Arrows on my NSX

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Can someone tell me the purpose of the arrows in the below pic.

arrows_zps325ae139.jpg
 
Can someone tell me the purpose of the arrows in the below pic.

arrows_zps325ae139.jpg


Roger, I saw those on mine, and I always thought they meant "these go together." Some sort of measurement or adjustment? Serious biz. Interested to see responses.
 
Interesting..........I guess no one really knows why. I would have thought Prime would have the answer by now.
 
Interesting..........I guess no one really knows why. I would have thought Prime would have the answer by now.

Really Roger? If you are looking for an exact Honda definition I cant provide that, but I can say those arrows correspond to the opposing side threaded nut bolt and the arrows indicate that the 2 linkage pieces contract or expand upon turning that nut. I think you know this, but I understand you want an exact definition. I hope this is satisfactory.:biggrin:
 
Here's a link to the rear toe adjustment procedure, FWIW;

http://www.danoland.com/nsxgarage/alignment/alignment.htm

My thoughts on why the arrows are there is since the inner is fixed by it's mount to be level (see 4th picture), the outer arrow can be utilized to keep the toe link itself centered in it's range of motion.....nothing more.

Brian
 

Really Roger? If you are looking for an exact Honda definition I cant provide that, but I can say those arrows correspond to the opposing side threaded nut bolt and the arrows indicate that the 2 linkage pieces contract or expand upon turning that nut. I think you know this, but I understand you want an exact definition. I hope this is satisfactory.:biggrin:

Yes really. Not sure why you think I'm not serious.

As broinkrist posted I have been following that thread with some interest and there seems to be some disagreement between whether those arrows should always be pointed exactly at each other or not.

There has to be a reason why Honda put those arrows there and logically it would seem it's because they should always point to each other and if they don't something might be wrong. But I don't know enough about suspension to be sure. I have been speaking with another Prime member about this and we were thinking that maybe under OEM conditions (OEM ride height - OEM wheels) the arrows should be pointing at each other but once you lower the car, change the wheels, etc. that perhaps the arrows don't necessarily need to point to each other.

In that posted thread there is a disagreement between people who say the arrows should point to each other and those that say it doesn't matter and has nothing to do with the alignment been correct or not.

I was hoping that a Prime Guru would settle the issue by posting in that thread but I thought it might be easier to create this thread and ask the question directly.
 
Larry B would know.....
 
Both of my 05s had a Marker line through by the arrows and across the bolt. I guess the later years they did that to make sure nothing moved and if it did they could put it back to spec?
 
Probably just a marking to make sure the toe arm did not go that far out of spec over time. Same theory goes for marking properly torqued bolts to make sure they do not loosen over time. Usually, it can be used as a good estimate to getting toe in the right general area, but for a correct alignment, a laser measuring rack should be used.
 
I worked on an NSX and the guy had painted those arrows bright red for some reason on the front also I think I forget.

but its to show were you put your wrench only in those to spots after the arrows.

similar to " not a step " on airplanes
 
Probably just a marking to make sure the toe arm did not go that far out of spec over time. Same theory goes for marking properly torqued bolts to make sure they do not loosen over time. Usually, it can be used as a good estimate to getting toe in the right general area, but for a correct alignment, a laser measuring rack should be used.

I liked your post in the other thread. Thanks for that explanation which i copied below. I will take this as the answer unless anyone wants to dispute it.


broinkrist said:
The arrows are there so that you can make sure that the two ends of the turn-buckle joint are in the same plane. Whether they line up or not has NOTHING to do with the adjustment length, which is the important variable when you are looking at adjusting toe. Now, ideally, to have your toe aligned perfectly (not only in actual toe angle, but also the ball-joint alignment), you should line up the arrows and make sure they point exactly at eachother. In actual practice, this does not matter at all becaue the ball joint is designed to take up these few degrees of 'mis-alignment'. This does not change what your toe was aligned to at all.

So in both cases, arrows aligned and not, the function of the toe alignment will be the same. The form will be slightly different, but that is like saying one person wants their toe-links polished before the alignment is complete and the other doesn't care.
 
Can someone tell me the purpose of the arrows in the below pic.

To quote Kaz, one of the engineers on the NSX’s original design team:

“Looks like someone with not much experience on NSX alignment carried out the process
in the past.

These two arrows at the rear toe control arm should be lined up otherwise, the ball
joint won’t have enough travel under certain conditions.”



You can see some of his comments regarding those arrows

here: http://www.nsxcb.co.uk/entry.php?593-Alignment-01
here: http://www.nsxcb.co.uk/entry.php?395-Alignment-Service-03
here: http://www.nsxcb.co.uk/entry.php?211-Alignment-04
 
Wow, people start to show interests in these arrows now.

Kaz is one of the NSX engineers? I've been reading at his articles for years but never know this. sorry my bad!

Roger,

I'm glad that you start this thread or I would never know that I'm reading articles from the engineers. And thanks greenberet for the information.
 
Last edited:
To quote Kaz, one of the engineers on the NSX’s original design team:

“Looks like someone with not much experience on NSX alignment carried out the process
in the past.

These two arrows at the rear toe control arm should be lined up otherwise, the ball
joint won’t have enough travel under certain conditions.”



You can see some of his comments regarding those arrows

here: http://www.nsxcb.co.uk/entry.php?593-Alignment-01
here: http://www.nsxcb.co.uk/entry.php?395-Alignment-Service-03
here: http://www.nsxcb.co.uk/entry.php?211-Alignment-04

Thank you for the post. I assume since this guy (Kaz) was on the original design team we can accept his instructions as correct.
 
The reason those arrows are there is to cause controversy on a message forum more than 20 years later. :biggrin:

But seriously, my instincts told me that the turnbuckle changes the length of the suspension piece and the arrows had nothing to do with anything but my curiosity kept wondering "then why put the arrows there at all? they must be there for something."

Kaz' explanation makes sense.

J
 
Kaz is one of the NSX engineers?

Yeah, that little blurb on the right side of his blog which states,

“Private NSX Enthusiast, ex-Honda R&D engineer with F1, Indy/CART background”​

...is a very honorable understatement. If you read more about his background in other posts on the NSX Club of Britain's website, before helping design the NSX he worked in Honda’s Formula 1 team with Ayrton Senna. If he says the arrows should line up and explains why, I think that pretty much ends the discussion.
 
it is funny we are all fighting over some arrows from 20 years ago LOL

but damn it man we will get the truth and we just did.

Greetberet is another NSXPRIME member I want to stay on his good side. keep that in mind you new guys.
 
To quote Kaz, one of the engineers on the NSX’s original design team:

“These two arrows at the rear toe control arm should be lined up otherwise, the ball
joint won’t have enough travel under certain conditions.”

So... does anybody know if the arrows still have to match for an NSX that's been lowered? I suppose that a lowered vehicle could be at one end of the ball joint's rotation limit and moving the arrows away from pointing to each other could "re-center" the ball joint.

Hmmmm...

J
 
Yeah, that little blurb on the right side of his blog which states,

“Private NSX Enthusiast, ex-Honda R&D engineer with F1, Indy/CART background”​

...is a very honorable understatement. If you read more about his background in other posts on the NSX Club of Britain's website, before helping design the NSX he worked in Honda’s Formula 1 team with Ayrton Senna. If he says the arrows should line up and explains why, I think that pretty much ends the discussion.

BKzLu_zps75a7e1a2.gif
 
both arrows point to the fifth element.
 
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