So i own an 89 gta that is pretty much all original. i've been thinking about buying subframe connectors to stiffen the chassis and reduce interior rattles.

should i have them installed? i've heard conflicting opinions on how they affect the car's handling as well. im not drag racing or autocrossing the car, so will i notice an improvement in feel during daily driving, especially going over bumps and uneven surfaces? do they noticably reduce the ammount of interior rattles/shakes and improve ride quality? do they prevent possible future damage to the chassis/ body by reducing stress? most people say they are well worth the money and sometimes essential, but i plan on keeping my car as original as possible.

so what should i do? if i choose to install a set, im thinking about buying a set of weld in spohns, umi's, or bmr's. i've also heard good things about the kenny brown sfc's and the jegs sfc's as well.

 

Hello
I noticed you are interest in a set of SFC's and thank you for considering UMI Performance. Like you mentioned above. Yes they will eliminate chassis flexing and decrease your chassis damage as well. They wont necessarily improve you ride quality but you will notice a firmer feel chassis which will no longer have rattles and so on. We offer a weld on version of a SFC' That reinforces your rear control arm mounting location. And we keep the passengers side angle off so you will be able to weld it at a location which works best for your exhaust application either stock or aftermarket. Below is a link to show you what all UMI Performance has to offer.
http://www.umiperformance.com/catalog

/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=6_91&products_id=127&zenid=1v6tfj8r1smqljnn8ct4gdre47

If you have any other questions feel free to ask and I will be more than glad to help.
Thanks
Brad

 

Hello
I noticed you are interest in a set of SFC's and thank you for considering UMI Performance. Like you mentioned above. Yes they will eliminate chassis flexing and decrease your chassis damage as well. They wont necessarily improve you ride quality but you will notice a firmer feel chassis which will no longer have rattles and so on. We offer a weld on version of a SFC' That reinforces your rear control arm mounting location. And we keep the passengers side angle off so you will be able to weld it at a location which works best for your exhaust application either stock or aftermarket. Below is a link to show you what all UMI Performance has to offer.

http://www.umiperformance.com/catalo...ljnn8ct4gdre47

If you have any other questions feel free to ask and I will be more than glad to help.
Thanks
Brad

 

I have the Alston on my car and they made a noticeable difference. I highly recommend them to all third gen owners!

 

I've got the Jegs bolt ins. Really simple to install. They also tuck in nicely and I believe they don't interfere at all with stock exhaust component locations. In my case it was hard to determine how much of a difference they made as I installed a roll bar as well. Stiffened up the whole chassis nicely.

Having said that, I would seriously consider a weld in set in your case. My car is race only. I'm not dodging potholes or scraping up driveways daily so the bolts don't really get a chance to loosen up. I imagine it were a daily driver that would be another story.

Good luck with which ever way you go.

 

You will notice a big difference once you install the SFC's. Most brand are of the same design, however I like & have the Tube Style. The most important thing is to have them WELDED IN.....

 

...just make sure the rest of the suspension is up to snuff before throwing on SFC's. my car was mostly stock, and @180k miles i threw on SFCs.

It actually made the car ride worse. The chassis was stiffer, making the worn out suspension work harder lol.

i have since rebuilt the cars suspension so its pretty sweet to drive, just make sure the rest of the car is in good working order or you may be dissappointed in the results.

 

SFC's will improve your day to day driving. Making the chassis stiffer is definitely worth it.

for UMI...great product & serivce.

 

If you have a hardtop car, check the back/top corner of the driver and passenger side window... see if there's a crack there, because if there is, SFC's will keep that thing from getting bigger.

 

Thanks for suggesting UMI Performance. We really appreciate the great comments, and the business!
Thanks
Brad

 

be careful which ones you buy ... check and see if you have dual cats ....some sfc will not fit with dual cats

 

Could I not get away with bolt ins for a while then weld them in when ready?

What brand are your tube style SFC?

 

It really depends on how long you are talking. If you are talking a week, then yes, if you are talking months and months of driving, then no. The bolt holes will elongate and become almost worthless. You should really get them welded right away and avoid any problems.

I have the MAC and am happy with them.

 

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/susp...rs-solved.html

 

Ok that makes sense. Is there a write up that shows the proper way and how to weld them in?

 

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/susp...-subframe.html