GR Yaris Caster through anti-lift kits

I have been using the Powerflex in the rear and HardRace in the front of the control arm mainly to stiffen and reduce movement.
I am also using pillow bearings in the strut tops and change most of the rear suspension bushes to pillow bearings.
Destroyed the NVH in the process but the car is like a go kart now, super tight. When I take it out on the highway it literally hums. I love it. lol.
Its on Jack stands at the moment, more mods.

Powerflex.webp
 
Pillow bearings are nice for feel but a big PITA if you drive on salted roads... although DNA has a sealed one for the rear trailing arms, I am still not sure if that is good enough.

In the end it all depends what comprimise you want. But for me a fully modified track rat or even full blown rally car isn't very unique, it's the blend of having a daily fairly comfy car with some rally genes that, in part, can show during driving too, from factory (with some OEM+ mods in my case, of which the WL caster bush can be part of, or not)...
 
I agree, the challenge for many, me included, is not to make a compromised competition car but an optimised road car that can be enjoyed on road and track. Verkeline components, though excellent, seem to be very track focused so don't expect a pleasant road car if u use!
 
Fortunately I don't have to deal with salted roads and everything tends to be a compromise. I have a Mazda CX 3 as a daily drive. Sometimes I get in the GRY and think " what the hell".
If I was going to change one bush in the rear suspension it would be the trailing arm.
 
Onehp said:
... (with some OEM+ mods in my case, of which the WL caster bush can be part of, or not)...
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Onehp said:
... I would do the whiteline if I had the time and if I am in a tinkering mood...
Click to expand...

If you were to install one of those caster bushes, would you only ever consider the Whiteline one?

Having established that both offer anti-lift, cost aside, any reason why you/one would prefer the Whiteline over the Powerflex one?

Thanks
 
Any specs available for front control arm mounting torque specs?
Getting the bits in few days and could install them soon. Big bolts likely in region 140-200Nm? but what about the hub end (smaller three bolts)?
 
Spirited said:
If you were to install one of those caster bushes, would you only ever consider the Whiteline one?

Having established that both offer anti-lift, cost aside, any reason why you/one would prefer the Whiteline over the Powerflex one?

Thanks
Click to expand...
Whiteline maybe more weather durable as there its full rubber? what comes to design Powerflex looks to be more solid, so better for more track /racing focus?
 
Got the anti lift bushes installed and aligned. Kit added 20-30 minutes more caster.
Got almost into depression during mounting the control arms as front control arm nut had gotten loose inside subframe (do not use impact wrench when opening, as the nuts inside subframe are welded on their place and can get loose VERY easily).
Took 2-3hrs of McGyvering to get the nut in its place and the arm mounted. Stock control arms are quite rubbish and bend easily so install needs very good support in press to avoid any bent arms..

Initial feel - steering feels tad heavier, and car seems to turn little bit better in parking lot speeds. It comes to be seen how it works on faster speed on track.
BTW my stock bushings were installed so that they already had an anti lift geometry (compared to whiteline papers) so we added 3mm more just to have the setup more effect. to be seen if it works or did we do overkill.

Stock caster block bush was quite soft rubber and whiteline is one click heavier rubber. Didn't notice any added NVH.
Screenshot 2023-11-27 at 10.37.30.png
 
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on slow speed snowy road front end feels better -> front grips better so less steering input is needed and car is more driveable with throttle.
 
So, I've been having slight clicking / ticking noises when turning the wheel while stationary or at very slow speeds.

I guess it happens at all speeds but these aren't loud noises, so I can't hear it unless everything else is quiet.

Hearing thes noises for the first time probably coincided with having the Powerflex caster kit (front wishbone rear bush kit) installed.

If you have experience of such kits, have you noticed these causing such noises? @Yaris San @Michael Knight @MarkoS @azet you probably have experience of the Whiteline caster kit, but same principle as the Powerflex. @Sekred you probably have the Powerflex!
 
Spirited said:
So, I've been having slight clicking / ticking noises when turning the wheel while stationary or at very slow speeds.

I guess it happens at all speeds but these aren't loud noises, so I can't hear it unless everything else is quiet.

Hearing thes noises for the first time probably coincided with having the Powerflex caster kit (front wishbone rear bush kit) installed.

If you have experience of such kits, have you noticed these causing such noises? @Yaris San @Michael Knight @MarkoS @azet you probably have experience of the Whiteline caster kit, but same principle as the Powerflex. @Sekred you probably have the Powerflex!
Click to expand...
No noises here either
 
Spirited said:
So, I've been having slight clicking / ticking noises when turning the wheel while stationary or at very slow speeds.

I guess it happens at all speeds but these aren't loud noises, so I can't hear it unless everything else is quiet.

Hearing thes noises for the first time probably coincided with having the Powerflex caster kit (front wishbone rear bush kit) installed.

If you have experience of such kits, have you noticed these causing such noises? @Yaris San @Michael Knight @MarkoS @azet you probably have experience of the Whiteline caster kit, but same principle as the Powerflex. @Sekred you probably have the Powerflex!
Click to expand...
Hi Spirited,

No noises here. I had the same Powerflex bushes fitted to my Fiesta ST and no problems with that either.
I would check for loose bolts.
 
Spirited said:
So, I've been having slight clicking / ticking noises when turning the wheel while stationary or at very slow speeds.

I guess it happens at all speeds but these aren't loud noises, so I can't hear it unless everything else is quiet.

Hearing thes noises for the first time probably coincided with having the Powerflex caster kit (front wishbone rear bush kit) installed.

If you have experience of such kits, have you noticed these causing such noises? @Yaris San @Michael Knight @MarkoS @azet you probably have experience of the Whiteline caster kit, but same principle as the Powerflex. @Sekred you probably have the Powerflex!
Click to expand...
powerflex bushing is "on-car adjustable Nylon/Polyurethane Ball-Joint combination" where as whiteline bush is solid hard rubber, with no adjustability (well, you can adjust it to the position you like when you mount it in the control arm, after that it is quite difficult). So in that regard they differ a bit in their construction. Powerflex seems to give 0.5 degree more caster adjustability than whiteline that is simpler.

upper pic powerflex, lower pic whiteline.

Screenshot 2025-02-17 at 2.13.55.webp


Screenshot 2025-02-17 at 2.19.18.webp
 
Spirited said:
So, I've been having slight clicking / ticking noises when turning the wheel while stationary or at very slow speeds.

I guess it happens at all speeds but these aren't loud noises, so I can't hear it unless everything else is quiet.

Hearing thes noises for the first time probably coincided with having the Powerflex caster kit (front wishbone rear bush kit) installed.

If you have experience of such kits, have you noticed these causing such noises? @Yaris San @Michael Knight @MarkoS @azet you probably have experience of the Whiteline caster kit, but same principle as the Powerflex. @Sekred you probably have the Powerflex!
Click to expand...
Powerflex here, no noise.
 
Sekred said:
Hi Spirited,

No noises here. I had the same Powerflex bushes fitted to my Fiesta ST and no problems with that either.
I would check for loose bolts.
Click to expand...

Ticking feels as if I'm over-stretching something the closer I get to full lock.

This doesn't suggest loose bolts to me, but, I guess always worth checking.
 
@Sekred, @LittleMav & anyone else with the Powrerflex ones, what's the maximum caster you could get?

I brought the car to a racing outfit with stock bushes & caster at 5º24' & 5º37'. Once they installed the Powerflex caster kit, they printed a settings report showing caster figures lower than my stock ones. Once I explained that this is not acceptable, they redid it achieving 5º35' & 5º46' respectively.; the maximum they could achieve, they said. I think this added caster is so marginal that any difference it may make is negligible. With those stock figures, I was expecting to see 6º with the Powerflex kit. Also, noticing the 🔗 ticking noises since then, makes me wonder if something has gone very wrong with that installation.
 
I installed the bushes myself. I have never had an alignment done since so I do not know what the castor is. I have this thing about other people touching my vehicles. To put it bluntly they tend to Fuk things up.
I use a string line to set toe. Spent quite a bit of time checking multiple times.
I made a bracket up to measure chamber. I can't adjust chamber on the front anyway. I can on the rear because I have adjustable links
I am using the smaller Dia OEM bolts in the front control arms. The chamber is around 2.5 degrees neg.
Sorry I am digressing here.
The rear front control arm bush you are talking about is offset. Before you install it back on the vehicle you rotate it so the offset is 90 degrees to the control arm front bush. I am talking about the line of the front bush. You can't change this. The only adjustment is to rotate the rear bush 180 degrees to reverse the castor meaning Pos or Neg castor. Turning the rear bush other than the line of 90 degrees is trying to push or pull the control arm longitudinally and you cannot do that because it is located in a fixed position by front bush.
Have I explained that correctly or confused everyone.
Anyway getting back to your problem it really does sound like this particular workshop has stuff something up.
You can either persist with this workshop and they will do their level best to cover their own backside or bite the bullet and go somewhere else.

Chamber Tool,

Chamber Tool.webp
 
Spirited said:
@Sekred, @LittleMav & anyone else with the Powrerflex ones, what's the maximum caster you could get?

I brought the car to a racing outfit with stock bushes & caster at 5º24' & 5º37'. Once they installed the Powerflex caster kit, they printed a settings report showing caster figures lower than my stock ones. Once I explained that this is not acceptable, they redid it achieving 5º35' & 5º46' respectively.; the maximum they could achieve, they said. I think this added caster is so marginal that any difference it may make is negligible. With those stock figures, I was expecting to see 6º with the Powerflex kit. Also, noticing the 🔗 ticking noises since then, makes me wonder if something has gone very wrong with that installation.
Click to expand...
if the bushing is installed correctly to enable more caster, it should move the hub forwards the amout of offset in bushing given the front control arm point is fixed.
With Whiteline bushing's I got caster tad under 6 degrees (similar results as @MarkoS reported eariler.
my alignment report after install
https://www.gr-zoo.com/threads/geo-fast-road-help-and-track-set-up.555/post-95100
 
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