scot w.
GNSperformance.com
- Joined
- Feb 19, 2005
- Messages
- 8,810
Okay guy's here is another install by us and the great crew @ RideTech. They recently came out with an entry level line of suspension for people who didn't want to brake the bank in order to get a real nice ridding car and upgraded suspension and it's called "Street Grip". They have installed this Street Grip G-Body suspension on a Cutlass & Monte Carlo SS so far but then contacted me cause they wanted to install one on a turbo Regal which was a Great idea since the cars DID Vary a little bit and we found some variances between them. Together we do this so your install goes flawless and to give us all the information we need to help you guy's in the event you have an issue.
*** Here is the good Part, The whole suspension for only $2,500.00! And for a limited time we will do FREE SHIPPING & Free hat or shirt...
So enough with that stuff let's get started showing you the install.
We started with Donnie Brooks T-Type - Pictured below is a BEFORE Picture:
We arrived at the RideTech facility:
Once arrived we unloaded the car and immediately we pulled the car in the garage and measured the ride height of the car front & rear. Then we scaled the car to get scale weights front & rear. Plus the car was driven around RideTech's Test Track for some before & after video on how the car handles. (Video of that soon to come )
Fender Lip to floor @ wheel center measurements:
DF - Before- 26 1/2" / After- 24 3/4" --- PF - Before- 26 7/16" / After- 24 3/4"
DR - Before- 27 1/2" / After- 24 9/16" ---- PR - Before- 27 1/2" / After- 24 11/16"
Corner Weights:
DF = 959 - PF = 952 ................ Total Front = 1911 ............ % = 57.1
DR = 712 - PR = 723 ................ Total Rear = 1435 ............ % = 42.9....... Total Weight = 3,346
Here is the box that the entire suspension comes in, another box comes with the 2" Drop spindles
Below shows everything included:
4 - Single Adjustable shocks
4 - Variable rate coil springs
2 - Sway Bars (Larger Than Stock) with mounting hardware and new bushings
2 - 2" Drop Spindles
1 - Bag of New Delrin upper & lower front A-arm bushings
2 - front Tall ball joints
Here we done the rear, very simple swap with one "Note" mentioned below: Some may question why the shocks are mounted upside down, well it's simply easier to reach the knob for making shock adjustments. Don't worry about rock chips dinging the shaft cause the seal isn't at the end of the shock body so they won't leak. If so there is a Million Mile warranty so if for any reason they do, they will be taken care of.
"NOTE" In the instructions they MAY instruct you to install a small aluminum 1/2'' spacer between the shock mount & the lower shock bracket on the car. This small spacer IS "NOT" NEEDED on the turbo Regal's as it may have been necessary on the MCSS and the Cutlass. Once you install the top of the shocks to the upper you will see that the shock sits Perfectly against the lower shock mount. Simply use the included hardware and bolt them in so they look like the image below...
Now onto the front install. Removing & replacing the ball joints & Bushings will be the worst of this install. Once you're past that it's easy sailing.
Here the upper A-arms were cleaned and the ball joints & Bushings installed.
Once all the bushings & ball joints are installed in the upper and lower A-arms and installed back on the car it's time to install the new 2" Drop spindles. NOTE: These new drop spindles have a gusset on the back of them that interferes with the OEM stop on the lower A-arm.
*** You MUST mark and cut off the top portion of the OEM stop on the lower A-arm otherwise you will NOT have full turning radius.
** Here it shows the mark we made on the stop for removal. We followed the contour of the lower arm and just removed what was above it.
*** Here we are moving the top portion of the OEM stop with a sawzall.
NEXT PAGE...
*** Here is the good Part, The whole suspension for only $2,500.00! And for a limited time we will do FREE SHIPPING & Free hat or shirt...
So enough with that stuff let's get started showing you the install.
We started with Donnie Brooks T-Type - Pictured below is a BEFORE Picture:
We arrived at the RideTech facility:
Once arrived we unloaded the car and immediately we pulled the car in the garage and measured the ride height of the car front & rear. Then we scaled the car to get scale weights front & rear. Plus the car was driven around RideTech's Test Track for some before & after video on how the car handles. (Video of that soon to come )
Fender Lip to floor @ wheel center measurements:
DF - Before- 26 1/2" / After- 24 3/4" --- PF - Before- 26 7/16" / After- 24 3/4"
DR - Before- 27 1/2" / After- 24 9/16" ---- PR - Before- 27 1/2" / After- 24 11/16"
Corner Weights:
DF = 959 - PF = 952 ................ Total Front = 1911 ............ % = 57.1
DR = 712 - PR = 723 ................ Total Rear = 1435 ............ % = 42.9....... Total Weight = 3,346
Here is the box that the entire suspension comes in, another box comes with the 2" Drop spindles
Below shows everything included:
4 - Single Adjustable shocks
4 - Variable rate coil springs
2 - Sway Bars (Larger Than Stock) with mounting hardware and new bushings
2 - 2" Drop Spindles
1 - Bag of New Delrin upper & lower front A-arm bushings
2 - front Tall ball joints
Here we done the rear, very simple swap with one "Note" mentioned below: Some may question why the shocks are mounted upside down, well it's simply easier to reach the knob for making shock adjustments. Don't worry about rock chips dinging the shaft cause the seal isn't at the end of the shock body so they won't leak. If so there is a Million Mile warranty so if for any reason they do, they will be taken care of.
"NOTE" In the instructions they MAY instruct you to install a small aluminum 1/2'' spacer between the shock mount & the lower shock bracket on the car. This small spacer IS "NOT" NEEDED on the turbo Regal's as it may have been necessary on the MCSS and the Cutlass. Once you install the top of the shocks to the upper you will see that the shock sits Perfectly against the lower shock mount. Simply use the included hardware and bolt them in so they look like the image below...
Now onto the front install. Removing & replacing the ball joints & Bushings will be the worst of this install. Once you're past that it's easy sailing.
Here the upper A-arms were cleaned and the ball joints & Bushings installed.
Once all the bushings & ball joints are installed in the upper and lower A-arms and installed back on the car it's time to install the new 2" Drop spindles. NOTE: These new drop spindles have a gusset on the back of them that interferes with the OEM stop on the lower A-arm.
*** You MUST mark and cut off the top portion of the OEM stop on the lower A-arm otherwise you will NOT have full turning radius.
** Here it shows the mark we made on the stop for removal. We followed the contour of the lower arm and just removed what was above it.
*** Here we are moving the top portion of the OEM stop with a sawzall.
NEXT PAGE...
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