LCA review and a question

[nda0602v6]

About a month ago I replaced my stock rear lower control arms with UMI-Performance tubular lca's with polyurethane bushings on both ends. At first the ride noise was noticeably louder, firmer and you could "feel" the engine vibrations coming through the shifter more so than you could with the stock LCA's. They seem to have broke in now cause the noise levels went way down and the vibrations are a lot less. I love the way they make the car feel like it's getting more traction but I've been hearing some "knocking" noises lately when I get aggressive with the car. Like if I get heavy on the gas around a turn to kick the rear end out it makes that knocking sound and sometimes if I do a burnout from a dead stop I can hear a knock as well.

My guess is that the LCA's are binding (like some of you have mentioned before when using poly bushings on both ends.) My question is, could I use 2 of the stock rubber bushings to replace 2 of the poly bushings? Would this stop the LCA's from binding? I tried to remove the rubber bushings from the stock LCA's but they are in there solid. Thanks for any info.

[Arctc Wolf]

check the bolts on the ends. lose bolts will allow for the knocking you are describing. this can happen especially on cars w/ subframe connectors. check the bolts, tighten them to spec, or as much as u can w/ a breaker bar and see if it's still there. if the noise is still there, u'll know it's suspension bind.

[Ian]

the stock rubber LCA bushings need to be pressed out, or you need some serious muscle and a sledge hammer and a little finesse.

[black98V6]

honestly I'd just go buy some new OEM bushings, and get 1LE bushings they are solid and don't have that air gap that the regular ones do, I think you'll be much happier with those, personally I'd never re-use bushings, they are too cheap to just buy new ones. also you might just want to pull your LCA's and grease the heck out of the bushings, reinstall and see if that makes a diff

[nda0602v6]

Originally posted by Arctc Wolf:
check the bolts on the ends. lose bolts will allow for the knocking you are describing. this can happen especially on cars w/ subframe connectors. check the bolts, tighten them to spec, or as much as u can w/ a breaker bar and see if it's still there. if the noise is still there, u'll know it's suspension bind.

Out of the 4 bolts I found one that wasn't as tight as the others. I don't have a torque wrench so I cranked them all down with 2-foot long breaker bar and re-greased the fittings. I'll see if that makes a difference.