Jesus that is a lot of failed parts at 80k miles.
Jesus that is a lot of failed parts at 80k miles.
Cross-posting this here since it's in the trips and adventures forum: https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/trips-adventures-and-get-togethers/i-have-a-dream-of-a-track/274966/page1/#post4002823
It's funny how we remember people - the Ford Transit Connect guy.....
At church Sunday someone said some old dudes name and a few others were - who is that again?
The (guy who passes out) butterscotch candy guy......oh yeah, that guy.
Datsun240ZGuy said:It's funny how we remember people - the Ford Transit Connect guy.....
At church Sunday someone said some old dudes name and a few others were - who is that again?
The (guy who passes out) butterscotch candy guy......oh yeah, that guy.
How about "the Datsun240Z Guy"? 
Thank you Tom Suddard
Just a reminder others waiting on a reply from me, the forums has a new thing which tells me that in order to curb spam I can only post once an hour.. so sorry for the delay on getting back to you.
One of the best and major accomplishments was just a hunch I had pertaining to the hardrace sway bar. You may or may not recall a post I did where we traveled to see John Hotchkis in the heart of NASCAR country once there john, his crew and I debunked a rumor that a focus sway bar could fit the Connect which it didn't but one thing lead to another and we located a 28mm hard race sway bar designed for the Kuga/Escape and Focus that was bent just like the Connect sway bar. What made this even more important was that the Kuga/escape and the Connect share the same engine cradle. The only trouble is the shop I had install this for me did not follow my directions and did not use Teflon tape along with silicone grease on the sway bar and bushing. For 2 weeks it was squeak squeak and knock knock.. One reason for the knock knock was whiteline sent me the wrong info about what links to use with this setup. Now they wont warranty their mistake.. Which lead me to NAPA end links and so far these have been working out very well.
The other major accomplishment was the development of my own rear coil springs for the van. These cobra springs are failing cause the fender to rub the tire. I was informed by suspension.com to contact Coil Spring Specialties out of KS USA told them what I needed and within 4 weeks that delivered the first run prototype springs base on my specs. These springs are 2'' shorter than factory, 20% stiffer than factory. The OE springs lifted the rear of the van approx 4'' above the tire. which is about the amount of a balled up fit placed between the fender edge and tire. Installing the Cobra springs there was less than a 2'' gap between the tire and fender edge and over time, the cobra springs are starting to sag causing the fender to touch the tire. We've already had to replace two of the tires due to this rubbing. After Sat test fit of the new CSS springs, we're looking at a 2 3/4 space between the tire and fender edge. A bit more breathing room for sure. I didn't get a pic of the gap, but did get one of the springs test fit.
So what's next?.. According to the tire shop, the mounting plates on the dead axle have not been welding in correctly from the factory or got bent some how, so we're getting some weird angles on the rear wheels. We'll be looking again taking a chance and test fit the hardrace camber plates to make up this difference. The only other option, would be to buy a new or used dead axle and cut off the hub assembly plate and weld them to the desired angle. otherwise we'll keep on keeping on with some interior stuff.
Seeing how Keith is reposting my blog, There's no need for me to post any pics here..
Oh and btw, Once we yank the cobra springs they're up for grabs if anyone wants them..
FlordPerformance said:Thank you Tom Suddard
Just a reminder others waiting on a reply from me, the forums has a new thing which tells me that in order to curb spam I can only post once an hour.. so sorry for the delay on getting back to you.
One of the best and major accomplishments was just a hunch I had pertaining to the hardrace sway bar. You may or may not recall a post I did where we traveled to see John Hochkic in the heart of NASCAR country once there john, his crew and I debunked a rumor that a focus sway bar could fit the Connect which it didn't but one thing lead to another and we located a 28mm hard race sway bar designed for the Kuga/Escape and Focus that was bent just like the Connect sway bar. What made this even more important was that the Kuga/escape and the Connect share the same engine cradle. The only trouble is the shop I had install this for me did not follow me directions and did not use Teflon tape along with silicone grease on the sway bar and bushing. For 2 weeks it was squeak squeak and knock knock.. One reason for the knock knock was whiteline sent me the wrong info about what links to use with this setup. Now they wont warranty their mistake.. Which lead me to NAPA end links and so far these have been working out very well.
The other major accomplishment was the development of my own rear coil springs for the van. These cobra springs are failing cause the fender to rub the tire. I was informed by suspension.com to contact Coil Spring Specialties out of KS USA told them what I needed and within 4 weeks that delivered the first run prototype springs base on my specs. These springs are 2'' shorter than factory, 20% stiffer than factory. The OE springs lifted the rear of the van approx 4'' above the tire. which is about the amount of a balled up fit placed between the fender edge and tire. Installing the Cobra springs there was less than a 2'' gap between the tire and fender edge and over time, the cobra springs are starting to sag causing the fender to touch the tire. We've already had to replace two of the tires due to this rubbing. After Sat test fit of the new CSS springs, we're looking at a 2 3/4 space between the tire and fender edge. A bit more breathing room for sure.
So what's next?.. According tot he tire shop, the mounting plates on the dead axle have not been welding in correctly, so we're getting some weird angles on the rear wheels. We'll be looking again taking a chance and test fit the hardrace camber plates to make up this difference. The only other option, would be to buy a new or used dead axle and cut off the hub assembly plate and weld them to the desired angle. otherwise we'll keep on keeping on with some interior stuff.
Preserving this for the record.
About the Whiteline end links (https://medium.com/@FlordPerformance/whiteline-refuses-to-honor-our-warranty-41767ae637af) - I don't really blame Whiteline here. A "universal" end link is not a guaranteed fitment on every possible vehicle, and it's up to the installer to make sure their particular application doesn't cause problems like rubbing. Damage from rubbing isn't a warranty item.
The thing to do here would have been to buy a set of end links with a good return policy and check them carefully through the range of motion to ensure there's no fouling. If there is, you return the end links in new condition and try to find another set with different geometry. I would not expect the manufacturer to send out "prototypes" unless they were trying to develop a specific application.
Those Superpro boots definitely failed, though. I wonder if they could have sent you some new boots?
After contacting Zeder Corp the owners of Superpro and Whiteline, Informing them that they Superpro end links failed after 2 years of use, Zeder Corp suggested that I contact Josh at Whiteline AU for a new set of their Whiteline end links.
My issue is that according to their specs, they did not have a set of end links for the Connect, But they had one closes enough that might work. based on Josh and Zeder Corps suggestions I purchased a set of their 10.5–11.50 inches adjustable end links. These typically known as universal links but once on the van, they’ve made contact with the struts, coil springs, sway bar and subframe.. the links are managed after only 2 months of having them installed.
Although this is not the best angle for the pic as I was more focused on the sway bar at the time, But one can see marred areas on the end link rods where they’ve made contact with several different parts of the chasses and this isn’t even the worse side either..
Deep maring was caused by the end links making contact with the van’s subframe during articulation and whiteline will not honor my warranty on this..
When I told Josh that I was sending pics of the damaged links, right off he said Whiteline would not honor the warranty on these links claiming we installed them incorrectly and I’ve yet to hear back from Zeder Corp.. years of talking to Zeder Corp and Josh at Whiteline down the drain simply because they refuse to honor a warranty on a product that’s suppose to be universal. There’s only one way to install these end links. Just another cop out to avoid honoring our warranty.
This all boils down to, yeah sure, looks good on paper, but when it comes to real world testing.. it doesn’t fit. At least they should have sent me a prototype set for test fitting first.. Just another expense we’ve lost due to trusting someone advice and paperwork. Today, we’ve lost nearly 2K on parts that didn’t fit, never arrived or arrived damaged and those company’s who sent these parts etc would not compensate us for their mistakes.
In reply to OHSCrifle :
Please be polite.
If you want to quote him, please do so. Just have something for a reply.
Everyone deserves another chance. If you don't believe that you dont need to interact with them.
Keith Tanner said:This is Our Taboo Transit Connect Performance Build & It's Been Banned By All The Transit Connect Forums, Hotrod Forums, Racing Forums & Performance Car Forums
Not sure it's the build that's been banned. At some point when you are drowning in shiny happy people, you have to ask yourself "am I the shiny happy person?"
He is literally in here! Hahaha. This just gets weirder and weirder.
Datsun240ZGuy said:It's funny how we remember people - the Ford Transit Connect guy.....
At church Sunday someone said some old dudes name and a few others were - who is that again?
The (guy who passes out) butterscotch candy guy......oh yeah, that guy.
And different groups have different references. My wife is a musician. She and her friends talk of the bass player from Santa Fe or the French horn player from the east mountains. We have a common friend who's either the trumpet player from the track or the TR6 guy depending on who we're talking to.
NickD said:Datsun240ZGuy said:It's funny how we remember people - the Ford Transit Connect guy...........
How about "the Datsun240Z Guy"?
Better than this guy......
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