k member and rack options

[chevyrules85]

ill most likely be getting the umi road race k. i was just wondeing what my options are for a new rack, for now im just going to loop the lines and loose my PS. what racks are out there that will bolt on to my umi k? i saw bmr's kit, but thats pretty expensive, any other ones out there? thanks guys!

[96LT1355Z28]

PA makes one as well as AJE, BMR, UMI, Sphoon, and pretty much any suspension manufactuer. If your buying a new K and wanting to loose you PS I'd do it correctly and just order a K with the pinto mounts and get a new rack. It will probaly cost a little more in the end but those I've talked to that have had looped lines andd switched to a manual rack swear they'll never go back. I'd love to do it but I bought a K (AJE) with stock rack mounts and I don't want to hassle with buying a new K just to change racks (mines looped now). I know I could just grind off the stock mounts but I'm feelin lazy!

[chevyrules85]

i really like the umi k, and am planning on using all their other parts to, i like the look and strength of the umi k. and ill be daily driving the car in the summer so i want something strong enough for that. i really want to go with umis part, but if theres not a reasonable way to go manual steering with it, then i guess ill have to look at others like the bmr... would umi be able to special make me a k with pinto mounts? anyone know? thanks guys!

[z28rob18]

i think that PA racing might have a rack kit so you dont need the pinto mount (might be wrong)

edit: nevermind i was wrong

[chevyrules85]

was looking at the madman rack today, and it says it works with the factory k, which means it would work with a umi k, and its 640 so its not to bad of a deal, but thats still pretty expensive... any other options?

[joelster]

I wouldn't buy a UMI K-member, but that is just me. The only purpose for buying a tubular k-member is to save weight and to increase room for headers/turbo's etc. I have a UMI K-member and it weighs 37lbs. The stock K is 49lbs. I would imagine that the roadrace K is probably 44-45ish. The PA Racing K-member is super light at around 18-20. I have the factory steering assembly with looped lines. It is a bitch to turn and I have skinnies up front. If you want to do manual steering correctly, get a k-member that has pinto mounts and get a true pinto rack and bump-steer kit. All of the kits are $500+, there is no getting around it. With a PA Racing K-member and a true pinto-style Manual rack you will drop 55-60lbs off of the nose of your car and it will turn a lot better than a factory rack with looped lines.

BTW I have never heard of anyone breaking an aftermarket 4th gen K-member from a wheels-up launch or from hard street driving hitting pot holes. I'm not saying it hasn't happened, but I think a roadrace k-member is just overkill as far as strength goes.

[chevyrules85]

well after looking at the spohn k member and rack kit, i think i might go that route... i like the idea of the tie rod ends fitting the spindle the right way, instead of drilling them out like you have to with the madman rack....