Strut Rod Help Please
I need some schoolin on strut rods for A bodies. I know there are a couple of different styles. Are they interchangeable? Is one style "better" than the other? I am trying to decide between adjustable strut rods and factory strut rods and wondered about the differences? Thank you drive through.
QA1 rods are harder to install without removing the lower control arm. PST ones are easier to install with the arm still installed. The QA1 are easier to adjust once installed. The PST require the rod end to be loosened, or having to loosen the lower strut rod hardware at the arm to spin the rod to make the adjustment. It's not a big deal, but more steps, and it's not like ongoing adjustment is ever needed anyway. I was already removing the control arm, and so I used the QA1 rods and love them. Quality, tight, and went in fine. The hotchkiss look very similar to the QA1 design. Firm Feel offers a set which use stock-style front bushings, but have more adjustment. I trust Firm Feel, and they're the cheapest ($225) of the rest, but I wanted freer movement to go along with my eventual goals for the car - YMMV.
To me, the adjustable rods are an 'easy' (but expensive) fix for the lack of QUALITY and available stock-style bushings for the stock strut rods. Since I don't have a pile of OEM parts salvaged or NOS from back in the day, it just made good sense to use these and not have to deal with crappy aftermarket stuff that either won't last or won't fit because some bean counter consolidated part numbers across too many applications.
I'm sure the rods could be used to pull in more caster, but it doesn't take a rocket surgeon to figure out it would rip up stock style bushings if used on the street that way for any real mileage. I'm sure it would also destroy any other bushing style too by binding the pivot like that. Might be OK for a 1/4 mile at a time or glass smooth roads though!
I've not put on a ton of mileage since I installed them, and I installed viking double adjustable shocks at the same time along with poly bushings. But I have zero complaints with how the front rides!
