DRM ducts hit pfadt swaybar

[eagle00]

I installed the Pfadt coil overs and sport sway bars two weeks ago, and took it out to the Texas Driving Experience Road Course, and they performed well. However with my stock brakes with Baer rotors, I experienced mild brake fade and a mushy pedal...so I ordered LG Motorsports spindle ducts and the DRM brake ducts..and brought my car to 21st Century Musclecars for installation...
just informed by John Page today that they had to melt the DRM ducts to make them fit around the pfadt sway bars...does anyone else have a similar setup..and find a workable solution?

[DennyM]

I read something about this problem somewhere ... PM Aaron Phadt (vendor here) and he should get right back to you.
Here's a link to his post:
C6Z control arm bushing carnage

[Aaron Pfadt]

Originally Posted by eagle00

I installed the Pfadt coil overs and sport sway bars two weeks ago, and took it out to the Texas Driving Experience Road Course, and they performed well. However with my stock brakes with Baer rotors, I experienced mild brake fade and a mushy pedal...so I ordered LG Motorsports spindle ducts and the DRM brake ducts..and brought my car to 21st Century Musclecars for installation...
just informed by John Page today that they had to melt the DRM ducts to make them fit around the pfadt sway bars...does anyone else have a similar setup..and find a workable solution?

Eagle,

The DRM ducts seem to have contact on some C5 cars with my bars. The bottom line is that it depends on exactly where the ducts are installed and the ride height of the car. Some cars touch, most do not. If they are high enough, no contact, if they are a little lower, the arm may touch the plastic at full compression. No big deal either way. I recommend making sure that the endlinks are as short as possible that moves the arms relatively lower.

The arms are hard aluminum so if they touch the hose a little or the plastic of the duct, no harm done. If your shop is capable like 21 Century, a little plastic clearancing can eliminate all possibility of contact.

-Aaron

[ZO6 NTHEWIND]

It says right on DRM's website that 'will not work with the pfadt swaybars'
So if your shop 'modified' them so that they will work and pfadt says they will work then it looks like problem solved.

Later,

[eagle00]

Originally Posted by ZO6 NTHEWIND

It says right on DRM's website that 'will not work with the pfadt swaybars'
So if your shop 'modified' them so that they will work and pfadt says they will work then it looks like problem solved.

Later,

here is the ad on the DRM website...



Front Brake Ducts for C5 Corvettes (T-1 Legal)



Instead of blowing air aimlessly around the wheel well, these brake ducts finish where GM left off. Air is blown directly into the hub/rotor area to dramatically reduce rotor temperature. Works with up to 10" wide 18" tall front rims. These are now standard equipment on our C500/RSR.
We recommend using these in combination with our Stainless Steel Braided Brake Lines and Stainless Steel Pistons for the ultimate in repetitive and high speed stopping performance on stock GM calipers.

Last summer while we were developing these ducts, our C500/RSR test car with just the factory cooling would repeatedly burn and damage the piston seals on our 6-piston AP calipers after 4-6 hours of very hard track driving at Road America. After installation of these ducts, we have yet to see any failures of the piston seals after 20 hours of high speed testing!

Kit includes left and right ducts with high temp hose and clamp. All hardware included with instructions. 1 hour installation time.

Please note, these will not fit select ride Corvettes
DRM Brake ducts 15-100 $199.95

nowhere did it indicate that it will not work with pfadt sway bars.

Aaron did indicate that based on ride height, clearance, and positioning, that it was possible that they would hit.
Since adjustable ride height was a feature of his coil-overs, as well as adjustability of his sway bars, this was a possibility.
I had the car lowered, a setting of 8 set for the coil overs and sway bars, and had an aggressive street/track alignment done.

Just passing on to other Z06 owners that this could possibly happen if you combine these products and settings.

I am very impressed and happy with the performance of the Pfadt Coil-Overs and Sport Sway bars, and glad to have input from Aaron himself.

the solution in the end from John Page of 21st Century Muscle Cars was to heat the DRM ducts to reshape them so that they would clear the Pfadt sway bars and still connect with the LG spindle ducts...
yes problem solved, but not as advertised by DRM,and more than just 1 hour of installation time, so just letting anyone else know that if they want to try this great setup, this might be necessary based on ride height and alignment.
Thanks again Aaron for your input.

[ZO6 NTHEWIND]

C5/C6 Brake Ducting

Instead of blowing air aimlessly around the wheel well, these brake ducts finish where GM left off. Air is blown directly into the hub/rotor area to dramatically reduce rotor temperature. Works with up to 10" wide 18" tall front rims. These are now standard equipment on our C500/RSR.
We recommend using these in combination with our Stainless Steel Braided Brake Lines and Stainless Steel Pistons for the ultimate in repetitive and high speed stopping performance with stock GM calipers

Kit includes left and right ducts with high temp hose and clamp. All hardware included with instructions. 1 hour installation time.
A must have for any modified braking system.

Will not work with the Pfadt swaybars.


I'm sorry but this is what I copy and pasted from DRM's site.

[eagle00]

Originally Posted by ZO6 NTHEWIND

C5/C6 Brake Ducting

Instead of blowing air aimlessly around the wheel well, these brake ducts finish where GM left off. Air is blown directly into the hub/rotor area to dramatically reduce rotor temperature. Works with up to 10" wide 18" tall front rims. These are now standard equipment on our C500/RSR.
We recommend using these in combination with our Stainless Steel Braided Brake Lines and Stainless Steel Pistons for the ultimate in repetitive and high speed stopping performance with stock GM calipers

Kit includes left and right ducts with high temp hose and clamp. All hardware included with instructions. 1 hour installation time.
A must have for any modified braking system.

Will not work with the Pfadt swaybars.


I'm sorry but this is what I copy and pasted from DRM's site.

thanks Z06 NTHEWIND,
I checked back on the site and if one clicks only on C5 corvettes, the add for the brake ducts there state one thing (Will not work on select ride corvettes), but upon further surfing found that on the "brakes" section, it does say "will not work with the pfadt swaybars.
took a little work, but they fit now....

[ZO6 NTHEWIND]

Eagle00

I think DRM's website needs a little updating.
I'm glad that things worked out for you. I'm going to be putting on the cooling ducts sometime this winter. I don't think I'll be upgrading the sway bars anytime soon though.
Let everybody know how the ducts work out!

Later,

[DJWorm]

Well I think you are nit-picking here and it may appear to you that DRM was at fault and you are trying to blame them for something as YOU installed the Pfadt bars first.

However the DRM ducts have been available for many years and much longer than the Pfadt products....maybe it's the Pfadt website that needs updating (as I am sure Aaron will) concerning THEIR applicability to other products.

But the bottom line here is that an aftermarket manufacturer will note discrepencies with other aftermarket products ...as they occur..and as a courtesey.

An aftermarket supplier ONLY is incumbant that his product is applicable with all other OEM parts. It is also understood that an "advertised performance gain" ONLY applies to and with OEM parts. In short an aftermarket manufacturer cannot guarantee that his product IS applicable with a million other combinations of aftermarket parts, and a performance gain will result. In fact performance may deteriorate when used with other non-standard parts.

The fact that one non-standard aftermarket part MAY need to be modified or fabrication may be necessary to work with another non-standard part is to be EXPECTED. If no modiification or fabrication is required you should be very happy. If a slight mod is necessary; so be it.....although it is always good to know about what is necessary. Caveat emptor.

Both DRM and Pfadt have and sell quality products and solutions to enhance and upgrade a production based car for the track.

When YOU mix and match aftermarket parts, YOU are doing the race engineering and YOU are responsible for the R&D and testing to make sure there IS a performance gain. YOU are responsible for appropriate modification and fabrication to make sure the parts work in concert.

It is laudable that YOU notified us and I am sure Pfadt and DRM will take note and update their websites as applicable. I feel that DRM did take "due diligence" as their website DID note the descrepency under "Brakes".

[eagle00]

Originally Posted by DJWorm

Well I think you are nit-picking here and it may appear to you that DRM was at fault and you are trying to blame them for something as YOU installed the Pfadt bars first.

However the DRM ducts have been available for many years and much longer than the Pfadt products....maybe it's the Pfadt website that needs updating (as I am sure Aaron will) concerning THEIR applicability to other products.

But the bottom line here is that an aftermarket manufacturer will note discrepencies with other aftermarket products ...as they occur..and as a courtesey.

An aftermarket supplier ONLY is incumbant that his product is applicable with all other OEM parts. It is also understood that an "advertised performance gain" ONLY applies to and with OEM parts. In short an aftermarket manufacturer cannot guarantee that his product IS applicable with a million other combinations of aftermarket parts, and a performance gain will result. In fact performance may deteriorate when used with other non-standard parts.

The fact that one non-standard aftermarket part MAY need to be modified or fabrication may be necessary to work with another non-standard part is to be EXPECTED. If no modiification or fabrication is required you should be very happy. If a slight mod is necessary; so be it.....although it is always good to know about what is necessary. Caveat emptor.

Both DRM and Pfadt have and sell quality products and solutions to enhance and upgrade a production based car for the track.

When YOU mix and match aftermarket parts, YOU are doing the race engineering and YOU are responsible for the R&D and testing to make sure there IS a performance gain. YOU are responsible for appropriate modification and fabrication to make sure the parts work in concert.

It is laudable that YOU notified us and I am sure Pfadt and DRM will take note and update their websites as applicable. I feel that DRM did take "due diligence" as their website DID note the descrepency under "Brakes".

It all works out in the end, both manufacturers responded in a positive and helpful manner...the internet is a great thing.
not seeking blame, just different solutions...I already had one, just had to inquire if both pfadt and DRM had any input on the matter as Im sure not the first and won't be the last Corvette owner to combine these products. DRM has been great in the past...and responses like the one below will ensure that I will be a customer for other products later.

Marc,
Thank you for the heads up. We have the ducts in too many areas on our
website. I spoke with someone at 21st MC and told them the mods they
needed to do. I'm glad everything worked out ok and you were able to
make it work.

Thanks
Randy

thanks again to Randy and Aaron