Tweet
dont feel like listing everything right now but pretty much sway bar, panhard, torque bar, ect ect ect. i have lower control arms that i just put in and want more, lol. i was just wondering what everyone thinks is the best out of all the suspension, and what to do first for preferences and maybe if im changing one thing, and something else is accessible than i could do both at the same time. im not really sure about actual springs and shocks or whatever yet, i want to do all of this with just me and my cousin so i dont have to pay more so i dont want things to be too difficult. so, any input on where you think i should start or maybe some tips like what not to buy or whatever. any help is greatly appreciated, thanks.
-
-
Re: Upgrading all suspension
Depends on what kind of suspension you're looking for. I'm assuming just a highway ramp eater, heh. In any case, I've been in your shoes before, shopping around, trying to combine a bunch of things together... The place that seems to have f-body handling down is Sam Strano's company in Pennsylvania. It's strictly for performance though, not really looks. Check their website out for more info... http://www.stranoparts.com/frontpage.php That's the link for the F-body suspension packages (both drag and track). As far as the best thing you could get for your car... Buy springs and shocks at the same time and install them at the same time. -
Re: Upgrading all suspension
Shocks and springs will make the biggest change in handling out of anything. Also what kind of LCA's do you have and what bushings. Whatever you do don't just throw money at it and hope it works. Please, research and ask lots of questions, even if you feel stupid doing so. If you call Sam Strano he will help you out a lot in figuring out what would be good for YOU, he doesn't just recommend the same thing for everyone. If he does help you out a lot (which he most likely will), you should buy from him, it's wrong to get all your info and help from one guy only to spend your money elsewhere. Besides his prices are competitive anyway. When you get back with what you want out of your car I'll give you my personal recommendations but until I know what you want I can't really give any advice. Good luck.2001 Arctic White Firebird With Black Drop Top<br /><br />3:42 Gears<br />Zexel LSD<br />BMR upper A-Arms<br />Trans Am exhaust with 3\" I-pipe and cutout<br />Modified intake<br />Mecham Hood<br />Trans Go shift kit<br />Making rear control arms and panhardComment
-
Re: Upgrading all suspension
i got the control arms from my cousin for 50 bucks, he got them for 100 on ebay, they are UMI i think, or something like that. do you think ebay would be good to buy the parts from seeing as they are almost always cheaper?Comment
-
Re: Upgrading all suspension
If you don't know what a part is for don't change it first off. I'll try to give you my personal opinion on how the car should be set up since you won't tell me what you are wanting out of the car. I'll do this as a budget build with a focus on handling rather than 1/4 mile times (basically a good street setup). First off odds are you don't have a good set of LCA's for a street driven car. You probably have Poly bushings which bind causing the rear end to act like it has a large rear sway bar which induces oversteer (fun but not desirable for a steet car). What you want is something that offers the proper articulation required by this part to keep handling pretty neutral but have low deflection to keep wheel hop down. If you still have your stock LCA's you can get some Moog bushings to put in those for about 40 bucks (plus 20 bucks for a shop to press them in for you). These are a much better designed bushing than the stock ones and are made of a harder rubber so it will help reduce wheel hop but won't bind. The other option I tend to give people who want aftermarket arms are the 3piece poly ball J&M LCA's from www.hotpart.com. They should have a long life as poly normally does but the design of these won't bind like normal LCA's. Next is what really matters for handling, shocks and springs. These must be upgraded if you want the car to handle better. I would recommed bilstein HD's and Hotchkis springs. Neither of these parts are perfect but are acceptable. THe HD's do a decent job of damping the springs and the the Hotchkis springs drop the car about an inch (making them acceptable to use with the bilsteins) and have spring rates that are forgiving but geared towards handling. After those are done you can move on to sway bars. On a budget I'd go with the 32mm front off an SS or WS6 and the 19mm rear bar off of almost any 4th gen V8 car. The last thing you might need to upgrade is the PHB. The only reason you would need this is if you rear end is not centered after you lower it. If it isn't I'd suggest the Spohn on car adjustable PHB with poly bushings on either side. This will allow the proper adjustment but the long life offered by poly (this part won't have the proble with bind that LCA's do). Don't worry too much about another other parts at the moment, they usually don't need to be upgraded for a street car. Oh, also stay away from rod ends. They are noisey, have a short lifespan, and can become unsafe if not replaced when needed.
John.2001 Arctic White Firebird With Black Drop Top<br /><br />3:42 Gears<br />Zexel LSD<br />BMR upper A-Arms<br />Trans Am exhaust with 3\" I-pipe and cutout<br />Modified intake<br />Mecham Hood<br />Trans Go shift kit<br />Making rear control arms and panhardComment
Comment