UCA bracket question

[Surfmichaels]

Just got my new firm feel tubular upper control arms. The car is still on the dolly but I went to test fit just to see how it would look. Well.... On the driver side it's very tight up front and has a 8th inch gap in the rear. The passenger side reverses that issue with a gap in the front. Is this normal? I replaced the front rails with a full assembled setup (rails, shock tower, inner fenders) from a vendor here. The bracket will need to be bent out on the gap side and will be bent in on the tight side..... How worried should I be? (What's the emoticon for freaking out?)

[brads70]

I shoot an e-mail to firm feel, but I would shim it with a washer before I'd bend anything?

[Surfmichaels]

I shoot an e-mail to firm feel, but I would shim it with a washer before I'd bend anything?

Great idea, I had the call into Dick already, he was out by the time I got home but the gentleman I talked to had never heard of that issue before. I also pulled out my old UCA's to check and there are similar spacing issues... Since it's a new shock tower brace I'm worried that the assembly tolerances where off OR maybe they are aligned properly by the first install.....

[Surfmichaels]

Ok talked to dick and the issue is the new inner fender. The spacing is off by a non trivial amount. Instead of 1 7/8 inch spacing on both sides it's 1 3/4 and 2 inches (aprox) with both sides having the issue. I have a call into the vendor that sold the piece but what should I do? Dick was worried that the extra pressure could cause binding issues and destroy the bushing fairly quickly. Is there a safety issue with using as is with a spacer? As-is the uca is super tight on one side to the point where the bracket has to bend to get the bushing in and hanging in air on the other..I had the fenders professionally installed $$$ (bracket was already attached from vendor) and beefed up, cutting them out for proper installation seems even more dangerous. Pictures for reference....

[dutch]

That`s a bummer... 

I`m not sure how to fix that without cutting them out...     

[brads70]

I would machine or grind down both sides of the rubber bushing and inner bushing on the one side, put the outer washers back on, and shim the other. 

[Katfish]

That was my thought, machine/trim the tight side, add/weld washer/spacer to the other side.

I'm sure FF could do it, might cost a little though.

[Surfmichaels]

How structural are the inner braces? I fully plan to get this car on the track, so even though it will be traumatic if resetting the bracket to the correct position if that is the optimal / correct solution I will go that route.

[Surfmichaels]

I would machine or grind down both sides of the rubber bushing and inner bushing on the one side, put the outer washers back on, and shim the other. 

Might need to learn another skill to do this, makes sense and sounds a lot easier than rewelding, FF said they don't do the bushings so I'll need to find another source.... What do the bushes look like? I know a good machine shop I'd just need to tell them exactly what to do.....

[brads70]

Might need to learn another skill to do this, makes sense and sounds a lot easier than rewelding, FF said they don't do the bushings so I'll need to find another source.... What do the bushes look like? I know a good machine shop I'd just need to tell them exactly what to do.....

I'm not sure but it looks like a top hat style bushing with another top hat shaped steel bushing pressed in either end? If you lived close I'd say bring it over and we will figure it out.

[dutch]

I`d cut them out weld them in the correct position and be done with it.  only primer on it now   
nothing traumatic to it?   just put a nicely fitting bar throught the holes and have a pro welder do the rest...for peace of mind...

[Kapteenikosmos]

I`d cut them out weld them in the correct position and be done with it.  only primer on it now   
nothing traumatic to it?   just put a nicely fitting bar throught the holes and have a pro welder do the rest...for peace of mind...

 

Just drill out the spot welds and cut that "reinforcing" weld on the top and get some experienced welder to weld them back in. If you start to modify the upper control arm bushings, you will run into the same problem over and over again if you are keeping the car for longer time and need/want to change the upper control arm setup. You might also be able to get some refund from the vendor?

[Surfmichaels]

Sounds like good advice, thanks! I think I can get a pro to come by after I get it all cut out and tacked into the proper position. Hopefully I'll talk to the vendor to see what their idea for discount/help to fix...

[Surfmichaels]

Progress being made, not as hard to remove as I thought. Now just needs to be welded back in.... Pic to see how far off the alignment was.....