starfinder

...what do you think about that parts?

Quality?

Fitting?

Andreas

Carlos773

iTrader: (3)

Use the search feature, countless threads on them.

They carry decent products and most are happy with their products.

Confuzed1

iTrader: (4)

Spohn, UMI, BMR all carry well built and decent fitting parts, but IMO at least on the majority of the suspension parts they've come close to each other in price and quality, and let's face it - the parts they sell are high profit items.

For example, I think we all know it doesn't cost anywhere near 700 bucks in materials and labor to produce a torque arm. So IMO, you're paying for a name and good customer service, so base your decision on that.

//<86TA>\\

iTrader: (14)

what torque arm, from any manufacturer, costs 700 bux?

Carlos773

iTrader: (3)

Maybe shipping is $300? :P

Confuzed1

iTrader: (4)

Good greif.....You don't need to take the price I threw up on the post literally...did you really think I did indepth research on all torque arm prices before I posted??

OK then. 369 bucks for a regular or 599 bucks for a (Pro) heavy duty. *PLUS SHIPPING*

Does the real lower price detract from the point I was making in my original post? Don't think so.....

Shipping is about 65 bucks. I know since I've bought one before.

88 350 tpi formula

iTrader: (9)

Im pretty sure if you get the full top-end setup spohn is around there. but they are pricey for what they are.

Confuzed1

iTrader: (4)

Thanks - that's all I was attempting to say. So since they are all pricey, you may as well go with the maker that has decent customer service and a good reputation...or better yet - buy a good used one!

Carlos773

iTrader: (3)

If its really cheap to make one, why arent people with welding skills making them for their cars? Even If I had super welding skills, I would rather buy it knowing from their previous customers that they are durable and have a good customer service behind them.

Even then the prices for suspension parts in general are not that high for the gains you get.

//<86TA>\\

iTrader: (14)

look, i wasn't trying to be a smart *** or anything, but arbitrarily throwing up a really high number like that skews the point slightly IMO.

anybody who goes to buy the materials themselves, not bulk pricing like a large outfit will be able to afford, can expect to pay well over 100bux just for the materials for a basic, adjustable tranny mount tubular torque arm. Parts then need to be cut out, bent, jigged up, welded, and powdercoated. Not to mention the basic cost of the tools and equipment required to product the parts in the first place. Ever price out a good hydraulic tubing bender and tig welder setup, various saws, drill bits and cutting tools? It all adds up fast.

And how many man hours does it take to produce the part, start to finish and shipping? Sombody has to cut all the steel to length, shape, drill holes, notch tubing, somebody has to bend certain parts, everything have to be cleaned and placed in a jig,( which also had to be designed and built by somebody) then it all has to be welded together by somebody else. Then shipped or brought to the powerdercoater, even if its in house, then you still have to pay that guy, and for the materials to coat, the electricity/fuel for the coating oven and tools. Then back to the shop to be checked and assembled. Then put in stock. then people have to take and receive orders before being shipped out., parts need to be pulled from stock, then sorted and packaged. then pay UPS/fedex to ship everything things. Seriously, i can go on and on here.

So if you were to manufacture these, after the R+D time, making jigs, paying employees to make them (and health insurance, all other insurances, building rent, morgages, other expenses ect,ect,ect) would you be willing to sell parts like this for a 10-20 dollar profit? I wouldn't, you would never survive. Everbody wants something for nothing it seems, and have no idea what i takes to manufacture parts. there is alot more involved than some metal and a cheap mig welder.

Im not saying they dont make a decent profit here, but they do have a lot of overhead too.


-Phil

*Im an NOT affiliated with ANY manufacture*

//<86TA>\\

iTrader: (14)

exactly.

Every try to make a part yourself exactly like something you see from Spohn or another outfit? Just the cost of tools will kill any budget right there.

Even if you already have the tools, once you factor in your time, materials, paying for powdercoating, its not worth the effort unless you are making something completely custom, for your purpose, that is not available in the aftermarket.

//<86TA>\\

iTrader: (14)

that there is the key! you can save soooooo much money buying new second hand parts its not even funny, you can always find parts, still in the original box, never installed, for a good discount. Picked up a lot of parts this way over the years.

UnderCover89TBI

iTrader: (25)

Ive used spohn with nothing but good luck. Ive used UMI and when ordering thru summit have recieved my parts fast but thru them directly i paid more for shipping and waited longer to recieve. But I do like UMI's quality and would buy any of thier products. Never used BMR or alston or anything. SPOHN is great though.

84z350crate

I like my spohn polyurethane trans mount,that's the only thing I have from them

UnderCover89TBI

iTrader: (25)

i took my polyurethane mount off. I was getting crazy vibrations from it. It was an energy mount. I put a stocker back on there and its gone. needless to say the mount is for sale now.

jharrison5

Building your own parts is always cool, but who here knows the real ins and outs of suspension geometry? I sure don't, probably never will, and so I will pay a premium price to get a fully functional powder-coated part. If the manufacturing of parts was so easy everyone would do it and there would be no need for an automotive aftermarket. With that said I am very proud of every part I custom fab since it is something that I built and I encourage others to do the same. You will never know what you can and can't do unless you try. Maybe some day you can turn a new found talent into the next big ticket item.

UMI Performance

Glad to like the UMI Products, we are very proud of our quality and craftsmanship. If you received some slow shipping from us I apologize, we are the actual manufacture of the product while Summit is a massive outfit and stocks our products in all (3) of their warehouses. They also have the ability to offer discounted shipping due to the number of packages they ship a day. You can either purchase from us or Summit direct, either is just fine!

Thanks again for the support,
Ryan

jbenge

iTrader: (2)

I've had good luck with Spohn parts. They have always been quick to answer my tech questions too. Spohn, BMR, and UMI all sell good parts just do the research and figure out which parts will work best for your application.

Mkos1980

iTrader: (8)

The only parts I didnt like from Spohn was their lower from A-Arms and their bolt kit for the spindle to strut bolts. A Arms messed up how the wheel sat and the bolts broke everytime I tried to tq to factory specs. But I do have their front wonderbar, sway bars, DS loop and their k member. All fit great. I have BMR's torque arm and relocation brackets and no issues. And I have UMI's LCA's and panhard bar. No issues again. I am however going to order up UMI's strut mounts though today or tomorrow and will likely order their lower A arms too in time.