A note on Rod ends and NVH: I have the chrome-moly Spohn UCA, PHB and LCAs. The UCA and PHB have been on the car for about 8K miles, the LCAs I just added. Lots of those 8K miles have been on race tracks, so the car has been pushed hard. A few observations on the NVH: yes it has increased over stock, but its subtle, basically the more performance mods you make the more NVH you'll hear. As I've built the car with stiffer, lower suspension, dampers, high-performance tires, etc its gotten louder and louder but because I've done it over time...it doesn't bother me (I'd rather have the performance anyway). But one thing you have to know about rod ends - they will, guaranteed begin to rattle overtime. Right now, at 8K miles on that UCA, it will rattle at about 75mph in 5th if I press and release the throttle. If I just keeping doing that, everytime I let off there is a loud rattle for a moment (it is not loose or improperly installed - thanks for asking). I expect it will get worse overtime. Don't get me wrong, if I was buying today I would still get the rod ends. Just looking at how the rear moves, the articulation of the rod ends is important (as stated in other posts). But - if anyone is considering rod ends and is real concerned about sound over performance, my advice would be to go with poly/poly.

PS: I have no squeaks in the suspension (something other posts have frequently mentioned when talking about poly bushed control arms.) I think its all in the correct installation with correct torquing procedure and then grease and maintenance.

 

The increased NVH over time does make sense and considering my car will not much track time (if anything, a periodic trip to 1/4 mile track), I may just stay with the poly/poly option. My end goal is to get things tighter for a more fun drive, but without sacrificing too much in ride quality.

I found a very good deal on some Granatelli poly/poly pieces and may just go that route. Also consdering CHE as they have that special poly/delrin bushings that don't require maintenance/greasing like most other bushing. But they are a bit more pricey.

 

A note on Granatelli: I've been following many forums, mustang and others, over the past couple years. Granatelli name is pretty much dirt and the negative comments I've seen over and over have scared me off from purchasing any of there products. They have a reputation of copying other people's work and then sending it off to China for mass production.

For the record - I have also seen posts from folks who have Granatelli parts and are happy with them. So take this all with a grain of salt.

 

I was holding off saying about the same thing, but I would like to think that even JR wouldn't deal with folks who could screw up PHB's and poly bushings. The post-sale customer service angle if it's anything like JR's tone on various message boards . . . ugh.


Norm

 

Regarding a upper control arm upgrade vs. the stock - how much help is that in straight line traction? I realize the LCA upgrade is the big one there and everyone recommends doing it first. But how much will that UCA help out?

 

It can kill off a case of wheel hop that doing LCAs alone won't. IOW, if the hop is gone by swapping only the LCAs, don't bother with it (nothing left to fix).


Norm

 

Thanks guess at my power levels I shouldn't even bother with it then. I have yet to replace the stock tires. Maybe after I finish upgrading the car minus the blower (DS, headers, gears, tires, etc.) I'll see how it handles and if it's an issue try putting in an UCA.

 

Yeah... I have seen a few issues on the post sale side of things with GMS, but not much on the actual products. I PM'd them on another forum and was offered an awesome deal on all the items I mentioned above (PHR, PHB, LCA, and upper 3rd link). But want to ensure the savings was not going to be one of those - "you get what you pay for" scenarios.

I don't need super high end performance, but do want something that will last, not drive me nuts with NHV, and will provide a nice ride/handling improvement over stock.

I do like the CHE bushing material and am willing to wait, spend a little more, to get something that I won't be replacing.

 

I like what I think I'm seeing in those CHE pieces . . . and it isn't the obvious. I might never have looked there without this thread.

Thanks!


Norm

 

I put the complete roush suspension package on my 08gt the difference was night and day the way it handled the roush kit is only 1" drop.