This seems like its an on-going debate. Some say you all you need are rear toe links to correct camber and tire wear and others say all you need are upper arms.

I just bought the rear toe links now do i need to buy the uppers as well?

So what is it???

 

It all depends what kind of an alignment you are trying to attain. I am on coilovers and am aligned to GT2 spec running -1.9deg camber in the rear and rear 2.7mm toe (on the front I run -1.5deg camber). I can attain those settings using the the OEM upper control arms and the Tarret adjustable toe arms even though I'm not sure those are needed as there appears to be some more room in the stock eccentrics. This is a fairly aggressive alignment though maximized for handling and not necessarily tire wear. If you are trying to attain a stock 996tt alignment which calls for about -1.0deg camber in the rear you will definitely need adjustable control arms in the rear and possibly the toe kit depending on the amount of lowering you have. Both camber and toe (not just camber) need to be set correctly in order to have decent tire wear. If your camber is OK and you have too much toe than your tire wear will be poor and vice versa but more so if your toe is out of whack..

 

There are many variables that influence if you can get away with just adjustable toe links or if you also need adjustable upper control arms. How low do you plan to drop the car? The lower you go the more camber and toe in you have to deal with. What size tires/wheels are you running. The more width the more adjustment you'll need. -1.9 camber with stock width tires and no spacers work just fine on a car designed to run with GT2 specs, but put some 315 on the back with a more radical offset wheels and you'll run out of adjustment in the stock eccentrics. I tried just PSS10 and ended up with -2.5 camber. Taking any more camber out just got way too much toe in. The cost of parts (upper control arms and toe steer links) are much less than a set of tires and having the suspension taken apart again and the car re-aligned. Play it safe. Do it right the first time. Get the rear dog bones, toe steer links, and sway bar drop links. It always works better, cost less than doing it twice, and you'll like the result. I've also heard many comments on suspension noise with these mods. They do not add noise. (The things that add noise are camber plates, thrust bushings, and sometimes adjustable sway bar drop links.) What these parts do fix, in addition to making a fully adjustable rear suspension, is to eliminate the feeling the back end has taken a set and then step out again as the rubber bushings take up the slack. With all that weight in the back this can be un-nerving. Also consider upgrading motor mounts, installing the 997 tranny mount and short shift kit. The stock parts are too soft and let the motor and shift linkage move around too much. I know this may sound stupid expensive, but the entire car was designed as a "system". Change one thing and you've got to consider changing other related parts.

 

Did you say no suspension noise? If so what rear upper arms are you running? I'm on just HR springs and spacers for stock wheels. I'm about to install the tarret rear toe links since that's all I needed according to some. My goal is to minimize my inner tire wear and bring my camber from -2.9 closer to stock.

Would I still need adj upper arms?

 

If someone tells you that adjustable drop links or upper control arms will make no noise or are as quiet as OEM then I have some oceanfront property to sell you in Colorado. The factory non-adjustable OEM pieces utilize rubber bushings in the rod ends for a reason: to absorb noise and harshness, the adjustables do not. You do the math.... Most people including the poster quoted below, will tell you so:

 

I installed each set of parts one at a time to determine both handling, alignment changes, and noise. Upper dog bones with quality spherical ends, no noise that you can hear (unless you're used to driving a Lincoln Town Car). Adustable toe link arms...same comment. Drops links. Yes you can hear them. No doubt. How do I know this. I took a stock set of drop links and cut and welded them to gain the appropriate length. While there was no noise, they snapped. Check the board. You'll see lots of pics of snapped drop links. The adjustable drop links move and twist too much to be quiet, but they don't break. Camber plates....don't even think about it if noise is an issue to you. But if you wanted a stock car with stock suspension accoustics, than leave it alone or buy the X73 package and stop fooling around with just lowering springs and hoping for the best. Porsche spent alot more money testing their factory option parts than most aftermarket manufacturers.
-2.9 rear camber is tire death on the street. You'll eat inside rear tire edges like popcorn at the movies.
I won't recommend specific products to correct this problem since there are many sponsor of this board that deserve your consideration. My only hint is that I live less than a mile from Tarrett and the owner's wife is the bomb so I keep buying parts just to talk to her.

Given the earthquake in Japan, there may be ocean front property to Colorado one day very soon.

 

Did your rear adjustable toe links work to correct your car ?

Who's rear adjustable toe links did you buy ?
were the easy to install ?

I ask, as it is quite confusing for me, as I've been reading on 6Speedonline, and one person says I need a Rear Toe Link kit, and another link says I need a set of Bones ? and now you say I should buy & install Adjustable Rear Control Arms ?

Thanks - JIM

 

If you're going to pull the rear shocks and springs out anyway, the install of the dog bones is easy. The rear toe steer links are even easier as all you have to do it replace the stock parts without pulling the shocks and springs out. I have (and this is not an endorsement) Tarrett dog bones, toe steer links, and drop links. TRG, GMG and Agency also make high quality parts.

 

I have H&R springs with Champion 19's running 295/30/19 in the rear. I have some neg camber (not sure of the specs as previous owner did the suspension and alignment) and pretty even wear across the tire. In fact the centers show the most wear. I'm moving up to 315/25/19 as I have been told I have the wrong combo (235/35 and 295/30).

I'm not sure what other suspension components were installed with the springs, but what should I expect with the 315/25 as compared to my current setup?

i was concerned that I would need toe links as well, but considering the even wear I dont really want to touch anything.

What are your recommendations?

 

If you have satisfactory tire wear and are happy with the handling, don't change anything and don't get talked into buying stuff you dont need.