david roush

iTrader: (1)

Thinking of beefing up the suspension a little....everything is pretty much stock right now....definitly want to give it a 1" drop but where is the best place to get started as far as what parts to buy and brands ?

adambros

iTrader: (2)

how about starting with a

don't mean to be rude - but theres a ton of info here already on ways to improve the stock suspension. Try searching on "bilstein, eibach, springs, struts, torque arm, sub-frame connectors, wonder-bar, stb"

david roush

iTrader: (1)

okay...i can handle that...but don't think i'll find advice on the best place to start...for example on a stock engine one of the best place to start is new exhaust/headers. Just trying to find out what's best to start changing around and then so on and so on.

adambros

iTrader: (2)

Check out the link to spohn performance above -- a lot of people here trust their suspensions to them.
As for where to start I'd suggest tires, struts, shocks. Which brand / types really depend on what type of driving you want to do, but i'll leave that up to you
Springs, bushings, sway bars, and sfc's are great additions.
Finally, lca's, panhard bar, wonder bar, stb, relocation brackets, and torque arm.

These are the most common mods and needless to say will really make a big difference.

RTFC

Shocks and struts.

If you intend on keeping your car and building it into a handling toy,(in other words, not planing on ever selling it) then save your money and buy the very best roadracing shocks and struts you can afford. The best over the counter for cornering performance is Koni yellows.

This and tires are the two very best things you can ever do to ANY car to make it handle its best. Without "great" shocks/struts and "great" tires, anything else you do peformance wise to make the car handle its very best will be pointless. If you are going more towards daily comfort and decent performance then buy Bilsteins. Sorry to others but anything else over-the-counter is just skimping on performance and saving money.

SDIF

What tires are you planning to run?

If you are going to use a non track day tire (ie daily driver tire) I would go with the cheaper koni red shocks and go with a the WS6 /Z28 sway bar package. This is earier than changing springs and should be as effective without giving a harsh ride.

Change the allignment to as much camber and caster as you can get set toe to zero and ride on. The alligment will help with turn in and make the car more FEEL more stable.

If you run the front tire pressure at 36 and the rear at 28 with a stock type tire 245/50/16 it will help take the low speed push out of the car and make for even tire wear. Car is much heavier in the front than the rear.

Unbalanced engineering make a kit to lower the rear roll center which will help make the car VERY predictable and easy to catch if you loose it.

Try the tire pressure first. It cost nothing and will demonstate how changing the grip from one end to the other changes the handling chararistics.

This
Unless the tires are up to the task you are just washing money.

david roush

iTrader: (1)

Thanks for the help.......alot of good info there.....i am currently running 245/45/16 yokahama ES 100's for tires. Just looking for idea's for better handling and something to get more grip. I have SFC but haven't installed them yet and the car just wants to sit there and spin the tires all the time, which gets old after awhile.

Souseless

What I did not see and I can't believe Dean did not ask is what do you nwant the car to do. straight line, autocross, or road course. By the way I have the same tires and love them for street grip. Dean is right in all directions as tires and shock are the most important but what do you want to do.

RTFC

Souseless, You are correct on that one. I jumped to the conclusion that David was looking for handling when I suggested good "roadrace" shocks. I will coorect myself and suggest that if it is more geared towards drag racing that you seek, then still shocks and tires, however it would be drag shocks & drag tires instead of roadrace.

I stand corrected Thank you souseless.

Dean