Friendly reminder. Check your RUCAs.

[mmdb]

Originally Posted by drift freaq

Well regardless of what any of you say, to justify your reasoning, in the end the truth is like I said before, manufacturers make them with either good intentions where they state for track use. Or bad intentions where they just make them to make money. You can all believe that the manufacturer is thinking, hmm these are going to be used on the street lets make them to last like stock car parts. I If you do your just bullshitting yourself. Neither side see's that way. The ones that care state for offroad or track use. The ones that don't don't say anything and just sell them to make a buck.
Any other idea is pretty idealistic if not unrealistic. Sorry but its true.

You've insinuated the same point several times now, thanks. Although, most of us who do run lowered cars have RUCAs to prolong tire wear, increase handling; and ultimately will continue to run them on the street regardless. Period. The question to address is WHICH of these manufacturers who develop RUCAs are using quality materials in their products. The best way to know is to call up the manufacturer, ask them, and if they don't know, or they're built overseas (china perhaps) then steer clear or pursue to contact whom might know.

Side note: One way I found out my RUCAs needed to be cleaned was when I started to hear them squeaking.

[bing]

iono where to start.

obviously basic maintenance should be conducted regardless, but that doesnt entirely absolve the manufacturers from some sort of blame.

for the price of brand name RUCA's you should be getting the best and not just have people "think" they are the best.

without calling out anyone specfically alot of the stuff people are using come with average rod ends, very average. If you took a look at the whole spectrum of what is available and what is typically offered i think most people would end up not buying the more common items.

why anyone would buy the ebay (or like versions) arms is beyond me after all of the failures.

as far as the 'offroad use only', i use that disclaimer as well but i can say that it is used more often than not to absolve one from liability rather than to suggest that you should never use the items on the road.

also, considering the averageness of many of the products offered i would also suggest that they are not necessarily built with pure race in mind. i recall a thread on here specifically where a rep from one of the aforementioned companies stated that the reason the better rod ends were not being sold with the arms was to keep prices down or because people found them to be overkill. that doesnt sound like race-breeding to me.

in the end all you can really do is basic maintenance and try and get ahold of the best stuff you can.

no RUCA or rod end is entirely invincible but you have to take the course of due diligence and make reasonable strides to put the best that you can on to your car, especially with a piece like a RUCA.

i wont take this opportunity to bump my own gear because i think given a different market i could also make it even better. but instead of trying to build the absolute best possible i simply try to offer better than what is currently available.

some agree, some dont, who knows.

Originally Posted by drift freaq

that is also why some products, I no longer will sell.

what products are these?

from another perspective, since it is apparent that many of the current product offerings are unacceptable for many of the conditions our cars are subject to in particular parts of the continent wouldnt you think that the manufacturers or distributors would deter certain people from buying their products if they know they live in one of these locations?

that doesnt happen

[bing]

Originally Posted by Nostradamus

Aluminum 3-piece Teflon/Kevlar self-sealing rod-ends FTW!

how are they working out for you btw...

[drift freaq]

This is turning into a stupid thread. I reiterated my points( not insinuated) several times, because several times people made the statement of I have not checked mine and they are okay. Ignorance does not mean perfection.
In regards to bings question. The products I refer to were sold long ago like over 2-3 years ago. Those products have held up fine on track cars, but I would not bet on them for long term street activity.
The products I sell today are excellent and very well engineered to the point of desired perfection.
In fact If I feel something is not right I will a pull it off the market(which I did recently) or B not even bring it to market. I am out to provide the highest quality possible.
As far as the Ruca market goes its a messed up market that I would not want any part of.
As far as your final statement goes bing, I stated earlier the way manufacturers are. Yet again you reply with a simply idealistic response. Rather than realizing the world is not perfect and that these people are not going to do any more than they already have. Sorry thats the way it is.
Very few manufacturers care enough to point those kind of things out.

I have made my points and they are educated, wise points. If you insist on argueing against them, you are only putting yourself in jeopardy in regards to the parts.
You can choose to live blindly or with open eyes. I have nothing further to say in this thread. So do not attempt to address this post.

[TurDz]

that's why I stopped posting a long time ago...kinda pointless now. Just hope people can use the information and proceed to buy parts well informed and with caution. That's all I think drift freaq was trying to say.

[McRussellPants]

Originally Posted by DoriftoSlut

If you guys think aftermarket RUCAS are for track use only, call up Kuah@SPL or Alex@BV. They'll stand by their products 120%.


Bottom line... Don't buy crappy bullshit parts and you won't have any worries.

This thread should have ended here.

With quality links they'll last long enough to not worry about them for years.

Leading Killers of Multilink (not nessicarily in order)
-Bind
-Saltwater
-Stupidity

[Johny5]

whatever russell, i wash mine with saltwater at least 5 times a week, keeps the kazama mighty fine and strong! the pops are only strong points

[bing]

dfreaq... i was more agreeing with you anyways..

i love to have discussions about this stuff but on the internet everyone just assumes its an arguement, i wasnt trying to argue at all.

but yeah, this thread is killed

[lilredstiffy]

Leading cause of ruca failure:

Living up north

Because I haven't heard of a failure in a normal temperate state.

[bing]

dudes in Cali are breaking the china arms at the bracket end...

http://www.ziptied.com/forum/viewtop...r=asc&start=45

2nd last post.

[lilredstiffy]

Well the China rods and grease nipple rods are a given.

But SPL parts, Cusco, Tanabe, Kazama, Battle Version, etc
Has anyone in a normal climate had a failure not due to some sort of wreck / off track incident?

[Nostradamus]

Originally Posted by bing

how are they working out for you btw...

So far so good. Adjusting the RUCA is a PITA though.

[bing]

u have the open end facing back right?

stick an adjustable on thuuuuur... i dont even have to take my wheel off..

[MikeFD3S]

Items like RUCAS need to be cleaned and maintained periodically, just like adjustable coilovers. If you let them sit around and subject them to inclement weather, they will have a higher chance of failing.

Granted, good RUCAS from quality companies (Kazama, Tanabe, etc etc etc) have provisions like dust boots and chemical treatments, but these only provide higher resistance against corrosion. No metal is impervious to corrosion, remember that.

FTW!

[smithers584]

well this has been a good, long, heated debate, but i have finally come up with the ultimate conclusion that will solve all our problems. lets all sell our 240's and buy Hyundai's. 100,000 mile/10 year warranty, let some one else bitch about the maintenance!

sorry, i got into the booze again!