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Posted by: Tony C Jun 4 2003, 09:14 PM

This is off of Rich Bontempi's car. I had the car to inspect the rear control arms and their mounting points for damage and to fix a crack in the left side inner pick-up point. I'd say this is damaged!

http://www.tcdesignfab.com/914control%20arm.htm

-Tony

Posted by: Rob Ways Jun 4 2003, 09:16 PM

Is that thing bent??!!

Posted by: SirAndy Jun 4 2003, 09:19 PM

it sure looks like it!
i've seen some other parts that came off that car recently that were equally "abused" ...

Andy

Posted by: Tony C Jun 4 2003, 09:28 PM

Bent, cracked, and for some reason would not allow the alignment to be set to spec.
Actually the damage was hidden very well as it was consealed under a brake duct, so from a first look at it you would have never noticed.


-Tony

Posted by: Bleyseng Jun 4 2003, 09:37 PM

I take it he hit something pretty hard.
Geoff

Posted by: Tony C Jun 4 2003, 09:39 PM

No, He didn't hit anything, just 10+ years of winning puts a little abuse on the equipment.

-Tony

Posted by: SirAndy Jun 4 2003, 09:41 PM

i frequently hear stories about Rich going off track on purpose to pass slower cars that won't let him pass

Posted by: Jeroen Jun 5 2003, 03:40 AM

Yikes...!
Well, at least Rich won't have any trouble providing a replacement
Got any pics of the damaged inner pickup?

cheers,

Jeroen

Posted by: URY914 Jun 5 2003, 08:32 AM

Where is the stiffening kit sheet metal pieces?
He doesn't have the arms boxed?

Paul

Posted by: brant Jun 5 2003, 08:46 AM

I know there is a big controversy around whether it is good or bad to use the boxed-stiffening kit.

I'm not trying to stir up trouble and I know brad has said previously that the kit is not a good thing.

But it looks like this arm definitely flexed enough to pull apart. I wonder if the stiffening kit would have helped with that... or.... just hidden the tear?

what do you think Tony?

brant

Posted by: Tony C Jun 5 2003, 10:41 AM

Just like Brad, I prefer either no stiffening kit or a different version. If you "box" the control arms and have an "off" the new stronger control arm will damage the pick-up points and those are far more expensive to fix than a control arm. Rember this control arm has probably 10,000+ laps on it.

-Tony