Marc8090

Hi everybody. I did a search and could not find exactly what I was looking for. I'd like to hear some reports of your results with the different K-members out there. From what I've seen my choices are Spohn, BMR, PA Racing, AJE Racing, and Racecraft. My main goal is simply to have more room down there for long tube headers, and easier access in general. The car is a weekend street car. I'd like to find one that bolts in with no fabrication required, uses the stock A-arms, doesn't have any clearance issues with the steering linkages, uses the original spring configuration, and is as strong or stronger than the original. The Spohn one looks pretty good and I found several posts where people reported it fit well. Other than it taking a while to get, recent posts suggest early fitment issues have been resolved. Please let me know your thoughts. Thanks.

xpndbl3

iTrader: (5)

These won't be stronger than the original. Spohn one lowers your car IIRC. I run the AJE racing one and the new design seems stout enough and I have 2 years of weekend car show driving on it with no issues.

1BADRZ28

iTrader: (2)

Pa Racing here. No issues at all.

Marc8090

Not to be ignorant, but what is IIRC?

RedLava

iTrader: (4)

iirc= if i remember correctly

Marc8090

Ok, thanks. Why would a tubular k-member lower the ride height? Shouldn't these things be made to position the arms, spring perches, motor mounts, etc. in the same locations as stock? I mean how hard is it to do that.

xpndbl3

iTrader: (5)

spring pockets are in the factory kmember So sometimes aftermarket isn't perfect.

zacharyhorn

iTrader: (1)

Or a majority of the time...

Marc8090

It's a real shame these companies can't make a part that actually fits. I've had so many "bolt on" parts that were not even close. Something like this where once the old one comes out you really need to get the new one in it would be nice if it fit. After the posts and some more searching I'm now leaning towards leaving the stock one in.

zeetwentyeight

So the general concensus is that the tubular K-members are not as strong as factory? Would it be advisable to avoid a tubular style for a daily driver? Has any one had one of these fail?!?

It would seem to me that they would be stronger but not as durable, meaning they can withstand higher intermittent loads, but do not offer as much of the give or flex needed survive in the long run. Am I completely wrong?

Sonix

iTrader: (1)

That's exactly right. I think it's more of a "i've heard of a guy who knows a guy who's k-member broke". I don't think anyone here has had it happen to them.

Also, Zach - I finally realized where I recognized your pic from, I thought it was just a shot of you in your car... But I guess you can't "afford to get another ticket in your porsche" eh?

The Project

iTrader: (6)

Is there anything to be gained by buying a tubular k member (apart from the weight savings)?

What is the value?

avro206

And here I thought it meant "If I recall correctly" --man I feel like an idiot!

xpndbl3

iTrader: (5)

weight savings and space issues. you gain a bunch more room to work around the lower half of the engine bay with a tubular kmember. So if you wanted to run bigger headers, turbo downpipes, etc there will be more space. Oil pans can sometimes be removed also with a tubular kmember without jacking up the engine.

Shagwell

the "weight savings" is very minimal. As others have said, a tube k-member is mostly for easy of plumbing/working on the car.
There are several guys on here running tube k-members on daily drivers. IIRC - MrDude has a PA unit with a lot of miles on it. I also know of an AJE unit on a '02 stang with over 30k on it.
Yes, as Sonix confirmed, they are techinically stronger, but in the long run, the factory units ability to flex some helps it's longevity. Kinda the reason fiberglass is used for boats. It flexes instead of breaking.

LilJayV10

iTrader: (5)

Some of Spohns early A arms did lower the car due to the spring pocket was lowered. He has since changed the design. There also was a design that would not fit his k member. I don't understand that but thats what he said. I bought a set of A arms from a board member. They wouldn't fit his k member. I sent them to him and he modified them so they would.

I just put my k member in this past weekend. I have asked a lot of people on here if anyone has broken one. So far I haven't seen anyone that has. That doesn't mean it can't happen.

I see the point of it not being sturdy enough to support the lateral loads put on it from turning hard. UMI makes a really nice looking 4th gen k member that I think Sam Strano helped on.

I went with the tubular k member mainly for exhaust room and looks.

Marc8090

Thanks for all the answers guys, but I still don't see a clear answer. So is there such a thing as a tubular k-member that is as strong as stock with regards to turning loads, or are these things only meant to go straight?

LilJayV10

iTrader: (5)

Spohn says his is strong enough for a daily driver. I mentioned the UMI piece for 4th gen cars that are designed for a DD also. I think most k members are designed for going straight. If mine falls apart I will report back. lol.

Viprklr

iTrader: (5)

My experience:
Hasn't broken yet
PITA to install
More room for my longtubes
I HAVE removed the oil pan without jacking the engine up
Pretty
Weight savings was negligible.

I have the Spohn piece.

Marc8090

Viprklr, how many miles so far and why was it a PITA to install? Was it just a big job or did it not fit well?

LilJayV10

iTrader: (5)

My Spohn k member was easy to install. It bolted up just fine. However I have not put any of the steering pieces on it. I know some of Spohn's K members had issues with things hitting the k member.

Viprklr

iTrader: (5)

I have a little over 300 miles on it so far.
It did not fit well. The dowel pins didn't mate well with the frame rails and I had steering fitment issues. The body shop had to put the car on a frame machine in order to get it all to fit. The K-member also pushed my front wheels back to the point where now I can't go lock to lock steering without my wheels hitting the bottom of the fenders.

GodSpeedGTA

iTrader: (1)

PA Racing K member...the mech said it was a beotch to put in but ive had zero issues with it...I drive it once or twice a week on terrible roads and it does just fine. One person has something break on them and all the sudden the company makes crappy parts...thats stupid.

I had the almost 60 year exp mechanic,body,welder,EVERYTHING look at it and he said it was well crafted and the welds looked very solid...so when people tell you that if you get one you cant drive it on the street etc...dont listen to them, they dont have 60 years under their belt i gaurantee it

572_Rat

Has anyone used the Racecraft K-Member, I like the idea abount being able to lower the k-Member an 1.5 inches, just wondering if anyone had any clearance problems with it

19doug90

i dont get it, is it really that hard for these companies to build something that would be roadrace quality? the bmr design is really nice but its just one thin little bar going accross the middle, if that was braced solidly it could be a really strong piece

//<86TA>\\

iTrader: (14)

IIRC UMI is working on a road race k-member for us thirdgen guys, similar to their 4th gen unit

19doug90

holy mother of.... i dont know why but i never checked out their 4th gen k-member, i knew they had them

this is an lt1 k-member so pretty much what ours would look like



that is an asbolutly beautiful piece, im going to buy one the second they make it for third gens

Marc8090

After seeing the UMI 4th gen one I think I'll wait to see what they come out with for the 3rd gen. Their's looks to have the most bracing overall, I especially like the way the did it around the arm mounts.

Kandied91z

iTrader: (7)

i have had tubular k members from all available companies except for spohn for years... he takes too long... with that said no issues but i do not road race.

with that also said i'm getting out of building thirdgens. i have a brand new aje setup for the lsx swap for sale as well as perches and modified a arms for anyone doing a cool ride kit from art.

$700 shipped. over $300 off what i paid.

i loved my pa chromoly piece. i have a bmr unit currently on my 91 which was beautiful. i've found almost every aftermarket piece takes some work to fit perfectly unfortunately.

anyone looking who has a lsx motor pick mine up i need it out of here..

Shagwell

but with a k-member like that, what's the gain? Too many pipes to be any lighter, and far to many to really gain any more room. So basically, you buy that and go through the trouble of installing it/paying to install it, just to say you have one....kinda like buying a cheapy LCD TV, the pic quality is considerably lesser than a decent plasma, but you can say you have an LCD....

ryan91rs

iTrader: (1)

ya there would be zero flex and still room for the long tube headers. I like it, i would get a black one when they make it.

stage20

iTrader: (3)

i have a PA unit, no issues as of yet.
been running it on the weekends/track duty for 5 years.

my stock k memeber with all the extra steel bracing was 51.5 pounds. the PA unit is 19.0.
it does save weight, and frees up a ton of room for engine swaps, headers and starter swaps.

customblackbird

iTrader: (15)

ive seen ppl modify the stock k member... cutting and notching the memeber for larger LT pipes etc and for engine swaps. supposidly doing it right will actually make it stronger than stock and some of the aftermarkets.
i was thinking of k member but i dont like how BMR has that lil single metal pipe connecting the 2 sides together and ive heard they arent stronger than stock.

im the kinda guy that would rather make his own/do all the work for the bennifits and the abilty to say "i did that ****!!! i would mark where u need more room, take it out , cut and knotch it, weld in new metal and then fully weld that and your insed firewall/strut towers etc and u'd be set.
i also heard that the stock lower Aarms are better for racing etc bc they flex vs the aftermarket where they just break or dont work right... idk

383backinblack

I have a PA racing one......I wouldnt recommend it, as it was shimmed wrong in the jig when fabricated and i had to cut the rear a-arm pockets off, sleeve the k-frame, position it correctly and weld it back together.....all to fit THEIR a-arms btw. It's awesome now......not only does it lighten the car, but its SO MUCH EASIER to work on.....you can bear hug the whole engine from under the car.

19doug90

did you try sending it back? wonder what their response would have been.

nice looking piece and glad you managed to make it work, that thin bar makes me nervous too tho, i like to drive my car pretty hard

383backinblack

ya, it took them 6 weeks to make it the 1st time and they did it wrong......So i wasn't about to send it back, i informed them they would be billed for the labor it took me to fix it, and then it would be sent to a collection agency if it wasn't paid.

they complied lol......

theres nothing wrong with it.....I don't notice any difference at all really cornering, and the car pulls the wheels every launch at the track.....that puts a tremendous load/unload on it.....no problems

19doug90

ya not so much worried about it flexing, i doubt it can flex. good to hear its holding up to that kind of abuse tho. And also good to know that PA Racing while not perfect production quality (lord knows companies like spohn have enough stuff that gets past qc that shouldnt, just to name one, happens to all companies) but at least they did everything necessary to remedy the situation, which in this case was paying the bill to have the problem corrected

blown87gta

Might also check out AmericanRaceComponents.
http://americanracecomponents.com/camaro.html
John (formerly Road Tech) has opened a new shop
and has K-members. One is in David Housers King of the Hill
car. Check out "in the shop" at the link above. My car has one as well. This is a picture of mine; http://americanracecomponents.com/si...1_-467x239.jpg
If you need one for an LS1 conversion, call John & he can handle that too.

I believe that Birds & Bowties will be offering these "soon" as well.
I don't have a link for Bird & Bowties though.

Good luck,

T.

stage20

iTrader: (3)

http://birdsandbowties.com
i know jim personally. he has posted up on one of the local boards here. he should have them in stock and ready to go by the end of next week.