Suspension Choices VS my budget

[54Rich]

Seems all the suspension feeds are older and most pictures are no longer there. Wondering if there's been any updates to technology from any of the manufactures? This was an drag car, suspension is pretty tired and I'd like a bolt in kit that fits and would be nice if it didn't break the bank.

I need brakes updated as well, upgraded front, drums in back (Anyone still use S-10 wheel cylinders in back). Keeping the 15" Wheels for now (I know limits my brake choices). This will be a street car, stock engine/trans (Harden trans parts, meth). All the body braces are done along with body mounts. I want a nice riding car that will handle corners. These things are easy to spend money on.

UMI, BMR, QA1, RideTech, Detroit Speed, Hotchkis, Speedtech - any advantages? Looking at stage/level 2 kits with shocks, 1" drop.

Baer Brakes, Wilwood, who else?

Looking for feedback.

Thanks,
Rich

 

[1KB3]

I’m interested in any opinions on this as well. Similar story with my car, was a drag car, tired suspension, looking for a nice handling suspension kit with good street manners.

 

[TType85]

I have a full RideTech coil over. control arms, sway bars and the UMI rear upper shock brace and the jeep steering shaft on my car. It handles really well but is a bit stiff compared to stock suspension. I did do rubber body bushings too so it It isn't harsh. I also have the GNX style rear seat brace (Chad Dickey sells this style and it's a great piece) and the front bars from the frame horn to the frame rails to stiffen the car up.

The kit is about $5500 so it is not cheap but I like it.

If you are not running GN steel wheels you can do the blazer brake upgrade but it is not really going to add a ton of extra braking. The Baer SS4's were nice brakes but on my car I could not get rid of loud squeal (think road race car loud). For street driving the S-10 wheel cylinders can cause the rears to lock up easier. I went with 18" GNX Replicas and C6 Z51 brakes (13.5" dual piston front / 13" single piston rear)

REAR:

FRONT (When I had the SS4)

 

[outatime86]

Lots of time and experience posted above, facts.

 

[Mr.Spool]

I want a nice riding car that will handle corners.

There is a fine line there.
Shocks and tires alone will change everything.

 

[Pronto]

What's your budget? If it's tight just get some name brand rear lca's and rebuild the stock suspension with high durometer bushings. Pick some springs from here Moog Springs for High Performance Monte Carlo and G bodies If you add up all the cool guy parts and then throw in big brakes, rims and tires you can easily drop 10k.

 

[Jonasterg]

There was a write-up from Charlief1 and another user on rebuilding a mostly stock suspension years ago. I used it to redo mine and it worked great.

Parts were on this board and also on ihadav8. I'll look for the links later today.

 

[Pronto]

Yes, and there was another long thread called something like my low budget rebuild that covers building the suspension with stock style parts.

 

[Jonasterg]

Here are some threads:

Poor mans suspension upgrade info.

https://turbobuick.com/threads/suspension-and-steering-rebuild-for-beginners.376776/

The tb.com thread used to have amazing pictures... I think I saved it offline, maybe printed it out. I'll upload it if I can find it.