R/T Suspension Mounts

SunDude · #1 (**permalink**) 07-17-2009, 08:11 AM

Thanks guys.

The brackets on my car do not show signs of distortion/twisting, but are just canted slightly upward from 90 degrees suggesting that the problem is only just beginning to form. Nonetheless I think I will order the replacement brackets and have them installed as soon as I'm able. Better safe than sorry.

I agree with Doug that, since this is basically a design flaw, Superformance LLC should provide owners with some type of upgrade kit or compensation as a goodwill gesture. I realize this would cost a lot; however, it might be a small price to pay to maintain their product's excellent reputation and value in the marketplace.

kayakjack · #2 (**permalink**) 07-17-2009, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SunDude

Thanks guys.

The brackets on my car do not show signs of distortion/twisting, but are just canted slightly upward from 90 degrees suggesting that the problem is only just beginning to form. Nonetheless I think I will order the replacement brackets and have them installed as soon as I'm able. Better safe than sorry.

I agree with Doug that, since this is basically a design flaw, Superformance LLC should provide owners with some type of upgrade kit or compensation as a goodwill gesture. I realize this would cost a lot; however, it might be a small price to pay to maintain their product's excellent reputation and value in the marketplace.

Superformance has a technical bulletin about this issue. If your brackets are OK, it basically says you can replace the bolts with proper bolts and you are done. Cheap and easy. No big deal. Since that seems to be your situation, go for it if you like.

The brackets which you can purchase are truly magnificent works of art. They are a great, reasonably priced upgrade to your car should you choose to go with them.

Jack

Blas · #3 (**permalink**) 07-18-2009, 03:45 PM

I don't think it's really fair to call it a design flaw...
With close to 3000 cars built, the problem has been seen on very very few cars. Failures could probably be tied also to how the car was driven by all its owners, maintenance, tire selection (like drag radials) and driving style habits...Better to consider it money well spent on a overall safety viewpoint and an important maintenance item to periodically check, like many items on all mfr's cars…or just an upgrade...

SunDude · #4 (**permalink**) 08-20-2009, 12:58 PM

Just had the Cobra Valley R/T rear suspension brackets mounted to my car this morning.

The original mounts weren't too bad after all. Both were canted upwards from 90 degrees and the situation was worse on the driver's side, but it was a long way from failure. The bolts weren't too badly bent either, but you sure can see where the problem originates. The OE mounts basically place all the stress on the threaded part of the bolts, which are thinner and weaker, and the R/T mounts are clearly well engineered and very strong.

I should be good for years now.

Cheesehead · #5 (**permalink**) 10-06-2009, 12:48 AM

This is how my old brackets looked before replacement. There is also a picture after replacement. As you can see I only used three of the four bolds. I could not get all four in. The new brackets are well overdesigned so I figured this would do.
The picture of the bold needs no further comment. I am glad I replaced them.

(some pictures cannot be uploaded, don't know yet what went wrong. Each of the pictures is smaller than 39,1kb and .jpg???. Is the problem that these two pictures together are 38kb and the limit for all pictures together is 39,1kb?. I also tried a new reply with picture 3, but that does not work?)

SPF1125
Netherlands

jhwalker · #6 (**permalink**) 10-06-2009, 09:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cheesehead

This is how my old brackets looked before replacement. There is also a picture after replacement. As you can see I only used three of the four bolds. I could not get all four in. The new brackets are well overdesigned so I figured this would do.
The picture of the bold needs no further comment. I am glad I replaced them.

(some pictures cannot be uploaded, don't know yet what went wrong. Each of the pictures is smaller than 39,1kb and .jpg???. Is the problem that these two pictures together are 38kb and the limit for all pictures together is 39,1kb?. I also tried a new reply with picture 3, but that does not work?)

SPF1125
Netherlands

It is the combined size of all pictures being uploaded with a single post, as I understand it.
Recheck the size on picture 3. The upload should work unless you were lucky enough to be the one to overflow the picture space (unlikely).

Good job on upgrading. I'd find a way to get that last bolt in.

RedBarchetta · #7 (**permalink**) 10-06-2009, 09:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jhwalker

Good job on upgrading. I'd find a way to get that last bolt in.

Hello, James!

Reaming one of the bracket holes to get all four in will be better than just having three. Some would argue that just getting two in with the new bracket is better than the old set-up. RT does a good job of machining these, but you may have very slight adjustments to make from chassis to chassis. I had to ream one hole on one side and two on the other (all on the bracket...impossible to do on the car portion without special angle drills) to get mine snug. And they are definitely in there good.

I still have the old brackets if anyone is in dire need of a door stop.

-Dean #747