I got some MMR front control arm mounts, they are Delrin (front mount) and UHMW (rear mount) to replace my Energy Suspension bushings.

The front mount on the front control arms is a nice press in fit with a metal sleeve which allows for free movement. The problem I see is with the rear mount on the front control arm due to the barb design on the control arm. A solid mount will not rotate freely after it is pressed on. I was thinking of having the rear mount on the front control arms machined smooth, eliminating the barbs.

What has anyone else done with the barb design and solid mounts?

 

Not sure this is of any help to you, but when I switched to the AWR needle bearing version the freedom of motion was INCREDIBLE versus the delrin bushings that were in there previously. The front mount is basically solid but with torrington bearings on either side of it, and the rear mount is an encased bearing.

 

Yeah, I know the AWR units are the **** but I couldn't spend $700+ just for front control arm bushings. I do have a lot of their other stuff though.

I am thinking if the barbs are machined off, it will give a nice smooth surface to rotate freely inside the solid mount. Before I wasted money at the machine shop and possibly ruined a set of arms I was hoping someone else has done this or had another suggestion.

 

I have the MMR front control arm pieces. I had a similar concern and I talked to the MMR guy. When you first install them they are super stiff and don't move so freely, but they break in. The delrin is basically self-machining and will conform to the shape of the barb. I've had mine on now for 3 track days and maybe 500-1000 miles of street driving, but I haven't disconnected the front strut and tried to move them alone so I can't tell you how freely they move. I can't make a fair statement on the change in the ride or handling since I did them and a new set of coilovers simultaneously.

 

DO NOT machine off the barbs.