SPL PARTS version 3 arms - new adjuster info and poll

[[email protected]]

This is our new adjuster design, a hybrid clamp and jam nut combination. This design uses a billet aluminum clamp on the rod end side and a jam nut on the arm side, to lock down your alignment setting.

We are using the clamp design for several reasons: with the old jam nut design, when tightening the jam nut on the rod end, that has a tendency to rotate the rod end. This makes it difficult to hold the alignment setting, as the rod end threads in/out combined with the jam nut stretching the thread, the alignment can shift 1/16" or more. It also makes it difficult to keep the spherical bearing centered to prevent binding under suspension travel. To get an accurate alignment while keeping the bearing centered becomes a tricky juggling act. The clamp design solves all these problems, allowing the alignment to be set without moving the rod end.

We continue to use a jam nut on the arm side because I have found that because of its size, it can be tightened without moving the adjuster or changing the length of the arm.

FWIW the new adjuster drives up our production cost on each pair of arm by $10-15. It is much more expensive than a 20cent jam nut. But for now we are keeping prices unchanged. All our v2 arms can be upgraded to the new adjuster, I will put up the upgrade information later this month.

Here is a picture of all our rear arms equipped with the new adjuster:



I need to poll you guys about using a different finish on our suspension arms. We have been using chrome since the beginning because of its high chip resistance and cosmetic appearance. However chrome being a tough finish, develops micro-cracks and pinholes, which are usually not visible, but can cause small rust bubbles to develop over a long period of time, in certain climates.

I have been looking into different finishing possibilities. I wanted to avoid powdercoating because once chipped, powdercoat tends to come off in chunks. Also it creates problems with threaded parts. The finish I came up with is Cadmium w/ Black Chromate plating, followed by baking to reduce hydrogen embrittlement. Cadmium plating has better corrosion resistance compared to chrome, it will also prevent long term galvanic corrosion of the steel arm if the arm gets exposed to any salt. And because we can get these baked after plating, it will actually make the parts a little stronger (less hydrogen embrittlement). The downside is that it is not as good looking as chrome...

To compare, this is our chromed rear upper arms:



Here is the new "Stealth Black" rear upper arms:



The poll question is: if only the "Stealth Black" finish was available, would that otherwise deter you from buying the product? ie. You would buy the chromed product, but not the "Stealth Black".

It would be too difficult for me to try to stock both finishes, so I have to decide whether to switch everything to "Stealth Black", or keep the chrome.