Friendly reminder. Check your RUCAs.

[rancid240]

These are used jics I bought off of yahoo auctions. I have ran them for about a year. The drivers side arm broke on the freeway over a large bump, sending the car into a near fishtail. I was close to home so I made it back easily. Im not insinuating that JIC arms are of low quality or anything, since I did buy them used. Just a warning to check your arms every once in a while.

[drift freaq]

This is not aimed at you Rancid its a general call out.

Like I have said in previous posts on rucas , people these things were intended for race cars that get checked all the time. Not slapped on street cars subjugated to adverse weather conditions. Then all of a sudden , oh my my ruca broke, it must be because of the shitty manufacture.
To all the Canadians and cold climate folks, here on the forums, Word!!This is what will happen to yours, no matter who makes it. None of them and I mean none of them, were ever designed to be run straight through a Canadian or midwestern winter and last let alone one year or multiple years.
People need to take responsibility and check these things. Instead of trying to blame it on manufacturers, because they were to blase to inspect the stuff, on a regular basis.

[NemeGuero]

I checked mine today.

[slideways2004]

Originally Posted by NemeGuero

I checked mine today.

me too. i check and lubricate them once a week

[NemeGuero]

You lube the bushing, or what?

[KOUKI KA-T]

Checked mine too. Still sitting in the box they came in 12 months ago
I think I'll actually put them on this weekend...

[mr_240sx]

Originally Posted by KOUKI KA-T

Checked mine too. Still sitting in the box they came in 12 months ago
I think I'll actually put them on this weekend...

i ordered mine around christmas time when josh had the kazama GB !

maybe ill be ambicious enough to install them this week-end/ next week

[crazyikimasho]

Its also added protection to buy arms with boots on the end of the bushing. Even if you do have them you still should check them and keep the rods clean and lubed.

[swwifty]

umm, you would have never seen that coming even if you did check your RUCAs.

Race cars see a lot more stress than street cars. I find this unacceptable. It looks like the bolt just sheared off completely.

[NemeGuero]

You probably would have seen a fracture line.

[drift freaq]

Originally Posted by swwifty

umm, you would have never seen that coming even if you did check your RUCAs.

Race cars see a lot more stress than street cars. I find this unacceptable. It looks like the bolt just sheared off completely.

And you sir missed the point of my post completely. Race cars are run for 1-2 hours at a time over the course of a day, over a race weekend. At the end of the race weekend they are quite often torn apart inspected and quite often rebuilt with some parts or all parts replaced.
Now, if that does not clearly explain my point for you, I will spell it out. Constant matinence!!!
You cannot tell me, that someone that is in a extreme weather climate or not, puts on a part that was designed with constant matinence in mind and then ignores it, is not running the risk of severly fatiguing the part or even breaking it.

[swwifty]

Originally Posted by drift freaq

And you sir missed the point of my post completely. Race cars are run for 1-2 hours at a time over the course of a day, over a race weekend. At the end of the race weekend they are quite often torn apart inspected and quite often rebuilt with some parts or all parts replaced.
Now, if that does not clearly explain my point for you, I will spell it out. Constant matinence!!!
You cannot tell me, that someone that is in a extreme weather climate or not, puts on a part that was designed with constant matinence in mind and then ignores it, is not running the risk of severly fatiguing the part or even breaking it.

Let me get this straight. Your saying that RUCAs should be replaced after a average race weekend? Or just looked at to tell if they should be replaced, and then replaced if neccesary?

Either way, I'm not buying it. RUCAs aren't a wear item. They should be designed to withstand the forces they will encounter under normal and racing driving conditions. There is no maintenance involved. Sure, if you track your car or have a full blown race car you should inspect the suspension before events; however, we're not talking about race cars here. These parts are being put on street cars, and the manufactuers know that. They can't expect the average joe, to inspect his suspension weekly. Plus, even if you did inspect it you probably wouldn't even see it unless you had a huge crack.

[Irukandji]

Originally Posted by swwifty

Let me get this straight. Your saying that RUCAs should be replaced after a average race weekend?

Where the hell did he even imply that?

Originally Posted by swwifty

Either way, I'm not buying it. RUCAs aren't a wear item. They should be designed to withstand the forces they will encounter under normal and racing driving conditions.

I think the point of this thread is to just give everyone a friendly reminder to check the Rucas. He's not trying to say RUCAS will fail on you.


An easy way to keep the bolts from corroding is to just spray a little wd40 on the threads once in a while.

[drift freaq]

Originally Posted by swwifty

Let me get this straight. Your saying that RUCAs should be replaced after a average race weekend? Or just looked at to tell if they should be replaced, and then replaced if neccesary?

Either way, I'm not buying it. RUCAs aren't a wear item. They should be designed to withstand the forces they will encounter under normal and racing driving conditions. There is no maintenance involved. Sure, if you track your car or have a full blown race car you should inspect the suspension before events; however, we're not talking about race cars here. These parts are being put on street cars, and the manufactuers know that. They can't expect the average joe, to inspect his suspension weekly. Plus, even if you did inspect it you probably wouldn't even see it unless you had a huge crack.

Boy,you either love construeing peoples statements, or your just good at missing points. Point of my statement about the race cars is inspection and replacement if nessecary. i.e Constant matinence!! There I said it again.

Hmmm, a movable heim joint is not a wear item. YOu fail basic engineering 101.
You think Ruca's with no rubber in them are designed for street use? Man, you have not been around long, have you?
You think the manufacturers design these things with street use in mind?
Cusco, Battle Version , JIC, Kazama and the list goes on, makes these parts for track use.
Kids buying them and using them on the street does not immediately dictate that the manufacturers designed these for street use. They did not!! If you believe that, then your not very well educated on street car suspensions vs track and race car suspensions.
If these type of things were designed and intended for long term street use you would see cars rolling out of the factories setup this way i.e. no rubber in the suspension and everything heim jointed. You don't and for the very reasons I stated.

[swwifty]

Originally Posted by drift freaq

Boy,you either love construeing peoples statements, or your just good at missing points. Point of my statement about the race cars is inspection and replacement if nessecary. i.e Constant matinence!! There I said it again.

Hmmm, a movable heim joint is not a wear item. YOu fail basic engineering 101.
You think Ruca's with no rubber in them are designed for street use? Man, you have not been around long, have you?
You think the manufacturers design these things with street use in mind?
Cusco, Battle Version , JIC, Kazama and the list goes on, makes these parts for track use.
Kids buying them and using them on the street does not immediately dictate that the manufacturers designed these for street use. They did not!! If you believe that, then your not very well educated on street car suspensions vs track and race car suspensions.
If these type of things were designed and intended for long term street use you would see cars rolling out of the factories setup this way i.e. no rubber in the suspension and everything heim jointed. You don't and for the very reasons I stated.

Actually, I'm just trying to prevent what is happening...

Any unexperienced person who read this thread will immediately think, I don't want RUCA's because they'll break if I don't check them weekly!!!!

LOL, you claim that I warp your statements when you are doing the same thing to me. I never said that I thought manfactuers designed RUCAs only for the street. I just see no reason why they can't be run on the street perfectly fine.

You came across in your first post as if RUCAs were only for race cars that are inspected with a fine tooth comb.

It doesn't look like the heim joint in this situation broke. It looks to me like the shaft of the arm broke in half.

[drift freaq]

Originally Posted by swwifty

Actually, I'm just trying to prevent what is happening...

Any unexperienced person who read this thread will immediately think, I don't want RUCA's because they'll break if I don't check them weekly!!!!

LOL, you claim that I warp your statements when you are doing the same thing to me. I never said that I thought manfactuers designed RUCAs only for the street. I just see no reason why they can't be run on the street perfectly fine.

You came across in your first post as if RUCAs were only for race cars that are inspected with a fine tooth comb.

It doesn't look like the heim joint in this situation broke. It looks to me like the shaft of the arm broke in half.

To spell it out for you, over half the people running Ruca's should not be running Ruca's.
I did not warp your statements, you missed my points and rebutted with questions and incredulation, I in turn responded spelling it out for you.
You did state, that manufacturers knew the people were using them on the street.
That is, one a broad assumption and two completely unfounded .The manufacturers designed them specifically for track use., beyond that they do not pay attention.
In truth Ruca's are designed with the intention of non street use i.e. race cars, that is an indisputable fact. If you do not know that, then your either very young or have not been around racing very long.
They should be inspected with a fine tooth comb, if you care about your car and yours suspension.
Basic facts here: Ruca's were designed for track use and for the most part should not be installed on cars that are not seeing a lot of track time.
Does that mean you should not install them on your street car? Probably, does it mean people will adhere to it? Of course not. For the people that don't if they are going to go there they should inspect them on a regular basis.
Your arguement through this whole thing has been based around non matinence. Thats just bad period.

[swwifty]

Originally Posted by drift freaq

To spell it out for you, over half the people running Ruca's should not be running Ruca's.
I did not warp your statements, you missed my points and rebutted with questions and incredulation, I in turn responded spelling it out for you.
You did state, that manufacturers knew the people were using them on the street.
That is, one a broad assumption and two completely unfounded .The manufacturers designed them specifically for track use., beyond that they do not pay attention.
In truth Ruca's are designed with the intention of non street use i.e. race cars, that is an indisputable fact. If you do not know that, then your either very young or have not been around racing very long.
They should be inspected with a fine tooth comb, if you care about your car and yours suspension.
Basic facts here: Ruca's were designed for track use and for the most part should not be installed on cars that are not seeing a lot of track time.
Does that mean you should not install them on your street car? Probably, does it mean people will adhere to it? Of course not. For the people that don't if they are going to go there they should inspect them on a regular basis.
Your arguement through this whole thing has been based around non matinence. Thats just bad period.

I really don't understand your logic here. I understand that you believe inspecting the RUCAs will prevent a failure somehow; however, race cars indure MUCH more suspension stress than a street car will. 1-2 hours on the track is easily like driving your car for a month on the street. A failure of a RUCA at the track would be much more catastrohpic in my mind. A high speed accident would be very bad at the track.

If these RUCAs are indeed wearable as you say, then I would imagine we'd see a lot more failures on the track. I believe the failures are more caused by faulty parts.

FYI, I have a S14 with Battle Version RUCAs. I don't anticpate them breaking anytime soon, and I use the car for track days, autox, weekend driving. I have quite a bit of experience in the racing department. I just have a different perspective then you.

[theicecreamdan]

Originally Posted by swwifty

FYI, I have a S14 with Battle Version RUCAs. I don't anticpate them breaking anytime soon, and I use the car for track days, autox, weekend driving. I have quite a bit of experience in the racing department. I just have a different perspective then you.

I don't anticipate my engine to use too much oil, but I check the oil when I get gas.

I don't anticipate my brakes to catastrophically fail but I check them at oppurtune times.

I check a lot of things that I don't anticipate to be broken, sometimes I find out that its a good thing I checked, other times its a small waste of time for good peace of mind.

[Pank]

Originally Posted by swwifty

. 1-2 hours on the track is easily like driving your car for a month on the street.

this isnt even close to true, and is a huge blanket statement. For the engine, i could see how this statement is true. but not for susp. Race tracks are smooth. there are no potholes, they do not race after leaving their car in the rain for a day, or after they drive through salted roads after it snows.

theres a reason that light "race-only" wheels are soft as hell, they never have super sudden shocks like a pothole or suburban curb would provide.

[mrmephistopheles]

Originally Posted by drift freaq

Not slapped on street cars subjugated to adverse weather conditions.

http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=subjugate
http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=subjected

[Ichi-Go]

I dont see how the track is harder on your car than business entrances with 8k/6k coilovers and constantly being jarred by shitty roads. I dont know what tracks you have been to but dips, speedbumps, ruts, sewers, reflectors, and pavement seams dont ring a bell when I think of track driving.

[Ghettokracker71]

goddamnit.......shit...so mine aren't ok for my street s13?

[TurDz]

drift freaq is absolutely right. These were designed for "off-road use only" i.e. race cars. And he's right when he says maintenance is KEY.

Originally Posted by swwifty

Either way, I'm not buying it. RUCAs aren't a wear item. They should be designed to withstand the forces they will encounter under normal and racing driving conditions. There is no maintenance involved.

That's the thing...they weren't designed for "normal" i.e. street use, that's why most suspension links say "off road or racing use only."

These parts are being put on street cars, and the manufactuers know that. They can't expect the average joe, to inspect his suspension weekly. Plus, even if you did inspect it you probably wouldn't even see it unless you had a huge crack.

Manufacturers only know that these parts are designed for the race track and off road use only. Street use isn't included, and much harsher on the suspension.

Street roads = harsh impacts, abrupt bumps, cracks, extremely fast suspension movement and lots of vibration.

Track road = smooth roads, gradual weight shifting on the suspension (body roll, pitch, yaw).

Pot holes and road imperfections + corrosion = failure.

Because you're using SOLID joints, you cannot expect these joints to last longer than stock OEM ones with rubber bushings. The actual joint and bolt connection absorb about "10 times more stress and vibration than stock" (quoted from one of my auto engineering professors).

This failure seems awfullly familiar to this one:

http://www.zilvia.net/f/showthread.p...ight=corrosion



same place any everything....

[drift freaq]

Originally Posted by mrmephistopheles

http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=subjugate
http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=subjected

thank you kev, I guess I was a little tired when I made that mistake hahahhah

[TurDz]

Originally Posted by Ghettokracker71

goddamnit.......shit...so mine aren't ok for my street s13?

It's all up to the user, but I'm sure most manufacturers put disclaimers such as "off road use only" to bypass any type of liability.

And yes, there should be ways to see if a crack is developing....if you see corrosion on the threads I would replace that bolt ASAP.

[Ghettokracker71]

hmm thanks


goddamnfuckingmessagetooshort

[drift freaq]

Originally Posted by swwifty

I really don't understand your logic here. I understand that you believe inspecting the RUCAs will prevent a failure somehow; however, race cars indure MUCH more suspension stress than a street car will. 1-2 hours on the track is easily like driving your car for a month on the street. A failure of a RUCA at the track would be much more catastrohpic in my mind. A high speed accident would be very bad at the track.

If these RUCAs are indeed wearable as you say, then I would imagine we'd see a lot more failures on the track. I believe the failures are more caused by faulty parts.

FYI, I have a S14 with Battle Version RUCAs. I don't anticpate them breaking anytime soon, and I use the car for track days, autox, weekend driving. I have quite a bit of experience in the racing department. I just have a different perspective then you.

I fear for you, maybe I am wrong, but it sounds like you don't pay to much attention to matinence, thats scary.
As far as street vs track goes streets are much harder on suspension than a smooth race track.
A failure of a Ruca at the track being much more catastrophic? In a sense of you being in a high speed crash? Maybe, difference is at the track you can go off the course and maybe injure yourself possibly cause another car to crash.

Catastrophic failure on street or highway? Much worse, why? On the track other drivers are expecting things. On the street the average joe is not. You run the risk of injuring other people on the street( possibly setting off a chain reaction) a lot more than at the track. You also run the risk of hitting a lot more inanimate objects on the street that would kill you.

Failures on race courses happen with suspension parts. It happens in SCCA , It happens in F1, it happens in Indy Car etc... just because in your limited road course or track experiences, you have not seen it, does not mean it has not happened or is not going to happen.

Moving parts wear, its part of physics. If a moving part did not wear at all someone would be making a lot of money on the patent and we would be entering a whole new world technologically. Can we say Sci Fi?

[az_240]

this is why I bought Cusco/spl RUCA's

[NemeGuero]

So remember.. check your RUCAs! lol

[mmdb]

^ How well does the cusco part hold up? I like the dust boot idea, but it seems like there's potential to get water trapped in there.