I received the following from H2Sport this am.

We do make the spherical bearings for the TT. While similar in concept to the VW version they differ in detail. This is due to the fact that the VW control arms are of stamped steel /welded construction meaning that the bearing bores into which the spherical bearings are installed are not a true round shape. While this is OK for the compliant stock rubber bushings it is not OK for our machined spherical bearings. To remedy this we take the VW control arms and with several press tools, form the holes to be round. This would be beyond the capability of the typical customer and the average shop, so we don't sell the VW spherical bearings on their own but instead supply them installed complete with a new set of control arms.

The TT control arms on the other hand are cast iron parts with machined bearing bores. However, the tolerance of the bearing bores from control arm to control arm vary too much to suit a proper press fit of our spherical bearing housings. To remedy this, we machine our spherical bearing housings slightly undersize to give a slip fit into the control arms and use a high strength Loctite adhesive and circlip to retain the bearings.

So for the customer, this means we can sell the spherical bearing upgrade kit without control arms. You or your shop need only press out the stock bushings; prefit the spherical bearings housings; prep the surfaces then bond-in the spherical bearings.

I've asked a couple follow up questions - concering whether the fronts are for the MKII or MKI arms and whether than can or cannot be used with Defcons.

My only concern is with the fact that you have to bond them into the arm in case you don't like them there might be no going back :-)

More info to follow!

 

I looked at their website yesterday when you guys first brought this up.

On the lowering spindles/hubs I know VW guys convert to TT hardware in this location and Eurotuner noted that in their magazine too - our cars are more advanced and prepped as far as lowering goes up front. So I don't see the need for the H2Sport drop spindles/hubs.

My remaining suspension mods that I want to do are these spherical bearings, a haldex controler (undecided on type), and some kind of custom camber kit up front that will convert from those stupid bushings we use to a three bolt attachment type.

I would like to remove the strut bar, cut off the front studs, drill out the holes and get a front strut mount from a MK5 and see if it fits through the holes, then fit our stock strut bar back on too : )

we can all dream can't we? But on the real, this is my new project for the summer!

Along with a FMIC, those are the plans!

Just popped in a new Blaupunkt headunit the SD48, hooks up to the wiring harness directly, takes the stock CD changer I think and takes a USB input in the back, aux in the back, aux minijack up front and SD card up front. There is no internal cd player. Pictures will come. Sound is spectacular and I'm going to remove speakers from my mod's to do list and keep the subwoofer idea...

okay enough jibber, time to work (well I'm here at least!)

 

such a beast. That'll be awesome on your track toy.

 

transmit too much NVH - but I really don't think they will.

At some certain point - i'll have to make a decision to keep it as a daily driver or make it more hardcore track oriented. While i'm still have alot to learn - I'm at that point now where i'm running it really hard all day and it's starting to show.

 

did you have factory bose that you upgraded and that required no harness?

i notices that it has red keys and red screen. looks like a nice, cheap upgrade!

 

A housing that is bonded into the bore in the LCA and then a bearing that is fit into the housing with circlips? If it's all one unit, then there is a reduced chance of being able to replace the actual bearing without getting a new LCA. Depends on how well the adhesive works. Can you clarify?

 

talking about on the track deal. With all the focking lawyers (present company excluded of course) having such an effect on tracking cars I've changed my program around quite a bit.

Demodded the S2000 as all the sanctioning bodies are starting to ban convertibles no matter what kind of rollover protection they have. With the exception of Lotus Elise and Corvette as they have integral *factory* bars. The S2000 had a pro built weld in 4 point with harnesses/seats/etc.. But as one of the BMW bigwigs pointed out to me, about 90 percent of the convertibles with rollover protection wouldn't pass a proper tech inspection. And because of the chance of litigation, I don't think they want anything to do with it anyway.

PLUS.... IIRC all the major carriers are no longer covering you at the track at all. Believe the wording of my State Farm policy now is that "Any incident on a surface prepared for racing is excluded". Which includes auto-x courses, racetracks, etc. I'd love to track the STi, because I'm about 95 percent sure I could keep up with the GT3's in that, but don't want to take the risk of wadding it up on the track somewhere. Not too worried about myself, but there are A LOT of guys out there with deep pockets and no skillz.

So, decided to take my DD (beater) Acura Integra and make it my track toy. I have poly stuff everywhere, GC coilovers with adjustable Koni's, aluminum control arms, sway bars, adjustable spherical rods, blah blah blah. NVH is WAY up, and street drivability is going downhill very quickly. To add insult to injury, the car is only as fast as you'd expect an Acura Integra to be, so even though I can track down the 993's, 996's, and M3's in the corners, I'm just flat "in the way" when it comes to the straits. The engine has no problem spinning at 8k all day long, but brakes, tranny, tires aren't loving me quite as much. There does come a time when you either want to go full on track weapon, or wave the white flag.

Unfortunately gokarts are no longer an option for me, or I think I'd just tinker with those and call it good. :-(

 

At work now, will provide pictures and stuff later tonight!

 

the difference being for the TT - the housing is bonded into the arm and held with a circlip as well - as opposed to being pressed in by H2Sport. The bearing will still be removable and replaceable as far as I know.

 

on the straights. I'm also not the best driver out there either. With 100 octane in the tank I have no problem equalling slightly modded E46's on the straights - but I get dropped easily by 911's etc. Through the turns i'm pretty good - but it will take camber plates and running more rebound/compression to improve and the car has serious limitations in terms of the width of tires I can run. I do love the awd aspect though as i'm on the gas much quicker through the turns and i've got it balanced so I can throttle steer it pretty effortlessly.

So it comes down to the same decision you had. Do I continue down the track path - or do I buy a car and turn it into a track car - EVO or STI are both high on my list. On the other hand - I really want a Cayman S - and I'd be nutz to not take it on the track. Then i'm right back where I started :-)