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Assembled Tubular Front Lower A-Arms for 1982-1992 F-Body, 1978-1988 G-Body and 2WD S10 Trucks
A stamped factory lower A-arm puts the ball joint at an angle chosen for the ride height GM shipped the car at. Lower that car and the joint runs out of usable travel. This pair of jig-built tubular arms corrects the ball joint angle for a lowered ride height, adds tire clearance and takes about five pounds of unsprung weight out of the front end compared with the factory set.
They arrive fully assembled: premium ball joints, greaseable fluted polyurethane bushings, polyurethane bump stops and steering stops are already installed, so the job is a swap rather than a build. UMI publishes them for stock springs, lowering springs and most coilover conversions, and this listing is the black powder coated version.
Key Features
- Ball joint angle corrected for lowered ride heights, which is the core reason to leave a stamped arm behind.
- Additional tire clearance compared with the factory lower arm.
- UMI states the pair is five pounds lighter than the factory A-arm set.
- USA DOM tubing with CNC notched tube ends, jig built and TIG welded.
- Eight greaseable fluted polyurethane bushings, part 2142, pre-mounted.
- Premium ball joints installed, each with cotter pin, grease fitting and castle nut.
- Polyurethane bump stops, part 6003G, and steering stops preloaded.
- Compatible with factory springs, lowering springs and most coilover kits.
- Ships fully assembled and rated as a direct bolt-on with no modifications.
- Black powder coat.
Fitment
| Vehicle | Years |
|---|---|
| Chevrolet Camaro | 1982-1992 |
| Pontiac Firebird | 1982-1992 |
| Buick Regal | 1978-1987 |
| Chevrolet El Camino | 1978-1987 |
| Chevrolet Malibu | 1978-1983 |
| Chevrolet Monte Carlo | 1978-1988 |
| GMC Caballero | 1978-1987 |
| Oldsmobile Cutlass | 1978-1988 |
| Pontiac Bonneville | 1982-1986 |
| Pontiac Grand Prix | 1978-1987 |
| Chevrolet S-10, 2WD only | 1982-2003 |
| Chevrolet S10 Blazer, 2WD only | 1983-1994 |
| GMC S15, 2WD only | 1982-1990 |
| GMC Sonoma, 2WD only | 1991-2003 |
| GMC S15 Jimmy, 2WD only | 1983-1991 |
F-Body coverage is manufacturer-confirmed. UMI's website platform list for this part number shows only the G-Body and the S10 and S15 trucks, but UMI's own installation sheet header names 1982-1992 GM F-Body lower control arms explicitly, and a specialist retailer sells the same part for the 82-92 Camaro and Firebird. The website list is incomplete rather than restrictive, so this listing publishes all three platforms.
Truck applications are 2WD only. That restriction is published by both UMI's product page and its installation sheet. Because the fitment tag convention on this store does not carry drivetrain codes, the 2WD limit is stated here in words: these arms do not fit a four wheel drive S10, S15, Blazer, Jimmy or Sonoma.
S10 specific assembly step: on S10 trucks the front bushing sleeves must be swapped for the included 3831C sleeves, which have an S10 specific inner diameter. The arms ship with the other sleeves already installed, so a G-Body or F-Body buyer should leave the assembled arm alone.
UMI publishes year, make and model only for this part number and lists no submodel or trim breakdown, so the fitment tags on this listing stop at model rather than inventing a trim.
Specifications
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | UMI Performance |
| Manufacturer part number | 3031-B |
| Part type | Front lower tubular A-arms, sold as a matched pair |
| Control arm style | Tubular |
| Tubing | USA DOM tubing with CNC notched tube ends |
| Construction | Jig built and TIG welded |
| Material | Mild steel, per UMI's specification table |
| Bushings | Greaseable fluted polyurethane, eight 2142 bushings, pre-mounted |
| Ball joints | Premium ball joints, pre-installed |
| Geometry | Improved ball joint angle for lowered vehicles, with additional tire clearance |
| Preloaded items | Polyurethane bump stops, part 6003G, and steering stops |
| Spring compatibility | Factory springs, lowering springs and most coilover kits |
| Weight saving | Five pounds lighter than the factory A-arm set, per UMI |
| Finish | Powder coat, available red or black. This part number is black |
| Direct bolt-on | Yes, with no modifications |
| Sold as | Pair |
| Mounting hardware | Not included. UMI directs buyers to its 3011 lower A-arm hardware kit |
| Assembly state | Ships fully assembled |
| Published torque | None as a number. UMI's sheet instructs the installer to torque the bolts to factory specification and to tighten all remaining bolts to factory specification |
| Made in | Philipsburg, Pennsylvania |
| Weight and carton size | Not published by UMI |
| Supplier-attributed detail | A specialist retailer describes adjustable steering stops with aluminum shims machined to avoid adding weight. UMI does not publish that detail, so it is attributed rather than stated as a spec |
| Country of manufacture | United States. UMI states its products are designed and manufactured in the USA from North American raw material supplied by USA steel suppliers |
| Suitability versus warranty | These arms are sold for lowered street cars, pro-touring builds and autocross use. UMI's warranty excludes damage caused by exceeding the design limits of the part and excludes bushings and bearings as normal wear items, so competition use and bushing wear are not warranty events even though the part is built for that duty |
| Manufacturer warranty | UMI publishes a two year warranty from the original date of purchase against defects in materials and workmanship, to the original purchaser only and not transferable |
| Warranty exclusions | Misuse, abuse, neglect or accident, use that exceeds the design limits of the product, improper installation, altered or defaced product, non-UMI components, incidental costs such as towing and labour, and normal wear items including bearings and bushings |
| Warranty document conflict | UMI installation sheets still carry an older point-of-purchase disclaimer that predates the current two year term. UMI's published policy page is the current warranty and is the text summarised here. Neither document is a Black Ops Auto Works warranty |
| Supplier-only data excluded | Shipping weights and carton sizes quoted by resellers are not published by UMI and are not reproduced here as product specifications |
What's Included
- One installation instruction sheet
- One 3831 driver side arm and one 3831 passenger side arm
- Two ball joint kits, already mounted, each containing one ball joint, one cotter pin, one grease fitting and one castle nut
- Eight 2142 polyurethane bushings, mounted
- Two 3016C short steel sleeves, mounted
- Two 3031B long steel sleeves, mounted and flagged by UMI as needing removal on S10 applications
- Two 3831C steel sleeves, supplied loose and flagged as needing installation on S10 applications
- Two 6003G bump stops, mounted
- Four grease fittings, mounted
- One packet of Formula 5 Prelube, part 9.11108
Mounting hardware is not in the box. UMI points buyers to its 3011 lower A-arm hardware kit for the pivot bolts, washers and lock nuts. Note the deliberate sleeve arrangement in the parts list: some sleeves arrive installed and are only removed for an S10 fitment, and the loose 3831C sleeves are only installed on that application, so a G-Body or F-Body buyer should not disassemble a correctly built arm.
About UMI Performance
UMI Performance builds chassis and suspension parts at 509 Hemlock Street in Philipsburg, Pennsylvania, using North American raw material from USA steel suppliers, machine-guided precision DOM tube bending, laser-cut plating and welds laid by skilled and robotic welders. Front suspension for the third generation F-Body and the G-Body is the platform this catalogue is best known for, and these arms are the entry point: assembled, corrected ball joint angle, and built in the same Philipsburg shop that makes the rest of the range.
Related Parts
- UMI 3011 front lower A-arm hardware kit, the mounting hardware UMI names for these arms
- UMI 3008 Super Lube synthetic grease for the greaseable polyurethane bushings
FAQ
Do these fit an 82-92 Camaro or Firebird, even though the website platform list does not show F-Body?Yes. UMI's own installation sheet header names 1982-1992 GM F-Body lower control arms for part 3031, and a specialist retailer sells the same part specifically for the 82-92 Camaro and Firebird. The platform list on the product page is incomplete rather than a restriction, and the sheet's cover page and header disagree with each other inside the same document. This listing publishes F-Body fitment as manufacturer-confirmed on the strength of the sheet header.
Are the truck applications 2WD only, and which sleeves do I swap?Yes, 2WD only, on both UMI's product page and its installation sheet, so a four wheel drive S10, S15, Blazer, Jimmy or Sonoma is not covered. On an S10 fitment the front bushing sleeves are swapped for the supplied 3831C sleeves, which have an S10 specific inner diameter. The 3031B long sleeves that ship installed are the ones that come out for that application.
Is mounting hardware included, or do I need part 3011?Not included. UMI's page states mounting hardware is sold separately and names hardware kit 3011. That kit supplies Grade 10.9 zinc coated bolts, washers and nylon lock nuts for the lower A-arm pivots on both the G-Body and the F-Body.
What torque do the ball joint and A-arm bolts get?UMI publishes no number for this part. Its sheet says to torque the bolts to factory specification and to tighten all remaining bolts to factory specification, covering the ball joint castle nuts, the tie rod and the remaining fasteners. Use the General Motors factory service information for your exact year and model. Do not substitute the 72 ft-lb figure UMI publishes for G-Body rear control arms; that value belongs to a different part of the car.
Do they work with stock springs, lowering springs or coilovers?All three. UMI publishes compatibility with factory springs, lowering springs and most coilover kits, and the spring pocket in the arm is designed around the factory coil location, with the sheet calling out correct orientation of the coil spring tab in the housing.
How much lower can I go before the ball joint angle becomes a problem?UMI does not publish a maximum drop for this part. What it does publish is that the ball joint angle is improved for lowered vehicles compared with the stamped factory arm, which extends the usable range rather than removing the limit. If your build is at the extreme end, UMI also sells upper arms with taller ball joints to recover more geometry.
Do I need matching upper A-arms?Not to install these. The lower arms are a direct bolt-on on their own, though the installation sheet covers fitting the upper and lower arms together because most builders do both at once. UMI's upper arm options are a separate purchase and are not currently stocked here.
What is the difference between these polyurethane arms and UMI's Delrin version?Bushing material and therefore compliance. This part number uses greaseable fluted polyurethane, which keeps some isolation and is the usual street choice. UMI's Delrin equivalent is stiffer and more precise, at the cost of transmitting more into the chassis. UMI publishes both as separate part numbers for the same arm design.
Do they come assembled with ball joints and bushings installed?Yes. UMI ships them fully assembled with the ball joints, the eight 2142 polyurethane bushings, the 6003G bump stops, the steering stops and four grease fittings already mounted, plus a packet of Formula 5 Prelube for the bushing outer surfaces at installation.
How much tire clearance do they add?UMI publishes additional tire clearance as a design benefit but does not publish a measurement for it, so no figure is stated here. If a specific wheel and tire package is the reason for the purchase, mock up the fit before committing to that package.
Will I need an alignment afterwards?Yes. Replacing the lower control arms changes caster, camber and toe, and the sheet has you remove the outer tie rod during the process. Budget for a front end alignment as part of the job.
How often should the bushings and ball joints be greased?UMI publishes no service interval for this part number, so none is invented here. What it does specify is the Formula 5 Prelube packet on the outer bushing surfaces at assembly, and it fits grease fittings to both the bushings and the ball joints so the joints can be serviced. Treat them as normal chassis lube points at every oil service.
What warranty covers this part, and what is specifically excluded?UMI publishes a two year warranty from the original date of purchase against defects in materials and workmanship, to the original purchaser only, and it is not transferable. The same policy excludes misuse, exceeding the design limits of the product, improper installation, altered product, non-UMI components, incidental costs such as towing and labour, and normal wear items including bearings and bushings. UMI also states it cannot guarantee compatibility with other manufacturers' components. Note that the printed sheet in the box still carries an older, narrower disclaimer that predates the current two year term. The policy page is the current document. Neither is a Black Ops Auto Works warranty.
Installation Instructions
- Support the vehicle safely and unload the coil spring following the procedure in the supplied UMI instruction sheet.
- Remove the sway bar end links, the outer tie rod and the shock bolts.
- Remove the cotter pins and castle nuts from both ball joints and separate the joints with a pickle fork.
- Retain the lower A-arm frame bolts and the shock mount bolts, and transfer the shock mounting clips from the stock arm to the UMI arm.
- On an S10 application only, remove the installed 3031B long sleeves and fit the supplied 3831C sleeves. On a G-Body or F-Body, leave the assembled sleeves in place.
- Apply the supplied Formula 5 Prelube to the outer surfaces of the polyurethane bushings.
- Fit the arm to the frame, orienting the coil spring tab correctly in the spring housing, and reconnect the ball joint with its castle nut and a new cotter pin.
- Reconnect the shock, the outer tie rod and the sway bar end links.
- Torque the bolts to factory specification, as UMI's sheet directs, using the General Motors factory service information for your exact year and model. UMI publishes no number for this part.
- Lower the car, set it at ride height, then have the front end aligned before it is driven regularly.
UMI's end link assembly diagram for this sheet shows the order as bolt, bushing washer, sway bar bushing and bushing jam nuts on a 3/8-24 by 4 inch bolt, with the upper jam nuts locked and the lower jam nut locked against the rod end.
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