LCA's vs UCA's- Edjimicate me!!

[94GTLaserRC]

Was looking into Rear control arms.

What are the general guidelines...replace both, one more important than another, pros and cons of each, etc?

Thanks
RC

 

[fox racer]

ive always been told the lowers (if you HAD to choose) would be the first to replace. they will help wheel hop and take the brunt of the shock during a hard launch. but you shouldnt overlook the importance of the uppers.

 

[69clark]

Well I would talk to Maximum Motorsports. Good bunch of guys over there in my experiences. I can give you a heads up, if you ask them they will say to replace the LCA and leave the uppers stock. They say this because the poorly design mustang rear suspension is prone to binding. Thus if you replace the uppers and lowers the problem magnifies. Their theory is that the stock uppers will give more than the aftermarket ones causing less bind.

Now MM can explain it better as they are the experts but I am just trying (like crap) to restate what they are saying. I may have mistated something but that is the general concept. They make a torque arm (I believe it is called) the will replace the need for the uppers entirely and is the best way to go about it.

I'm telling you, just call them or go to their website, they know their stuff.

 

[SeventyMach1]

Tom .... sounds like you've explained it exactly as I've heard before. I've done some research myself .... because I'll be doing suspension work soon.

 

[69clark]

I bought a complete "grip in a box" suspension kit and the quality was great. The car handles so good that it I have not been able to push it to its limit (too scared on the streets) on the streets. It handles about as well as the 2003 Z06 my father owned. I talked to MM and they said that if I used their torque-arm instead of the factory suspension design uca setup I would easily out handle my fathers 2003 Z06. Haven't done that mod yet.

 

[CManT1914]

The lowers are the most important for drag racing, uppers more for auto-x. You could just do some lowers and replace the bushings in the uppers, a lot of guys do that.

I replaced both on mine however.

 

[69clark]

Chris I have also heard replacing the bushings in the uca is what alot of guys do.

 

[94GTLaserRC]

Thanks...Im looking at the UMI ones on Ebay with the QA1 bushings.
RC

 

[ES Stangin]

The lowers are the most important for drag racing, uppers more for auto-x. You could just do some lowers and replace the bushings in the uppers, a lot of guys do that.

I replaced both on mine however.

For drag racing it would be ok to replace the upper control arms, but with auto-x you would not want to replace the stock uppers with anything other than a torque arm or EVM tri-link. As already stated, leave the stock uppers alone if you do not plan on buying a panhard bar/TA combo.

 

[Grn92LX]

If I could do it all over again and only could change one, it would be the uppers. I would do a double adjustable upper with sperical bearings on both ends. You can set the pinion angle too. I have MM lowers in my car for a few years now. They didn't do a thing for traction. I just bought a set of UPR dbl adj uppers with sperical on both ends and now I can set my pinion angle. I have the street MM arms and I wish I had the drag arms. I have tq box reinforcements in the lower and I bought tq box reinforcements for the uppers.

 

[Methodical]

The lowers are the most important for drag racing, uppers more for auto-x. You could just do some lowers and replace the bushings in the uppers, a lot of guys do that.

I replaced both on mine however.

I agree. That is what I'm going to do in conjunction with installing the front and rear coilovers. As stated before talk to MM. They don't try and push all kinds of products on you and they explain things and give you personal attention. That's just one of the reasons I am going with their product.

Peace

 

[94GTLaserRC]

All I want is an improvement in traction for the street and some better cornering...Neither for competition...LCA's only would be ok for now?
RC

 

[ES Stangin]

That sounds like a good idea...

 

[69clark]

Thats what I say RC!!