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UMI Spherical Caster and Camber Plates for the 1982-1992 Camaro and Firebird, Gloss Black
These heavy duty upper strut mounts replace the factory rubber strut mount bushing on a third generation F-body with a chrome-moly, Teflon-lined spherical bearing, and they open up caster and camber adjustment that the factory mount simply does not offer. UMI supplies new strut retainers and hardware with the kit, and the added height also gives a lowered car more usable strut travel.
Key Features
- Chrome-moly spherical bearing with a Teflon race that keeps the bearing lubricated and quiet.
- Replaces the compliant factory rubber strut mount bushing for precise, repeatable front geometry.
- Allows caster and camber changes that are not possible with factory strut mounts.
- Extra adjustment built into both the mounting plate and the bearing housing for extreme setups.
- Increased mount height provides more suspension travel on lowered cars.
- Fully TIG welded and CNC machined mild steel construction with a powder coat finish.
- New strut retainers and mounting hardware are supplied.
Fitment
| Vehicle | Application |
|---|---|
| Chevrolet Camaro | 1982-1992, third generation F-body, front strut towers |
| Pontiac Firebird | 1982-1992, third generation F-body, front strut towers |
This part is third generation only. UMI does not list a 1993-2002 application for it.
UMI's page carries a documented internal conflict on installation: the description states the kit is a bolt-in item with no drilling or welding required, while the same page's attribute table reads Direct Bolt-On: No, and no modification is named anywhere to explain that attribute. Both statements are reproduced here rather than resolved, so plan the job with a shop that can inspect the strut towers first.
UMI highly recommends an alignment at a local alignment shop after installation.
Specifications
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Brand | UMI Performance |
| Manufacturer part number | 2040-B |
| Part type | Caster and camber plates, upper strut mounts |
| Position | Front |
| Bearing | Chrome-moly spherical bearing with a Teflon-lined race |
| Material | Mild steel |
| Construction | CNC machined, fully TIG welded |
| Plate thickness | Not published as a single figure; UMI's description and its feature badge block disagree, so no value is stated here |
| Finish | Powder coat, gloss black |
| Adjustment range | Qualitative only; UMI publishes no numeric caster or camber figure |
| Mounting hardware | New strut retainers and hardware included |
| Published torque | 25 ft-lb on the camber plates, 50 ft-lb on the shocks |
| Alignment after installation | Highly recommended by UMI |
| Warranty | UMI warrants its own products for two years from the original date of purchase to the original purchaser, excluding normal wear on bearings and bushings, improper installation, alteration and exceeding the design limits of the part |
What's Included
- UMI spherical caster and camber plates with chrome-moly Teflon-lined bearings
- New strut retainers
- Mounting hardware
About UMI Performance
UMI Performance designs and manufactures chassis and suspension parts at 509 Hemlock Street in Philipsburg, Pennsylvania, using North American raw materials, laser-cut plate, CNC bending and precision welding. UMI sells direct and through dealers, ships most orders within three business days from Philipsburg, and publishes a printed installation sheet with each part number. Coverage runs two years from the original purchase date for the original purchaser, and UMI states it cannot guarantee compatibility with other manufacturers' components used alongside its parts.
FAQ
How much caster and camber adjustment do these give?UMI does not publish a numeric range. It states only that the plates allow alignment changes that are not possible with factory strut mounts, with additional adjustment on the mounting plate and the bearing housing for extreme applications.
Are these a straight bolt-in?UMI's own page says two different things. The description calls it a bolt-in item with no drilling or welding required, while the attribute table lists Direct Bolt-On as No without naming any modification. Treat the bolt-on claim as unconfirmed until UMI clarifies it.
Do I need an alignment afterwards?Yes. UMI highly recommends having the vehicle aligned at an alignment shop once the plates are installed.
Is there a trick to keeping the car drivable to the alignment shop?Yes. Before removing anything, pencil-mark the shock tower at the three stud locations. UMI calls this highly recommended so the new plates can be started in the same position.
What are the torque specifications?UMI's sheet lists 25 ft-lb for the camber plates and 50 ft-lb for the shocks.
What material are the plates made from?Mild steel, CNC machined and fully TIG welded. UMI publishes two different plate thicknesses on the same page, so no thickness figure is stated on this listing.
Does the spherical bearing need maintenance?The bearing runs in a Teflon race, which UMI says keeps it lubricated and noise-free. Be aware that UMI's warranty excludes normal wear and tear on items such as bearings and bushings, so bearing wear over time is not a warranty item.
Will these work on a lowered car?That is one of the stated benefits. The increased mount height provides more travel for lowered vehicles.
Are the pieces sold individually or as a set?UMI names the product in the plural and its installation sheet has you jack the front of the car with both wheels off the ground and work both towers. UMI does not print an explicit sold-as-a-pair statement, so quantity is not asserted here.
Is the black kit the same as the red one?Yes. Part 2040-R is the same plate set in red powder coat; this listing is the gloss black 2040-B.
Installation Instructions
- Jack the front of the car with both wheels off the ground and set it on two jack stands under the frame.
- Before removing anything, pencil-mark the shock tower at the three stud locations so the new plates can be aligned to the original position.
- Remove the rubber boot at the top of the strut and take off the nut.
- From inside the wheel well, loosen and remove the three nuts holding the factory strut mount and retaining bracket.
- Place the bearing housing on top of the shock and start its nut loosely.
- Set the UMI strut mount over the housing, lining up the mounting locations.
- From inside the wheel well, reinstall the retaining bracket with the three studs passing up through the frame, then start the washers and nuts.
- Align the studs to the pencil marks, make sure the tires are straight, and torque the camber plates to 25 ft-lb and the shocks to 50 ft-lb.
- Have the vehicle aligned at an alignment shop before regular driving.
Procedure and torque values come from UMI's own Item 2040 installation sheet. UMI does not host this installation sheet on its own website. The document is UMI's own printed sheet, on UMI letterhead, served from a retailer's static PDF host, so treat it as a manufacturer document on a retailer host rather than a current UMI-hosted page. The sheet contains no itemized kit list, so no piece counts are published here.
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