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ginagarus



Member Since: 08 Nov 2021
Location: England
Posts: 9

Radius arm clashing with chassis.
Hi folks,

New here, I’ve searched but cannot find so am reaching out to the knowledge, my local garage fitted caster corrected radius arms but they clash with the chassis outrigger? Are they handed? I didn’t think they were, I had a quick look at what had happened and think if they adjust the panhard it will align it and give clearance but it’s going to be mm close?

Do the arms run very close to the chassis? Think these are Bearmach ones but I’ve had them so long I can’t remember for sure.

Many thanks for any info and hello from me, I’ll attach a pic of the green machine in question.

Click image to enlarge
Post #929125 8th Nov 2021 7:33pm
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Angus_Beef



Member Since: 30 Apr 2015
Location: Oslo
Posts: 434

Norway 2015 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 SW Corris Grey
How much lift do you have? Roaming around 🇳🇴🇨🇭
Post #929128 8th Nov 2021 7:40pm
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ginagarus



Member Since: 08 Nov 2021
Location: England
Posts: 9

2” ish, think it’s slightly more to be honest but not much. The arm is really close near to where it passes the front box out riggers.
Post #929130 8th Nov 2021 7:47pm
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ginagarus



Member Since: 08 Nov 2021
Location: England
Posts: 9

My pal sent me a pic of his, I noticed his arms are notched and very close so maybe that’s just how they are. They are notched both sides so suggest not handed?

I’ve circled the clash area for clarity on his.


Click image to enlarge
Post #929131 8th Nov 2021 8:00pm
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donmacn



Member Since: 06 Nov 2017
Location: Nth Scotland
Posts: 1829

I had caster corrected arms on my 110 for ages, no lift, and there was no issue of a clash at all. I can’t say I’m that familiar with the 90 chassis. I know it’s different towards the back, but around the bulkhead and its outriggers I imagine it will be exactly the same.

Assuming the bump stops are in place, and a standard size, it will be easy enough to work out if the arms will ever hit the chassis or not. Probably one of things that looks a bit odd, but is actually just the way it is. Donald

1994 Defender 300Tdi 110 SW - owned since 2002 - 230k miles and going strong
(The 'rolling restoration' or tinkering thread: http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic58538.html )
2000 Range Rover P38 4.0L V8

in the past..
RR classic - fitted with 200Tdi
1984 RR classic - V8 with ZF auto box
1993 Discovery 300Tdi

not to mention the minis and the Type 2 VW camper...
Post #929135 8th Nov 2021 8:10pm
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ginagarus



Member Since: 08 Nov 2021
Location: England
Posts: 9

Thanks for the reply, yes I’m hoping tomorrow when the axle is squared off with the adjustable panhard it will be clear and like you say despite looking close actually cause no issue. 🤞
Post #929136 8th Nov 2021 8:17pm
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Sicastle71



Member Since: 21 Aug 2019
Location: West Lancs
Posts: 126

England 1999 Defender 90 Td5 CSW Alaska White
They shouldn’t clash at the outrigger if suspension is lifted and long ravel I think you are supposed put on extended bump stops if o remember
Post #929137 8th Nov 2021 8:18pm
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ginagarus



Member Since: 08 Nov 2021
Location: England
Posts: 9

Hi, thanks for reply but yes got extended bump stops however

Click image to enlarge

it will still clash before the axle reaches them currently. Could be a manufacturing flaw in my arms which would be unfortunate as I bought them years ago and would have no come back.
Post #929139 8th Nov 2021 8:25pm
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donmacn



Member Since: 06 Nov 2017
Location: Nth Scotland
Posts: 1829

They do look very odd, probably the angle, but almost as if they were on upside down - which I’m sure they can’t be.

Can you take, or do you have a pic from the other side?? Donald

1994 Defender 300Tdi 110 SW - owned since 2002 - 230k miles and going strong
(The 'rolling restoration' or tinkering thread: http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic58538.html )
2000 Range Rover P38 4.0L V8

in the past..
RR classic - fitted with 200Tdi
1984 RR classic - V8 with ZF auto box
1993 Discovery 300Tdi

not to mention the minis and the Type 2 VW camper...
Post #929143 8th Nov 2021 8:39pm
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ginagarus



Member Since: 08 Nov 2021
Location: England
Posts: 9

Hi, it’s away at the garage but the arms can only go on one way due to the mount at the axle itself so they are certainly on correctly unless they are handed in which case they could be on the wrong side sides.

I was pretty sure they are not handed but they are fitted and I didn’t have a really good look before I sent them off with the truck. I’ve googled but there is no mention anywhere of them being handed so thought I’d ask here how close peoples radius arms run to the chassis.

I think tomorrow when the panhard is adjusted to centralise the arms to chassis it may look ok but there are only mm of tolerance.
Post #929149 8th Nov 2021 8:51pm
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jst



Member Since: 14 Jan 2008
Location: Taunton
Posts: 7664

2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Stornoway Grey
So at the moment they hit the chassis?

they are not handed. they are close to the chassis at that point you have circled on all 90s.

do they hit both sides? if so adjusting the panard rod length wont fix both sides.

are they wider than your old arms, i dont mean the bush fitting where there are two sizes i mean the width of the arm itself.

are they the correct width arms for your axle? there is a chance i guess they could be narrow bushed arms on a wide bushed axle and they have spaced the axle end (large washer) and brought them in closer to the diff making narrower?

extended bump stops are to use with shocks that risk bottoming out on full bump, drop top mounts or longer shocks over std can fall foul of this.

just some thoughts. Cheers

James
110 XS Utility
130 Puma Station wagon/camper (in the making)
90 Puma Hardtop
Post #929155 8th Nov 2021 9:25pm
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ginagarus



Member Since: 08 Nov 2021
Location: England
Posts: 9

Cheers JST, the shocks are all dropped 2” so as you say I’m running the extended bump stops to protect the shocks from bottoming out.

Definitely the correct bush width at the axle so correct arms.

There is a small amount of play on one side so I am hoping tomorrow adjusting the panhard will split the difference and give a couple mm clearance each side.

Good to hear they are all close at that point, because I’d never had an issue before with the standard arms I never really looked how close they came to the chassis before they were removed.

Fingers crossed it’ll square up and be ok 🤞

Thanks for the input and nice to hear they are normally close 👍
Post #929167 8th Nov 2021 11:38pm
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ginagarus



Member Since: 08 Nov 2021
Location: England
Posts: 9

Ok so in the cold light of day they are adjusted, they are clear albeit just and road testing gave no issue, the clearance is absolutely minimal but articulating the suspension showed no issue either using jacks.

Here are some pics of the actual final clearance, most radius arms are not handed, some like Britpart have notched on the arms to give more clearance but the Bearmach ones I have do not. The Adrenalin 4x4 radius arms are however handed but rather the exception not the norm.

Hope this info is of help to someone else in the future, my set up is 2” shock droppers, standard shock length, +2” springs, dislocation cones, extended bump stops, Gwynn Lewis cranked rear arms and Bearmach caster corrected front 3 degrees, with extended brake lines. Probably misssed something but if someone else has a similar issue hope this info is some help.

Click image to enlarge




Click image to enlarge



Click image to enlarge
Post #929196 9th Nov 2021 9:24am
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jimbo55



Member Since: 15 Jul 2020
Location: Midlands
Posts: 385

United Kingdom 
Looking at that, providing that you are only that close on the passenger side you should be fine, when the suspension compresses the pan hard rod will increase the gap as it straightens out.

If you are really concerned by it you can add an adjustable pan hard rod and increase the length slightly
Post #929198 9th Nov 2021 9:39am
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ginagarus



Member Since: 08 Nov 2021
Location: England
Posts: 9

Cheers Jimbo, yep adjustable panhard is fitted and I cranked it over this morning, will get a proper four wheel alignment to check the front and rear axles but it’s kinda governed by the clearances so hopefully it’s all good 👍
Post #929204 9th Nov 2021 10:09am
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