- Joined
- Dec 8, 2015
- Threads
- 239
- Messages
- 5,010
- Reaction score
- 7,516
- Location
- Sacramento, CA
- Website
- www.signaturewheel.com
- Vehicle(s)
- 2017 GT350R
- Thread starter
- #1
The Introduction
Let me start off by saying that I am thoroughly enjoying the GT500 platform, and working with all of you on our Signature Wheel builds. Having a GT500 in hand has taught me a ton about about the little engineering changes Ford made with this car. These small nuances result in a number of changes to the way we design our Signature Wheel. That in turn has brought us to reach out to one of the most prominent names in suspension components, Cortex Racing. For those not familiar with Cortex, the owner Filip and his team have devloped components that are standard issue on the Mustang GT4. I am all about engineering solutions as opposed to leaving clients to figure it out on their own. That is the big difference between myself and others just looking to sell you a wheel. Let’s lay out the details.
The Problem
The rear knuckle on the GT500 is an entirely new piece compared to the GT350. The addition of the electric parking brake and geometry changes leaves us with a component with small changes that have big implications. For example the vertical link on the GT500 is much shorter, hangs lower than the knuckle, and uses oversized hardware. Most importantly this will have an effect on those seeking to run an 18” rear wheel for drag racing or road course use. Sam at Coastal Dyno has been the first to road test the 18” Signature Wheel drag setup, and we have already seen that without clearance-ing or replacing the OEM lower link bolt/washer that contact can occur with the wheel barrel.
The rear suspension design of the GT500/GT350 does not have a traditional upper control arm that would limit the movement of the assembly. The vertical link is used to counteract the forces of torque, braking, and other loads the car will impose upon the knuckle. That vertical link uses a softer bushing to reduce NVH, but will also have deflection occur when you impose forces upon it. Based on my discussions with Filip at Cortex it would not be uncommon to see up a 1/4 inch of movement. This can result in wheel hop or changes in the geometry until the bushing and link can control what is going on. The OEM component is rather large in size, and also uses an oversized bolt/washer. Not only is the bushing bad for performance, but combined with the size could could cause contact with the 18” rear wheels we build.
In talking with Cortex there is no structural integrity lost by trimming the OEM components to add room, but the end game is to bring about a well engineered solution.
The Solution
Work jointly with Cortex to Innovate and develop a new vertical link that checks all of the boxes. Currently most aftermarket end links are designed larger than needed to have the appearance of added strength, even if the job can be accomplished with less material or a different design. At the onset of this project we have four major goals:
I will be back soon with some CAD renderings of the prototype component once it is completed. A part of the puzzle we are currently missing is CAD data of the GT500 rear suspension. If any of you have some strings that could be pulled please let me know. An initial run of these will be offered as a group buy once I am able to test fit components on my vehicle and a few existing Signature Wheel Drag Pack owners.
Make sure to follow this one for updates.
June 29, 2020 Update:
The time has finally come to get these set for production. Links are 3-4 weeks away from being built, and these pre-sale units will be sold at a discounted cost of $305 shipped. Once listed on the Cortex website they are projected to be between $329 - $349 + shipping. Here the details:
- Links are CNC cut from 6061-T6 aluminum
- Anodized for durability
- Stainless Steel Spacers
- FK Spherical bearings with Teflon Liners
- Stainless steel Spiroloc Retaining Clips
- Reduced deflection
- Reduced bind
- Increased barrel to link clearance on 18" drag setups
- New hardware
- Extra Sexy
All of those using our Signature Wheel 18" drag setup will find this is going to eliminate the need to clearance the OEM vertical link or bolt.
Those interested please send me a DM with your email address.
Let me start off by saying that I am thoroughly enjoying the GT500 platform, and working with all of you on our Signature Wheel builds. Having a GT500 in hand has taught me a ton about about the little engineering changes Ford made with this car. These small nuances result in a number of changes to the way we design our Signature Wheel. That in turn has brought us to reach out to one of the most prominent names in suspension components, Cortex Racing. For those not familiar with Cortex, the owner Filip and his team have devloped components that are standard issue on the Mustang GT4. I am all about engineering solutions as opposed to leaving clients to figure it out on their own. That is the big difference between myself and others just looking to sell you a wheel. Let’s lay out the details.
The Problem
The rear knuckle on the GT500 is an entirely new piece compared to the GT350. The addition of the electric parking brake and geometry changes leaves us with a component with small changes that have big implications. For example the vertical link on the GT500 is much shorter, hangs lower than the knuckle, and uses oversized hardware. Most importantly this will have an effect on those seeking to run an 18” rear wheel for drag racing or road course use. Sam at Coastal Dyno has been the first to road test the 18” Signature Wheel drag setup, and we have already seen that without clearance-ing or replacing the OEM lower link bolt/washer that contact can occur with the wheel barrel.
The rear suspension design of the GT500/GT350 does not have a traditional upper control arm that would limit the movement of the assembly. The vertical link is used to counteract the forces of torque, braking, and other loads the car will impose upon the knuckle. That vertical link uses a softer bushing to reduce NVH, but will also have deflection occur when you impose forces upon it. Based on my discussions with Filip at Cortex it would not be uncommon to see up a 1/4 inch of movement. This can result in wheel hop or changes in the geometry until the bushing and link can control what is going on. The OEM component is rather large in size, and also uses an oversized bolt/washer. Not only is the bushing bad for performance, but combined with the size could could cause contact with the 18” rear wheels we build.
In talking with Cortex there is no structural integrity lost by trimming the OEM components to add room, but the end game is to bring about a well engineered solution.
The Solution
Work jointly with Cortex to Innovate and develop a new vertical link that checks all of the boxes. Currently most aftermarket end links are designed larger than needed to have the appearance of added strength, even if the job can be accomplished with less material or a different design. At the onset of this project we have four major goals:
- Develop a component and hardware that will reduce the overall footprint of the link & increase wheel barrel clearance
- Increase strength and stiffness by conducting finite element analysis and using stronger materials
- Optimize the bushing/bearing material to reduce deflection and increase overall performance with minimal increase in NVH
- Make it look sexy
I will be back soon with some CAD renderings of the prototype component once it is completed. A part of the puzzle we are currently missing is CAD data of the GT500 rear suspension. If any of you have some strings that could be pulled please let me know. An initial run of these will be offered as a group buy once I am able to test fit components on my vehicle and a few existing Signature Wheel Drag Pack owners.
Make sure to follow this one for updates.
June 29, 2020 Update:
The time has finally come to get these set for production. Links are 3-4 weeks away from being built, and these pre-sale units will be sold at a discounted cost of $305 shipped. Once listed on the Cortex website they are projected to be between $329 - $349 + shipping. Here the details:
- Links are CNC cut from 6061-T6 aluminum
- Anodized for durability
- Stainless Steel Spacers
- FK Spherical bearings with Teflon Liners
- Stainless steel Spiroloc Retaining Clips
- Reduced deflection
- Reduced bind
- Increased barrel to link clearance on 18" drag setups
- New hardware
- Extra Sexy
All of those using our Signature Wheel 18" drag setup will find this is going to eliminate the need to clearance the OEM vertical link or bolt.
Those interested please send me a DM with your email address.
Sponsored
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