Intrax suspension failure

[The Gorilla]

Hi,

Lawsy- accordingly yes, or so I am told.

The Rear Turret problem as previously explained in
not caused by 'bump' its caused by the 'drop'.

In the drop, the weight of force of the rear suspension
dropping, that's the complete, wheel, hub, brake/disc, trailing arm,
wishbones, and coilover is all transmitted to the two nuts
that hold the rear top mount in place.

This situation is increased when running shorter suspension
than say stock where you encounter rear wheel lift.

By inserting the Z3 Plates, or a rear strut bar, you push
the load across a larger flat surface rather than the the two
small point loads, of the original two nuts.

By spreading the down force load, instead of creating a
load point, the shell metal does not fatigue.

If not running a front strut bar, you should also really run
large custome washers plates in steel or alloy on the front struts
under the top mount locating nuts, as they, to a lesser degree
are incurring the same downward forces.

On bump, the top mount itself from underneath speads
the load across the turret top.

It also helps in spreading load across the turret top into the shell as
opposed creating a small load point.

Better chassis dynamics and so on.

Regards,

The 'Real' Gorilla.

[azrael]

I have fitted the plates as a precaution, have you asked Anthony/Julian what they think?

I've ordered the plates as a precaution too, car going back next week to have the suspension re fettled now its settled

[shimmy]

Fitted mine last week

[Nords]

As mine spends much of it's time on the road, I'm going to swap back to std suspension, have the Intrax serviced and brought up to the new spec (if reqd) and then make a decision about staying on std or refitting.

If I do, then those plates or a Thorney set of bars will be going in...

[NZ_M3]

By inserting the Z3 Plates, or a rear strut bar, you push
the load across a larger flat surface rather than the the two
small point loads, of the original two nuts.

Sorry but I disagree.

The Z3 plate is smaller than the actual top mount flat surface, all it does is sandwich something inherently weak with a smaller mount surface - it doesn't affect or change the strength of the surface you are sandwiching (not when it is actually smaller).

The load is first taken up by the Rear shock rubber mount - that mount spreads the load to the whole shock tower which is inherently weak to take a full coilover in the first place.

I am not saying that it will or won't necessarily develop the failure with the Z3 plate. All I am saying is if you are relying on it as a "fix" ... then you are placing way too much faith in it.

You need to properly spread the load to use a full coilover on these cars - period - just look at the ALMS M3 GTRs - that's exactly what they have done.

If you don't believe, go grab a piece of tissue and place two pieces of cardboard on either side that is slightly smaller but in about the same shape as the tissue paper - put a bolt through it and pull hard - I bet you the tissue paper will still tear - it does nothing to add strength to the inherently weak part. Now try the same experiment but this time spread the load completely - you'll get a different result.

[The Gorilla]

Hi,

NZ_M3- I am no engineer but with the greatest
of respect, I think you have missed the issue.

If it takes 'x' amount of force for a nut to be forced
through a sheet of metal, then by adding a washer
with a far greater diameter than the nut, it will require
a force far greater than 'x' to force the nut through.

The point load had been spread.

The issue is created by load forces down not up.

Regards,

The Gorilla.

[Nords]

http://www.turnermotorsport.com/html...6&subcat_id=96

http://www.rogueengineering.com/Merc...&Category_Code

Did we decide what the best idea was? The rogue ones look very much like Z3 items however the Turner ones look a little more bespoke?

[shimmy]

I have fitted the z3 ones myself and easy to do

[kbird]

+1

[Dino_csl]

Bit of a thread resurrection but I've recently bought a 3-way Intrax coilover kit for my e36 M3 and stumbled upon this thread when looking for info on the Intrax.

The Z3 plates have been used by the e36 boys for years and I was somewhat suprised that e46 owners hadn't cottoned on to this before '09!

As an aside - John (Thorney) do you make any rear brace kits like that for e36 M3s?

[Thorney]

Ys, we do do an E36 version, looks similar but not got any shots of it sorry.

[funtime]

What a horrible thread to look at for an Intrax owner :bigcry::hahaha:

[AlexGTT]

What a horrible thread to look at for an Intrax owner :bigcry::hahaha:

Not really. You don't know what abuse those cars have seen to cause that type of failure. It's a rare failure.

[funtime]

Not really. You don't know what abuse those cars have seen to cause that type of failure. It's a rare failure.

True! - hopefully 5 up + 1 in the boot and blasting over all the curbs and speedbumps :hahaha:

[AlexGTT]

True! - hopefully 5 up + 1 in the boot and blasting over all the curbs and speedbumps :hahaha:

Like when Shimmy got air over the railway lines in yours?:whistle:

Now you opened yourself up for that one!:thumbs::hahaha: