Tunnel Mounted Torque Arm issues

[BLK WS6]

I just installed my tunnel mounted umi torque. I had adjust my ory pipe because it was hitting the driveshaft loop. Now it rides on the street exactly like it did before with the expect of two items...

1. The 1-2 shift (the hardest shift) is more noticeable under hard acceleration...not a big deal at all...not an issue

2. This is the one I would like input on. About 45+/-mph I can tap the accelerator (on then off) and torque knocks or hits the tunnel? At least it was most noticeable at that speed...
IDK...its enough to give me some knock retard...

Ok so I called Brad at UMI (thanks) and he suggested installing a thin rubber layer between the floor pan and the tunnel mount.

I'm still not sure if I'm hitting the tunnel or not though...

If I do go that route...what do guys think about these poly pads? Anyone know about what size they would be?

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/ENS-3-6111G/

[AChotrod]

I love UMI but i ditched that POS set up, and went back to their full length TA and trans crossmember with TA relocation. I couldnt be happier NOW.
I tried for months to get that set up to work and for a street car it was a terrible mistake. If its a drag car that set up works but on a street car it really sucks. Just wait untill you downshift hard on the hwy and punch it. Its gonna feel like you destroying your car.
I also tried every pinion angle from -4 - +4 and nothing fixed it except selling it for the new set up. I even had a few shops set the PA at first.
Sorry I hope you get yours to work better than I got mine to

[BLK WS6]

I have all UMI...LCA, PHB, SFC, STB, LCA brackets...some even with the spherical rod ends...this is the only piece that has caused me problems. Everything else has been great on the street. I only got it because people claim to have zero problems if its setup correctly...

I guess I shall see.

[chevymec]

I have a Spohn model on my '86 and it will bang when you down shift. Mine mounts to the trans crossmember and after I did that I picked up a lot of vibration untill I loosened the pivot for the torque arm. It still has some vibration but I decided that it was because the new location uses the car to absorb the vibrations and not the trans where you have rubber mounts to help lessen(sp) them.

[AChotrod]

I have all UMI...LCA, PHB, SFC, STB, LCA brackets...some even they the spherical rod ends...this is the only piece that has caused me problems. Everything else has been great on the street. I only got it because people claim to have zero problems if its setup correctly...

I guess I shall see.

I have a UMI K-member, TA, TA relocation and Drag bar. They all are great it was only the Tunnel Mount TA I had issues with. The rest of my suspension is BMR. Not much difference in LCAs,PHB,STB,SFCs between the 2 companies.

[JPack]

Set up is key. I have one and have installed a lot of similiar ones. Yes it will make a bit more noise but I will trade that for the benefits.

[BLK WS6]

Set up is key. I have one and have installed a lot of similiar ones. Yes it will make a bit more noise but I will trade that for the benefits.

Tips?

[richard96]

When I installed mine, I used the floor jack to push it tight in the tunnel. I tightened the bolts extra tight. No problems for me at all.

[AChotrod]

Its not how you set it up. I tried everything. I must have adjusted it 100x by the time I said screw it. I used to carry a angle finder and tools since I can fit under the car and adjust it without jacking it up. Not sure why but it also hit the tunnel above the rear bracket. That part didnt bother me after a BFH job in the tunnel. IMO its the way the front crossmember attaches to the TA. I think it allows to much movement and allows the DS to shift back just a tiny bit when you downshift then when you nail the gas the rear end flies forward slaming the DS into the trans.

[941le]

I use 2 have 1 but it was a spohn. Had no problems with it at all.

[AChotrod]

I havent heard as many complaints on the spohn or BMR, mostley the UMI. Strange since they are all basicaly the same. The UMI is the only one I have personal experience with though.

[1FASTSS]

My spohn is fine...you will pick up a little more noise with any of them. And you do need them adjusted correctly or they will bind some and sounds worse.

[MeanGreen94Z]

mine banged real bad too on down shifts, i put a locker in with the 9" and i really DONT feel anything from the TA anymore haha. but im swapping for a posi this weekend :). really tho mine hit the tunnel right above the rear most mount, after i beat it in a little it didnt do it anymore, but i have rod ends on everything on my car so driving it is EXTREMELY brutal lol. street driving it with a locker is terrible and made me hate my car enough to drop 1k on a Wavetrac posi :(

[AChotrod]

So I should stick with my trucrap diff?

[MeanGreen94Z]

put simple a locker is FAR less streetable and not half as safe as a spool... lockers are for off road 4x4's NOT cars... if i hadnt got the $ for the wavetrac i would have put a 10 bolt back in it rather than keep the 9", THATS how bad it is... everytime i shifted with my street twin it felt like someone was kicking the seat and cam surge makes it SO much worse... the killer was a solid hub clutch, with teh sprung hub its not too bad but still sounds like a broken piano being hit by 1000 monkeys going into a parking spot. everyone always asks "is your car ok?" and the normal response i get when giving a girl a ride is "WHAT THE F%*K WAS THAT!?"

[1badz]

I will still swear by the Jegster adjustable tunnel mounted T/A.. The mounting plate tucks in the actual driveshaft tunnel (hugs it so to speak) and it give you clearance with exhaust, and everything. When you look under my car all you see is the stubby adjustable t/a. Been treating me right after I adjusted it. As for UMI, my friend just got the stock length adjustable one with the tranny crossmember relocation mount and he loves it as well..

[AChotrod]

Im also sure M6 cars are alot harder on the TA then A4s especially on hard down shifts. Im talkin drop down into 2nd gear at 65mph then powershift the shit out of it into 3rd gear right away. No prob with the stock or current Full length TA relocated. Terrible with the Tunnel mount set up.

[1badz]

Yeah I feel ya.. Good thing I have a TH350.. Well, I still have some sort of *bang* when I down shift, but only because it has straight cut gears lol

[JPack]

I really don't get how you all are having all these issues. I have never heard it. Maybe my exhaust is too loud or I am too old and deaf to hear it. lol

[1badz]

I really don't get how you all are having all these issues. I have never heard it. Maybe my exhaust is too loud or I am too old and deaf to hear it. lol


Both could very well be possibilities. :whistle:

[LT1_Fireman]

I had a very similar problem as mike. And forget about spirited driving through the twisties the rear doesn't settle well with the short TA.

[AChotrod]

I really don't get how you all are having all these issues. I have never heard it. Maybe my exhaust is too loud or I am too old and deaf to hear it. lol
Not only could you hear it but you can feel it, and it didnt feel good.

[JPack]

Forgot to follow up on this for how to drastically reduce road noise on tunnel mounted TA. This will eliminate 95% of the noise complaints.

You will see 2 bolts holding the tq arm to the mounting plate on the rear end. Well you'll end up installing this tq arm twice to get it right. If you install it like the directions say you'll end up with a lot more noise inside the car than normal.

By installing twice you'll first need to install it. Set your angle. Remove entire tq arm again. Tighten tq arm bolts that attach it to the mounting plate of the rear end. IF YOU DO NOT IT WILL BE NOISY and make you feel like your car is falling apart.

[AChotrod]

I wonder if thats true^^^ How the hell did you figure that out?

[JPack]

Part of my job is a mechanical design engineer. I like to know how things work and look at their design and what was the thought process of those that made something. I research it and look at what others have tried and see if I can find what the cause of the problem was. So after reading what people have done, I tried something after I looked at it. It does work. Set up 3 cars this way with out issue. I love to work on suspension. It was the first thing I did with my car before any speed part was ever installed. I am a firm believer that when you build a car up, start at the back and work forward. It does no good to have all the power and no way to get it to the ground. Those that know my car and have ridden in it, know it is like getting shot out of a sling shot. Here is an example of my car from a dead stop on the street....


http://s3.photobucket.com/albums/y77/jpack24/?action=view&current=VID00001-20090905-1730.flv

[BLK WS6]

^^I will definately try this..thanks for the replies. I will update once I brave the cold garage floor :)

[abeane4]

I just bought the UMI tunnel mount TA and thankful for the info. Let me know if this works for you BLK WS6. I will be installing mine in a couple of weeks.

Andy

[badfnta]

i have not had any issues with mine as of yet. not funny noises no binding, mine is a street/track car.