI and non-SAI front ends.

[Bill Waters]

True, d42davis. That's really the issue addressed here: specifically the concern that installation of the SAI mod seems to require excessive extension of the upper adjustment rod ends/sleeves, irrespective of caster setting. This means that, to reach 1 or 1.5 degrees of negative camber, one must have insufficient thread engagement in the sleeves. Unsafe.

The question we are raising here is why the inboard holes can't/shouldn't be used to mount the LCAs so as to eliminate the above.

Bill