When it comes to both racing and commuting, there are few things more important than a car’s suspension system, which is exactly what UMI Performance of Philipsburg, Pennsylvania, designs and builds. They strive to make suspension kits that are good for use on both the track, and a leisurely trip to the beach. Ramey Womer of UMI tells us, “We trust our products to drive our families around.”  If that doesn’t illustrate their trust in their product, we don’t know what will.

UMI Performance was started by Ryan Kirkwood and his father Denny. The company started by building odds and ends on a contract basis, that included everything from Xerox machine components to highly classified missile parts. But, that all changed when Ryan started using his father’s machines to build parts for his car. It actually started with control arm support brackets being made for Fox body Mustangs, but has since transitioned to a company that delivers parts designed primarily for Chevy vehicles.

There are a couple of things that separate UMI Performance from the rest of the industry. A core belief is making sure that the customer gets exactly what they need. They are not going to try to upsell you parts that your car doesn’t need. As Womer puts it, “Not everyone needs a $4,000 suspension kit. If someone has a 2000 Camaro with an LS engine that runs decent, but has worn shocks, there are a couple ways we can help them.” Womer continued, “We can replace the shocks and make the car handle better than it did when stock if the owner is planning to use the car for commuting and occasional performance usage, or we can add sway bars and other improvement parts if he or she is planning to go racing with their car.”

Another thing the guys at UMI really stress is that all of their work is done in house, they don’t outsource any part of the process. Each part starts with raw materials that are cut to size, bent to shape, and welded to make the completed part. From there, the parts are cleaned, powdercoated, packaged, and shipped; all within their Pennsylvania-based shop.

Womer explained to us what enthusiasts need to do, to make sure they get exactly what they need for their specific needs. He stressed that if you are planning a suspension upgrade, it’s important to call and talk to them directly. “We need enthusiasts to tell us how they will use their car. We like them to ask us what parts they need to optimize their car for what they are trying to accomplish. Once we know the desired result, we can make sure they get the right stuff.”

In short, Womer says, “UMI provides race-proven suspension systems, and what that really means is that we race what we sell. We trust our products with our families’ cars. The same suspension system that will let you run a 7-second 1/4-mile time will also take your family on a day cruise.” If you are looking to upgrade to a more reliable suspension system than the stock equipment you’ve got, look no further than UMI. They do great work, and they stand by what they build. Nothing speaks to a company better than their commitment to customer service, and use of their own products.