Quote:
Originally Posted by gunslinger
So, was the purpose of the upper control arm to bear the load from the wheels, or was it just to align the shock in correct direction?
Also, how does Zeta II get away with no upper control arm, there has to be a different supporting/alignment piece...
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It depends on the suspension. Zeta doesn't use an upper a arm either. The difference in a strut and shock is the strut is a load carring component while a shock is just a dampner. Your suspension will work without shocks (though you'll bounce like crazy). But without struts the suspension would collapse.
If you look closely at the 2nd pic you can see the radius rod in the lower front(I'm not sure what the official name of the other rod is). it controls movment laterially. All of the vertical force on the suspension is carried through the strut. The remaining forces in the front/rear and side/side directions are carried on the radius rod and the other support torwards the rear.
As for the Hp numbers there are plenty of GTO's in that range doing fine on stock parts. You can distroy stock drivetrain parts with little more than stock power if you shock load the drivetrain.