Today I got a great deal on a front end setup for my 90 GT. I'm 99 percent sure the k- member is a Maxium Motorsports, and I'm wondering if all of there K members use stock front end geometry? I know they offer two different control arm types to change geometry. It has two choices for the motor mounts also, basically I'm trying to keep everything stock location. I'm pretty sure the control arms are not MM, possibly Granatelli. The only issue is that both ball joint boots are torn. Do most of the aftermarket control arms use the stock type ball joints? Appreciate any advice on this!
Aftermarket Front End Questions
- Thread starter nothwoods
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A rep from MM contacted me and thinks these are Granatelli parts. Anyone using Granatelli control arms in a Fox? I have the Ford Motorsport Cobra brake kit in my car and I'm wondering if the Steeda X2 ball joints might fit.
Later Granatelli K-members and A-arms are vomitously shameless ripoffs of MM's parts, with most of the look, all the quality a 14-year-old chinese girl can muster on her 800th weld that day, and absolutely none of the intellectual investment in their design. MM's geometry is far from stock. The wheels are moved forward and the roll center is changed, among other things. Standard balljoints will fit, as will steeda X2's, but because they lower the pivot point relative to the spindle, the X2's dramatically change the bumpsteer adjustment requirements. What goal do you have in mind with using them?
I don't think anyone would argue that MM makes a superior product, however we don't all have deep pockets. This is basically a street strip car that I've had for twenty years, and recently decided to do some major work on a tight budget. I got a complete front end for $400, and the parts are in great shape other than having ripped boots on the ball joints. From MM I'd be looking at around $2000, which I don't have to spend. The Granatelli may be a cheap copy, but I still think it's better than most of the K-members on the market. When I have a problem, I'll either modify it myself or invest in an MM unit.
mikestang63
SN Certified Technician
Either put quality suspension parts on your car or don't do it at all. This isn't an intake or water pump- it is safety equipment that if the geometry is incorrect or the part fails can end up in disaster. Do a google search on GMS control arms and decide if you want to put those chinese made POS on your car.
I would rather have OEM parts on my car then cheap chinese made ones.
I would rather have OEM parts on my car then cheap chinese made ones.
The point I was making is that, assuming it was assembled on a good day, there shouldn't be significant geometry differences between the MM and granatelli pieces, and yes, the geometry is very different from stock. To the point that adding X2 balljoints to the mix probably isn't a good thing, and needs to be accounted for with an even taller bumpsteer spacer stack. So my question remains, what goal do you have in mind by using the X2 balljoints with those suspension pieces?
I was planning to sandblast and paint the k-member anyway, think I'm going to reinforce a few areas like the inner control arm mounts. The welds actually look pretty good to me, I suppose I'll be able to tell better after I sandblast it. As far as fitment it lines up perfectly with the eight mounting holes and fits flush against the body, haven't installed yet obviously. As far as the x2's it's not that I'm necessarily trying to change it so much as that I just can't find ball joints that fit. Have a set of 03 Cobra ones coming, I already have Cobra spindles anyway, we'll see I guess.
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