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Describe the changes you felt after installing aftermarket lower control arms.

  • Thread starter Thread starter propellerhead
  • Start date Start date Apr 5, 2006
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propellerhead

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Apr 13, 2004
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"but what's with the but shots?"
Apr 5, 2006
#1
  • Apr 5, 2006
  • #1
What control arms did you install? On what car? Did you actually feel something different? Did it drive different? How so? Did it change your launch at the drag strip? I've already read all the theory behind it. I'm looking for real world feedback from people who have installed aftermarket lower control arms.

Thanks.
 

helty

some Ukrainian's enjoying a handjob via my credit
Mar 30, 2005
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Baltimore, MD
Apr 5, 2006
#2
  • Apr 5, 2006
  • #2
MM LCA's, it felt like someone/thing was pushing the car as I accellerated. Didnt notice a huge difference, but the car felt different.

At the track I actually pulled slower 60' times, BUT Im pretty sure that ha something to do with me not running in over a month and my All-Season sumitomos lost whatever bit of traction they were giving me, i mean they didnt want to hook for chit. On top of it all it wasnt my best day at the track and the best run I had we didnt get any slips bc some douche took out a light pole

I' want to hit the track again soon and try to get as many runs in as I did when I ran my personal best so I can fine tune my launch. I know a 1.9 is possible. By then Im sure this thread will be dead, so I'll bring it back to life and post slips.
 

DropTopPony

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Apr 5, 2006
#3
  • Apr 5, 2006
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Steeda alum lower/upper
added traction off the line and removed alot of the sloshy feeling going into turns and punching it.
 

back_in_black

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Apr 12, 2003
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Apr 6, 2006
#4
  • Apr 6, 2006
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subscribing, good question propellerhead, I remember reading some negative things and would like to hear
about them as well- and yea, helty, I have not been very impressed with the sumit... either, I guess the added torque transfer to the ground could have broken them loose easier!!
 

hotrodnut

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Apr 6, 2006
#5
  • Apr 6, 2006
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I installed Steeda's alum adj lowers and stl adj uppers on an '03 Mach1. I already had the MM Panhard Bar installed so the changes that control arms make in lateral control were not felt as much. The biggest reason I changed the lowers was the Mach started getting a small amount of wheel-hop on hard acceleration which the control arms cured. I changed the upper control arms to adjust the pinion angle after the change of ride height from the MRT spring install.

I could not tell by the seat of the pants if they actually helped acceleration times but I can tell the rear is more stable and launches straight on take-off and will get off a corner with more control and stability under hard acceleration.
 

propellerhead

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"but what's with the but shots?"
Apr 6, 2006
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  • Apr 6, 2006
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I have a set of Maximum Motorsports LCAs in the trunk of my car, waiting to be installed. I'm just wondering what to expect.

Does your car stay straight during burnouts? Or does the ass end still sometimes move to the left?
 

hotrodnut

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Apr 6, 2006
#7
  • Apr 6, 2006
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propellerhead said:
I have a set of Maximum Motorsports LCAs in the trunk of my car, waiting to be installed. I'm just wondering what to expect.

Does your car stay straight during burnouts? Or does the ass end still sometimes move to the left?
Click to expand...
It stays perfectly straight while on the line-loc.
 

helty

some Ukrainian's enjoying a handjob via my credit
Mar 30, 2005
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Baltimore, MD
Apr 6, 2006
#8
  • Apr 6, 2006
  • #8
Im sure the LCAs are doing what they're designed to do, but they arent magic. If you're on street tires and you get on it too hard, they'll break loose and kick sideways. (coming from experience)
 

gt350dave

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Apr 6, 2006
#9
  • Apr 6, 2006
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I installed MAC lowers and uppers in a 4spd '82 5.0 capri, and the difference was night and day, but the original stuff was so worn out, the axle had a ton of slop. after install, the car handled waaaaay better, and had a much smoother ride. axle hop was completely gone, but then the car didn't have much power either . on a newer car, if the suspension isn't worn, im not sure how much difference it would make. how hard the bushings are should make a big difference in how the affect the car also. (harder=tighter supension, but more N.V.H.)
 

Dark Knight GT

I can't get it up......ok that didn't sound right.
May 26, 2003
3,653
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Ozark, Missouri
Apr 6, 2006
#10
  • Apr 6, 2006
  • #10
propellerhead said:
I have a set of Maximum Motorsports LCAs in the trunk of my car, waiting to be installed. I'm just wondering what to expect.

Does your car stay straight during burnouts? Or does the ass end still sometimes move to the left?
Click to expand...
I have MM drag race lower control arms. They really stiffen up the rear end of the car, and help plant the rear wheels. The difference will be noticeable.
 

hognutz

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Nov 12, 2002
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Apr 6, 2006
#11
  • Apr 6, 2006
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I installed the MM drag arms that have spherical bearings on both ends and subframes at the same time.

I noticed a huge handling and stability improvement. have a very hard time getting the rear of the car to slide out now. with the stock stuff I could get the rear to step out very easy around a corner.

as for launch the car is more stable and predictable but my spring choice prevents any amazing traction.
 

tomustang

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  • Apr 6, 2006
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o3redfire said:
subscribing, good question propellerhead, I remember reading some negative things and would like to hear
about them as well-
and yea, helty, I have not been very impressed with the sumit... either, I guess the added torque transfer to the ground could have broken them loose easier!!
Click to expand...
what the heck did you just say?
 

timeless2

Vi Veri Veni Versum Vicus Vici
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Nov 29, 1999
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the Shadow Gallery
Apr 6, 2006
#13
  • Apr 6, 2006
  • #13
propellerhead said:
Does your car stay straight during burnouts? Or does the ass end still sometimes move to the left?
Click to expand...
I always thought this was due to the camber of the live rear axle and was not something remedied with LCAs. Maybe I am mistaken.
 

ProCharger GT

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Apr 6, 2006
#14
  • Apr 6, 2006
  • #14
droptopponynj said:
Steeda alum lower/upper
added traction off the line and removed alot of the sloshy feeling going into turns and punching it.
Click to expand...
:Word: And it feels as if the rear plants itself better
 
S

spederman

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Apr 13, 2005
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Apr 6, 2006
#15
  • Apr 6, 2006
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I just got the MM drag race LCA's (all spherical bushings) a couple weeks ago but havent had a chance to go all out with them to see what performance difference i noticed. Stupid job. But, the things that i did notice on a daily driver aspect is that they do transmit a bit more road noise. Nothing to horrible, you have to be really listening to notice. Also, the ride is a tad stiffer, but i definately feel the road variances a lot more. For example, If I go over one of those lane divider reflectors, i really feel it now through the car and steering wheel. That could be good or bad depending on how you look at it. But otherwise, for normal non agressive daily driving, its still really good.
 

98stangv8

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Oct 3, 2003
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Apr 8, 2006
#16
  • Apr 8, 2006
  • #16
I put on the granatelli upper and lowers...when I went to the track...I didn't fishtail as bad all over the place...reduced my 60' about .2.
 

back_in_black

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Apr 12, 2003
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Apr 8, 2006
#17
  • Apr 8, 2006
  • #17
tomustang said:
what the heck did you just say?[/QUOTE
I remember someone saying that they did not like the noise that came from the rear after the install or something like that. It is kind of like lowering springs, most people are so quick to say how great the brand they chose are and don't talk about the constant scraping and harsness of the ride. Sometimes you end up putting too many mods on a car and one day you want to sell it because it is a pain in the ass to drive on the street. I'm not saying thats what the lower control arms do, that is what I was trying to say, in the highlighted words, like spederman said dude!!!!
Is that a picture of you with the redface in your avatar-j/k who is it?
Click to expand...
 

propellerhead

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Apr 13, 2004
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"but what's with the but shots?"
Apr 22, 2006
#18
  • Apr 22, 2006
  • #18
I finally got the Maximum Motorsports LCAs in. I've only had them in for a few hours. I can feel the road more too. Much like having your rear tires overinflated. I haven't been to the track but when I punch it on the streets, it feels more predicatable. It will still slide sideways sometimes but when it does, it's a smooth sway. Not jerky fishtailing. When it does stay straight, the peeling out is smoother. Much like when you do a burnout at the track. Not choppy or skipping (wheel hop).

I noticed a creaking sound when I get to a stoplight or stop sign. Kinda like a door opening in a horror movie. It doesn't do it all the time. Just on occasion. Anyone else get that creaking noise? Does it eventually go away?
 

tomustang

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Apr 23, 2006
#19
  • Apr 23, 2006
  • #19
back_in_black said:
tomustang said:
what the heck did you just say?
Click to expand...
I remember someone saying that they did not like the noise that came from the rear after the install or something like that.
Click to expand...
They should've installed them right then ie: put grease on them then


back_in_black said:
Is that a picture of you with the redface in your avatar-j/k who is it?
Click to expand...
Yes. Do you like Phil Collins?
 

tomustang

Psychotic Member
Founding Member
Jun 8, 2000
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Apr 23, 2006
#20
  • Apr 23, 2006
  • #20
98stangv8 said:
I put on the granatelli upper and lowers...when I went to the track...I didn't fishtail as bad all over the place...reduced my 60' about .2.
Click to expand...
WATCH OUT FOR DEATH!!!!!!!!!!!!





Yeah the powdercoating is THICKER than the metal

I thought I got to everyone about this?? Granatelli stuff is junk, shtty welded in a 3rd world country and a HUGE risk on your life.

Please REMOVE them so you can continue to post on the forums
 
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