My Tru Turn Install/Review

[Vicinity]

Alright, I finally received mine, so I promptly set about installing it.



First impressions, very well packed, they definitely took their time, and it always surprises me how much they can cram into such a small box.



I love looking at brand new parts. Everything has a great coating, not blotchy, very well done. As you can see, one ITRE is bent (which it is supposed to be). The tie rod sleeves are really slick pieces, they're extremely light.



So I immediately yanked the old steering arms off, and here's the comparison shot if you're curious. The joint is moved quite a bit. And that brings us to problem number one. I tried to install my Tru Turn with stock spindles, and I have LS1 brakes (calipers from a LS1 Camaro, and rotors for a C5 Corvette).



As you can see, they do NOT play nice together. The steering arm is shimmed out about .20", I really feel uncomfortable going any farther as it would need to be shimmed ridiculously to work.



Here's where she hit.

So, now I suppose I need to order ridetech spindles to get everything set up cherry. Any advice for coil spacers to keep my ride height the same? 1 inch spaces should negate the 2 inch drop from the spindles, correct? (I plan to eventually swap over to ridetech upper and lowers with coilovers, so it will just be a temp fix).

[Smoker03]

I thought on the ride tech website it says the true turn cannot be used with anything other than the ride tech spindles. You will love the spindles when you get them. I am hoping to pick up the true turn soon when budget allows. I have z28 short arms and a Baer tracker kit right now. The arms are really low right now.

[67 ls1 vert]

I got their set up to work with my ATS spindles with no problems.

[David Pozzi]

Do not use the Tru-Turn with stock Spindles!

[Vicinity]

Am I correct about the coil spring spacers?

Without spacers I'd be riding on my fenders.

[bret]

Vicinity, I'm not really directing this at you...just trying to inform the post followers out there about why we insist on using a complete system.

The precise location of every component of the front suspension, including the steering arm, the spindle, all the tie rod ends...is absolutely crucial to achieve the performance benefits of the True Turn system. If you usecan oem spindle, you have moved the location of the upper balljoint by 1.75". By shimming the steering arm for clearance, you have moved it inward, effectively shortening the tie rod.
While the component may possibly bolt together, they will not work correctly. Your review will be poor and you will cuss us for apparently wasting your money.
Raising the ride height is a compromise as well, but not as bad as the items above. The suspension is designed to function at a specific ride height. As the suspension compresses from ride height the angles and lengths of the control arms serve to create negative camber (top of the tire leans in). By raising the car 2" to compensate for the dropped spindle you are changing the angles of the control arms. In the end you will not get as much camber gain as if you set the car at it's intended ride height. Does it matter? Driving down the highway, probably not a huge difference. If you are going to try auto crossing or track days...yes, it is a big compromise.
I assume you are trying to accommodate a wheel/tire fitment issue? The only real solution is to get a proper wheel and tire combination that will fit the car it's intended ride height. I know it's bad news, but it is good information.

[ehummelman]

Kudos to you Bret for the very detailed, respectful reply. I have gained a tremendous amount of respect for you and ridetech from reading all of your posts. They are always very honest and packed with useful tech. With all the vendors that are going down the tubes right now with their customer service, it's good to see someone taking the high road.

[Vicinity]

Vicinity, I'm not really directing this at you...just trying to inform the post followers out there about why we insist on using a complete system.

The precise location of every component of the front suspension, including the steering arm, the spindle, all the tie rod ends...is absolutely crucial to achieve the performance benefits of the True Turn system. If you usecan oem spindle, you have moved the location of the upper balljoint by 1.75". By shimming the steering arm for clearance, you have moved it inward, effectively shortening the tie rod.
While the component may possibly bolt together, they will not work correctly. Your review will be poor and you will cuss us for apparently wasting your money.
Raising the ride height is a compromise as well, but not as bad as the items above. The suspension is designed to function at a specific ride height. As the suspension compresses from ride height the angles and lengths of the control arms serve to create negative camber (top of the tire leans in). By raising the car 2" to compensate for the dropped spindle you are changing the angles of the control arms. In the end you will not get as much camber gain as if you set the car at it's intended ride height. Does it matter? Driving down the highway, probably not a huge difference. If you are going to try auto crossing or track days...yes, it is a big compromise.
I assume you are trying to accommodate a wheel/tire fitment issue? The only real solution is to get a proper wheel and tire combination that will fit the car it's intended ride height. I know it's bad news, but it is good information.

Bret, thank you for taking the time to write such an in depth reply. I was aware of most of the negatives of the system and my current situation, as while deciding to go with it, I talked it over with Matt at MCB, he explained most of what was wrong with what I wanted (he was actually very knowledgeable about it), and at that time I decided to swap my front suspension over to ridetech (one piece at a time), so this review is more or less "part 1". And yeah, you're right, I've got a set of wheels I'm trying to fit and every other solution has failed me.

I promise not to say any cuss words about you guys.

[JEFFTATE]

The Tru Turn Steering System ( The complete kit with the G-Force Tall Spindles with the 2" drop ) will work with stock control arms , 10" stock brakes , and 17" wheels ..
It requires a little bit of problem solving skill , but it works .
I did a right-up article on it here :
https://www.pro-touring.com/showthre...k-Control-Arms

My car drives a lot better with this system on the front .

[Vicinity]

The Tru Turn Steering System ( The complete kit with the G-Force Spindles ) will work with stock control arms , 10" stock brakes , and 17" wheels ..
It requires a little bit of problem solving skill , but it works .
I did a right-up article on it here :
https://www.pro-touring.com/showthre...k-Control-Arms

Jeff, I totally forgot about your install, you used a spacer (well, ride height adjuster), about how much did you need to offset the drop spindle (assuming you kept it around stockish height). I admire your ingenuity.

[bret]

The Tru Turn Steering System ( The complete kit with the G-Force Spindles ) will work with stock control arms , 10" stock brakes , and 17" wheels ..
It requires a little bit of problem solving skill , but it works .
I did a right-up article on it here :
https://www.pro-touring.com/showthre...k-Control-Arms

Yep...and then there's Jeff Tate! I think you could build the space shuttle out of our scrap bin! Need a job?
Nice write up Jeff...truly nice work.

[JEFFTATE]

Jeff, I totally forgot about your install, you used a spacer (well, ride height adjuster), about how much did you need to offset the drop spindle (assuming you kept it around stockish height). I admire your ingenuity.

The drop spindle has 2" built into it , so I actually had to raise the ride height adjuster when I put the spindles on .
My car is lowered as much as I could get it , without any tire clearance issues , ( Probably 3 inches )
The ride height adjusters don't really have a stock height , they are a Universal Fit Application , so they are made to work with any car with a 5" diameter spring .
They weren't made specifically for a '69 Camaro .
They are a common circle track part for low budget race cars without coil-overs .
You just cut them to match the shape of your upper spring pocket seat , and bolt them in place .
And then you can fine tune the ride height where-ever you choose .
I installed them and set the adjuster about in the middle of it's travel , then dove the car to settle the front suspension and springs , then went back and fine tuned it , then fine tuned the alignment .

[JEFFTATE]

Yep...and then there's Jeff Tate! I think you could build the space shuttle out of our scrap bin! Need a job?
Nice write up Jeff...truly nice work.

Thanks Bret ,
You flatter me .
I can just about keep any machinery going on a shoe-string budget .
I was the kid that tried to hop-up his bicycle with second hand go-kart parts out of the corner of someones basement .
My stuff is hardly ever show -quality , but it's functional ..

[dhutton]

You can get SPC coil spring spacers in a variety of heights from Summit. They are generally in stock.

http://www.summitracing.com/search/P...ing+spacers+GM

[Vegas69]

The tru turn intrigues me but I'd like to see you develop a spindle with a C6 hub similar to the ATS or GM spindle as an option.

[DarkoNova]

Yeah, the only thing keeping me from getting the Tru-Turn system is the fact that I'd have to get a whole new front brake setup as well, which significantly adds to the price. I know the kit will technically bolt up to the ATS spindles, but it won't be anywhere near what it was intended from ridetech, so I don't really want to buy the kit, sans spindles.

[6D9 Matt]

Kinda what Im thinking ^^^

Waiting to save up and do it right the first time...

[Vicinity]

Yeah, the only thing keeping me from getting the Tru-Turn system is the fact that I'd have to get a whole new front brake setup as well, which significantly adds to the price. I know the kit will technically bolt up to the ATS spindles, but it won't be anywhere near what it was intended from ridetech, so I don't really want to buy the kit, sans spindles.

Why would you need a new front brake setup?

[Garymac69]

Why would you need a new front brake setup?

I would think that different (stock spindle style) brackets would be the only difference.

[MrQuick]

The tru turn intrigues me but I'd like to see you develop a spindle with a C6 hub similar to the ATS or GM spindle as an option.

yes, thats what I'd like to see. Get rid of them baby bearings. BUT, alot of people argue that being able to service and adjust preload makes the old 2 taper bearing a better set up.