adjustable torque arm quest. calling in sam strano

**blue02Z** · 04-20-2009, 06:09 PM

just installed my umi tunnel brace mounted, adjustable, torque arm with dsl. just wondering why on bumps i can feel the torque arm moving on the front pivot point. also having a lil trouble getting my pinion angle adjusted. i think its set at -1* right now but i could be reading it wrong and it could be 1* hell idk. help me out guys.

**blue02Z** · 04-21-2009, 03:54 PM

wow no one has any input?

**JoshieDoom** · 04-22-2009, 03:19 AM

Tunnel mounted torque arms are VERY noisy... they arent meant not the DD in mind

**blue02Z** · 04-22-2009, 03:26 AM

thanks joshie, yeah after i put my 4.10s in they had a lil whine to them. now omg i can hear the whine echo thru the car. i finally got my pinion angle adjusted right, i hope. just wondering if its supposed to 'bump' on the the bumps in the road

**Sam Strano** · 04-22-2009, 09:23 AM

You feel it because then the axle moves, the TA moves. And it's bolted to sheetmetal basically right under you.

One reason I'm not particulary fond of that style--I much prefer a full length TA with a TA relocation bracket if you want it off the tranny. With a full length arm the nose of the TA is a telescoping setup like stock and you don't feel it like you do with shackle type setup the tunnel mount types use. Plus the TA forces are put in a much beefier part of that and futher away from you.

**thearborbarber** · 04-22-2009, 02:16 PM

Originally Posted by Sam Strano

You feel it because then the axle moves, the TA moves. And it's bolted to sheetmetal basically right under you.

One reason I'm not particulary fond of that style--I much prefer a full length TA with a TA relocation bracket if you want it off the tranny. With a full length arm the nose of the TA is a telescoping setup like stock and you don't feel it like you do with shackle type setup the tunnel mount types use. Plus the TA forces are put in a much beefier part of that and futher away from you.

This is the setup I went with after horsing around with a tunnel mounted TA.

**Sam Strano** · 04-22-2009, 02:43 PM

It is definitely my preference. thearborbarber--mind comparing and contrasting for the class?

**thearborbarber** · 04-22-2009, 04:17 PM

Tunnel Mount:
-boat load more road noise.
-on my car it didn't cure wheel hop (with stress on "my car" many things cause wheel hop)
-lots more stress on the mounting joint due to it being shorter and less mechanical advantage. The jegs model has been known to fold up like a card table.
-tranny can be swapped a little easier.
-takes stress off tail shaft.
-ties into sheet metal.

Tranny cross member with TA relocation mount:
-takes stress off tail shaft.
-utlizes a longer TA giving more leverage.
-no increase in road noise.
-cured my wheel hop.
-ties into a hardened mounting point designed for added stress.

A google search on torque arms will reveal addition advantage/disadvantages for the long and short torque arms.

My current setup is an edelbrock non adjustable TA, UMI tranny crossmember with isolated TA mount (it has some adjustment for pinion angle) and energy suspension TA bushing and tranny mount.

Everyone's car is different and every driver has differnet expectations. This set up has worked very well for me. I've tried different TA's and this setup has worked fine. I just wish I talked to Sam before pissing the money away. It was like reinventing the wheel.