Suspension / ChassisQuestions about your suspension? Need chassis advice?
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I placed an order for UMI's boxed steel SFC's last week 'cause they were having a sale so I figured it was then or never. They arrived today in a box the
size of a full-sized casket. After spending nearly 20 minutes cutting my way through 20 square-foot mile's worth of bubble wrap I was finally able to reach the connector's hidden within.
The packaging was well done, perhaps a little on the "over-kill" side, but at least I know these could have been thrown off a rocky cliff and not get scratched. A ridiculous amount paper stuffing inside the box on top of the already over-wrapped bubble wrap. Even the ends were wrapped in cardboard to prevent chaffing... Nice job.
The construction of these SFC's is easily on par with anything from BMR or Spohn. I was a bit hesitant at first to buy from UMI as my only experience with suspension/chassis companies until now with my other car (4th gen Formula Firebird) was exclusively with BMR/Spohn so I was kind of worried that these UMI piece's wouldn't stack up with the competition.
All my worries were laid to rest when I finally held these frames in my greedy little hands....
The connections are all MIG welded and the welds themselves are straight and clean. Very professional looking. The boxed steel tubing itself measure's 2.000” x 1.250” x 0.120” which means they're strong enough to support the weight of your average sized sky-scraper The bright red powder-coating looks really nice as well, it's a shame these will be hidden underneath the car where nobody can see them. They're so nice to look at. The mounting plates are very thick (I measured 0.188" thickness) and the total overall weight of the entire set-up is 33 lbs. Yeah, that's a pretty heft weight to add on to your car, but the improved stiffness in the chassis and the elimination of all those annoying squeaks and rattles will make it worth it. Besides, it gives me another excuse to buy more performance parts to make up for the added weight
* Passenger side brace - 17 lbs
* Driver's side - 14 lbs
* "Add-on" brace which connects on the passenger side and goes over the y-pipe - 2 lb
It even came with two new nuts and bolts to connect the braces to the control arm mounting brackets and a full colour UMI catalog with their entire 2006 parts line-up. I'm very pleased with this purchase and hope to install them over the next week. As with all my other mod's, I'll be sure to photograph and document everything and post my results for all to see. Stay tuned for my installation review coming soon. So far though, these appear to be a very high quality set of sub-frame connectors. Very "beefy" in their construction and I my IROC will be thanking me after I install them.....
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__________________ Follow the links below to get information and see some picture's of the parts I've purchased so far. The car by they way, is an '88 Iroc-Z powered by L98
They really are a nice set-up and one thing I forgot to mention was, one of the biggest reasons why I went with a "boxed" design was because it doubled as a jacking point when I need to lift the car. Up until now, I've always had to jack up the back end of the car under the differential or up front under the kmember and I've never really liked doing either to be honest. Now I finally get to jack up the car from the frame connectors without worry of anything being crushed or the car itself sliding off the jack....
Some will argue the strength difference between round and boxed tubing, in fact, I've read through countless debates on this forum on that very subject, but I honestly can't imagine either style would be that much "stiffer" over the other, to the point of actually being noticeable by the driver, in any but the most severe driving conditions and even then, I don't think anybody could tell the difference.....
As far as I'm concerned, be it boxed or round tubing is irrelevant. Both designs will make a world of difference on our cars. Having said that, the boxed design does look 10x better than round so there !
EXPECT A FULL REVIEW WITH PICTURES AFTER INSTALLATION !
it's real nice, i've actually being looking at 'em on ebay for the past 2 days and i'm considering them... but please keep us posted and see how it goes... i too have read the debates of round and boxed, but feel the same. I don't think the difference will be too noticeable when it's a daily driver.
GOOD LUCK!!
PS: talking about install i'm about to get some tools out and install my new struts and shox for my 92, they're the GR2 but definetly better than what i got now.
I've been wanting to buy sub-frame connectors for my '88 Iroc-Z ever since I bought it. Unfortunately, I've been spending money on everything else instead
Well whose fault is that??
I think you'll definitely notice a difference, especially since you've let it get to the point to where you can't deal with it any more.
When I installed mine, it was a bit difficult to compare the "before" vs. afterwards, the best I could come up with was that it felt like the front & rear suspensions were finally working together. I also agree about the weight - on the one hand, you just cringe at adding weight like that, but the flip side of it is that the car becomes more "unified" and predictable.
Overall, I think it's a good/worthwhile mod, but my tires were still the best mod I've done so far...
where did you buy the SFC's at? I'm very interested in a set...and those look really nice. Keep us posted
__________________ 1991 Z28 Camaro~5.7 L98/G92
Air Ride/INTRO Wheels 1999 WS6 Trans Am 30th Anniversary #357
Owner: Shawn Nelson "If you didn't build it with your hands, you can't call it yours"
They're relatively new to the market (compared to the more popular well known suspension/chassis companies out there) but I can assure you, the quality of these frame connectors is equal to anything I've bought from Spohn/BMR. UMI is currently having a 10% off sale, so if you're really interested in getting a set of these SFC's, take advantage of the price reduction, (if funding allows you to of coarse).
I don't know when the sale is over but I know it's been on for a while so it probably won't last too much longer....
I just purchased a panhard bar from UMI, mostly because of the current sale. To my surprise it was an exceptional piece of workmanship! And shipping costs were very reasonable as compared to some other 3rd gen suppliers.
Everything LT1fun said about UMI and his SFC's I can say about my panhard bar.
Both Spohn and UMI have their following of fans, both of which will swear one is "way better" than the other. Truth is, you're not going to be able to tell a difference in your handing/chassis stiffness between the two. They're both great designs and are comparable in cost to one and other so it really is a matter of preference. Do you like round tubing or boxed steel?
I went with the boxed steel 'cause at the very least, they look 10x stronger than round tubing
Also, the square tubing doubles as a jacking point when you want to raise your car. Either way, you can't go wrong with either brand.
I'll have to post a few pic's of them installed. I have them laying around here somewhere so when I find them, I'll post them up to give you an idea what they look like from underneath.
I went with the boxed steel 'cause at the very least, they look 10x stronger than round tubing .
For what it is worth. Rount tubing is stronger then square tubing. Most prople think that since box tubing has the four 90 degree bends that it is stronger the round tubing that is not the case.
Thats not entirely true either, it depends on strength in what direction you're talking about. Square tubing of the same area is stronger in bending than round, axially loaded there's no difference, torsionally round is stronger, and shear I'm not sure off the top of my head but I think there isnt any difference there either. Round tubing doesnt have the buckling issues that square or I beams can have but with small sections its not really an issue.
wow, I've been hearing good things about UMI, but now I'm sold on those sfc's! they look awesome, and the over-the-top protection makes me feel secure they'll get to me looking just as pretty as from the factory (even though I won't be seeing much of them when they're installed). I love the boxed look myself
remember to put up pics, so far this is a great thread and I can't wait for updates
I have them. You'll lose weld surface area if your subframe by the front wheel wells is compressed from some pigeon jacking your car in the wrong spot. So watch out. Oh, and if your exhaust has been redone between the cat and y-pipe, you may have fitments problems as well. Especially if your exhaust is 3".
I just read this thread today and I ordered a set for myself 20 minutes afterwards. Heck, I even went all out and bought a set of lower comtrol arms and an adjustable panhard rod. Alltogether I spent $498 with shipping. I wonder how long it will take to receive everything....
I really like the workmanship of the UMI pieces and I've heard nothing but good things from them. I am planning to go with their heavy duty version of the 3rd Gen LS_ swap K-member when it is released.
However, when I get my SFCs I am getting Spohns for two reason: They are lighter than the UMI with the same design (two long pieces and two cross peices) and they are tubular. I think tubular is better for two reasons: it resists forces from all sides more or less equally. Boxed is strongest from only from directions. And, tube frame chasis; NHRA, NASCAR, etc uses tube from. For these two reasons combined are why I want the tubes. But, that is just my two cents.
__________________ KONIs I Eibach Pro-Kit I 36mm/24mm sway bars I Spohn: Adjustable PHB I Wonder Bar I SFCs Custom LCAs I LCARBs I J&M Products Camber/Caster plates I Hawk's Ceramic Pads I 4th Gen 3.23 Posi I LS1/LT1 Brakes
After spending nearly 20 minutes cutting my way through 20 square-foot mile's worth of bubble wrap 
I was finally able to reach the connector's hidden within.
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Truth is, you're not going to be able to tell a difference in your handing/chassis stiffness between the two. They're both great designs and are comparable in cost to one and other so it really is a matter of preference. Do you like round tubing or boxed steel?
