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Are upper&lower control arms a must have

  • Thread starter Thread starter Roland69
  • Start date Start date Mar 9, 2006

Roland69

Sergeant Tangnet
Sep 17, 2005
2,867
2
58
Port Elgin, Ontario
Mar 9, 2006
#1
  • Mar 9, 2006
  • #1
I don't drive my car much and haven't taken it to the track (I want to) Are they a must have for me would I notice a difference with them.
 

srothfuss

Last night I stabbed the same guy 7 times in a row
Oct 17, 2004
1,796
3
0
Woodward Ave.
Mar 9, 2006
#2
  • Mar 9, 2006
  • #2
For a street car, probably not. If you are a serious racer than maybe.

I don't have them and don't plan on getting any any time soon. The most I'll do is replace the old worn out bushings with some from Energy suspension and bust out the welder to box my own arms.
 
S

Sicarius428

Active Member
Jan 6, 2004
2,085
5
49
Mar 9, 2006
#3
  • Mar 9, 2006
  • #3
Better off getting subframe connectors.
Kevin
 

Strype

Cuthbert catcher
Founding Member
May 11, 1999
61
34
104
Huntsvegas, AL
Mar 9, 2006
#4
  • Mar 9, 2006
  • #4


And streetable slicks > control arms
 
D

Daggar

New Member
Jul 19, 2004
3,902
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0
Mar 9, 2006
#5
  • Mar 9, 2006
  • #5
From what I undertand, poly bushings aren't the greatest idea either without a panhard bar or something to control that oversteer "snap". The stiffer bushings just move that snap higher in the MPH range (making it even more dangerous).
 

srothfuss

Last night I stabbed the same guy 7 times in a row
Oct 17, 2004
1,796
3
0
Woodward Ave.
Mar 9, 2006
#6
  • Mar 9, 2006
  • #6
I do plan for a Panhard bar and maybe even the torque arm in the future. I won't be messing with my suspension for a while.

I read somewhere that the actual rearend can pivot up to 2" (The snap you are refering to?) because of the poor design and soft bushings.
 
D

Daggar

New Member
Jul 19, 2004
3,902
5
0
Mar 9, 2006
#7
  • Mar 9, 2006
  • #7
The way I remember it being explained to me is that our suspension's high roll center and rear roll bind causes that oversteer "snap" that so many of us have come across (once she starts fish tailing, it's damned near unrecoverable). The poly bushings help to reduce this tendancy but actually end up making the problem worse. It will now require more force in that high center bind to make this happen. The side effect is that we've now pushed the problem higher up on our speedometers where the result is even more devastating. Having a sphereical bushings at each end along with a panhard or watts link located the axle so that the suspension will travel fully (up and down). My fairly limited grasp of the whole concept is what has me looking really hard at either the MM 3 Link or Steeda 5 Link setups. Both are desigend to eliminate that binding we have with our 4 link systems. In a nut shell... if you replace your bushings and nothing else... It may be in your best interest to stick with factory type rubber bushings until you've found a way to positively laterally locate the axle.
 

90mustangGT

I felt sorry for girls because
Founding Member
Jan 15, 2002
2,773
17
89
Dallas, GA
Mar 9, 2006
#8
  • Mar 9, 2006
  • #8
The rear end on our cars is so loose, even in moderate loads the rear axel tends to move around and this causes a rear steer condition, which is why the vehicle feels so unstable. You can actually move the rear end back and forth by hand with the car on a lift.

Poly bushings might help some, but in a stock controll arm I say it's a waste of time, money, and effort when aftermarket units are so much stronger than the stamped steel units from the factory.

The 4 link suspension is great for drag racing, but not for cornering. A panhard bar setup is much better. If I were to make a Mustang handle with a solid rear axel, there is no doubt in my mind I would go for the MM Torque arm system. I called MM once when I wanted to make my car handle better, they said that the Panhard bar system would make a huge difference.

I have HPM Megabite LCA and UCA's. These are drag units but they made the rear so much more stable I couldn't belive it. With a RWD vehicle, you use the front wheels to point where you want it to go, and hit the gas and the car should head that way. With a good setup, and knowing how to use it, you can really corner well.
 

DeadLifter

Member
Mar 1, 2006
183
2
19
Portland, IN
Mar 11, 2006
#9
  • Mar 11, 2006
  • #9
Weld an 1/8" piece of steel over the opening in your control arms. Cheap fix but they'll be stronger than stock.
 

LB0193

Member
Dec 6, 2005
171
0
16
IL
Mar 11, 2006
#10
  • Mar 11, 2006
  • #10
go with subframes first
 
R

Redrooster

New Member
Jul 13, 2005
73
0
0
Mar 12, 2006
#11
  • Mar 12, 2006
  • #11
You can easily make you own subframes. measure the length. go to a metal shop and get someone to cut you the correct length rectangle tubing. 2" x 1" Take it to a muffler shop and have it welded on. Cheap SFCs. Save yourself 100 bucks after the welding is done.

As far as upper and lower control arms. They are awesome and u will not believe the difference. I got a set of the UPR upper and lowers...they made a HUGE difference.
 
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