Infinite UCAB group buy Closed. Thanks for your orders!

[mooseheadm5]

All orders will be shipped by 6/8. All bushings have been spoken for, but if any of the remaining buyers backs out, I will post them for sale. Thanks, and look for another group buy on LCABs in the future (probably coupled with another UCAB buy.)




See this thread for more info.

I have made a deal with a company (made in America, baby!) to have rebuildable ball joint bushings for E24/28/31/32/34 upper control arms made. These have replaceable polymer races and nickel plated steel balls. They can be run with or without lube, but I will assemble, lube, and torque each set of bushings before they are shipped out (for other applications they are shipped dry and in the pieces shown below.) These can be renewed indefinitely. The replacement races retail for $12 per bushing. I have purchased the tool required to rebuild them. I will lend the tool out, but will also offer it for retail at $25.


Group buy ends May 5th. Lead time for delivery to me is 7-10 days. Shipping of all orders will take place the Monday following my receipt of the bushing parts so that I have the weekend to assemble them, pack them, and label them. 50% deposit required by May 5th and remaining 50% payment will be due within 3 days of when you are notified of my receipt of shipment. I can only take Paypal on this unless full payment is tendered by money order by May 5th.


These are the parts that make one bushing. This is one that I have just received that I must mod to test on my own car. The ones we are purchasing directly from the manufacturer will be made with 50mm wide balls and 58mm diameter housings so that they will be a direct fit for E24/28. The E31/32/34 orders will come with a pair of washers to make up the extra 6mm needed.

Please email paulm at directedvapor dot com with questions or Paypal payments. Please make sure to include your shipping address with any payments and make sure I know whether you need E28 or E34. Please include the word "bushing" in the subject so I can filter the emails into their own folder.

[mooseheadm5]

Also, if you are local or are planning to attend V@V and can pick up in person, all pairs of bushings will be $110. This price will only be good if you get in on the group buy. Others purchasing at V@V without pre-ordering will pay full price.

[ealinn]

Beautiful.

[George]

I'll send some money your way on pay day. I like this

[mooseheadm5]

When will the bushings be shipped?

The group buy closes on the 5th of May. The manufacturer has given me a lead time of 7-10 business days. Accounting for this and shipping time from the manufacturer, I would estimate a shipping date of May 24th at the latest.

[Murfinator]

Put me down for a pair of the UCAB bushings for an E28. I'll take a set of replacement races and a rebuild tool as well.

Email sent to the address above.

[mooseheadm5]

Email replied. Thank you for your order!

[TSMacNeil]

What does the price go to after the initial order window?

[mooseheadm5]

$125/pair+ shipping (which will likely be in the $15 range.) I can't guarantee that I will have any left at that point, though. I have to order them in batches of 50-100 to get that pricing.

[Frybrid 524td]

seriously considering these...

[Area 52]

Moosehead: Any info on how long the races last? Looks like a great setup!

[mooseheadm5]

They have reportedly lasted over 2 years on offroad vehicles with no lube or seals and no discernible wear. They are made of Nylatron, which is a type of plastic impregnated with molybdenum disulfide. When I was at my machinist's shop today having the off the shelf sized shells turned down so I can give a review, he looked at the races and asked if they were Nylatron. He commented that it is a very good plastic for applications like this.

My test set goes into my DD 525iT on Saturday.

[Corner Carver]

Nice!

Those are perfect for my plans.

[mooseheadm5]

Thank you for your order!

I have assembled my test pair and will install them tomorrow. Full report then.

Remember kids, 50% deposits due by May 5th. Keep those orders rolling in!

[mooseheadm5]

I. Freaking. Love. These. Things!

I just installed a pair on my wagon. I had a knock in the front end caused by a loose strut collar nut, so I figured I would fix all of that and install a pair of these bushings so I could report back. Having skinned knuckles fixing the strut problem and having broken the shop's bushing press trying to remove the old (trashed) bushing from the drive's side arm, I'd say I was having a bad day (the threaded rod shown below snapped, so now I have to buy the shop a new one.)



Finally just gave up and pulled the arm so I could use the hydraulic press to get the bugger out. It took a lot of force, but it finally came out. Now I have these in there:



I just now took it for a drive, and I am super impressed. I turned off the radio and started to drive around. The car didn't really feel any different in a straight line. Not any louder, not any harsher, so I started pushing it. Immediately I noticed the brake vibration that I used to get sometimes was gone altogether, and the initial braking feel was a little more immediate (as can be expected.) Steering feel is also improved, which is a welcome addition considering the 15" truck sized tires that E34s wear. I started looking for crappy roads and did not notice any jump in NVH. After simply driving around on crappy roads, I started to look for manhole covers, bumps, potholes, etc. to run over. Again, I am impressed. I expected a harder hit, but everything seemed just like it was before. No knocks at all. No squeaks at all. Admittedly, I only put about 10 miles on the car just now, but I will not hesitate to put them on my M5, and will likely see about having some made for LCAs. I'll report back over the next couple of days as I drive the car more, but I am sold on them and would gladly recommend them to any one of my friends or family!

[L_N_Love]

So they are not harsh? The design allows some shock cushsion?

[mooseheadm5]

I actually expected them to be harsher. The design does offer a little cushion, especially compared to a monoball type. I would compare them to a stiff urethane bushing. The races do have some give and are very resilient. I nailed one with a tube before installing it and it took the shock and was not marred. I was pretty impressed.
Since it is a ball joint, normal suspension action is smoother than with the rubber bushing. I notice the difference in NVH mostly when hitting deep sharp edged bumps. I have been plowing over train tracks and recessed manhole covers and really this is the only time it is apparent that there is no rubber bushing. I feel it is a worthwhile tradeoff and they will stay on my DD 525iT permanently, which will by no means be made into any kind of race car.

[Frybrid 524td]

payment sent! i forgot to mention in the paypal message that the bushings are for my e28... just in case my username didn't give that away...

[mooseheadm5]

Thank you for your order! I have sent you an email.

I got to really push the car hard today on some back roads and I am really happy with the performance of these bushings. There is a series of esses that have a 25mph suggested limit in a 45 zone, and they are tight. I was charging out of them at 45. The steering was doing exactly what I told it to and the car was much more surefooted and really handled the curves well, especially considering it is loaded with stuff and is an automatic wagon on 65 series tires. I drive this road to work whenever I have to work at our other lab and it has never been this fun in this car.

I will say that I found a road with a long stretch of washboard bumps, and I did notice more noise and harshness transmitted to the cabin than before. Again, similar to a stiff urethane bushing. It would not prevent me from installing these on a DD.

[Tim in N FL]

Oh boy...now this is intriguing. You have PM, Ed.

[mooseheadm5]

I'd like to order s set of your bushing but, I have one nagging question I'd like to clear up. Will the rebuild parts (Races) be available in the foreseeable future? Or do we need to order several sets of rebuild parts now?

Great question! The races will be available from the manufacturer for the foreseeable future. They fit one of the manufacturer's off the shelf sized bushings, which they won't be discontinuing any time soon (ever.) The bushings I am having made are only custom width and diameter. Once I have the group buy finished, I would be happy to let everyone know where they can be bought, but I will always sell them cheaper with lower shipping than you can get them online. Hopefully, you won't need them very often!

One more thing, as they wear, play can be adjusted out of them by removing the set screw that holds the lock ring and tightening the ring to spec. The set screw will be accessible with the bushing in the arm, and since you don't need to remove the arm from the car or tighten the through bolt with the car on the ground, this is simple to do.

[mooseheadm5]

I have had lots of interest so far. I'm pretty excited!

As always, questions are welcome.

Remember kids, 50% deposits due by the 5th of May.

[mooseheadm5]

Bump for group buy ending soon.

Tomorrow is my 7th wedding anniversary, so don't expect too many responses to orders and questions.

[ElGuappo]

Deposit sent.

[mooseheadm5]

I have replied to anyone that has sent me a deposit (except randal- my email was returned.) If you didn't get a reply, let me know.

Tomorrow is the last day!

Also, I have sourced the correct spacers for E32/E34 use so tell your friends (or be selfish and get them for yourself and never tell them why your car has sharper steering and better brake feel.)

[mooseheadm5]

Last call!

Thanks to all those that placed their orders already! I want to get this order in tonight so they can start first thing in the morning making them.

[mooseheadm5]

And the group buy has closed. Thanks everyone! Anyone that has contacted me but has not sent their payment yet has a brief grace period to get their deposits in and get the group buy price.

[ealinn]

How many of us bought these?

[mooseheadm5]

Including my purchase for the M5, 25 sets have been sold. I have ordered a few more pairs to sell at V@V.

[Ben]

Bah, bummed I missed this. I will definitely pick up a pair at V@V if you bring some.