Suspension & Handling Improving your ride with upgrade parts

STEERING PARTS FROM ZF AFTERMARKET

Steering components are critical to the safety of all cars, and especially those with performance applications

ZF says LEMFÖRDER is one of the world’s leading brands in suspension and steering technology in the automotive sector. Part of ZF’s global portfolio of premium brands, LEMFÖRDER products are fitted as original equipment and available to the aftermarket for passenger vehicles and performance cars. The quality of LEMFÖRDER parts/products enable the suspension geometry to handle the excessive strain that performance cars demand. Steering and chassis parts from LEMFÖRDER include stabiliser mounts and links, rubberto-metal components like axle bearings and suspension and strut mounts, control arms and bearings, tie rods and suspension joints. Also available from ZF in Oceania are OEM-quality SACHS shock absorbers and TRW steering and suspension components. USEFUL STEERING TIPS

Suspension and steering parts must be checked regularly, as they play a decisive role in the safe handling of a car. When it comes to inspecting, diagnosing and replacing common steering and suspension components, ZF Aftermarket says you should keep the following information in mind. Control Arms

Control arms are installed as pairs on the front and rear axle, connecting the chassis to the wheels. A defective control arm can manifest in the following ways: • Noise (squeaking, creaking, rumbling) • Deteriorating drivability • Increasingly woolly and imprecise steering • Uneven tyre wear The exact steps are set by the relevant vehicle manufacturer, with the below steps from ZF Aftermarket a guide for workshops to follow: 1. Lift the vehicle using a car lift, which makes it easier to correctly tighten the control arm fixing screws.

TIP: Depending on the axle design, the control arm may need to be secured against falling with a suitable device, eg. a transmission lifter. 2. Treat the fixing screws and nuts of the control arm with rust solvent for a few minutes to loosen the components. 3. On vehicles with automotive headlight levelling, it may be necessary to detach the levelling sensor from the control arm. 4. If the stabiliser is connected to the control arm, loosen and remove the corresponding stabiliser fixing screws. 5. Loosen and remove the control arm fixing screws. 6. Loosen the ball joint at the steering knuckle with a suitable tool, such as a puller. 7. Remove the old control arm. 8. Clean the mounting flange of the ball joint on the steering knuckle with sandpaper and then brake cleaner. This is to prevent single rust particles entering the new control arm joint via the ball pin, potentially leading to premature failure of the joint. 9. Fit the new control arm with the supplied accessories and attach new fixing screws and nuts. 10.Reattach the stabiliser and, if applicable, the levelling senor for the headlight levelling to the control arm. 11.Lower the vehicle until the suspension is compressed. 12.Tighten the fixing screws with the torque specified by the vehicle manufacturer. 13.Lower the vehicle entirely. 14.Measure the chassis and adjust if necessary. 15.Check and, if necessary, adjust the headlight settings on vehicles with automotive headlight levelling where the levelling sensor is attached to the control arm. 16.To conclude, test-drive the vehicle. TIP: If the control arm is in working order, it is possible to only replace the defective bearings and joints; however, replacing bearings, bushings and ball joints can be complex and costly. Replacing the entire arm is generally safer and often less expensive. Strut Mounts

The top fastening of the suspension strut is attached to the chassis via the strut mount. As the strut mount must have both a damping force and a rotatable mounting for unhindered steering resetting, there are strict requirements for its function and wear resistance. A worn or defective strut mount can be recognised by various symptoms, including: • Squeaking during spring movements of the chassis • Poor cornering • Crackling noises during steering wheel movements • Restricted resetting of the steering after cornering • Knocking sounds when driving over uneven surfaces If the suspension strut mount has been checked and a defect has been detected, ZF Aftermarket recommends that it should be replaced as follows: 1. Remove the wheels. 2. Remove the suspension strut and clamp it in an appropriate fixture. 3. Compress the suspension spring using a spring tensioner until it is released from the seat of the suspension strut mount 4. Remove the nut on the damper connecting rod. 5. Position the new strut mount in its installation position. In doing so, check that the lower part of the mount is seated correctly on the suspension spring. 6. Fit the bolts and fastening components and tighten the lock nuts to the torque specified by the vehicle manufacturer. 7. Carefully release the spring tensioner. In the process, continue to check that the suspension spring is placed on the strut mount and on the suspension strut plate correctly. 8. Refit the suspension strut in the vehicle. 9. Refit the wheels and perform a full wheel alignment. Finally carry out a test drive. TIP: Like other chassis components, suspension strut mounts should always be replaced in pairs. For additional information on LEMFÖRDER steering and suspension components and more workshop tips, visit www.aftermarket.zf.com

PEDDERS PENRITH CHOOSES MAHA

MAHA says Pedders Penrith is the latest workshop to update to German precision and reliability

MAHA, a worldwide supplier of German made premium workshop equipment, began fitting its Automotive Test Lanes at Pedders’ premises in 2019 and since then has rolled out machines to workshops all over Australia. “By teaming with MAHA we are able to provide our stores with state-of-the-art test lanes that not only provide them with excellent drive on brake and suspension testing but also allows each store to add on to the base units to provide a tailored diagnostic solution depending on their customer base,” Pedders Penrith Owner, Nick Rouggos, said.

“Some stores will value add and opt to upgrade to the knock detection and tread license plate camera as well. “It is a pleasure to be partnered with a company that shares our values and prides itself on its product and its people, which is what Pedders is built on.” After various sites in far corners of Australia provided outstanding feedback, MAHA says Nick and his team at Pedders Penrith were able to order all the extra options without hesitation. MAHA explains that the MBT2250 test lane which is now being installed at Pedders locations has been built for high volume and accurate repeatable vehicle testing. The MAHA MBT2250 can be optioned with noise detection, suspension system testing, warped rotor testing, oval drum testing, electric park brake testing, AWD brake testing, wheel track indication, an axle load of 3.5t up to 20t, motorcycle testing, and license plate recognition. For more information visit www.maha.com.au or www.pedders.com.au For many people, the Toyota Supra is as Japanese as manga, Godzilla or sake. Fans were shocked when the sports car was discontinued in 2002, then 17 years later, the dry spell came to an end and the GR Supra became an ingenious success: great design, mega-direct steering, ideal weight distribution of 50:50, active differential and convincing engines. The suspension experts at Bilstein decided to squeeze the maximum out of these benchmarks and, together with the German partner Lightweight Performance and other renowned tuning companies, built a 462.9hp track tool. All videos on the project that have been published so far can be found at www.performance.bilstein.com/en/toyota-supra The heart of the conversion is the new Bilstein EVO T1 coilover suspension, which is available now. The “T” in the name stands for “Track.” This means that the road-legal and very comfortable coilover suspension not only provides a great deal of driving pleasure in everyday use, but also on the racetrack. Tuned using Bilstein handling tests on the Nürburgring-Nordschleife and road surfaces all over the world, the Bilstein EVO T1 is the ideal choice when maximum setup options are required. Thanks to the 10-fold dual-click adjustment via an aluminium knob, rebound and bump damping can be adjusted in parallel without tools in the installed state. For the front axle, for example, only the bonnet must be opened to access the knob. A significantly more precise steering behaviour compared to original equipment and the more direct contact to the road are only a taste of what Supra pilots can expect from the dynamic damper settings, says Bilstein. In addition, the EVO T1 can also be used to lower the Supra by between 10 and 35 mm, depending on the axle position and engine. This can be flexibly varied at any time without removal and noticeably reduces pitching and rolling movements. In addition, every setting of the EVO T1 is safe to drive. All in all, your own Supra remains a daily driver that makes the drive to work just as much fun as the trip to the race track, says Bilstein. Incidentally, the EVO T1 is the latest member of the EVO Performance Line, representing the latest generation of coilover suspensions from Bilstein. With their successful design, these products have even won the iF Design Award 2021. You can find an overview of the entire range of products at www.performance.bilstein.com/en/products

BILSTEIN EVO T1 COILOVER SUSPENSION

Now also for Toyota Supra

Photos: Copyright Bilstein 2022.

SMARTER + CONNECTED WHEEL ALIGNER TECHNOLOGY

A new generation of Corghi wheel aligners are being introduced to the market

Corghi has recently announced the launch of the Exact 7 Smart, eight-sensor wheel aligner. The Exact 7 Smart is amongst the first of the new generation of wheel aligners in the Corghi range compatible with its ProADAS Start driver assistance calibration system. “We’ve broken the mould with this one, and we’re confident that the compact configuration will set a new benchmark for wheel aligner design, industrywide,” Corghi Australia General Manager, Andrew Cornwell, said. Unlike conventional wheel aligners, Corghi’s Exact 7 Smart docking station can be either floormounting or wall-mounted to save precious space. Standard equipment includes four wireless sensor heads with batteries, a charging system on the docking station, the radio module for the central unit, alignment software, steering clamp and a pedal depressor. “As more and more manufacturers recommend calibrating a vehicle’s ADAS systems after the competition of a wheel alignment, we knew that it would be critical to ensure that the Exact 7 Smart aligner integrated seamlessly with our ProADAS START driver assistance calibration system,” Andrew said. ProADAS is a universal modular system developed for the verification and calibration of driver assistance systems or front sensors, the verification of the alignment status and the complete wheel alignment service on multi-brand cars and commercial vehicles. The system allows the calibration of front sensors, including the Camera, Radar and Lidar. Corghi’s new ProADAS Start includes a patented software system that controls positioning in realtime. It can also be upgraded to ProADAS RS configuration to include Toe Control and Wheel Aligner Service. In addition to its ability to integrate seamlessly with Corghi’s ProADAS Start calibration system, the Exact 7 Smart wheel aligner also features a sensor head with two high-resolution cameras as well as an electronic inclinometer and level. Those tyre technicians who have previously used Corghi wheel aligners will be happy to discover that Corghi’s popular Exact Plus wheel alignment software forms the basis of the Exact 7 Smart user interface. For more information, visit www.corghiaustralia.com.au, call the team on 1800 CORGHI (267444) or visit Corghi’s new facility at Unit 5/8 Cooper Street, Smithfield NSW 2164.