STX Rules and Setup Questions

[smg1138]

Has anyone else had problems with the eccentric bolt on the stock rear toe arms slipping? My alignment guy told me mine keep slipping out of place on the driver side and it throws my alignment out of whack. Apparently my rear toe has been hosed for a while I've got some pretty noticeable inside wear on those tires now. I was looking at getting one of those eccentric bolt lockout kits. Would that be a good solution or would it be better to look at aftermarket toe arms?

[DocWalt]

Replace the bolts and torque to spec and don't over torque them. They're slipping because they're yielded.

You can't do a toe arm AND a camber arm, nor can you use toe arms with sphericals (hint: most of them have sphericals)

[smg1138]

Originally Posted by DocWalt

Replace the bolts and torque to spec and don't over torque them. They're slipping because they're yielded.

You can't do a toe arm AND a camber arm, nor can you use toe arms with sphericals (hint: most of them have sphericals)

Is that because of Street Touring rules? I looked in the rules I have but couldn't find anything about toe arms. I already have the Whiteline rear control arms so I guess that rules out new toe arms. Also, what does yielded mean in this context? Haven't heard that term before.

[CoolHandMoss]

Right. ST rules don't allow you to change more than one suspension link per corner. Also, as has been said, just replace the eccentrics with new ones. I just had to do that and it helped. Careless alignment techs will turn them while they're too tight and cause a large tolerance between the inside and outside cam. That makes it easier to slip in addition to the yielded issue also referenced above.

[smg1138]

@CoolHandMoss Ok I guess I'll pick up some new ones at the Subaru dealership. Anybody know the part numbers?

[Clutch Dog]

SU00302805
And
SU00302818

[DocWalt]

Originally Posted by smg1138

Is that because of Street Touring rules? I looked in the rules I have but couldn't find anything about toe arms. I already have the Whiteline rear control arms so I guess that rules out new toe arms. Also, what does yielded mean in this context? Haven't heard that term before.

Yes, ST rules preclude replacing two arms.


Yielded means the material of the bolt has stretched beyond the point of peak strength and is now deforming. You know that feeling of tightening a bolt too tight and it stops getting tighter then snaps? The "stops getting tighter" phase is when the bolt is yielding.

[CoolHandMoss]

Is the 949 steering spacer legal? My interpretation says it is not. But I want one. Would anyone here protest me?

To clarify, it looks like the rules allow substitutions of steering wheels that do not include airbags. I am concerned about using the spacer with the OEM wheel.

[DocWalt]

Originally Posted by CoolHandMoss

Is the 949 steering spacer legal? My interpretation says it is not. But I want one. Would anyone here protest me?

To clarify, it looks like the rules allow substitutions of steering wheels that do not include airbags. I am concerned about using the spacer with the OEM wheel.

I am 99.9% sure it's legal, it simply turns your wheel into an aftermarket steering wheel.

That said, moving an airbag closer to you doesn't sounds like much fun in the event of an accident.

[Clutch Dog]

Originally Posted by CoolHandMoss

Is the 949 steering spacer legal? My interpretation says it is not. But I want one. Would anyone here protest me?
To clarify, it looks like the rules allow substitutions of steering wheels that do not include airbags. I am concerned about using the spacer with the OEM wheel.

It is not directly legal. I wrote the SCCA to amend a rule in street classing to allow for steering wheel modifications purely for ease and comfort. their response was

26737 Steering Wheel Spacers ( my request)
"The SAC believes that 3.1.B covers modifying the controls of the vehicle to accommodate physical handicaps. Otherwise modifying the controls of the vehicle is not in the spirit of the Street category."

Now section 3.1.B states "B.
Physically
disabled drivers may use alternate vehicle controls and preparation items appropriate for the nature of their disability. In the case of a driver using alternate controls, extra care should be taken to ensure that the driver does have adequate control of the vehicle and that the control mechanisms can stand up to competition use. A waiver from the SCCA® Solo® Department is required for the use of such equipment in National Solo® events. Requests will be handled on a case-by-case basis"

So in short the SEB was telling me, being tall is a handicap and we have to ask for waivers to allow for steering wheel spacers.

NOW

As i have been in the region down in San diego before with my own spacers and such. Since we are not ultra competative like at nationals, if the general populous of those you are racing against are fine with it, then its whatever. (back in CS the top 6 guys all said its whatever) and really unless you are placing pole position no one will complain.

I intend to run the spacer in STX and if someone complains Ill file for a waiver.
The thought behind this is most STX guys arent 100% by the rulebook anyways ( some guys are running non standard lips and accessories)

That said, moving an airbag closer to you doesn't sounds like much fun in the event of an accident.

its no different than moving the steering wheel closer with the telescoping wheel? and what if you where fat? then the wheel is closer still.

[CoolHandMoss]

But the oem wheel with a spacer would not be considered a modified wheel?

[CoolHandMoss]

Originally Posted by DocWalt

I am 99.9% sure it's legal, it simply turns your wheel into an aftermarket steering wheel.

That said, moving an airbag closer to you doesn't sounds like much fun in the event of an accident.

I tend to lean toward your interpretation but it seems like a grey area to me.

As far as safety, no air bag is going to hurt me worse than the crash. I can't speak for everyone though. From experience, your wrists are more at risk than your face.

[Clutch Dog]

Originally Posted by CoolHandMoss

But the oem wheel with a spacer would not be considered a modified wheel?

it is modified, it is modified to a non standard steering bit. and In the case of this particular instance. The rules also state that if there is not specific allowance for it. it is not allowed.

So I have fought hard to categorize this and basically it was "Its considered alt controls, put in a waiver"


Section 13 Street Category ( the lowest classing)
"Except for modifications authorized below, Street Category cars must be run as specified by the manufacturer with only standard equipment as defined by these Rules. This requirement refers not just to individual parts, but to combinations thereof which would have been ordered together on a specific car. Any other modifications or equipment will place the car in Street Touring®, Street Prepared, Street Modified, Prepared, or Modified Categories as appropriate. Configurations involving damaged parts (e.g., blown fuses) are not typically"

[e1_griego]

Seems legal to me.

Aftermarket wheels are allowed as long as the whole replacement assembly weighs more than OEM. This is adding weight to OEM, which seems to be the only consideration of the rules.

This is the STX thread, not the autox generally thread. For street it doesn't seem legal.