which brand should I go with?

[Rob@USC]

I'm planning on working on my suspension in about a month or so. I'm going to get sway bars, LCA's, and a pan hard rod (should get most of the suspension covered in one hit :D ). I can't decide what brand to go with, though. I'm looking at BMR, G2, and of course 1LE. I'd like to aim my suspension more at a street or auto-x setup (though I'll probably only auto-x once a year MAX), but occasionally take it to the strip. Any feed back is appreciated. I know the issue of cost is going to come up, but I really don't care too much about cost - I'm good at saving money for what I want and believe in doing something right the first time so I don't have to replace a medeocre part for a better one later down the road.

Rob

P.S.
I'd like to get all one brand (i.e. all G2 or all 1LE) parts. Guess I'm odd like that.

[ June 17, 2003: Message edited by: Rob@USC ]</p>

[AllTheGoodNamesAreGone]

well.. are you plainng to do springs/shocks??

a PHR really dosent do all that much unless you get an adjsutable one.. that way you can center your axle when you lower it.. and lca are helpfull but not as important as a nice set of springs/shocks.. I would also look into other places.. there are alot of new places like slot car racer, proven perfomrnace concepts, and unbalanced engenering that sell alot of cool gear for cheep..

as far as swaybars go.. do the 1le setup.. its cheep and works great..

~Bill

[Rob@USC]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by AllTheGoodNamesAreGone:
well.. are you plainng to do springs/shocks??

<hr></blockquote>

I hope to do these eventually, but because of the roads where I go to school, I can't afford to lower my car any more than it is stock

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by AllTheGoodNamesAreGone:
slot car racer, proven perfomrnace concepts, and unbalanced engenering that sell alot of cool gear for cheep..<hr></blockquote>

I haven't heard of these places. Where can I find them?

Rob

[ June 18, 2003: Message edited by: Rob@USC ]</p>

[whiteshark]

For sway bars, I'd go 1LE, I love mine and from what I've heard just as good as other more expensive brands. Get the prothane bushings and endlinks with them. As for lca's and phr, I plan on using 1LE too, it's good stuff and cheap (you can get both for under 100 bucks). The others might be better but not worth the extra $ to me. If you really want to spend the money go for it. It probably is better.

[5_spd_pewter_v6]

i have BMR stuff on my car (see sig) and I love it. someone did point out to me that the rear BMR sway bar is a little big for the v6s, and it is. it makes the back end step out pretty easy, especially in the rain. i haven't found it to be dangerous, just a lot of fun when you want to do it. if you get BMR, just keep that in mind.

[Arctc Wolf]

1LE bars, BMR LCA's and PHR.

[Rob@USC]

Okay, so I can get the 1LE sway bars from GMPartsDirect, right? What are the part numbers? What all would I need to order in addition to the bars? Thanks for all the input,

Rob

[V6Bob]

The "1LE" bars people are talking about are the 32/21 bars GM used only for a few cars ten years ago and then dumped for 32/19. They have the same 21mm rear as the BMRs, which causes the tail happiness that was noted.

Your car will feel a lot better than stock with these bars, no argument and no question. That is why people are recommending them. But your car will handle better with a smaller rear bar than the 21, also no question.

Swaybars absolutely should be matched with springs. The 32/21 bars were designed to go with V8 springs, and the 21 was a little too big even with those springs. On V6 springs, with soft fronts, the 21 is simply wrong. Bigger is not better here.

[Rob@USC]

hehe, I looked in the Mod Encyclopedia and found the 1LE listings there [img]graemlins/dunce.gif[/img] . I saw listed 32mm front and 21mm rear bars, but I remember seeing something here about the 21mm causing too much oversteer and that a 19mm 1LE is better. Is this true? What is the part number for the 19mm? Also, in the mod encyclopedia, it has that I would need endlinks and has a part number with it. How many of these do I need to order? Final question (for now), where could I get these installed and how much would it cost? I know this is something that can be easily done on my own, but my parents would NEVER let me do this. They were so against me installing my cat-back myself (scared the car would fall on me or something like that) that they paid to have it installed. I know they would flip if I installed these myself so trying to get an idea where I can get it done.

Thanks,
Rob

[AllTheGoodNamesAreGone]

install it yourself man.. make sure you get endlinks too.. cause the stockers tend to rust and break if they are old..

its really easy.. do it at a friends house or something..

~Billy

[Rob@USC]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by V6Bob:
The "1LE" bars people are talking about are the 32/21 bars GM used only for a few cars ten years ago and then dumped for 32/19. They have the same 21mm rear as the BMRs, which causes the tail happiness that was noted.

Your car will feel a lot better than stock with these bars, no argument and no question. That is why people are recommending them. But your car will handle better with a smaller rear bar than the 21, also no question.

Swaybars absolutely should be matched with springs. The 32/21 bars were designed to go with V8 springs, and the 21 was a little too big even with those springs. On V6 springs, with soft fronts, the 21 is simply wrong. Bigger is not better here.<hr></blockquote>

Do you know where I can get the 19mm bar? So it would be better if I got the V8 springs (1LE - mod encyclopedia says they're the WS6 ones)? Where can I find these? Since these are (basically) OEM (on WS6), these won't lower the car too much, will they?

Thanks for all the input already, I hope to be ordering within a week or two. Anyone who has done business with gmpartsdirect, how long did it take to get the parts delivered?

Rob

[V6Bob]

The 19 rear is stock on most every 4th gen V8 GM ever made, including almost all 1LEs. You could get it at a GM dealer or partsdirect or a junkyard.

You said:

"I'm good at saving money for what I want and believe in doing something right the first time so I don't have to replace a medeocre part for a better one later down the road."

It's always better to have a suspension package (springs/shocks/bars) designed by a pro, instead of some amateurs (like me) guess at a mixture of parts. The only thing I know for sure is the fact that the 21 is too big, especially on V6 springs, and even moreso if the V6 is a 98-02.

The 1LE springs (GM dealer or partsdirect) won't change the ride height of your car very much, but I don't know how much. I know some people here have them, you might post a message asking that question.

[ June 20, 2003: Message edited by: V6Bob ]</p>

[Rob@USC]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by V6Bob:
It's always better to have a suspension package (springs/shocks/bars) designed by a pro, <hr></blockquote>

Now I'm getting scared I'm going to screw up my handling and make it unsafe. Does anyone know/recommend a pro that I could talk with and get this taken care of? I would greatly appreciate it and feel better.

Rob

[FirebirdGT]

I'll repeat:

I have the 32/21mm sway bars WITH the stock V8 front and rear springs. Also the 1LE LCA and PHR. This is the factory 1LE suspension package for 1993. If you are concerned with potential oversteer (which I don't appear to have) get the 19mm instead of the 21mm rear bar.

And a Hotchkis STB.

I like the way it handles. BTW it is a coupe (no T-tops) which may contribute to my handling.

[V6Bob]

I not trying to scare you. I'm just trying to counterbalance the people who slap 32/21s (which were designed for V8 springs and rejected by GM) on V6 springs without really understanding what they're doing, and then tell everyone it's the thing to do. I know that's a bad setup, especially for an 98-02. If you did a complete 1LE deal, springs/bars(32/19)/shocks, I don't see how you could go wrong. GM designed that package. SLP also makes a handling package for the V6. You are right to treat these mods with respect, but there are good ways to go.

The pro to talk to about this is Sam Strano. It's:

www.stranoparts.com

Sam has been quite generous with his telephone time for many of us.

[ June 20, 2003: Message edited by: V6Bob ]</p>