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BAT, INC. Camber Kits - Cheap Construction

C

contoursvt11

Be Gentle I'm New Here
Joined
Feb 13, 2004
Messages
4
Location
CT
I have had two of BAT's camber kits fail on my '98 svt. They have ~30k +/- 5k miles on them. What heppens is that through normal wear and tear the elliptical disk that is welded on top of the metal bearing housing shears off and the strut rod then destroys the metal housing, rendering the suspension useless and unstable. I ordered a replacement kit for one side and it was the same construction as the fist two I had. When the other side failed I called BAT and asked about it.

They said that they have had a bunch of people call in about that failure happening, most of them had the groud control coil over kits. I currently have Koni adjustables and H&R springs. I have not been tracking or autocrossing the car, just normal street driving.

BAT said they have an outside manufacture make the camber kits for them, and they provided me with Spec products contact info. I contacted them and they were very friendly. The sent me a return sticker for the broken kit and and sent me a new one at no cost. After they received my broken kit the engineers determined that they kit was a rip off of their kits. So I am shinning light on this situation for the contour group. The kit the sent me is far better. It has both superior construction as well as materials that are used. The kit is $112.60 and the part number is #89675. The manufacture's contact info is:

4045 Specialty Place
Longmont, CO 80504
www.specprod.com

I am not sure if BAT is aware they are selling cheap rip off kits, but if they are it is not only shady but dangerous. Just my $0.02.
 
He just had those cover plates done IIRC which dont have any effect on operation fo the kit...
 
contoursvt11 said:
I have had two of BAT's camber kits fail on my '98 svt. They have ~30k +/- 5k miles on them. What heppens is that through normal wear and tear the elliptical disk that is welded on top of the metal bearing housing shears off and the strut rod then destroys the metal housing, rendering the suspension useless and unstable. I ordered a replacement kit for one side and it was the same construction as the fist two I had. When the other side failed I called BAT and asked about it.

They said that they have had a bunch of people call in about that failure happening, most of them had the groud control coil over kits. I currently have Koni adjustables and H&R springs. I have not been tracking or autocrossing the car, just normal street driving.

BAT said they have an outside manufacture make the camber kits for them, and they provided me with Spec products contact info. I contacted them and they were very friendly. The sent me a return sticker for the broken kit and and sent me a new one at no cost. After they received my broken kit the engineers determined that they kit was a rip off of their kits. So I am shinning light on this situation for the contour group. The kit the sent me is far better. It has both superior construction as well as materials that are used. The kit is $112.60 and the part number is #89675. The manufacture's contact info is:

4045 Specialty Place
Longmont, CO 80504
www.specprod.com

I am not sure if BAT is aware they are selling cheap rip off kits, but if they are it is not only shady but dangerous. Just my $0.02.
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This problem has been well documented. A simple search provided: http://www.contour.org/ceg-vb/showthread.php?t=886&highlight=upgraded+camber+plates Maybe he still has some. You would have saved about $60. As far as the camber kits go, BAT kits and the ones on epay are the same ones according to other posts on this site.
Karl
 
98SVTC said:
This problem has been well documented. A simple search provided: http://www.contour.org/ceg-vb/showthread.php?t=886&highlight=upgraded+camber+plates Maybe he still has some. You would have saved about $60. As far as the camber kits go, BAT kits and the ones on epay are the same ones according to other posts on this site.
Karl
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You are not understanding what I am saying. Yes, I know that problem has been well documented. I am talking about the bearing cover (the metal cast that physically covers the strut bearing). That is the part that is failing. I already have the covers that you have talked about, and yes they are bad ass, but that is not what I am talking about.
 
Big Jim said:
Have you talked with BAT about the report from Specialty Products?
Click to expand...

Yes, I initially called them when the second kit failed. They instructed me that they purchase their kits from an outside manufacture, and they supplied me with Spec Products contact information and the part number they order. When I sent me part to Spec and they sent me a new one, it was determined that the kits are very different with respect to the construction and materials used.

I am not calling out BAT, because I have no idea if they know of this or not, and I have not had time to call them and discuss this matter due to my work schedule. I am simply explaining that I found their kits to be horrible and inferior, and there is another option out their.
 
contoursvt11 said:
You are not understanding what I am saying. Yes, I know that problem has been well documented. I am talking about the bearing cover (the metal cast that physically covers the strut bearing). That is the part that is failing. I already have the covers that you have talked about, and yes they are bad ass, but that is not what I am talking about.
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Okay, gotcha. I reckon if this is happening to the BAT kits it's probably going to happen to the ones on epay as well. :nonono: Well, unless by chance my D2 coilovers are not as harsh on them. :cool:
Karl
 
So I replaced my old crappy BAT kit this past weekend with the new Spec kit, and the Spec kit is far superior. The steel is better grade and almost twice the thickness on all the metal parts. The top part that has always broken on the old kits is just as thick as the plates that were made my the CEG'r on here (I know because I have a set of them), and in addition to that the rubber piece is made to fit with the thicker steel so it actually fits on there.

I have pictures of the new kit and the old crappy BAT kit side by side, if someone hooks me up with their e-mail that can host them I will send them.
 
contoursvt11 said:
I have pictures of the new kit and the old crappy BAT kit side by side, if someone hooks me up with their e-mail that can host them I will send them.
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Did I miss where the photos got posted? I bought a camber kit from a fellow CEGer and I would like to determine if they are the SPC or the knock off.
 
larsofvt said:
Did I miss where the photos got posted? I bought a camber kit from a fellow CEGer and I would like to determine if they are the SPC or the knock off.
Click to expand...

+1

I'm about to install Koni's, Ground Controls, and camber kit that I got from a fellow CEG'er and I want to see the pics too.
 
$20 says you break atleast one front strut right at the bottom of the threads with the camber kit on. Josh (Pole120) and I have both broken at least 2 struts with the camber kit. needless to say i dont have it on the car anymore.
 
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