Rocket radius rod questions

[RacerX10]

So .. two questions. This car seems to have a build date of November 3rd, 2010 but the four link bracket type from the manual seems to match pre-2008 cars because it has the bolt in bottom left bracket to shorten the bar. What's the deal ?

2nd question, the bottom left bar has a clear angle bent in it (see photo). Is it actually bent, or is that bent like that on purpose for clearance from the birdcage ?

Thanks !

[keeks]

Looks to me that the lower bar is a bent bar on purpose. Many come this way. You still measure length center to center of rod ends, just like a straight bar.

[zeroracing]

Lower bar is like an outpace pre bent, gives a little more clearance on the birdcage rotation.

[billetbirdcage]

Honestly, it doesn't appear to me to be a pre-bent lower but maybe it's the angle of the picture but the bend seems a little small for most of the pre-bent bars. Then add in what appears to be a lot of angle for that length of LRU bar, it's very likely the bar could have hit and bent, you should see marks on it if that is the case as well as if it's overall length is off unless someone bent it and then readjusted it.

[RacerX10]

It's definitely a different bar than the other 3. This one is straight-tubed while the other 3 are the kind of swedge looking tube deal, larger diameter in the middle then on the ends.

[RacerX10]

of course its pre bent its the same one many of us use

grt sells them lots of places

Thanks .. good to know !

[Dirtmod13]

Thanks .. good to know !

So with both of those bars being that short and at such extreme angles, how did this car do in the last few races it was in?

[Matt49]

^^^ I was wondering the same thing. The top bar looks dangerously close to camming over the birdcage.

[RacerX10]

I wish I knew. It was set up this way when I bought it .. I'm dubious. I'm putting the long top bar back on it. The bottom bar appears to be close standard length at 15" heim center to heim center (actually I measured 14 3/4" .. need to pull it off to check it better)

Looks like that bent bar is a thing, found them here :

http://eastcoastspeed.com/c-1067688-radius-rods-bent-tie-rod-tubes.html

[Matt49]

If you don't have something like this, Wehr's makes a center finder kit that makes measuring center to center ACCURATELY a ton easier.

http://www.wehrsmachine.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=7&products_id=49&zenid=f3f7bc3df9dd934852b5ee8bb5815989

[toloud]

bracket

This could have started as a combo car a few bolt on brackets to add or remove and you could run swingarm. Lb bar 15" Lt bar 18.25" Lt short bar 16.75" The newer Lt shortener bracket
does not have the two top holes. With the Lt long or short bar we always start in our middle hole , 3 up from the bottom on your bracket.

[f15]

the birdcage is indexed because if you look there is no shocks so there is nothing to stop the rear-end from falling so it causes extreme angles in bars

[keeks]

Sure don't want to use the shock as a limiter. I don't see a chain on there, but I do see a broken rib on the left side bell.

Should run some kind of limiter chain, cable etc.

[Dirtmod13]

Sure don't want to use the shock as a limiter. I don't see a chain on there, but I do see a broken rib on the left side bell. Should run some kind of limiter chain, cable etc.

Def need a chain, don't think that axle would hit the underslung with upper that high and being that short.

[RacerX10]

Sure don't want to use the shock as a limiter. I don't see a chain on there, but I do see a broken rib on the left side bell.

Should run some kind of limiter chain, cable etc.

It's not a broken rib. That underslung bar *is* the limiter on a Rocket. They use that concentric aluminum piece to set the drop. Does same thing as a chain. The rib is ground off to get the travel you need / provide a flat mating surface.

From the Rocket setup manual :

"Adjust the bolt on clamp attached to underslung bar under LR axle tube [to adjust LR drop]"

"You will typically need to grind the bottom of the left bell flat where it contacts the clamp on the underslung bar"

You can see it better in this photo :