LCA Lower Control Arm options

[Dontilgon]

Not sure if this is a loaded question but just in case there is any doubt about twisting , take a look at these pics. After exploring replacement options (which are many to choose) What is the popular choice for replacing. I see there is also a brace, is that sufficient? or should the LCA be replaced along with the brace.

[dn010]

DPI stainless. Done.

But it looks like you hit something?

[Dontilgon]

DPI stainless. Done.

But it looks like you hit something?

Tuff to show in a picture but in person it clearly looks like the LCA made contact with the frame on both passenger and driver side.

[dn010]

To me it looks like the plate on the frame took a hit and was bent upwards into the LCA. Picture one shows it dented upwards into the LCA. Take a ruler and lay it across the plate under the LCA and see what you get. The only way the LCA will hit the frame is if A the plate took damage upward or B you’re running aftermarket shocks that allow the LCA to travel much lower than stock (Hervey shocks).

[David T]

Not readily apparent in the pictures what happened. For both LCA's to hit like that the car had to have hit something hard. That is NOT the typical "twisting" we see with the LCA's.

[Dontilgon]

To me it looks like the plate on the frame took a hit and was bent upwards into the LCA. Picture one shows it dented upwards into the LCA. Take a ruler and lay it across the plate under the LCA and see what you get. The only way the LCA will hit the frame is if A the plate took damage upward or B you’re running aftermarket shocks that allow the LCA to travel much lower than stock (Hervey shocks).

Nope bone stock. Its ironic that the marks are in the same spot on both sides. I heard of flexing LCA but no clue on how or where it flex. However, I believe they should be changed out anyways, thanks for looking. I'll get some better pics this weekend just for reference. Going stainless could lead to more problem like.......getting more stainless. A Delorean owner once said it was like saying I'm just getting one tattoo and the next think you know you have five. There stainless stuff is sure good looking.

[dn010]

You can see on the LCAs and frame that it contacted something. The dirt is gone and in one photo there is bare metal on the LCA. Like driving over a parking block and then trying to back off it. I can only recommend DPIs LCAs because I have them. They’ve been on my car and I’ve had no issues with them under some spirited driving. Your choices are stainless, aluminum or boxed in originals as far as I know. But again, this does not look like it has anything to do with the arms, looks like contact damage to me. Your arms are repairable.

[dmcnc]

Those LCAs are probably making contact with the frame whenever you lift the car.

[dn010]

I agree, but I also see all the photos showing the plate on the frame bent up. Bend it back. Fix whatever damage it gave the LCAs. Paint it all. Keep on driving. You don’t need upgraded arms unless you want them.

[David T]

The frame can be straightened but if the LCA's are twisted or bent they can be straightened too but they should be reinforced by being "boxed". The whole front end should be inspected for damage and to do a proper job it should be disassembled. Since you cannot properly inspect the ball joints for hidden damage, for safety they should be replaced after a hit like that. The car should also get on an alignment rack to make sure it is still in "spec". The front tires and rims should also be carefully inspected.

[Josh]

DPI stainless. Done.

But it looks like you hit something?

There are quite a few options other than DPI.

All the lower control arms are an inferior design as far as I am concerned, some one needs to make an A-arm style LCA.
You can get braces from DeloreanGo or DPI though that triangulate the LCAs.

Listed by cost:

Factory Boxed and re-enforced - DeloreanGo or Clint Wolff (Clint does great work)
Byrne Heninger heavy duty steel - NLA, may find some used?
Stainless - DPI
Billet Aluminum - DMCMW

[Henrik]

There are quite a few options other than DPI.

All the lower control arms are an inferior design as far as I am concerned, some one needs to make an A-arm style LCA.
You can get braces from DeloreanGo or DPI though that triangulate the LCAs.

Listed by cost:

Factory Boxed and re-enforced - DeloreanGo or Clint Wolff (Clint does great work)
Byrne Heninger heavy duty steel - NLA, may find some used?
Stainless - DPI
Billet Aluminum - DMCMW


I got the boxed in LCAs, stainless and triangulated LCA brackets, PU bushings and the ventilated front brake rotors - all from DMCEU. A plug also for QA1 where I got the adjustable dampers and adjustable ride height springs.

58895

58896

[Nicholas R]

There are quite a few options other than DPI.

All the lower control arms are an inferior design as far as I am concerned, some one needs to make an A-arm style LCA.
You can get braces from DeloreanGo or DPI though that triangulate the LCAs.

Listed by cost:

Factory Boxed and re-enforced - DeloreanGo or Clint Wolff (Clint does great work)
Byrne Heninger heavy duty steel - NLA, may find some used?
Stainless - DPI
Billet Aluminum - DMCMW

Agree about the poor design and need for A-arm style.

Looks like DeLoreanGo also sells a billet aluminum style. At $1300 I'm not sure where they land price wise though; probably near the top. (anodized black instead of raw): https://www.deloreango.com/us/aluminium-lower-control-arms.html
I think DeLoreanAutoParts also sells boxed style ones.

[Dontilgon]

I got the boxed in LCAs, stainless and triangulated LCA brackets, PU bushings and the ventilated front brake rotors - all from DMCEU. A plug also for QA1 where I got the adjustable dampers and adjustable ride height springs.

58895

58896

Interesting so you put boxed LCA and added the brackets

[David T]

The whole front end suspension was an engineering compromise using Lotus's designs of the period. While it has it's drawbacks, it is an efficient and functional design. It can be improved but is it worth it? Most owners are not racing competitively and the car is not a daily driver so it isn't abused and is used infrequently. Hard to justify spending a lot on it.

[powerline84]

Agree about the poor design and need for A-arm style.

Looks like DeLoreanGo also sells a billet aluminum style. At $1300 I'm not sure where they land price wise though; probably near the top. (anodized black instead of raw): https://www.deloreango.com/us/aluminium-lower-control-arms.html
I think DeLoreanAutoParts also sells boxed style ones.


I have the delorean go billet black lowers on my car .

[Henrik]

Interesting so you put boxed LCA and added the brackets

Belt AND suspenders :)

[Nicholas R]

The boxed LCAs and the side support brackets perform different functions. Boxing or reinforcing the LCAs prevents catastrophic failure of the LCA. The side brackets minimize/limit the amount that the arm moves fore/aft (changing the toe and alignment) under braking, acceleration, turning, etc. You wont notice much of a handling difference when boxing the LCAs (but you'll sleep better at night); you'll definitely notice a handling difference with the side brackets.

[Andrew]

I'm running Byrne's LCA's on 5052 and DeLorean EU's LCAs on 4194. I find them to be very comparable in function, strength and appearance. Both weighed in at about 8 LBS each, which is twice the weight of the stock LCAs. All of Byrne's products are NLA; however, to the best of my knowledge the EU LCA's are still available. I would recommend them highly.

[MikeWard]

All the lower control arms are an inferior design as far as I am concerned, some one needs to make an A-arm style LCA.
Similar to this?

58931

58930

[Spittybug]

Like these?

http://dmctalk.org/showthread.php?6880-Lower-Control-Arm-Braces&highlight=lower+control

[jamesrguk]

Like these?

http://dmctalk.org/showthread.php?6880-Lower-Control-Arm-Braces&highlight=lower+control

Just shows that there are quite a few solutions for the front suspension.

I have DMC Go's beefed up LCA's and the SS outriggers on my car, it certainly feels more comfortable under the combination of relatively heavy breaking and turning. I'm not racing my car or an aggressive driver but as part of my daily commute I have to leave the motorway onto a sweeping left hand corner at the same time as reducing from 70/80mph to 30mph, and it's noticably better in that situation than when it was all OEM up front.

I'm still slightly surprised that none of the vendors have fabricated Mike Loasby's design for the LCA, his prototype was effectively a upper control arm and lower control arm fused together, it appears to be an elegant solution which could be relatively easily replicated. Presumably as the man involved with the DMC suspension Mike thought this was a good upgrade?

I think Rob Grady has Mike's prototype set up on one of his personal cars?


J

[DMCVegas]

The whole front end suspension was an engineering compromise using Lotus's designs of the period. While it has it's drawbacks, it is an efficient and functional design. It can be improved but is it worth it? Most owners are not racing competitively and the car is not a daily driver so it isn't abused and is used infrequently. Hard to justify spending a lot on it.

Yes. Yes, it is absolutely worth it. I'm one of those people who once upon a time made my car a daily driver (would love to do so again), and admittedly drive it very hard. I don't slow down for most speed bumps & dips, and I have the bent LCAs to prove it.

In fact, I'm looking for as many upgrades as possible for whatever my car can get. It's pretty much the last sports car I'll ever own, and it's far cheaper to upgrade it than trading-in a car every few years.

[Spittybug]

I'm still slightly surprised that none of the vendors have fabricated Mike Loasby's design for the LCA, his prototype was effectively a upper control arm and lower control arm fused together, it appears to be an elegant solution which could be relatively easily replicated. Presumably as the man involved with the DMC suspension Mike thought this was a good upgrade?

I think Rob Grady has Mike's prototype set up on one of his personal cars?


J

I paid a visit to Rob a couple of weeks ago to drop off a pair of my LCA braces for him to try. He told me that he was indeed testing Mike's setup on his car. I don't know how long he plans to do it for, but with winter setting into Long Island I can't believe he'll do much driving.

[jamesrguk]

I paid a visit to Rob a couple of weeks ago to drop off a pair of my LCA braces for him to try. He told me that he was indeed testing Mike's setup on his car. I don't know how long he plans to do it for, but with winter setting into Long Island I can't believe he'll do much driving.

I thought Rob had actually had them in place for some time?

Either way given that Mike Loasby made them years back I'm surprised that no one has tried to replicate them in some way, surely upper and lower wishbone + ARB set up is preferential to a single lower arm and ARB even when supported with aftermarket outriggers.

Seeing as most people probably upgrade the LCA at the same time as adding the out riggers you are already committing £££ ($$$) so you would think that a lower wishbone would not be that much more expensive than purchasing new LCA's and an outrigger kit, cherry on the top would be if the LCA/Wishbone was adjustable for camber.

J

[Rich]

The whole front end suspension was an engineering compromise using Lotus's designs of the period. While it has it's drawbacks, it is an efficient and functional design.....

+1

I don't have a position on LCA's vs stock. Agreeing with David about the history and qualities of the front suspension.

For reference here are links to two random videos showing how a stock DeLorean front suspension and an LCA'd front suspension perform, in particular under braking:

Stock (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMHO4Aydk04) with highest braking at ~0:30

With LCA mod (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RgVfi8Dn6Rk) with braking at 0:37, 1:03 and 1:30


Not meant to prove anything in either case. These videos don't constitute a controlled comparison - in part because the deceleration/braking rates aren't known.