Installed the sway bars!!!

[Abaddon]

Re: Installed the sway bars!!!

actually on our cars you are really only hitting the air dam that stick straight down on our cars... helps cool the engine... sound horrible during scrape but really isn't, happens to me all the time... the bad one is when you go over big speed bumps and bam! you nail the underside of the car on the way down... not good

I know about the air dam. I go slowly over everything. You just haven't seen my driveway. It's a city street and has one of those curbs that keeps water from running down the driveway. I'm getting some concrete this weekend (if it doesn't rain) to level it out. The first time I came across it and hit the frame of the car, I knew something had to be done.

Don't you just love the sound of the air dam scraping the ground when you make a hard turn out of a low driveway? Everyone around you looks at you like you just hit a deer. Heh

[T-Punk]

Re: Installed the sway bars!!!

I'm certainly not looking for lowering springs. I like the stance of the car the way it is. I bottom out leaving my driveway on occasion as it is. The original shocks seem to still be doing their job but I'm not opposed to replacing them. I've read article saying they should have been replaced already due to the mileage.

I'm considering the Bilstein HDs because I've read good things about them. Would they work well with the 32mm front and 21mm rear sway bars from Suspension Techniques?

The shocks would be fine if you are keeping stock springs. However a 21mm rear bar would be way way to big for the stock springs. I would just upgrade the front bar to either a hollow 32mm from a SS/WS6 or the hollow 35mm Strano bar (The Strano bar would offer the better handling characteristics but is more expensive). There is no reason to use a solid front bar over a hollow bar, it's just more weight. The stock rear bar would probably be fine but if the car feels a bit disjointed a stock 17mm bar from one of the earlier V6 cars would probably be enough to fix that. If you have one of the cars with the 17mm bar already and the car still feels disjointed a 19mm might be needed but I doubt that will be the case. A big rear bar is just not required on these cars.

[Abaddon]

Re: Installed the sway bars!!!

The shocks would be fine if you are keeping stock springs. However a 21mm rear bar would be way way to big for the stock springs. I would just upgrade the front bar to either a hollow 32mm from a SS/WS6 or the hollow 35mm Strano bar (The Strano bar would offer the better handling characteristics but is more expensive). There is no reason to use a solid front bar over a hollow bar, it's just more weight. The stock rear bar would probably be fine but if the car feels a bit disjointed a stock 17mm bar from one of the earlier V6 cars would probably be enough to fix that. If you have one of the cars with the 17mm bar already and the car still feels disjointed a 19mm might be needed but I doubt that will be the case. A big rear bar is just not required on these cars.

So the best option would be to change the stock springs (any aftermarket springs that wouldn't lower the car?) and shocks but use a rear bar of less than 21mm?

[T-Punk]

Re: Installed the sway bars!!!

Yes that would be a great rout to go but make sure you upgrade the front bar (it makes a huge difference in handling). As far as springs go that don't lower your car you would need to find a set of 1LE springs. They would not be easy to find though. The spring rates on the 1LE's are 360# front and 130-180# progressive rears. It's not a bad setup but you won't be taking advantage of the lower CG that a 1-1.5" drop would offer. Other than that you could go for the 3/4" lowering kit from SLP. It drops the car the least of all the kits out there. They are progressive front and back with a 223-448# front and a 97-136# rear sping rates. I'm not a huge fan of that kit but it would be far superior to the stock springs and most who have it seem to like it. Now as I have said if handling is really what you are going for the strano springs just can't be beat. They are linear springs which I like a lot more and the 1.25 drop is great because it offers that lowered CG but isn't enough to throw off your suspension geometry or cause you to bottom out all the time like a 2" drop will. The spring rates on those are 550 front and 150 back. Now that might not be what you need which is why I would recommend talking to Sam before you go buy anything. He sells almost every brand and always trys to get what would be best for your particular needs. I've bought a lot from him lately and talked to him and he is just a great guy. Feel free to email me if you need the link to his site or his phone #.

[Abaddon]

Re: Installed the sway bars!!!

Sounds good. I may do that. A 1.25" drop or 1.5" drop might not be too bad considering I'm going to fix my driveway. I just hate dragging the air dam as it is, you know? I'm afraid lowering it any might cause me to tear the damn thing clean off one day!

How do most people get under their cars to do this kinda mod since you have to get under the front end? With the length of the nose on the car, can you just drive it up on stands or is there a better way? I'm not blessed enough to have a hydraulic jack in the garage. :)

[T-Punk]

Re: Installed the sway bars!!!

To do shocks/springs you will need a jack and stands. This is because you will need to have the wheels off the car with the suspension as unloaded as possible. You will also need a spring compressor for the front and various hand tools. If you aren't very mechanically inclined this would be a good thing to pay someone to do because if you screw up with the front springs they could very well mame or kill you. Just try to be safe and ask plenty of questions.

As for the air dam, yeah I hate when it drags too. It is just one of those sounds that pisses me off. However it takes a lot to tear it off. the 1.25-1.5 is definitely doable for DD and it's what I'll be moving to when I get the my TA. Make sure you pair the right shocks with the right springs though no matter what.

[Abaddon]

Re: Installed the sway bars!!!

I see. I've used a spring compressor before...hate those things. The little "Made in China" sticker on the side of them never give me much confidence. I may just take it down to the local speed shop and let them handle it, though. That way if something goes wrong, I'd have someone to sue. ;) Thanks for the advice.

[T-Punk]

Re: Installed the sway bars!!!

No problem and good luck. I hope you are happy with whatever you choose.