I continue to see a lot of product bashing due to hearsay or shear ignorance. By this, I mean the guys that bash UMI and have UMI products. They are pissed because things didn't bolt up or weld up like they wanted or like they knew what they were doing.
Then there are the guys that bash BMR i.e. BMR= Kmart because they heard from their best friend's baby cousin's older brother who knows this guy that had BMR and the weld broke. Give me a break.
If you have not personnaly experienced a certain brand of parts on your car, then don't say anything but what you have or have had. This nonsense of, "Well, I heard this about X-brand.......or my buddy told me that X-part or X-brand sucks because....." has to stop.

STOP THE BASHING!!!!

Lastly, Stang Killer I owe you an appology. I am just pissed off at the bashing and snapped on you. Sorry man.

 

I personally owned some BMR stuff and was absolutely unhappy with the overall quality of some of the components used to manufacture my parts. This is not second hand.

I do agree, that having 12 more people jump in behind me and say "Yup, I heard they make crap" is not terribly useful information. However, if I can guide someone to spend an extra $15 or even $20 (out of $200) for better quality parts, why wouldn't I?

However, it appears that you have wandered through the entire BMR catalog. If you are happy with the parts, that's excellent and I hope you have better luck than I and others did). Just because I don't like their stuff, does not mean that there are not people out there who are completely happy with their parts....I'm sure there are many who are happy with them.

Oh, and start here:

https://ls1tech.com/forums/suspension-brakes/361003-k-member-hairline-crack.html

 

Or it could be that people are learning through others' experiences. I've seen the pics of Mitch's PHB where the end failed. It could have been a freak accident, but I'm not willing to take the chance with my car. I'm not saying everything that a company makes is junk, but it appears certain companies make certain products better than the rest of the competition. I'm not taking any sides because I have products from almost every company under the sun: BMR, LG, UMI, Spohn, GW, Strano, GC and some home built pieces, but I rather be safe than sorry.

 

The internet is the ultimate expression of free speech. If someone has an opinion, regardless of qualifications, they can express it on here. Usually it's pretty easy to tell the difference between usefull information and B.S.

When I first got started in suspension mods, I read on the BMR site that their "32 mm solid front sway bar was 40% stiffer than the popular 1LE front bar." Unfortunately I didn't know better at the time and wound up with a bar that was barely stiffer than the stock front bar on my SS. I consider this false advertizing and I hope others read this and don't waste their hard earned cash.

 

I believe I started the BMR = K-Mart.

It was based upon real world experience. I wish I could link you to a thread with over 400 replies. But, alas, LS1.com is gone forever.

Many of those who have more than 50 posts, like yourself, recall that thread and the hoopla it created.

Now, maybe you should take some of your own advice and not assume that everyone is a dumbass except for you.

K-Mart serves a lot of people and a lot of people enjoy and use K-Mart products.

 

The problem is some of these brand names are sponsors. free speech, yea right.
Is this was a non sponsored website we could have total freedom to say whatever we wanted about any product.
But is it fair that we can't say anything bad about a sponsor just because they support the site? NO.
I speak the truth, I don't give a damn if I had a product and had an independant manufacturer, if it was **** I'd call it ****.

Bottom line is just because your name is on the sponsor list doesn't mean everyone should lie or keep secrets about your products quality, but it seems this is what we are being asked to do.

 

If I were you I'd set my emotions aside and think about your definition of "ignorance" for a while.

 

There is a HUGE difference between bashing a vendor or product and posting factual information based upon eye witness account or personal experience.

Some folks can't seem to distinguish the 2 ...

 

Dont worry, no appology needed.

I never bashed, I just said with them being a big company, they should be able to lay down a quality weld.

 

Man!

stang killer: 2002- 4,700+ posts
mitchntx: 2001- 3,400+ posts
fulton 1: 2001- 2,700+ posts
cal: 2003- 4,200+ posts
felton316: 2001- 2,300+ posts
trackbird: 2002- 3,600+ posts


shortstuff4104..... 54 posts

The heavy hitters really came out in full force on this one

 

Here's my 2 cents.

If I discover through my own experience that there is a product that doesn't deliver on what it's designed for, or someone performs substandard work, I will certainly make it known and support it with facts and facts only. I think of this forum as one large LSx Murphy's Law convention.

I feel that this forum is a place for the proper meeting of sane and civil minds, and not the ignorant and/or arrogant, therefore I will be what I was tought to be, a LEO (Leave Ego Out). As a former Corrections Officer, I am keenly aware of my behaviour and how it affects others, and vice versa.

Enough said.

 

LOL, I don't think post count equals knowledge! Anywho, BMR is a huge company and I am sure that on a few occasions, Joe-bob was in a hurry to get to drinking for the weekend and layed down a crappy weld or two. I have a STB, sub-frames, and LCA's from them and the welds are all excellent. I also have a Hotchkiss PHB and an Edlebrok TQ arm (new design), and they are quality products as well. It's nice to know about incidents that happen so we can be on the look-out for trends, but I think if you go with any big company you'll be OK. If the part breaks, I am sure they'll make it right! Peace!

 

You might get sued for soiling K-marts good name......

I was just thinking about that thread a few days ago and the fact that it's gone forever and wishing I'd archived it somehow.

Nope, I can type here all night and I don't seem to get any smarter.....

See, there are people who are happy with them. I knew it. (This means I'm just kidding).

Yup. We are seeing a trend, several K members have broken, a few LCA's, at least a couple PHB's and one or more front control arms. I guess a few out of thousands is ok.....I just don't want "that" one on my car. I don't think I've ever heard of an LG part failing. I can't think of any of the rather inexpensive Lakewood LCA's failing either (none that I'm aware of....anyone?). Never heard of a UMI suspension part breaking either (Edelbrock, Hotchkiss, etc). At this point, it seems to be a trend that the have the only parts that are failing (other than one PA K member that I've seen, but I don't hear much about them at all so I don't know if there were others).

Ask Mitch how his PHB was "made right" at his expense on a few occasions.

With the exception of your standard issue post *****, post count might be a more accurate indicator of experience, at least in some cases. Otherwise it might be that you've been around this stuff for a long time, seen lots of things and been engaged in conversations about them. That sums up most of those in this thread.

Those in this thread have a large base of experience to draw from. One person here has thousands upon thousands of miles of open track and sanctioned racing under his belt. One has years of autocross experience, some high speed racing experience, and is a talented fabricator. One has years of crew chief experience on a race car in several sanctioned amatuer series, several years of autocross experience, worked in tech support for a major mail order company and owns a message board dedicated to autocrossing and road racing. And that's just examples of three of those mentioned (and I doubt I touched on everything about those three).

Does that mean that they know it all? Not a chance. However, it also doesn't qualify them as clueless.

With that said, find the parts that fit your needs and budget and buy them. I hope anything you choose gives you years of great service.

 

how do u know the welds are excellent? are you a welder by trade? or have the parts not broken yet, so you assume the product is doing its job?

 

True, but it does lend to credibility ... especially when the person posting declines to post where they gleened wealth of knowledge.

 

Yep, I was a pipe fitter and welder for 3 years before I came into the military and my dad's been a welder for about 30 years and I help him all the time. You could say I know what a quality weld looks like! When did all the parts start breaking? I bought my stuff about 2 years ago.

 

I've been a fan and lover of F-bodies since 1995 when I bought a 1995 V6 that got me started in the hobby. I've had a LS1 since 2002 when I came back from overseas. However, I didn't know about this board until the end of 2004 and I usually just read unless I have done something myself. I am usually only in the appearance board, but the only thing stock under my car is the shocks/springs and the front end (k-member, A-arms).

Edit: This by no means make me an expert! LOL, I am just saying some people that know about cars may not post every single day....

 

damn i thought i had you LMAO
good to hear

 

LOL, I got out of welding because my welds looked crappy. THAT's the only reason I know what a good one looks like!

 

ive never owned bmr ect.. im sure its all good.. looks like a very good product, but its more of a pretty boy product imo..

i like my 89$ lakewood control arms..

i like my 55$ UMI relo brackets.. these thing get the job done fine..

adn im gonna order that jegs tunnel mount tq arm! not exactly the best brand name.. but a innovative design, adjustable, takes the stress completely off anything it isn't supposed to be, ive searched and found it on a few high 9 sec rides, and it clears any exhuast!