paulieet

Had some issues with mine. I emailed UMI today and am awaiting a reply.

Here's the driver's side with no issues, of coarse I put that side together and the issues came up with the passenger side.


Here's the passenger side where the A-arm bolts up


Grinding of the K-member to make the bolt holes line up. There was either to much metal left on the "tab" on the K-member or the bolt hole was drilled in the wrong location. I haven't had the tire on yet to see how it sits in the wheel well.


I even took a little material off the A-arms to help out.


Figured I'd share my experience. Unfortunately the only way for UMI to fix this is for me to take it out and them send a new one, which sucks when you want the car ready for the engine to go in.

I'll update as they reply to my problem.

Scamo-2.8

iTrader: (16)

Yeah, that looks like it's just a bit off.... Be interesting to see how much it's off. UMI are good people, I'm sure they'll fix you up.

Orr89RocZ

iTrader: (20)

Stock a arms? Interesting. I didnt seem to have any issues with mine with matching umi a arms

paulieet

Their reply. Apparently grinding in required, despite in the part description it states "no grinding required". I asked what I wasn't understanding in the part description.

paulieet

Here's the 2nd reply. Seems as though they want to pass the problem onto Summit instead of standing behind their product. I highly doubt they produce a product that is powder coated, only to have to have grinding done on it to make it fit and have it rust to hell. If that was the case, sell a bare metal K member for less money and I'll finish it myself.

PAFORM350

damn

Saxondale

iTrader: (2)

Golly, he apologizes "for the minor amount of grinding required." That should make it all better, right? Could do with a bit more empathy, IMO.

I suppose at this point POR15 it and should be fine. I think they make red. I'm impressed with the effort it took to make the K-member switch. Nice work.

articwhiteZ

iTrader: (56)

Are the A arms gm or aftermarket replacements? I ask as my factory gm a arms fit..I run aftermarket A Arms.. but my facty a arms fit.

Scorpner

iTrader: (4)

Sometimes taking measurements with a callipers helps to find out which part is out of spec. I know the factory A-Arms aren't all the same, but the UMI part could be off, as can both. Sometimes the jig they use changes over time and/or most people use the after-market A-Arms so the problem doesn't surface as often. FWIW, I like the idea of being able to use the stock A-Arms though so it is disappointing.
I had a panhard bar of thiers that didn't fit due to the insert. I sent images with the dimensions and how/why it didn't fit so they sent a new insert which worked out for both of us.
On the other hand, I had to return a set of Hooker 2210 headers to Summit because they simply would not fit and Hooker had no interest what so ever in resolving the issue. I lost the shipping costs which I feel was absolutely unfair.

I'm not sure Summit would take it back with the grinding done on it. If the instructions say to do it then I would be sure to stress the point.

572_Rat

I had problems with their a-arms fitting, bought them with Delrin bushing, had to have them machined as they were to large and the sway bar mounts are positioned to high, had to cut my end links. Sent them emails and pm them on here and they never did anything about it

UMI Sales

Hi guys.

I checked the instructions. Our test arms took less grinding so maybe the arms can be different from year to year or GM production plant to GM production plant. There are clear photos in the instructions of where we ground the factory arms to have them fit. No grinding was required on our test car or on any other customer arms so far. We do our best to make aftermarket parts fit every stamped piece out there from GM.

Summit has your invoice history so any returns go through the place you bought it from if you simply want to return it and do something else.

Any flat pieces on this (or any of our products) are cut on our CNC laser. I checked the jig and there is nothing moved so your k-member should be the same as the other ones. If you were to swap k-members through us or Summit you would get the same product the 2nd time, i.e. I don't think there is a dimensional problem with yours as it passed the 16 pt QC checklist before it went out the door.

Let me know how you'd like me to proceed and I can make it happen.

thanks

ramey

88TPI406GTA

Hey OP: You using stock or aftermarket A-Arms? I would not expect to have a problem with either stock or UMI A-Arms.

articwhiteZ

iTrader: (56)

I know I had no problems with my factory a arms.
And no problems With 5 other aftermarket a-arms..
I tried every type of arm that Sphon makes.. And if anything is going to be messed up it's going to be a Sphon part...lol ....jk

But they did all fit. My UMI K member

articwhiteZ

iTrader: (56)

URL=http://s573.photobucket.com/user/hk21/media/20140519_202258.jpg.html][/URL]URL=http://s573.photobucket.com/user/hk21/media/20140729_150837.jpg.html][/URL]

In the 3 pic above you can see 3 different types of a larms.. all fit.. unfortunately I don't have any picture of the factory ones.. the top picture is the a-arms I ended up going with.. Mine is still a streetcar....sorata

NOTE: The sphon k member seen above was dumped in favor of a UMI unit..
so was the sphon cross member..how ever it was swapped out for a BMR unit.for weight and cosmetics. It was a full 1LB lighter

SixSeriesCSi

iTrader: (11)

Outstanding Customer Service from the Man Himself! Now that is American Manufacturing at it's Best!

paulieet

I have since sent it back to summit and UMI should be sending a new K member. They are stock A-arms I'm trying to run.

88TPI406GTA

Good...I would have done the same thing. Let's hope the new one works without grinding

articwhiteZ

iTrader: (56)

And remember... always always work on the cheapest part.

Scorpner

iTrader: (4)

Get yourself a set of callipers and measure how much you'll need to cut/grind out before you dig into it. If you run into problems, I can try to dig up some stock A-Arms for comparison to see if and how much variation there is between them.

You can pick up these for $10-$15 when they go on sale of offer a coupon.
http://www.harborfreight.com/6-inch-...per-47257.html

88TPI406GTA

I re-read this thread...and I want to understand something here.

Will the aftermarket K-Member (from UMI, BMR, etc) require grinding NO MATTER WHAT? I thought it would be a bolt-in with stock A-arms or A-arms from that particular manufacturer...

Stangski09

iTrader: (10)

My passenger side UMI a arm was binding on the kmember... When I mocked it up initially and complained that it may rub they said its no issue...
I had to grind the kmember while everything was installed, not fun!

572_Rat

That is crap to have to grind on a brand new part to make it fit, my k-member bolted right in without having to grind to make it fit

Beeman

How did this turn out? I'm in the market for a K member so I'd like to see which brand is best BEFORE I have these nightmares.

UMI Sales

It turned out we are building him a new one, revising some close design parameters and moving forward with awesome quality products.

The k-member in question was one of the first generation units and we have improved them steadily since then.

ramey

Stangski09

iTrader: (10)

I am pleased to agree that Ramey and I have been in contact over my problem and UMI is having one arranged to be sent out.

I mean everything else UMI looks good, right?

articwhiteZ

iTrader: (56)

UMI's parts have always been top shelf. in fit and finish. and to stand behind a part even after it gets butchered by the end user..is just wow. .Outstanding!!always ask before cutting.. and always work/cut the cheap parts...

I do understand UMI helping out a consumer. and I think it's going over the top! with this one. my hats off to you guys at UMI.

Stangski09

iTrader: (10)

I didnt cut anything nor did I butcher it. I had to clearance grind it because the umi a-arm knuckle was rubbing the umi kmember.

WickedBowtie

What is backspacing on wheels?

Podium

iTrader: (2)

Youre lucky they helped you after destroying the kmember like that.

I bought their kmember and a arms last year. The a arms were off do to the jig being off. They took care of me (I even bought them through summit) and sent new a arms. I saw in the directions you have clearance the factory a arms to fit.

Kudos to UMI for helping you. I would order more from them but I have everything lol.

Stangski09

iTrader: (10)

I didnt start this thread so im going to stop jacking it.
Just posted my current experience, I am not modifying the kmember to fit factory control arms.
Check the usernames

articwhiteZ

iTrader: (56)

the op cut/butchered his K Member up in the first post...

Beeman

Sounds like a happy ending. I guess UMI just moved to the top part of my list of a supplier for my k member purchase.

UMI Performance

Stock a-arms do require grinding, we always grind the a-arm though and not the k-member. Some companies actually make theirs only fit with aftermarket a-arms with no option of stock a-arms working at all. But like Ramey mentioned I'm sure some stock a-arms have more material on the flange than others.

We are checking to make sure there is plenty of clearance with the UMI a-arms. We randomly pulled one and had clearance but going to continue to enhance this item.

thanks everyone!
Ryan

rusty vango

im at a loss as to why anyone would want or need to buy a aftermarket "K" member. its one of the more durable parts of our cars ,after all . whats so bad with the stock set up ?

UMI Sales

Nothing wrong with stock setup.

Aftermarket k, minus 25+ lbs and more clearance. Also, looks rad.

Orr89RocZ

iTrader: (20)

Build a turbo car lol you'll see its nice to have the room in and around the engine

572_Rat

Put in a Big Block and you would understand how nice it is to have the extra room

The Project

iTrader: (6)

THIS is why i'm a BIG UMI supporter and customer.....

articwhiteZ

iTrader: (56)

there stand up guys

KITT1983

iTrader: (3)

Umi makes good parts