i just finished installing the tom's 6 link. let me tell you that the directions that come with the tom's 6 link sucks. being written in japanese is one thing but the illustration is horrible. it looks like someone had drawn the diagram which where no help. the only thing that i could really make out was the steps 1, 2, and 3..but anyhow.

the installation was a bit tricky but it is doable at home if you have a little sense of where things should go. of course i had to search and search CL for a little bit of help on installation. the kit replaces 2 bars and adds 4 more. the install was pretty much staight forward if you follow the 1, 2, 3 steps. i did the install at my friend's fab shop to use his his power tools which came in handy. he inspected the tom's 6 link before i had put them on and he told me that they were made of cheap materials. he fabs stuff for drifters and other people in the car industry for living so i take his word for it. he just finished a car for north american honda due to be out any day now.

with that being said, i was a little bit dissapointed but if you could sell these links for a few hundred bucks, i would do the same. in my opinion, the link could have had better welding jobs. as far as fitment..they fit good and gave no issues.

now time for the drive. i already have the toms front control bar, trd sway, hks coilovers, daizen bushings, and now the 6 link.

i took it on the on and off ramp, and through some turns with twists and i must say, im quite impressed with those little links back there. the rear feels tighter and i feel like it responds better.maybe it me "hyping" it up.

i guess that concludes my 2 cents but honestly, i think the mod should only be between 150-195 bucks.

 

Should have taken some 'in progress' pictures and wrote up a DIY. Mine will be going on soon enough and will be providing a DIY how to for those that might be interested! Same goes for EVERYTHING I have aquired for my car.

 

Not sure how a visual inspection would tell if the links were made from 'cheap' materials I'm a metallurgical engineer with 28 years experience in materials and processing in the turbine industry. We use some of the most exotic materials in the world and I am familiar with most all of them - that still would not allow me to make such a statement after a visual inspection. Now maybe if I had and x-ray fluorescence analyzer - or scanning electron microscope -or- you get my drift.... Did he do a hardness check? You can believe him or not - that's up to you, but I know it's not possible by visual examination alone to determine if the metal is cheap or not.

Most importantly the 6 links do add stability to the rear end of the GS. The modulus of elasticity ( stiffness ) is nearly the same on all steel alloys, only the yield/tensile strength/ ductility vary significantly. Deflection is controlled by modulus and permanent set ( bending ) is a function of yield strength. So as long as you never have a bending issue with the links, they'll work just like more expensive steel alloys ( and thats assuming they are some cheap steel alloy ) as long as they are same diameter and wall thickness.

 

Teelex,

of all the TOM's braces, which one made the single largest contribution towards handling?

If I could only get one of the three, which one would you recommend?

Thanks for your input.

 

Well it probably depends on what handling mods you already have. Example - I had Tein CS with EDFC and Daizen sways before I put any chassis bracing on ( I also had a UGO carbon rear strut tower bar ). The Teins and Daizens helped out a whole bunch in the handling department.

Next I purchased the Toms front lower chassis brace ( the A brace ) and I could immediately tell the difference in steering response - a significant improvement.

I then added the rear Toms lower chassis brace and finally the Toms 6 links followed by the Carson Tuned front strut tower bar. Fro me it was hard to discern if the rear lower chassis or the 6 links made more of a difference - certainly the combination made the rear end stiffer and better behaved.

So I think it would definitely be a function of what you have currently, but for me, after the coilovers and sways, I would buy the front lower chassis brace first ( it really tightens up the front end and makes a significant steering response improvement ). Of course I would not want to give up any of my handling mods.

Next up for me are Zeal Function Xs coilovers.

 

Thanks for your feedback

 

teelex.

thanks for your info on the functions of the links. it makes lots of sense what you said about the durability and stiffness of the links. as i said, if i could make a few bucks more, i surely would. it pure economics. but the only thing i have to say is, they could have done a better "looking" weld job.

from my experience, the "A" toms lower front bar made a big difference. much more so than the rear. the rear just added a bit more "togetherness". the only thing i havent installed is the lower rear bar..this may be done this weekend if im up for it.

 

DrvnConcept did u put up the DIY yet?