ClintUK

Whats the benefit / disadvantage of shortened drop links ?

I've see it written that that put the AR bar under more 'tension' but I don't get how ?

Thanks

StickyMicky

ClintUK

Yeah me too

911

If both sides are shortened than there is NO difference to the Tension.
If one is shorter than the other then the ARB will be in a state of preload and will twist the suspension, ie the car might look lob-sided.

Changing the link lengths equally to get the bar to be at the optimum position on a car that might me very low (or high) ie Tarmac spec or Gravel Spec is possibly an advantage when looking for the 'N'th' degree of set-up.
Graham

ps: Oddly, this is my weekend project on my hill climb Impreza

Fuzz

The adjustable drop links are designed to do two things that I know of (or read about in race car engineering )
1. to take any preload out of the bar when at rest.
2. (harder to explain) The position of the drop link attatchment point relative to the bars pivot point.
In the extreme (for illustration) if the bar ends were vertical then the drop links wouldn't be able to "bend" the bar, the bar effectively becomes solid.
The "angle of attack" that you put on the bar has an effect on it's relative stiffness.
The arc of travel of the bar as it goes though it's range of movement also plays some role as to how the bar behaves.

All rather complex
Andy

jgevers

Shortened (front) droplinks have no direct benefits on the Impreza unless the car has been lowered extemely. Even then it is more to do with 'packaging' rather than technical performance.

Static preloading the anti roll bars in one direction is of no use for most cars as it will introduce a difference in suspension frequency left to right. You wouldn't run different spring rates left and right either, would you?
Static preloading is used in oval racing, where the chassis is staggered and the vehicle is only ever racing in one direction.

Manfacturers like Whiteline produce adjustable droplinks that will allow any static preload to be taken out.

Cheers

ClintUK

What length are standard Classic front drop links, centre to centre of the holes ?

Didn't expect it to be this complex, but thanks for the replys.

911

Fuzz: you are right! That was the gist of my second paragraph.
When the car is at static ride height the bar 'arms' that the links connect to should be horizontal and the links near vertical (depends on which hole they connect to, but i guess the middle hole is vertical.

To cornerweight the car you disconnect the ARB by unbolting a link front and rear.
Doing a bit of an article this weekend! (not racing sadly)

Graham