WTB: Brammo Atom 2 lower right wishbone.

[David Porter]

The Brammo Atoms have a unique upright assembly which is not compatible with the TMI/Atom3 lower wishbone (integrated ball joint vs rod end connection). If nothing available, I'll have to replace the upright and go to the TMI part. Other than the lower wishbone & upright, I believe all other Atom3 suspension parts will work on the Brammo Atoms. Can anyone who has done it before confirm?

Thanks!
Dave

[sector: 4]

Atom 3 front hubs have a different wheel bolt pattern from the Atom 2. What's that going to do for your wheel choices if you have different bolt patterns front and rear? You'd also be buying a lot of expensive parts.

Brammo improved the suspension by designing it to use a proper ball joint instead of a rod end bearing. TMI apparently didn't get the intellectual property when they took over Atom production from Brammo and reverted back to using a rod end bearing like they do in the UK. On the Atom 3 the rod end bearing shanks are subjected to significant bending loads. This is a design flaw and the shanks can break from fatigue. The balls aren't supposed to be loaded axially either, and could be pushed out of their races. Brammo was aware of these issues and did it right. The Atom 3 setup is a bad design.

Seems to me you'd want to find a metal fabrication/welding shop (preferably specializing in racing cars) to fabricate a mirror image of the left arm. You may be able to cut off and re-use brackets, ball joint housing, etc.

[David Porter]

Thanks for the input. Do you know if the push/tie rods and upper wishbone from the Atom 3 work on the Brammo cars, or would custom fab be my best bet there as well?

Thanks!
Dave

[sector: 4]

Thanks for the input. Do you know if the push/tie rods and upper wishbone from the Atom 3 work on the Brammo cars, or would custom fab be my best bet there as well?

Thanks!
Dave

So it sounds like you need more than just a lower arm now. I don't know if the Atom 3 push & tie rods and arms would work. I'd contact TMI. They might know, but I wouldn't be surprised if they're not sure either. They'll probably not be too interested.

Fortunately the suspension parts are pretty simple and can be easily duplicated by any competent race shop with metal fabrication, machining and TIG or MIG welding capabilities. They should be able to save the threaded tube ends welded into the ends of the rods by chucking the parts in a lathe and cutting them off. Brammo probably ordered the ends (aka bungs) from a race car parts supplier such as Summit Racing, so you may find them in a catalog. I know that Pegasus Auto Racing carries them. Making new ones could cost $200-300 each, so you'd probably want to try to save them if possible.

Brackets and gussets can usually be saved using a plasma torch or grinder. If they save or make a new ball joint housing they should take measures to minimize distortion of the bore while welding. This may require using a dummy ball joint if re-using the original part, since the bore is already machined. If making a new part, doing a final cut on the ball joint bore after welding may be the way to go. They should be able to advise.

Assuming the arms on the other side are good, they can be used to make temporary welding fixtures for the new mirrored parts.

One of the members on here bought an Atom 2 from Cats Exotics in Lynnwood WA a year or two ago that needed to have new front suspension arms made for it as I understand it, following a crash, so Cats may be able to recommend a shop that's already done this if you can't find somebody local. Palatov Motorsport in Portland might might be able to help.

[ShakaShaun]

I have the car from cats. A shop in Washington fabbed up new arms for mine. 425 motorsports was the name but any good race car shop could do it. I also saw arms for sale at skunkworks.