[charlotte94]

1.) Just wanted to verify that other members have used the Super Coupe Performance front suspension rebuild kits on their cars and how did you like them? Time is ticking away, as I'm in the process of moving and need to get my Bird Charlotte repaired as soon as the shop can, after I get the parts.

2.) Has anyone used the NAPA Proformer shocks? Am thinking about getting them as they have a limited lifetime warranty and if a claim had to be filed, they would be easier to get replaced than getting replacement shocks from an online parts store.

3.) Is Parts Geek a good online website to get parts or not?

I just want to be confident in getting the best parts that are currently available for the car and not have to worry about inferior quality critical parts. Thanks very much in advance.

 

[charlotte94]

I ordered the AC Delco upper control arm assemblies from Summit Racing in late September. Was told they would be shipped on Oct. 17 from the supplier. Then was told one would be shipped on Nov. 4. Now both of them are supposed to be shipped on Nov. 15!! Have emailed Summit tonight to see what's going on. I PRAY that I will still be able to get these AC Delco parts. Am running into a brick wall in trying to find them from any other retailer. Some including RockAuto have the left one available, but not the right one! eBay has a right one available, but the seller is ify. If I can't get these, I may need to buy the control arm assemblies from Super Coupe Performance. I had asked Bill what brand they are and the country of origin and he didn't want to tell me.

I haven't driven the car since early September when I found out the upper ball joint boots were bad.

 

[Thunderbird Pilot 89]

The issue is availability from AC Delco, no dealer has them. I have the upper right on preorder through Amazon and Summit, and two other dealers set to notify me when they're in, so I'll just go with whoever gets it first.

 

[CDsDontBurn]

If you're getting the ACDelco Pro series UCA with the removable ball joint, then just get it popped out and flip it over. The upper control arms are the identical in shape. The only difference is which way the ball joint is going making them left / right specific.

More details in my suspension thread. You'll have to dig in it though as those posts are very well burried at this point in time, lol.

 

[charlotte94]

The issue is availability from AC Delco, no dealer has them. I have the upper right on preorder through Amazon and Summit, and two other dealers set to notify me when they're in, so I'll just go with whoever gets it first.

I may need to pre-order the AC Delco Gold upper control arms from Amazon as well, but would they have counterfeit problems with auto parts? I did check with an area AC Delco parts store that has been in business for 80 years, and they said the control arms were not in stock anywhere! I'm not putting crappy quality, critical parts on my beloved 'Bird! I just PRAY the parts come before the estimated ship date, as I'm in the process of moving out-of-state and won't be able to drive my 'Bird until she's repaired.

 

[Thunderbird Pilot 89]

If you're getting the ACDelco Pro series UCA with the removable ball joint, then just get it popped out and flip it over. The upper control arms are the identical in shape. The only difference is which way the ball joint is going making them left / right specific.

More details in my suspension thread. You'll have to dig in it though as those posts are very well burried at this point in time, lol.

That would have been handy to know a couple months ago, I'd have got two lefts. Thanks.

 

[Chris_Murder]

I know first hand about the summit racing Ac Delco control arms they won't ship the ones with the grease fittings or removable ball joints they will fulfill them with "equivalent" Delphi control arms which are non serviceable ball joint and no grease fitting with clear boots. I returned my order early last year over that nonsense. I ordered Mevotech Supreme control arms from rockauto instead.

edit the Ac Delco/Delphi switch wasn't exactly summit racing fault. The supplier AC Delco repackaged those during "production shortages" as the part number will soon be obsolete in their system.

 

[XR7-4.6]

I know first hand about the summit racing Ac Delco control arms they won't ship the ones with the grease fittings or removable ball joints they will fulfill them with "equivalent" Delphi control arms which are non serviceable ball joint and no grease fitting with clear boots. I returned my order early last year over that nonsense. I ordered Mevotech Supreme control arms from rockauto instead.

edit the Ac Delco/Delphi switch wasn't exactly summit racing fault. The supplier AC Delco repackaged those during "production shortages" as the part number will soon be obsolete in their system.

Not for nothing the Mevotechs seem pretty nice, I put those on my friends SC this summer. No telling how they hold up but first impressions everything about them seems substantial. I love the AC delco removable ball joint design the most but they aren’t the end all be all

 

[Thunderbird Pilot 89]

So what's involved in reversing the AC Delco ball joint, does it require a special tool?

 

[XR7-4.6]

Take it to a shop with a press, if you don’t have one yourself. You won’t be able to get it out with hand tools

 

[Thunderbird Pilot 89]

Take it to a shop with a press, if you don’t have one yourself. You won’t be able to get it out with hand tools

Thanks, I thought it would be something like that. I'll give my preorders a little more time.

 

[charlotte94]

Just checked my control arm Summit Racing order status. They've moved the shipping date to Nov. 20!!!! They were supposed to ship originally on Oct. 17!!! OMG!!!! @#$% I have read bad reviews on Dephi stuff lately, which surprised me, so if AC Delco or Summit supercede them to Dephi, I'd be hacked.

I need to know if anyone on the forum has used the Super Coupe Performance control arm/ball joint assemblies on their Bird or Cougar and if so, were they of HIGH quality and had no problems with them? Bill has a 3-year warranty listed on his control arms. I just noticed Bill's prices have went up! The suspension kits have went up maybe $50! I may end up ordering the control arms from him and cancel the Summit Racing order. With moving out-of-state, I can't be waiting and WAITING on this order! The buyer of my house wouldn't be happy having an out-of-commission T-Bird sitting in the driveway!!!

Thanks.

Forgot to ask if anyone knows if the AC Delco control arms are made in China. The brand new AC Delco alternator and starter on my 2000 GMC Sierra Z71 Pickup, unfortunately are made in China!!! Bet Bill's parts are as well, but don't know. Wished he could have said what the country of origin is at least.

 

[Grog6]

Nobody would buy stuff if they knew it all came from China.

 

[CDsDontBurn]

As long as trg parts are designed in the US and built to spec in another country, China included, I have no problem with that. Manufacturing is a global market and us US consumers want the best deal possible. Unfortunately, US built parts will typically also sell af the highest dollar to the consumer whereas the Chinese made part will be cheaper, and the knockoff brand, with little to no QA, cheaper yet.

 

[charlotte94]

I may end up ordering the control arms from Super Coupe Performance because of the time crunch. I won't economize on cheap parts, especially when it comes to critical systems of a vehicle like the suspension.

I do need to know if ANYONE on this forum has purchased the control arms from Super Coupe Performance and how they liked them or not, so I can make a good, informed decision getting the needed parts. Thank you.

 

[XR7-4.6]

Whatever SCP’s are guaranteed they’re substantially marked up from their source parts.

 

[charlotte94]

Whatever SCP’s are guaranteed they’re substantially marked up from their source parts.

I did see that Bill's parts have a 3-year warranty. Have you used his parts before?

 

[Thunderbird Pilot 89]

I already have the left AC Delco Pro arm, so I'll just get another left and borrow the loaner press from Auto Zone.

 

[charlotte94]

Just checked the Summit Racing order status and NOW the expected shipping date has been moved from Nov. 20 to Nov. 28!!!

 

[Grog6]

I had them do that a few years ago on something; I think it was disco, and they didn't want to lose the sale.