Del-Sphere LCA's/Clunking sound when shifting...

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05-01-2011, 09:11 AM

#11

Ford-a-tude

2nd Gear Member

Join Date: Sep 2009

Location: IL

Posts: 311

Quote:

Originally Posted by Norm Peterson

How closely did the Del-Sphere ends fit up into the axle and chassis side brackets? Did your bolt torquing involve much squeezing together of the bracket "sides"? Enough to clearly see?

And how much clearance is there between the bolts and the holes in all the parts they go through?

Those questions are sort of related if the reason for the clunk is what I think it could be..

Norm

Norm, I re-read this several times to understand. I have the UMI upper bracket as well. When I was assembling the upper arm to their bracket I did notice that the sides of the bracket squeezed in as I torqued the bolt to spec. Do you think this is an issue?

05-01-2011, 10:25 AM

#12

Riptide

6th Gear Member

Join Date: Nov 2007

Location: Montaner

Posts: 6,193

FYI that is normal. I noticed the same thing when I installed their UCA bracket and arm last month and confirmed with UMI tech support - it's by design.

Also, if you are using UMI roto-joints do NOT overtorque it. I torqued my UMI lowers to 129 ft. lbs. which is the Ford spec and it ruined the joint. Squeezed/compressed it together. Here's a pic of the damage. Don't go past 100 when you torque their stuff or it will destroy it.

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I over-torqued my UCA as well (to 129) and from what I can see visually it seems OK. I'm not taking it out to re-torque it. Maybe I got lucky with that one.

05-01-2011, 12:26 PM

#13

Ford-a-tude

2nd Gear Member

Join Date: Sep 2009

Location: IL

Posts: 311

Wow I can see how that can happen. Thankfully I did follow the UMI instructions and used their specs. Thanks for the info about the bracket, that always bugged me. I think my next step is to replace all the bolts. Clunking be dammed!

05-01-2011, 12:53 PM

#14

Riptide

6th Gear Member

Join Date: Nov 2007

Location: Montaner

Posts: 6,193

IMO if the clunking is that big of a deal to you then you should tear out all that rod end stuff and go back to poly. It's always going to be a problem to one degree or another with rod ends.

05-02-2011, 06:16 AM

#15

Norm Peterson

6th Gear Member

Join Date: Feb 2007

Location: state of confusion

Posts: 7,635

Does UMI provide their own torque spec? Inquiring minds want to know.

Norm

05-02-2011, 07:13 PM

#16

NJ3

3rd Gear Member

Join Date: Dec 2006

Location: Chesapeake, Va.

Posts: 523

Quote:

Originally Posted by Norm Peterson

Does UMI provide their own torque spec? Inquiring minds want to know.

Norm

Yes, 72 ft. lbs.

11-28-2016, 01:58 AM

#17

wsdillard

Join Date: Nov 2016

Location: TX

Posts: 1

I installed the Spohn Del-Sphere lower control arms on my otherwise stock 2013 Shelby GT500. (only upgrade was a BMR Watts Link). These control arms cause a very noticeable "CLUNK" every time the car is shifted. Rechecked the install and found no issues. Switched back to the stock lower control arms and the "Clunk" is no longer there.

The car has around 16K miles. The Spohn lower control arms joints are the same width stock bushings. I measured them with a good quality digital caliper. These look to be well made and they fit perfectly. They are a little bit noisier during normal driving and over road bumps.