Author Topic: tubular UCA's...worth it?  (Read 6745 times)

Offline black71

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tubular UCA's...worth it?
« on: August 18, 2007 - 02:23:16 PM »
my upper control arms are all screwed up and i'm gonna need some new ones.... are tubulars worth the money?




Offline Moparal

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Re: tubular UCA's...worth it?
« Reply #1 on: August 18, 2007 - 03:09:50 PM »
I think of it this way...

Is your car in competition?
Is this a local cruiser or road rally/ race car

How far do you want to venture away from originality

I am sure the regular uppers last a few 100,000 miles without a problem. Price around 50/100 bucks
tubular 250 or so I'd bet. Nothing wrong with up grades, I just like going original . Now my race car (72 cuda ) has a strut front end :2thumbs:

Offline amcmike

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Re: tubular UCA's...worth it?
« Reply #2 on: August 18, 2007 - 05:37:23 PM »
Depends.

If they are simply stock replacements made from tubing, probably not.
If they have added built-in caster which is better for radial tires, now you have a stronger case.
If they allow adjustment for camber and caster, even better.
If they have Delrin bushings which have lower friction for better ride and handling even better.

You didn't mention why they were bad, so assuming they cannot be refurbished, price out how much it will be to buy good used ones, have them cleaned and either coated or painted (what you do and how much you do yourself is up to you) and the cost of new bushings plus the labor (again this depends on you) to install them.

If you do all this stuff yourself you can save quite a bit of money.  But if you want to have it done for you so that the only labor on your part is the disassembly and reassembly of your front end, you'll find that a good set of tubular control arms are not much more expensive and provide other benefits.
« Last Edit: August 18, 2007 - 05:43:33 PM by amcmike »
Mike
1970 Challenger
383, 727

Offline moparclown

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Re: tubular UCA's...worth it?
« Reply #3 on: August 19, 2007 - 07:18:32 AM »
I am also looking into going this route with my a-body,can anyone suggest what they consider to be the best parts going.

Offline HP2

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Re: tubular UCA's...worth it?
« Reply #4 on: August 19, 2007 - 10:59:10 AM »
Quality wise they are all pretty similar. Heck it is just two bushings, some tube, and a ball joint socket. All told there is maybe about $50 worth of parts in a tubular arm. All the major offerings out there from Magnumforce, Just Suspension, CPA, Firm Feel, Alterkation and others have additional caster built into them. All offer choices for bushings from rubber to delrin to heim joints. Some offer different colors or material (mild or stainless)Choice in layout differs from straight tube to curved tube. The curved tube units offer more clearence for running coil overs compared to straight tube. CPA units seem to be the most reasonably priced at under $300 a pair. They also offer tubular K frames and are developing tubular lowers.

Offline Bullitt-

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Re: tubular UCA's...worth it?
« Reply #5 on: August 19, 2007 - 11:55:22 AM »
With the welding skill of moparclown I don't see what would prevent him from making his own esp. if not having extra caster adjustment was OK. You could even buid in an extra degree or two....what-do-ya-say clown?
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Offline black71

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Re: tubular UCA's...worth it?
« Reply #6 on: August 19, 2007 - 12:40:39 PM »
well the threads in my stockers are gone, and my passenger side is bent way out of shape. i have all new bushings and ball joints, so is there a place where i can just get a bare set?

Offline amcmike

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Re: tubular UCA's...worth it?
« Reply #7 on: August 19, 2007 - 03:24:40 PM »
Quality wise they are all pretty similar. Heck it is just two bushings, some tube, and a ball joint socket. All told there is maybe about $50 worth of parts in a tubular arm. All the major offerings out there from Magnumforce, Just Suspension, CPA, Firm Feel, Alterkation and others have additional caster built into them. All offer choices for bushings from rubber to delrin to heim joints. Some offer different colors or material (mild or stainless)Choice in layout differs from straight tube to curved tube. The curved tube units offer more clearence for running coil overs compared to straight tube. CPA units seem to be the most reasonably priced at under $300 a pair. They also offer tubular K frames and are developing tubular lowers.


HP2, the only CPA suspensions I found were for Fords,  did you mean these guys?  http://www.capautoproducts.com/Control_Arms.html

Also, who carries the arms with Delrin bushings?  Haven't found them yet even though I swear I look thoroughly through all the companies you listed.  Thanks.
Mike
1970 Challenger
383, 727

Offline HP2

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Re: tubular UCA's...worth it?
« Reply #8 on: August 20, 2007 - 07:30:16 AM »
Yes, CAP, not CPA. That link is them. They recently started advertising pretty heavily in mopar mags.

Offline black71

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Re: tubular UCA's...worth it?
« Reply #9 on: August 20, 2007 - 11:32:36 PM »
lol tell me if i should do it or not

Offline Chryco Psycho

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Re: tubular UCA's...worth it?
« Reply #10 on: August 21, 2007 - 12:04:52 AM »
firm feel also has tubular A arms , I would upgrade if the arms are damaged

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Offline black71

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Re: tubular UCA's...worth it?
« Reply #11 on: August 21, 2007 - 12:07:43 AM »
k thanks..... where would you buy them from

Offline Chryco Psycho

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Re: tubular UCA's...worth it?
« Reply #12 on: August 21, 2007 - 12:08:52 AM »
I have not seriously shopped for them 

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Offline black71

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Re: tubular UCA's...worth it?
« Reply #13 on: August 21, 2007 - 12:10:49 AM »
alright, i will check out my options

Offline Chryco Psycho

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Re: tubular UCA's...worth it?
« Reply #14 on: August 21, 2007 - 12:17:19 AM »
some will allow for more caster adjustment

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