Bought some sub-frame connectors and they've finally arrived....

[Lucky]

I've been wanting to buy sub-frame connectors for my '88 Iroc-Z ever since I bought it. Unfortunately, I've been spending money on everything else instead

Well, enough was enough. The squeaks and rattles over bumps, turns and whenever I'd enter a driveway or parking lot, have been getting progressively worse over the past year and it's gotten to the point where it's driving me up the wall. It feels as if my car's going to split in half at any given moment

It's really bad in the hatch area as well as the dash so I decided to finally do something about it.


I placed an order for UMI's boxed steel SFC's last week 'cause they were having a sale so I figured it was then or never. They arrived today in a box the size of a full-sized casket. :p

After spending nearly 20 minutes cutting my way through 14.5 square-foot mile's worth of bubble wrap :p I was finally able to reach the connector's hidden within.


I have yet to install them but what I can do is give a partial review of what I can see. Here goes...

As I said, the packaging was well done, perhaps a little on the "over-kill" side, but at least I know these could have been thrown off a rocky cliff and not get scratched. A ridiculous amount paper stuffing inside the box on top of the already over-wrapped bubble wrap. Even the ends were wrapped in cardboard to prevent chaffing... Nice job.

The construction of these SFC's is easily on par with anything from BMR or Spohn. I was a bit hesitant at first to buy from UMI as my only experience with suspension/chassis companies until now with my other car (4th gen Formula Firebird) was exclusively with BMR/Spohn so I was kind of worried that these UMI piece's wouldn't stack up with the competition.

All my worries were laid to rest when I finally held these frames in my greedy little hands....

The connections are all MIG welded and the welds themselves are straight and clean. Very professional looking. The boxed steel tubing itself measure's 2.000” x 1.250” x 0.120” which means they're strong enough to support the weight of your average sized sky-scraper

The bright red powder-coating looks really nice as well, it's a shame these will be hidden underneath the car where nobody can see them. They're so nice to look at. The mounting plates are very thick (I measured 0.188" thickness) and the total overall weight of the entire set-up is 33 lbs. Yeah, that's a pretty heft weight to add on to your car, but the improved stiffness in the chassis and the elimination of all those annoying squeaks and rattles will make it worth it. Besides, it gives me another excuse to buy more performance parts to make up for the added weight

* Passenger side brace - 17 lbs
* Driver's side - 14 lbs
* "Add-on" brace which connects on the passenger side and goes over the y-pipe - 2 lb

It even came with two new nuts and bolts to connect the braces to the control arm mounting brackets and a full colour UMI catalog with their entire 2006 parts line-up.....


I'm very pleased with this purchase and hope to install them over the next week. As with all my other mod's, I'll be sure to photograph and document everything and post my results for all to see. Stay tuned for my installation review coming soon....

So far though, these appear to be a very high quality set of sub-frame connectors. Very "beefy" in their construction and I my IROC will be thanking me after I install them.....

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[Lucky]

Here are a few more.....

Notice how bright the powder coating is and how clean the welds are. This is truly a first class product. Big thumbs up for UMI. :nod:

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[Sytar69]

So how much they cost ya? And where did you get them, web address if you got it. Thanks

[Lucky]

Originally Posted by Sytar69

So how much they cost ya? And where did you get them, web address if you got it. Thanks

I got them from UMI performance. You can check out their web-site here:

http://www.umiperformance.com/default.aspx

They're relatively new to the market (compared to the more popular well known suspension/chassis companies out there) but I can assure you, the quality of these frame connectors is equal to anything I've bought from Spohn/BMR.

UMI is currently having a 10% off sale, (regular price is $199.99) so if you're really interested in getting a set of these SFC's, take advantage of the price reduction, (if funding allows you to of coarse).

I don't know when the sale is over but I know it's been on for a while so it probably won't last too much longer....

Hope that helps

[UMI Performance]

Thanks for the post, I am very glad you like them

Ryan

[L0tuS]

i have been thinking about getting some sub frame connectors but didnt know who to buy from but after seeing thos pics ill probly be putting in and order for some after xmas

[L0tuS]

yea so i just looked at a few diffrent places on line to see if they sold subframe connectors and lower control arms for a cheaper price and UMI and every one else charged more and they all look liekt hey were going to bend real easy so yea iam buying from UMI thats for posting this man

[Lucky]

I'm getting these frame connectors installed tomorrow (12/12/06) and I'll post some pic's of them on the car and finish my review on how much of an improvement they made on the car.

Stay tuned...

[Etown_RS]

Wow. Those ARE some pretty welds.
Sweet looking SFCs. Nice job, UMI!