Need to rebuild my suspension and need advice...

[baller760]

I recently bought a 1986 Buick Grand National and I need to replace the shocks, springs, and body bushings. I may need to even rebuild the front end. Anyway, I have been searching on the boards trying to figure out what combination will best suit me but I'm still having a tough time deciding. I want a car that can go to the track a couple of times a month and still be streetable. Almost like a daily driver even though it won't be driven that often. I see Bilstein shocks are very popular and I was thinking of getting those for the rear. For the front I was thinking of some QA1 adjustables so I can set them for both street and race. Still, what do you guys recommend????

For springs I am completely clueless as to what to get. Right now I don't know if the car was lowered or not but it has 17'' American Racing Torque Thrusts on it with 275/50/17's on the rear and 245/45/17's on the front. I don't know if the lowered look would look better but I don't want to loose too much 60 ft. I would like to be able to cut at least 1.7's with slicks. I have heard about Moog springs but there are so many different part #'s that I can't keep up.

Finally, I need some body bushing as the ones I have are cracked and bulging. I have heard of energy suspension and some other company that starts with a P??? Anyway, what are the best bushings that are stiffer than stock but not so stiff that the car is vibrating like crazy. Just a little stiffer than stock I guess.

Thanks for the help guys.

 

[Gary Wells]

FWIW & IMHO:
Doing a search on this board, turbobuicks and t6p might bring up some interesting suspension set-ups.

This might be a start:
http://www.turbobuick.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=157140

HTH

 

[baller760]

Anyone else????

 

[Turbo6inKY]

Lots of searching, lots of reading.

 

[FBSideoiler427]

Baller,

This is not an attempt to bash you in public, but the "short cut" you may want to take may result in unexpected results and unsatisfied performance with an empty wallet.

I was in your shoes eeons ago and I started reading and researching on everything - performance, handling, costs, availability, serviceability, costs, reliability, costs - you get the picture.

If you step back and look at the sponsers of this board and other performance boards - they all offer good products - but they can only meet you half way about satisfying your need for a performance product.

No one other than you can predict your style of driving, braking, reaction times, spending habits, visual appeal, etc.

For instant, I am investigating and fabricating "stuff" which will change my instant center, modify my front and rear roll couple, alter my center of gravity AND run a 9 sec quarter mile coming out of a tool booth - all on a cloverleaf on the interstate.

I can recommend my combination of shocks, springs and bushings which, when installed in YOUR car, will not give your desired results. HTH.

 

[RAMAIR1]

Originally posted by FBSideoiler427
For instant, I am investigating and fabricating "stuff" which will change my instant center, modify my front and rear roll couple, alter my center of gravity AND run a 9 sec quarter mile coming out of a tool booth - all on a cloverleaf on the interstate.

I'm getting ready to rebuild my front end too, on the way to a total suspension overhaul. Your set up sounds exactly like what I'm trying to accomplish. Do tell what "stuff" your throwing together.

 

[FBSideoiler427]

RAMAIR1 - "Stuff" would include someone's front tubular upper and lower ctl arms, double adjustable shocks and progressive rate springs, taller than stock spindles, full size Chevy ball joints, spacers to change the roll center, Competition Engineering sway bars with double heim adjustability, AFCO or Coleman aluminum tie rod assemblies, Woodward steering box....

For the rear, I'm trying to fab up a torque arm which will eliminate the need for the upper control arms and attach itself to a 9" or the stock 10 bolt. Additionally, I'm experimenting with lower control arms which are at least twice as long as the stockers and attach in approximately the same location as the torque arm. Then there's the Watts linkage which will eliminate the arc of travel of the rear housing, Bilsteins and probably Suspension Techniques progressive rate springs.

 

[SPEEDSTAR]

Woodword steering

Whats up with the woodward steering box ,tell us more . I haven"t heard of it before , is it a quicker ratio, or better than stock in some way? JEFF