Tubular K Member Fit Problem

ImportEater98

New Member

Mar 17, 2003

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Worcester, MA

May 29, 2005

#1

• May 29, 2005

• #1

I purchased a QA1 K-Member for my 89 LX. I opted to use my stock stamped control arms, and grind the edges off as they instruct in the directions.
When it came install the new K member i bolted it up loosely to line up the steering shaft with the steering column. Come to find out, i came up 1/2 short. After a bit of finageling i managed to get the shaft to bolt up to the column as it should (right before the firewall on the engine side).
Continued to put the rest of the parts in, put the wheels on and low and behold, the front tires rubbed the fenders on the edges closest to the front of the car. By 1/2 inch.
Now my motor is where its supposed to be. The fan fits into the shroud exactly where it was before (this is a good way to see if the engine is forward 1/2 more than before the install). So basically the engine/tranny is where it should be, but everything else is 1/2 " forward. Is this a poorly designed K member? It fit right in, but there is no room to adjust it any further back. I am absolutely stumped.
Are the Tubular a arms a different pitch than the OEM ones? Anyone have this problem?
Not to sound like a big shot, but everything is installed right, its been triple checked.
If this is the fit and finish on a $250 part, i hate to see what a cheap K member looks like.
HELP!
Thanks
John

 

J

jerryD

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Mar 16, 2000

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Gladstone, MO

May 29, 2005

#2

• May 29, 2005

• #2

The QA1 k-member does move the front wheels forward. it is part of the design. dunno why.

 

ImportEater98

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Mar 17, 2003

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Worcester, MA

May 29, 2005

#3

• May 29, 2005

• #3

Is there a solution for this? I mean my tires are rubbing.....are thier tube control arms designed to make up for this or are they the same dimensions as stock?

 

J

jerryD

Founding Member

Mar 16, 2000

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Gladstone, MO

May 29, 2005

#4

• May 29, 2005

• #4

i don't know of any a-arms that will bring the wheel back. far as i know all tube a-arms use the stock geomotry. i would say change your tire/wheel combo, but that is prob out of the picture and i don't even know if that would solve it. i dunno what to do since i didn't have any probs with my AJE setup. maybe talk to some road race folks and see what they think.

 

90mustangGT

I felt sorry for girls because

Founding Member

Jan 15, 2002

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Dallas, GA

May 29, 2005

#5

• May 29, 2005

• #5

Well, that sucks. I don't know what to say except call the vendor or QA1 and ask them what's going on. Come back and tell us what happens because I was serously considering the QA1 for my car.

 

ImportEater98

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Mar 17, 2003

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Worcester, MA

May 30, 2005

#6

• May 30, 2005

• #6

I guess i will have to call the tech line on tuesday. What a bummer. Its so bad that i can't even move my car out of the garage cuz i can't turn the wheels.....I am VERY disappointed with this product at this point. Anyone else have any thoughts?

 

Stang8URMPRT

Active Member

Dec 28, 2003

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38

Daytona Beach, FL

May 30, 2005

#7

• May 30, 2005

• #7

How about takin' some pics so we can see what's goin' on? It's much easier to give advice when we can see what's going on.

 

ImportEater98

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Mar 17, 2003

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Worcester, MA

May 30, 2005

#8

• May 30, 2005

• #8

i'll see if i can rev up the digi cam and snap a picture or two. Anyone else?

 

roworld

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Feb 12, 2004

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baltimore md

May 30, 2005

#9

• May 30, 2005

• #9

Is it possible at you could have a fram thats out of ajustment

 

90mustangGT

I felt sorry for girls because

Founding Member

Jan 15, 2002

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89

Dallas, GA

May 30, 2005

#10

• May 30, 2005

• #10

I was looking up QA1 A arms, the expensive ones have adjustable parts so you can controll them back and forth and thier lengths and such. Maby your going to have to go that rought.

 

ImportEater98

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Mar 17, 2003

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Worcester, MA

May 30, 2005

#11

• May 30, 2005

• #11

roworld said:

Is it possible at you could have a fram thats out of ajustment

Click to expand...

There isn't an "adjustment" on the frame....and again, the k-member lined right up with no modifications.

 

D

Daggar

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Jul 19, 2004

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May 30, 2005

#12

• May 30, 2005

• #12

Doesn't the description of the product talk about the half inch set-back? They claim that it's for better weight distribution. More than likely, it's a larger pain in the ass then it is any kind of advantage.

 

ImportEater98

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Mar 17, 2003

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May 31, 2005

#13

• May 31, 2005

• #13

Daggar said:

Doesn't the description of the product talk about the half inch set-back? They claim that it's for better weight distribution. More than likely, it's a larger pain in the ass then it is any kind of advantage.

Click to expand...

Well in a good way it tells me that i did install it right....unfortunately they didn't take into consideration the problems that relocating the control arms can do. Now that the weekend is over, i am going to call the QA1 tech line today. I will post to everyone exactly what they say.

 

ImportEater98

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Mar 17, 2003

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Worcester, MA

May 31, 2005

#14

• May 31, 2005

• #14

****UPDATE*****

Called the QA1 Techline this morning. I explained to the guy that i installed the k-member and it placed my front wheels so far forward that they hit the fender when i turn. First off he said that i shouldn't be running a stock rim or i will have this problem ( ), and he advised that i run a skinny up front. This is fine, because i was planning on ordering my skinnies this week anyhow, so i just expedited them a bit. He said the QA1 piece was designed this way so it can give more caster up front, thus making FOX cars handle better/stay straighter on the drag. Again, this is fine and good, but what about the guys that run these for road racing with 17X8" rims and like 245/50/17's....no way they are gonna fit. The phone went silent.....
He didn't have an answer for me on that one.
After a minute of stumbling his words, he switched to his latest theory:
He said that in 90-91 Mustang got a bigger fender well area to accomidate the optional 16" (Ponies) wheels, which is true from what i have read. He says i should upgrade my fenders to this newer, larger style.
Now i am just getting mad. I told him that if this wasn't going to work on my 89, the product application should say 90-93 instead of 79-93.
He said that sometimes this problem doesn't happen on the pre-90 cars...ugggh....stick to you damn story buddy.....now he's back-peddling on his previous statements.
After 20 minutes on the phone (long distance, NOT TOLL FREE) i ended the call.
My skinnies should be in Thursday, so i guess i'll see if they shorten the turning radius and clear the fender edges like this guy said...or what maybe...hmmm...did he say that...or....yeah...thats it! Eye karumba.

I'll post again when i fit the skinnies on....maybe that will take care of this.

In short...DO NOT BUY THE QA1 K-MEMBER OR YOU ARE ASKING FOR TROUBLE AND TERRIBLE TECH SUPPORT!

 

90mustangGT

I felt sorry for girls because

Founding Member

Jan 15, 2002

2,773

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89

Dallas, GA

May 31, 2005

#15

• May 31, 2005

• #15

Well, at least you got to talk to somone. One thing about a major mod, you usually need to do other mods to accomadate. Maby it's time to search the junkyards or just buy new wheel well liners. I hope the skinies work for you.

 

ImportEater98

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Mar 17, 2003

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Worcester, MA

May 31, 2005

#16

• May 31, 2005

• #16

I'll post with pics when im done so all can see what they are getting into before they.....ugh...get into it.

 

ImportEater98

New Member

Mar 17, 2003

708

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Worcester, MA

Jun 8, 2005

#17

• Jun 8, 2005

• #17

***********UPDATE***********

Well i finally got my Weld 15 X 3.5's in with my skinnies and i slapped them on. The tires still hit the side formost to the front of the fenders when i turn either way.
Ended up rolling the fenders in. Then i took my sawzall and cut the urethane body molding where it wraps around into the fender lip on the bottom. Little sandpaper, and touchup paint and the wheels finally clear...by about 1/3" if im lucky. I am very disatisfied with the fit of QA1 and thier morons at tech support...but i made it work. I will post pics if anyone is interested.
Thanks
-John

 

K

kj2833

New Member

Apr 4, 2005

75

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central illinois

Jun 8, 2005

#18

• Jun 8, 2005

• #18

ImportEater98 said:

There isn't an "adjustment" on the frame....and again, the k-member lined right up with no modifications.

Click to expand...

actually there is, just because it doesnt have bolts and slots, doesnt mean you cant. ever heard of a frame rack? What happens when cars are wrecked and fixed? They dont get back into shape by magic.

I seriously doubt this is YOUR problem, but it is done on a daily basis in body shops the world over.

 

D

Daggar

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Jul 19, 2004

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Jun 8, 2005

#19

• Jun 8, 2005

• #19

kj2833 said:

actually there is, just because it doesnt have bolts and slots, doesnt mean you cant. ever heard of a frame rack? What happens when cars are wrecked and fixed? They dont get back into shape by magic.

I seriously doubt this is YOUR problem, but it is done on a daily basis in body shops the world over.

Click to expand...

Along the lines of that logic, we should then purchase a K-Member and build the car around that. LOL

I've been looking at and tossing the idea of getting k-member around for a while now (the weight reduction being the only benefit I'm interested in). This thread and one other pretty much clears up the "engine set-back" that so many makers are advertising. I had a sneaking suspicion that something like the problem you describe would end up coming from it. What are the chances you could return the thing and get one that doesn't mess with the wheel position? (kinda late now since it appears you've hammered out (literally) a solution)

 

K

kj2833

New Member

Apr 4, 2005

75

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central illinois

Jun 8, 2005

#20

• Jun 8, 2005

• #20

Daggar said:

Along the lines of that logic, we should then purchase a K-Member and build the car around that. LOL

Click to expand...

Thats what half of the people with them are doing anyway apparently LOL

just correcting bad information. you should work harder at being a smartie, that was lame.

anyway, if you only knew how many mustangs have been smashed up and never even been checked, other than to fix what is crumpled, you would be surprised. that goes for all cars actually. Notice how the guy said not all of them need changes as described. wonder why that is. Not only accidents, but just pure body tweaking and abuse.