FMJ spindles

FMJ spindles > POLL

72bluNblu said
Makes no difference?

The article clearly shows that the FMJ spindles are perfectly safe, and possibly have BETTER geometry than the original spindles did. Especially for cars that use larger, more modern tires and tread compounds.

Then you should have no problem getting a certified engineer to sign off on it!

Suspension design and geometry is always a trade off. In the case of the FMJ spindles, you trade a ridiculously slight increase in toe change for a more significant increase in negative camber gain. Simply put, thats a good trade. If you don't understand that, then you simply don't understand how suspension works.

I do understand. And again: if that is the case, you should have no problem getting a certified engineer to sign off on it!

The factory designed the suspension on these cars for use with rock hard, rail skinny, bias ply tires. It set the alignment specifications for those tires. It sized the torsion bars for those tires and their incredible lack of traction. It based its brakes on those tires' lack of traction. So the only question is, do you run bias ply tires?

If the answer is NO, and you still use the factory geometry, then you have in fact significantly altered the handling characteristics of your car beyond the factory specifications.

I don't own an A-body...on my friend's FD, it will run stock-sized (185/75R14, I think) tires and may have come stock with radials by 1976. (Some cars did as early as 1973.)