Geomaster2 drive shaft boot issue - please help

[best_guy]

Hello hope all is well. Sorry about making a new thread with my first post (party foul right?) but I'm having some real trouble with my Driftworks Geomaster2 rear knuckles.

Don't get me wrong, I love them and have them up front too. I'd go as far as to say they represent the single biggest improvement my car has ever seen although the one niggling issue I have is that ever since installing them I have constantly been tearing off driveshaft boots like so:

The problem seems to be that the bracket where the traction rod bolts onto the knuckle is rubbing on the boot when the suspension compresses. Even sitting static there is very little clearance.

The rear end setup is as follows;
180SX (S13) chassis
S15 rear subframe
R200 w/ 5 bolts shafts
Geomaster2 knuckels
S13 PBM coil overs
S13 Cusco camber arms
S13 Cusco traction rods
S13 Yanack toe rods
S15 sway bar
S15 factory LCAs

Rear end setup (ride height was uneven and subframe unrisen at this point):

I have gone as far as to section and box the brackets of the toe rods, this has helped with clearance slightly although still not enough and I loose my driveshaft boots the first time the car squats down under power or I have an off.

Sectioned driver's (RHD) side traction rod bracket:

Raising the car would flatten the traction rod out and help it clear also, although I really would rather not destroy the whole look of the car for the sake of some silly driveshaft boots. I am hoping there is another solution - i.e someone who knows what's up might pop their head in here and say that Cusco traction rods are notorious for not working well with Geomasters and causing this issue Anyone?

cheers and thanks in advance, Jack

 

[Struggle]

hi jack.

i too came across the same issue. i have notched the corner of the traction rods and welded in a plate for strength. i think when you slam a car on geo's it will start to cause you issues like this. the way round it is either raise your car (gay i know), notch the traction rod (if you can do it enough) or make a traction rod which is not straight and has a 20-30 degree bend in it. this will mean it will bend away from the drive shaft meaning it can go lower. this will NOT mess with the roll centre or the handling at all if its strong enough.

hope you understand what i mean. good luck and please post pictures

 

[best_guy]

hi jack.i too came across the same issue. i have notched the corner of the traction rods and welded in a plate for strength. i think when you slam a car on geo's it will start to cause you issues like this. the way round it is either raise your car (gay i know), notch the traction rod (if you can do it enough) or make a traction rod which is not straight and has a 20-30 degree bend in it. this will mean it will bend away from the drive shaft meaning it can go lower. this will NOT mess with the roll centre or the handling at all if its strong enough.hope you understand what i mean. good luck and please post pictures

Hey mate thanks for the response and sorry for the late reply (exams.. ahh)

I'm worried if I cut any more out of the traction rod it might start to lose strength. Which of the 3 options did you go with of the above? Honestly the thought of making my own traction rod in the shape of an arc did occur to me, I'm surprised no one makes one already - I thought one of the main appeals of the geomasters is that you can lower the car quite a bit!

Which brand rods do you run?

Anyone else's input would be greatly appreciated too cheers

 

[Struggle]

hi

i went for the pussy option of running the car higher. i do still get slight rub issues but not bad enough to rip the boots off. not yet anyway.

i run japspeed arms. there shit so don't buy them

i did also make the point that geomasters are advertised as making the car go lower. in reality you can go lower on standard rear hubs as we are both finding out.

i recon the only way is to make a bent arm. i don't really know what angle as i've not tried it at all as i wanted my car out and didn't have the time to have a think.

people don't make them as, from what i've heard, only 3 people (me, you and one other) has had this issue.

please keep me posted on your findings as i'm not happy with my rear ride height and need a good drawing to take to a fabricators

cheers

 

[kevinLee]

First is try putting cable ties around the boots in the grooves. They can swell a little when spinning fast. I did this on my swift engined mini too stop tearing boots.

Another option is too mod your subframe so it sits higher. Nigel Petrie made his frame sit 55mm higher

You will need to check roll axis and anti squat geo after those kinda mods cose the change dramatically

 

[kevinLee]

I got another idea ill need to sketch it though cose confusing to explain lolz.

I'll be fitting my geos on my 32 later in the week

 

[kevinLee]

Have you guys come up with any solutions to this problem?

I have raised my subframe a little further than normal and iam not quite tucking the entire tyre yet!

I will be probably make new arms to provide clearance on my own car