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The Terminator
Suspension Modifications
Steeda K Member Group Buy 2.0
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<blockquote data-quote="PWORLDSTANG" data-source="post: 16417203" data-attributes="member: 49424"><p>First, they decided to use gussets to connect the front tube that the steering rack mounts to, and the boxed portion of the k-member (shown below). Even though the front tube on the BMR unit runs in at an angle to support the boxed section, I question whether such a small gusset is adequate. On the phone, Dion@BMR claimed the gussets added a substantial amount of rigidity. However the MM and Steeda units both use a tubular connection in that location, and Steeda even went as far as using an integrated gusset <em>and </em>tubular connection. From research, I do know that tubular chassis support is more resistant to torsional loads, which is what you’d want in this location, and is why you find it on the MM and Steeda unit. But BMR decided to use a small gusset in a location that will be subjected to extreme cornering loads.</p><p></p><p>The pic below is an old one of the OP’s car I found while searching something unrelated, but it shows what cornering loads the chassis, and therefore k-member can be subjected to.</p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1639923[/ATTACH]IMG_9314</p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1639924[/ATTACH]IMG_8780</p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1639925[/ATTACH]IMG_8930</p><p></p><p>Not only is the gusset small, it is also short. It is welded mid-way between the front and rear a-arm mounts, whereas the Steeda and MM unit provide support <em>through</em> the <strong>rear </strong>a-arm mounts. You can buy BMR’s ‘a-arm support brace’ for an additional $69 to help with this, but it’s already incorporated into the Steeda and MM design.</p><p></p><p>Second, they chose to cut the rear of the boxed chassis section to allow for header clearance. Header clearance is great! But what’s not great is that piece of thin, flimsy metal they welded in place. Where the embossed logo is, you can see literally see a bend in the metal from it simply being too thin, and this is with no load on the car. I don’t suspect this would be an issue if a thicker piece of metal were used. What’s worse is there is an a-arm tab welded to this piece of thin metal on the backside of this cut portion. I don’t know what type of loads run through this section of the k-member, but neither the Steeda nor MM unit uses such thin gauge metal anywhere in their designs.</p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1639926[/ATTACH]IMG_9053</p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1639927[/ATTACH]IMG_8892</p><p></p><p>Also, the upper and lower a-arm mounting holes are <em>extremely</em> close together. The thinness between those two mounting holes just make me scratch my head. This is also apparent at the edge of rear subframe mounting tab where only a marginal amount of metal is there at the end of the tab, along with a tear in the supporting gusset. Surprisingly (or not), issues with thinness is not evident in neither the Steeda or MM unit, as visible in the pics below.</p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1639928[/ATTACH]IMG_9466</p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1639929[/ATTACH]IMG_8886</p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1639930[/ATTACH]IMG_8889</p><p></p><p>Lastly, the overall weld quality appears to somewhat mediocre to me. The powder coating they use helps mask it, but the Steeda unit had vastly superior welds. Some of this is because the Steeda unit it TIG welded which produces small precise welds. However, the MM unit is not TIG welded (I emailed them and confirmed). Theirs is MIG welded and looks as good, if not better than Steeda’s TIG in my opinion. This is likely a non-issue so long as the welds penetrated, but it certainly speaks to the overall quality, design, and other concerns I’ve noted above.</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1639931[/ATTACH]IMG_9453</p><p></p><p>I recommend anyone looking at the pics to either save them and view them on your phone, or zoom in on your phone and look at the detail. These are all minor details that aren't individually significant, but become significant as a whole in my opinion. These are tangible design and quality concerns that are apparent just from studying published pictures on BMR's site, and comparing them with other pictures posted in past Steeda K-Member threads. I think BMR's idea of a boxed, gussets, and triangulated design is great, but as of now I personally want another shot at the Steeda unit.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="PWORLDSTANG, post: 16417203, member: 49424"] First, they decided to use gussets to connect the front tube that the steering rack mounts to, and the boxed portion of the k-member (shown below). Even though the front tube on the BMR unit runs in at an angle to support the boxed section, I question whether such a small gusset is adequate. On the phone, Dion@BMR claimed the gussets added a substantial amount of rigidity. However the MM and Steeda units both use a tubular connection in that location, and Steeda even went as far as using an integrated gusset [i]and [/i]tubular connection. From research, I do know that tubular chassis support is more resistant to torsional loads, which is what you’d want in this location, and is why you find it on the MM and Steeda unit. But BMR decided to use a small gusset in a location that will be subjected to extreme cornering loads. The pic below is an old one of the OP’s car I found while searching something unrelated, but it shows what cornering loads the chassis, and therefore k-member can be subjected to. [ATTACH=full]1639923[/ATTACH]IMG_9314 [ATTACH=full]1639924[/ATTACH]IMG_8780 [ATTACH=full]1639925[/ATTACH]IMG_8930 Not only is the gusset small, it is also short. It is welded mid-way between the front and rear a-arm mounts, whereas the Steeda and MM unit provide support [i]through[/i] the [b]rear [/b]a-arm mounts. You can buy BMR’s ‘a-arm support brace’ for an additional $69 to help with this, but it’s already incorporated into the Steeda and MM design. Second, they chose to cut the rear of the boxed chassis section to allow for header clearance. Header clearance is great! But what’s not great is that piece of thin, flimsy metal they welded in place. Where the embossed logo is, you can see literally see a bend in the metal from it simply being too thin, and this is with no load on the car. I don’t suspect this would be an issue if a thicker piece of metal were used. What’s worse is there is an a-arm tab welded to this piece of thin metal on the backside of this cut portion. I don’t know what type of loads run through this section of the k-member, but neither the Steeda nor MM unit uses such thin gauge metal anywhere in their designs. [ATTACH=full]1639926[/ATTACH]IMG_9053 [ATTACH=full]1639927[/ATTACH]IMG_8892 Also, the upper and lower a-arm mounting holes are [i]extremely[/i] close together. The thinness between those two mounting holes just make me scratch my head. This is also apparent at the edge of rear subframe mounting tab where only a marginal amount of metal is there at the end of the tab, along with a tear in the supporting gusset. Surprisingly (or not), issues with thinness is not evident in neither the Steeda or MM unit, as visible in the pics below. [ATTACH=full]1639928[/ATTACH]IMG_9466 [ATTACH=full]1639929[/ATTACH]IMG_8886 [ATTACH=full]1639930[/ATTACH]IMG_8889 Lastly, the overall weld quality appears to somewhat mediocre to me. The powder coating they use helps mask it, but the Steeda unit had vastly superior welds. Some of this is because the Steeda unit it TIG welded which produces small precise welds. However, the MM unit is not TIG welded (I emailed them and confirmed). Theirs is MIG welded and looks as good, if not better than Steeda’s TIG in my opinion. This is likely a non-issue so long as the welds penetrated, but it certainly speaks to the overall quality, design, and other concerns I’ve noted above. [ATTACH=full]1639931[/ATTACH]IMG_9453 I recommend anyone looking at the pics to either save them and view them on your phone, or zoom in on your phone and look at the detail. These are all minor details that aren't individually significant, but become significant as a whole in my opinion. These are tangible design and quality concerns that are apparent just from studying published pictures on BMR's site, and comparing them with other pictures posted in past Steeda K-Member threads. I think BMR's idea of a boxed, gussets, and triangulated design is great, but as of now I personally want another shot at the Steeda unit. [/QUOTE]
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