Deciding between Steeda LCAs

Steeda2004GT · Jun 28, 2004

Ok I thought I was set on the Steeda Aluminum LCAs, but then I saw that they make a Competition Aluminum Drag LCA. These are the same price, but I think they are lighter? Does anybody know the differance between these two other than the name? Will I lose performance from stock to go around corners? I don't really care about improving my cornering, but I would rather not lose any over stock. I am starting to get more serious about drag racing and I will never do autx or anything, but I do like to go through my neighborhood relatively quick. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Also if anybody has any other suggestions about which LCAs to buy, get a few words in. I would like to stay around the 250$ range and adjustabilty isn't realy a concern. I searched the forum and found the Pro3i have some good things about them. How do they compare with these two types from Steeda?

jbrown · Jun 28, 2004

From what I hear you will definately lose streatability and cornering ability if you go with the drag lca's. If this car is your daily driver I wouldnt recomend it but I'm not an expert. Other companies such as kenny brown and maximum motorsports also make good control arms, I hear some of them squek(especially steedas) because of the differant bushings in them. Do a search you should find a lot of threads about control arms. When I do mine I think I am also gonna put in upper control arms at the same time.

Steeda2004GT · Jun 28, 2004

Ya my car is a daily driver so competition LCAs might not be a good option. I was thinking about that before I posted, but I thought that I might as well ask. I searched stangnet and I found a lot of threads about LCAs and the brands that I thought got the most credit were MM(too expensive and extreme for me), Steeda, and Pro3i. I am going to go and research some Kenny Brown ones right now. Thanks for the info.

Anybody else who would want to throw some info in would be greatly appreciated.

wms004 · Jun 28, 2004

Steeda2004GT said:
Ok I thought I was set on the Steeda Aluminum LCAs, but then I saw that they make a Competition Aluminum Drag LCA. These are the same price, but I think they are lighter? Does anybody know the differance between these two other than the name? Will I lose performance from stock to go around corners? I don't really care about improving my cornering, but I would rather not lose any over stock. I am starting to get more serious about drag racing and I will never do autx or anything, but I do like to go through my neighborhood relatively quick. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Also if anybody has any other suggestions about which LCAs to buy, get a few words in. I would like to stay around the 250$ range and adjustabilty isn't realy a concern. I searched the forum and found the Pro3i have some good things about them. How do they compare with these two types from Steeda?

I had ordered the Steeda Aluminum LCA's and decided not to put them on due to advice from an autocrosser. He showed me a broken steeda aluminum LCA where the swaybar mount just completely ripped off. I've also seen pictures of one where it broke next to the bushing. Aluminum welds are not nearly as strong as steel, nor does aluminum flex.. Under a hard hit or driving over a pot hole there steel will flex a little, but aluminum has to be very hot before it flexes, so it is more prone to breaking at the welds.
Due to this I sent back the steeda alum's and ordered Maximum Motorsports LCA's.. They've got sphericals on both sides and they have made a huge impact on how my rear end reacts to the road, launches, and hard corners. MM has a lot of research into these things, so I'd consider checking them out. I've had them for over a week now and i'm really impressed.
The steeda alum's are 4.7ish pounds each. The stockers are 6 pounds each.. Steeda's Steel LCA are 6, and so are MM's.. The MM's are just beefier.

-wade

Steeda2004GT · Jun 28, 2004

Wow I never thought of how steel would flex and Aluminum wouldn't. I should have thought back to my bicycle days......... Anyways wow, um now aluminum I guess then. And saving a whole 2.3 pounds!!!!! Not even worth it. Steeda steel LCAs I believe are 160$ something, Pro3i are 189$, and I will look at MMs right now for a price. Thanks for the advie man.

Oh btw, I looked at the Kenny Brown ones and I didn't like them, but I do like their full sub-frame brace thingy that costs about 230some$.

Ken01GTvert · Jun 28, 2004

I have the Steeda upper and lower control arms. In their catalog it is the black ones with the red bushings. These are great control arms. I haven't had any problems with them and they are 10x better then the stock components. The combination of the two (UCA and LCA) keep the axle fixed at high speed which makes the car much more predictable especially around turns. The car is a daily driver so I haven't put any really extreme pressure on them from racing.

Steeda2004GT · Jun 28, 2004

Cool thanks for the info. I would like to UCAs and LCAs at once, but i'm 18 years old and money is extremely tight. Anything I can do a step at a time like control arms will be done a step at a time. HAHA! I will eventually get uppers, but right now I am only looking at lowers. How was the install on your control arms if you don't mind me asking? I'm pretty handy with a car and I have read all the information I can find about installing LCAs, but it never hurts to ask from somebody who has already done it themselves.

Ken01GTvert · Jun 28, 2004

The LCAs were really easy and I put them on in about 1hr. It helps to have multiple jacks to help keep the car up and move the axle around. They went in in no time. Steeda also gives you some special goo to spread on the bushings which will prevent any squeaks and sticks to them like glue. The UCAs were a major PITA and took me about 4 hrs. Looking at the control arms if I only had money for either uppers or lowers I'd do the lowers since they will be much much easier to install and I think you'll get the most benefit out of them. You'll see once you pull the stock ones out how flimsy they are and how big their rubber bushings are which allow the axle to move under load.

Ken01GTvert · Jun 28, 2004

Oh, BTW...after I replaced my UCAs and LCAs I found that I had more noise from the rear transmit to the car. Not very loud but it is noticeable when you listen for it. I thinks it's from the stiffer bushings. If you got the spherical bushings it would be worse. But no matter, with the poyurethane bushings it's well worth the little bit of extra noise. In my experience with Steeda and MM parts you can't go wrong with either of them.

Steeda2004GT · Jun 28, 2004

Thanks for the tips. I am probably going with the Steeda steel LCAs b/c of price, quality, and that I love how quick their stuff comes to my doorstep. Do you think having 2 floorjacks would be enough? Along with about 4 jackstands? 2 jackstands to hold the rear of the car up, 2 to hold up the axle and use the 2 floorjacks to jack the car up and lower and raise the LCAs to install them? Do I need any special tools to do this? For example, would I need like a swivel joint for the bolts or anything? Or are the normal tools used like a rachet, torque wrench, and sockets? Also do you know if I even need the torque wrench? If I do how do I know the torque specs? Sorry for all of the questions, i'm trying to estimate how long it is going to take to do this.

Steeda2004GT · Jun 28, 2004

Woo Hoo I just finished ordering my Steeda steel LCAs. I can't wait to see the results of these at the drag strip. Hopefuly it will be enough to get my into the 13's, or at least closer. Now I get to update my mod list........

wms004 · Jun 29, 2004

Steeda2004GT said:
Wow I never thought of how steel would flex and Aluminum wouldn't. I should have thought back to my bicycle days......... Anyways wow, um now aluminum I guess then. And saving a whole 2.3 pounds!!!!! Not even worth it. Steeda steel LCAs I believe are 160$ something, Pro3i are 189$, and I will look at MMs right now for a price. Thanks for the advie man.

Oh btw, I looked at the Kenny Brown ones and I didn't like them, but I do like their full sub-frame brace thingy that costs about 230some$.

actually its 1.3 pounds
good luck with the steeda's.

wms004 · Jun 29, 2004

Steeda2004GT said:
Thanks for the tips. I am probably going with the Steeda steel LCAs b/c of price, quality, and that I love how quick their stuff comes to my doorstep. Do you think having 2 floorjacks would be enough? Along with about 4 jackstands? 2 jackstands to hold the rear of the car up, 2 to hold up the axle and use the 2 floorjacks to jack the car up and lower and raise the LCAs to install them? Do I need any special tools to do this? For example, would I need like a swivel joint for the bolts or anything? Or are the normal tools used like a rachet, torque wrench, and sockets? Also do you know if I even need the torque wrench? If I do how do I know the torque specs? Sorry for all of the questions, i'm trying to estimate how long it is going to take to do this.

torque specs are on the install sheet. Mine are set over the recommended torque specs. Once you are on the jacks I'd says it would take about 45- 1hr

3ponyshow · Jun 29, 2004

Steeda2004GT said:
Woo Hoo I just finished ordering my Steeda steel LCAs. I can't wait to see the results of these at the drag strip. Hopefuly it will be enough to get my into the 13's, or at least closer. Now I get to update my mod list........

Let us know how they work out for you.

Steeda2004GT · Jun 29, 2004

actually its 1.3 pounds

Ya ya shush. Math is not a good subject for me when i'm tired.

Thanks for everybody's help and opinions. I will post again once I get them in and then when I get them on and get it to the strip. Thanks again everyone.

Steeda2004GT · Jul 1, 2004

Well I just got them in the mail today. Somehow I thought that they were going to be black not blue like in the picture ? Maybe I was just hoping. Anyways, I just painted my calipers red, ordered my Mach 1 Chin Spoiler, Steeda rear Blue Oval, and my black rear bumper letters all today. The calipers came out great and I am hoping that the install tomorrow on the LCAs will go just as well. Wish me luck peoples. I will post some pics soon.

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