[Canuk40]

Hi Cliff,

Your correct, the new Reversed Lower A-Arms include an Aurora PTFE lined rod end to adjust toe.

After considering the advice of a respected formula race car designer, provision was made to mount the toe-adjusting rod end in a slotted tab rather than in a fixed tube as per original.

The logic is thus: the toe-adjusting rod end is traveling an arc that changes length whereas the length of the upright and reversed a-arm itself are fixed. You can see the two tubes vee out from the centre mount and are tied with a cross tube. This creates a situation where shims of varying (very thin) sizes would have to be used to prevent side loading of the toe-adjusting rod end, hmmmm....

I really had to think about that one, not only because he was right but it meant deviating from the original layout. A .002" crush on the rod end would jam the ball, increase friction and no doubt lead to premature wear or possible failure.

I have to believe the original GT40s were carefully set up to avoid this and that all the suspension components where manufactured to a set and close tolerance. The suspension was set and stayed that way until an impact or routine maintainance ocurred.

Since the old style (pre Autofutura) rear upright castings and mounting blocks all varied in length, it made the choice easy.The goal was to acheive simple toe adjustment, eliminate the rubber joints and allow full suspension travel (including anti squat) without binding.

The new lower a-arms are the single biggest improvement you can make to an early (pre s/n100) CAV GT and are the building block for other upgrades like the steel uprights.

Although not as astonishing in handling improvements, the new front steel uprights are the next logical (and necessary part). Or of course you could opt for the Four Corner Kit which is a pretty good buy right now.

Thanks for asking about the toe-adjustment, gave me an opportunity to explain the "method in my madness" about that part. The pictures below show an early installation on the old upright and the new a-arms alone and the Four Corner Kit.

Cheers