SPC Upper Control Arms (UCA) Installation

[PLRX]

First, I'd like to thank Brian Cinnungham for his help on this project.

About a year ago I bought the SPC's Upper Control Arms. Few days ago I finally decided to
remove them from the living room and get them installed.

Lift Vette, place jackstands, remove tires, remove dust shield and remove upper ball joint



Cleaned the ball joint



Remove the UPC



Test the new BJ bolts.



Match to fit the new UPC with the old one.



Using 1/8" shims, match the size of shims and spacers.



I used krazy glue to keep shims together.



Test to fit, Check-



Installed shims, Torque UPC bolts to 40 lbs-ft.



Torque BJ bolts to 13 lbs-ft



Torque the three pivot bolts to 60 lbs-ftf.



Grease up the UPC.



Torque the upper BJ between 50~88 lbs-ft or until the cotter pin hole aligns.



Drove around the neighborhood for about a mile to get things down.

Quick but, not official alignment. Good enough at "-0.50" Camber to make it to
the alignment shop.



Very easy to make adjustments

[RedLS1GTO]

Man... you have more suspension goodies on your street car than I have on the track car.

[Dogfish246]

Are there any benefits for using these A-arms compared to stock?

[Corvette Kid]

PLRX, I sent you a PM with a few questions, I was hoping you could answer in regards to those control arms.

If/when you get the chance, any info you could share with me would be appreciated.

[PLRX]

Originally Posted by RedLS1GTO

Man... you have more suspension goodies on your street car than I have on the track car.

I need to be confident when I do my own personal Bomber Runs. The new trailing arms are on the way.

Dog: The benefit is that with a crescent wrench I get out of the car and do my own pre-set alignment sets. The one that I will have for street at -0.50 at 0 toe will be there all the time. If I'm doing a drive, I step out and give it a turn to the rear arms, that will move it to maybe -0.75~-1.0 camber and a negative toe. That will increase handling, once I'm done I would put it back to normal. The regular arm you need shims and space.

Kid: Did you send the PM to a different forum?

[Corvette Kid]

Originally Posted by PLRX

Did you send the PM to a different forum?

Nope, sent it to you here at the Barn and still have the original message in my "sent" folder but no big deal, I'll just ask it here...

I actually ordered those same control arms for my '92 a few days ago. That's when I accidentally stumbled onto this forum after doing a search on google looking for anyone else who's put these arms on their C4's and could tell me what they though of them.

I ordered the "race" version of these arms like you did, which I know will effect the ride quality much more so than the "standard version" with it's OE-style busings but I was curious as to just how much harsher the ride is on your car now with the race-style SPC's?

Also, I see that you re-installed the factory spacers back. I was under the impression that because the arms themselves were adjustable, you would no longer have to use shims. Did you re-use them simply for "more" adjustably, or do you still have to use them regardless of the control arm settings?

Finally, last question, I promise, but did you by any chance weigh the SPC arms? How much heavier/lighter are they compared to the stock arms? I'd imagine they're heavier, but I was curious to find out.

My arms won't come in for another 2 weeks (more or less) so I'm anxious to find out as much about them as I can while I wait...

[PLRX]

Originally Posted by Corvette Kid

Nope, sent it to you here at the Barn and still have the original message in my "sent" folder but no big deal, I'll just ask it here...

I actually ordered those same control arms for my '92 a few days ago. That's when I accidentally stumbled onto this forum after doing a search on google looking for anyone else who's put these arms on their C4's and could tell me what they though of them.

I ordered the "race" version of these arms like you did, which I know will effect the ride quality much more so than the "standard version" with it's OE-style busings but I was curious as to just how much harsher the ride is on your car now with the race-style SPC's?

Also, I see that you re-installed the factory spacers back. I was under the impression that because the arms themselves were adjustable, you would no longer have to use shims. Did you re-use them simply for "more" adjustably, or do you still have to use them regardless of the control arm settings?

Finally, last question, I promise, but did you by any chance weigh the SPC arms? How much heavier/lighter are they compared to the stock arms? I'd imagine they're heavier, but I was curious to find out.

My arms won't come in for another 2 weeks (more or less) so I'm anxious to find out as much about them as I can while I wait...

Yes, I didnt know either about them until the day I was looking for instructions and Summit Racing sells the ones with bushings. Too late but, here is the good news. I drove it yesterday to the aligning shop, there I got the bad news about the bushings (the other thread), I drove to Dan Diego and back and in one day I put about 200 miles. There is a slight difference but, nothing like my coilovers.

My coilovers do compress my spine and I can prove it to anyone.

[Corvette Kid]

One last question. I noticed that SPC recommends Moog part no. K5208 for the ball joints with their control arms.

After doing a quick search on Moog's website,I discovered they do NOT list part no. K5208 ball joint as being compatible with the '84-'96 Corvette...

Do these SPC arms require a different than stock, ball joint?

I'd like to know 'cause I placed an order the other day for a pair of replacement ball joint for a '92 Corvette (which is Moog part no. K6346)

If stock replacement ball joints wont work on these arms, I need to cancel that order and get different ball joints then....

What ball joints are you using?

Thanks again...

[PLRX]

Originally Posted by Corvette Kid

One last question. I noticed that SPC recommends Moog part no. K5208 for the ball joints with their control arms.

After doing a quick search on Moog's website,I discovered they do NOT list part no. K5208 ball joint as being compatible with the '84-'96 Corvette...

Do these SPC arms require a different than stock, ball joint?

I'd like to know 'cause I placed an order the other day for a pair of replacement ball joint for a '92 Corvette (which is Moog part no. K6346)

If stock replacement ball joints wont work on these arms, I need to cancel that order and get different ball joints then....

What ball joints are you using?

Thanks again...

I'm re-using my ball joints. I bought new shorter bolts though.

[larryfs]

I need some of those thick spacers.... if anyone wants to sell them.

thanks !!

[PLRX]

Originally Posted by larryfs

I need some of those thick spacers.... if anyone wants to sell them.

thanks !!

They sell them in NAPA

[larryfs]

They sell the aluminum spacer in NAPA, or just regular alignment shims ?????????

[PLRX]

Originally Posted by larryfs

They sell the aluminum spacer in NAPA, or just regular alignment shims ?????????

Shims, you have a have a machinist make you anything you need.

[larryfs]

once again, I am looking for the OEM aluminum spacer, that was used in the front position of the control arm. Not the shims, but the thick spacer.