Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the rear suspension of the NA/NB Mazda MX-5 Miata, and more particularly to a method for determining, with a reasonably practical level of accuracy, how much clearance remains before the upper control arm contacts the vehicle body.
Background of the Invention
A known method for checking upper control arm contact is to apply paint or a similar coating to the upper surface of the control arm and inspect it after driving. If the paint has been scraped off, it can be concluded that contact with the vehicle body has occurred.
However, if the paint remains intact, this method provides no information regarding how close the control arm actually came to the body. As a result, one is often left thinking,
“Hmm… I still have no idea how much clearance I really had.”
Problem to be Solved by the Invention
The objective of the present invention is to provide a simple means of visually confirming and measuring the minimum clearance between the upper control arm and the vehicle body during operation.
Means for Solving the Problem
The present invention solves the above problem by employing the following procedure.
First, go to your local hardware store.
Purchase the following items:
- Masking tape
- Non-hardening putty
- An adhesive suitable for bonding polymer materials
Remove the rear wheel, clean the upper surface of the control arm, apply masking tape to the area where contact is most likely to occur, and spread a thin layer of adhesive over the tape.
Shape the putty into a small pyramid and apply a thin layer of adhesive to its base. The height of the pyramid determines the maximum measurement range of the Upper Control Arm Clearance Gauge.
Attach the putty to the masking tape.
Drive on your intended road or race track. Afterwards, remove the rear wheel and inspect the gauge.
If the putty has been compressed, measure the height of the compressed section using a depth gauge or a similar measuring instrument.
Advantages of the Invention
According to the present invention, it is possible not only to determine whether the upper control arm contacted the vehicle body, but also to estimate how many millimeters of clearance remained before contact occurred.
In addition, the invention significantly reduces the psychological stress associated with repeatedly wondering,
“I wonder if I still had enough clearance…”
…thereby making it possible to sleep at night.
Title of the Invention: Upper Control Arm Clearance Gauge
Application No.: Patent Application ??????
Filing Date: May 18, 2014
Publication: None (because it was never filed)
Patent Status: Never Filed
Applicant ID: ??????
Applicant: aki@rs
Note: This invention was never actually patented, so feel free to use it.