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UCA - Decisions decisions

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14
3
Exp. Type
Circle Track
Exp. Level
10-20 Years
Norway
Any luck with that suspension set up file? Im curious.
No luck on the file. However from what I could dig up (dont ask me where) the top PWC cars used the stock UCA, no relocation relocation brackets. I wonder how the UCA held up though, mine was cracked and worn at 10K miles (and 15 years).
 

racer47

Still winning after 30+ years
392
497
Exp. Type
W2W Racing
Exp. Level
20+ Years
SE WI
No luck on the file. However from what I could dig up (dont ask me where) the top PWC cars used the stock UCA, no relocation relocation brackets. I wonder how the UCA held up though, mine was cracked and worn at 10K miles (and 15 years).
If you need a UCA I have a slightly used Steeda that I'll sell cheap. I can send pics if interested.
 
I totally am going by their word knowing they are one of the top players in the business. I’ve just always read about LCA relo brackets recommended for lower than stock vehicles and torque arms more so for higher hp applications ( turbo and supercharged especially)..not to restart topics that have been beaten to death.
 
Hi all,
Im new to this forum but I have been reading with great interest for a long time and cant help but notice that there is a lot of knowledge in this forum. However, I have read up and down virtually all posts on the UCA upgrade for a long time, and Im struggling to find a conclusion. I read praises of the BMR "ultimate" UCA with spherical joints, I have read that the 11+ longer arm design is for sure the way forward, and that the differential end bushing is to weak and needs an upgrade.

So today I figured Ill add the BMR spherical arm and the diff poly bushings in my basket over at Lethal performance, and in a final search to justify my purchase I stumbled across one of the best threads ever, the project budget 400whp thread... Man.. Now all of the sudden the Roush SHORT 07-10 arm is the way to go and its backed by the a racecar driver. So is that the final answer? Is there no point to use a 11+ longer arm that I thought stabilised the rear end as claimed by.. Well BMR who makes money selling them?

Any help here would be greatly appreciated.

Ill add in a little background information and the problem at hand:

2007 GT500 super snake 660hp
Shelby Eibach suspension system including adjustable panhard bar
Ford Racing 1 pc driveshaft with unknown and potentially incorrect pinion angle
SVE 10" wheels with 275 tires front SVE 11" 295 tires rear

Problem: The car was very unstable in the rear end when I got it. It served little to no confidence, and the rear end was "wobbeling", trailing, just terrible. Pushing it was scary and not fun at all.

Mods:
Ford racing (boss302) LCA and BMR relocation brackets - Top mounting hole is used

Result: Rear end way better, steady state long sweepers etc is now much improved. Still some instability, especially when braking, and bumpy roads when turning, dynamic stuff like right left turns and trailbraking..

I suspect the UCA is causing my problems, but I could be wrong. Ideas anyone?
I fought a similar problem when I first started tracking my 2011 GT. I have many years of track experience and my derriere kept telling to have little confidence in the handling of this car. I had the Brembo pkg with 35mm front bar and 24mm rear bar, Koni shocks and Ford "k" racing and lowering springs. I have the longer 2011 Whiteline UCA with poly bushings mounted in the upper bracket hole. The solution was twofold, BMR lower control arm brackets with the LCA in the upper mounting hole so that the rear LCA had a very slight upward tilt toward the front. Basically I reduced the anti squat of the rear suspension. I then found the rear sway bar was the real culprit. I had switched to a stiffer BMR front bar set in the softest position. The improvement came every time I went smaller rear bar. I went from a 24 to 22 to 18mm which I am running now. I now have total confidence in the car's handling and I can really drive aggressively with it. It wasn't until later did I find out that a lot of the serious racers don't run a rear bar at all.
 

Fabman

Dances with Racecars
6,518
8,154
Exp. Type
W2W Racing
Exp. Level
20+ Years
Pleasanton: 1/2 way between Sonoma and Laguna Seca
I fought a similar problem when I first started tracking my 2011 GT. I have many years of track experience and my derriere kept telling to have little confidence in the handling of this car. I had the Brembo pkg with 35mm front bar and 24mm rear bar, Koni shocks and Ford "k" racing and lowering springs. I have the longer 2011 Whiteline UCA with poly bushings mounted in the upper bracket hole. The solution was twofold, BMR lower control arm brackets with the LCA in the upper mounting hole so that the rear LCA had a very slight upward tilt toward the front. Basically I reduced the anti squat of the rear suspension. I then found the rear sway bar was the real culprit. I had switched to a stiffer BMR front bar set in the softest position. The improvement came every time I went smaller rear bar. I went from a 24 to 22 to 18mm which I am running now. I now have total confidence in the car's handling and I can really drive aggressively with it. It wasn't until later did I find out that a lot of the serious racers don't run a rear bar at all.
Bingo...no rear bar. BUT, you have to have enough roll couple to handle the increased body roll.
I recently tried my 18mm bar again in practice for the last race of the season/Thunderhill and was like "Why is my car so nervous"? After a few sessions I removed the bar and it was back to total confidence.
At least, this is how I like it. To each his own for sure.
 
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I totally am going by their word knowing they are one of the top players in the business. I’ve just always read about LCA relo brackets recommended for lower than stock vehicles and torque arms more so for higher hp applications ( turbo and supercharged especially)..not to restart topics that have been beaten to death.
tell them I sent you.. lol
not sure if I did or not
 
Lol. You did indirectly sell me on Phoenix by reading a number of your posts and then doing my own research a while back as well is what sold me. I will 4 sure mention you though. They are doing a magnum xl swap, cambered rear, and Penskes for me and a few other smaller items. Dealing with them has been great…if they were closer to me I would have gone to them day 1 for everything!
 

Grant 302

basic and well known psychic
I noticed that post as well. TY. My car is currently at Phoenix getting some work done and they just told me today they recommended the stock UCA as well with no relo brackets.
They’ve said it here too, but so many think it’s not the way to go and would rather waste money on aftermarket parts better suited to drag racing (like urethane bushings the bind) or are too stiff longitudinally like the spherical bearing types.

If you’re anywhere near stock ride heights, going without brackets makes sense. Most brackets start at a -2” adjustment.
 

Grant 302

basic and well known psychic
Well I have to admit.. I wasted money on unneccasry parts.
Well, we all have. Anyone saying otherwise is full of it.
Forum discussions make it difficult to separate the ‘do what I do’ advice or the ‘don’t make my mistakes’.
Just saying this particular bit about using OEM/rubber bushings in the UCA, should one choose to keep it…is a bit like religious or political debate.
 
14
3
Exp. Type
Circle Track
Exp. Level
10-20 Years
Norway
So the salt finally rained away and I tested the car on some local roads today. New from last year is removed relo brackets, truetrac and roush UCA.

The truetrac Just works. No more 1 wheel spinning, No sounds, excellent piece of hardware, and Im really happy with it.

And, finally, the rear end is now solid. No more unstable feel to it, the suspension does its thing and stays there. However, seeing my UCAs condition in the pictures above Its hard to say how much, if any, improvement is from the Roush arm itself or simply from replacing a worn bushing. Or the loose nut on the PHB.. Either way Im happy.

Traction is zero at the moment, and the truetrac puts up a serious fight even in 3rd gear. Ill need to comment on this later when the temps come up. Currently its 45 degrees F outside at best, and my Michelins Are not very happy. However I did notice a change in the rear without the relo brackets, the car squats more coming out of the corner and Except the total lack of traction its fairly confidence inspiring to push the car - but it takes a light touch feathering the throttle at very low throttle openings to keep those 295 Michelin pilot sport 4Ss in line with the corner with near freezing temps in the asphalt, as these tires really hates cold climates. More testing must be done in warmer weather.

Im planning a trip to a racetrack in May, that Will be the ultimate test and probably the only place to properly test this 600whp monster to its limits.
 
14
3
Exp. Type
Circle Track
Exp. Level
10-20 Years
Norway
So I have now returned from my first trackday in the Super snake. The track is 16 turns over 1.6 miles with a laguna seca like corkscrew. The track was technical and I had few places to unwind that monster engine. Here is my final review on the roush uca.

The car performed amazingly. Above all expectations actually. The day started wet and ended dry. I was the fastest non awd car on Rain, Even compared to Porsches ,M3, m2 and corvettes. My ps4 tires probably helped. As the track dried I got to use the loud pedal more and more and the balance of the car was amazing for what it is, with very high levels of grip from the 275 tires up front that allowed me to lean hard on them in the corner. I Even passe a C6 Z06. I used 3rd and 4th gear most of the track, and Even in wet conditions the car was easy to drive and very confidence inspiring, not at all what I expected to be honest. The HPDE instructor was very impressed with the car as well after he coached me for 10 laps. My only complaint is that I had some axle tramp when baking hard. The tramp went away by pushing the clutch in.

As I never tracked it with stock uca or relocation brackets I have nothing to compare to, but this setup works really well Except that axle tramp.
 

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