Wellp. Steeda UCA is going in. The. Ford dealer gave me a totally reasonable quote of 1.2hours of labor so Im just having them do the job.

We're off to a bad start. The tech just asked me if this was for the right hand side.

 

I have the Roush wheel hop reduction kit in my daily driver and it's quiet. This was installed at same time as the 1/2" drop Roush suspension kit. I don't track my car, so I can't comment on its performance beyond street use.

http://www.roushperformance.com/part...2011-2012.html

 

OH no

 

Just a reminder ... we have our 20% off Memorial Day Sale going on!

Best Regards,

TJ

 

He was just checking to see if you would need a new Johnson Rod in there too!

 

Steeda has 20% off Memorial Day special right now, just ordered a set! They are going to install them along with the gears.

 

The BMR piece I have looks like it could hold a tank together. Very nice products.

 

In my best Homer Simpson voice...... Mmmmmmmmm Gears

 

The Steeda adjustable UCA is a beautiful piece, makes the stock one look like it came out of the junk yard. The bushing is obviously much stiffer than the stock one too.

The Ford tech got his stuff together and figured out what had to be done. I chatted with him (and probably annoyed him ) while he worked...but it's hard to not be curious/interested when someone else is working on your car. It's a weird feeling. It quickly became clear that despite the mistake early on, he did know his stuff and he was very friendly.

So here are the results!
18,600 on the stock BBP Pirelli/summer tires (so...pretty near shot), 100% stock suspension. Originally the car wheel hopped most any time the tires broke traction. A real buzzkill.

After: It still wheelhops.
Fortunately, the new CA changed the frequency and amplitide of the hops. It's quite a bit less severe now and mostly hops when the tires are about to regain traction.

There is a bit more gear noise (from the diff...I hope) but the concerns about the car becoming noisey inside are overblown. The difference is small.

Was it worth the money? I think so. It did reduce the hop a bit and if I end up keeping this car, it will get a drop, at which point, the adjustibility will be invaluable.

 

Good to hear!

Keep us in mind for your future suspension mods.

Best Regards,

TJ

 

So a few miles in, I'm noticing some weird stuff.

A bit of gear noise is what I expected...bit this thing clunks (or "knocks"?) over bumps and sometimes i can hear a soft "clack clack clack" sound reflecting back when im traveling at slow speeds.

Is this normal or could this be related to the UCA being too lose or the pinion angle being wrong?

The tech seemed to have the right tools and he specifically said that he set the arm to be the same length as the stock one.

 

Make sure it's not loose. Get it up on jacks or a lift and check it out. There was a clunk coming from my rear end after I swapped out some parts and found out it was my BMR adj. panhard bar that was loose.

 

Will do. Thanks.
How much/what kind of noise is normal from an aftermarket UCA?

 

Just an update-

Upon giving a demo to a fellow gear head, I tried again and found that I was able to burn the tires straight through second gear with basically no hopping action to speak of.

So...it may still be condition-dependent but yestderday, it worked like magic.

 

The condition of the road, weather, heat of the tires, and added weight in the car can all affect wheel hop. Sounds like you need to through a body or two in the trunk! Works for me!

The noise seems to depend mostly on how stiff the bushing is compared to stock. Stiffer is louder. Have you found the source of the clacks and clunks or have they subsided?

 

I'm not sure as I haven't changed mines yet. I do know you shouldn't be hearing any clunk noises.

 

I have read every message here and am wondering. I have a 13 GT, 6 spd stick, 3.73 gear. I have replaced the Panhard bar (adjustable) the upper support rod directly above panhard, the LCA's and I put Steeda ultralite lowering springs on. I did not use the relocation brackets, but have no wheel hop. I have NOT replaced the UCA. Here's my dilemma. I have a rattle when I go over bumpy streets at slow speeds. Everytime the rear hits a bump, there is a rattle. I have tightened EVERYTHING under the car, including mufflers, EXCEPT the UCA. I read that when lowering the vehicle, I should use relocation brackets for the LCA's. I have not. Could this be the cause of the rattle or could it be the cheap factory UCA? ANY help is grateful!