So, the pics I think are explanatory. I am adding onto the end of the control arm to set the ball joint out and forward. I have got the top and bottom plates welded on. I need to finish boxing the addition. I think I am also going to weld a brace across the top and bottom plates. I am also planning to modify the spring pockets in the control arms BRD_HNTR style. I guess the good new is if this doesn't work out, I still have my original, unmodified controls arms I can go back with. Also, as part of my modifications, I am trying to see about using XL7 front brakes on the front. I have an XL7 parts rig, so I pulled the front hubs and spindles off of it to try and see what can be adapted. The XL7 spindle would mount on a Sidekick. The ball joint taper is the same, the bolt pattern for the strut mount is the same, and the tie rod taper works out. The problem is the tie rod mount is about 2" lower on the XL7 spindle. This would make an even steeper angle between the drag link and outer tie rod. I don't know what kind of effect that would have on the handling of the rig. I have some more disassembly to do to check compatibility, but I think I can mount the XL7 caliper and use a Sidekick Sport rotor. The main difference between the XL7 rotor and Sport rotor is the offset from the wheel mounting surface to the to the front friction surface of the rotor. But more on that later..
