DOES THE HDK SUSPENSION K-MEMBER HANDLE BETTER THAN A T-BAR SUSPENSION?
I mapped it .....more than a decade ago and always have looked for an economical way to raise the upper control arm pivot point. As far as I knew, until very recently, there were no other affordable options.
I have always built the HDK with the best parts available at the time. I have incorporated QA1 1" extended ball joints, the longest extension they have, in the upper control arm since around 2012. Gerst got it from me around 2018 (?) when he started and Qa1 got it from Gerst. I have not seen them on the others. Doesn't mean they don't use them, I just have not seem them on any of their customers builds.
Yes, my first Hemi A-body, my 73 Duster was built with a OEM K, torsion bars and a pinto rack and pinion, very similar to the Mopar Pro-stock cars in the early to mid 70's. The rack actually moved a drag link in an attempt to get the inner tie rod in a better position to improve the steering curve and lessen the bump steer. I made custom steering arms to help with the ackerman but discovered using heim ends for tie rod ends made the steering feel harsh. Worse yet, the heims severely limited suspension travel and on the street didn't last very long without some type of dirt seal and lubrication. I tried Seals It dust seals on the heims but they fell apart after about 40 miles. I called Seals it and they laughed explaining they should be changed after every 2 or 3 races???? go figure?
I mapped it .....more than a decade ago and always have looked for an economical way to raise the upper control arm pivot point. As far as I knew, until very recently, there were no other affordable options.
I have always built the HDK with the best parts available at the time. I have incorporated QA1 1" extended ball joints, the longest extension they have, in the upper control arm since around 2012. Gerst got it from me around 2018 (?) when he started and Qa1 got it from Gerst. I have not seen them on the others. Doesn't mean they don't use them, I just have not seem them on any of their customers builds.
Yes, my first Hemi A-body, my 73 Duster was built with a OEM K, torsion bars and a pinto rack and pinion, very similar to the Mopar Pro-stock cars in the early to mid 70's. The rack actually moved a drag link in an attempt to get the inner tie rod in a better position to improve the steering curve and lessen the bump steer. I made custom steering arms to help with the ackerman but discovered using heim ends for tie rod ends made the steering feel harsh. Worse yet, the heims severely limited suspension travel and on the street didn't last very long without some type of dirt seal and lubrication. I tried Seals It dust seals on the heims but they fell apart after about 40 miles. I called Seals it and they laughed explaining they should be changed after every 2 or 3 races???? go figure?
