I keep reading about the lower control arms, and apparently everybody has a better understanding of suspension than i do. I know you need the relocation brackets if your lowered, but I am not. What exactly do the lca's do and whats the difference with aftermarket ones?
Thanks
Bill

 

Lower control arms hold the rear end in place (front to back). There's really no need for aftermarket LCAs, but I would recommend 1LE LCAs if you want to upgrade bushings. I would stay away from LCAs that have polyurethane bushings though. If you do go with poly bushings, you more than likely aren't going to see any noticable, negative effects. However, you are taking away from the way the suspension was designed to operate.

 

I can't agree with the above statements.

My experience has been, a solid BMR piece with poly at the rear end side, and rubber at the body side. This reduces noise and allows the unit to flex to a degree to prevent it from "snapping" the car without warning under hard loads.

When I installed mine, I noticed a complete change in character over bumpy surfaces and uneven pavement. For example accelerating over an intersection that has ruts, would bounce the rear-end. Now the car stays firmly planted and in control, without the bone jarring banging.

A well invested $100.

Also consider a strong pan-hard to keep the rear-end in line during cornering and road conditions.

 

Would a good aftermarket set of LCA`s help with off-the line acceleration? I mean you`re allowing the chassis to flex a bit so I would assume that that is power lost that you`re not putting down to the wheels right? So ideally you would want to stiffen up the chassis (like with SFC`s) assuming you can get your car to hook. Am I right?

 

What did you not agree with?

Lower control arms hold the rear end in place front to rear. This is true.

I said aftermarket LCAs aren't necessary. This is because the stamped stock piece is more than strong enough to do the job.

I said that I would stay away from polyurethane bushings. You mentioned that you have a rubber bushing on the body side of the LCA with part of the reasoning being that it would allow flex. According to that statement, you agree with me that polyurethane busings aren't the best for the way our suspension is designed because it doesn't allow it to flex properly.

Maybe it's just me, but I didn't see where you negated any of the points in my post.

 

Dammit, I just lost my complete reply!!!! FOCK!!!!

My experience has been that with the ruts in the road where I live, the rear is most unstable during these conditions. Especially since the car was lowered.

The stock piece can flex a large amount being the shape and small piece of steel that it is.

My racetrack experience shows a great improvement in the stability of the car during performance maneuvers. This translates onto the street during bumpy road conditions as well.

The rear LCAs are very weak. Throw in older bushings, and a lowered car and the rear is most unstable.

The panhard has a lot to do with this as well.

Thoughts?

 

I just re-installed my stock LCAs.
The ride was terrible with the poly bushing ones.
It's much more compliant now. Quieter too.

I may box my stock ones or re-install my aftermarket ones with rubber bushings.

 

Poly - poly is going to be rough no doubt.

I have poly-rubber. Works nicely.