Hello all,

I have been surfin here for awhile but do not post to often. With Christmas comin up I am forced to pick out some suspensions components. My car is in the sig, an 89 GTA with a 350. I will have to be ugrading the rear calipers and also getting subframe connectors. With my money left over I would like to add KYB-GR2 struts and Gas-A-Just rear shocks, and hopefully Eiback sportline springs. My question comes in the springs. What all will I have to change to make the sportline springs work correctly. Or would it be better to just go for the Pro-Kit, I would rather the 2" drop, but if that means a whole bunch more parts then I guess not. I have searched on this alot, and cannot really find a solid answer on the set-up I would like to run. So what all would I need to run the sportline kit? I have heard you would need LCA relocation brackets, but then would i need new LCA's? Also, would I need an Adj. Panhard bar? If you have any idea of pricing of all these components it would be much appreciated. Also I live in Canada, so if anybody has canadian prices that would help!

 

If you could include the best comanies for their prices for all the parts that would also help! Thanks alot.

 

no you can use your old LCA's with the relocation brackets and
yes you should get an adjustable panhard bar (cheap ~100$USD ~150$CAND)

ps if you want to get bigger wheels in the future then youll want to post this question on the appearance board where all the wheel junkies hang out. theyll tell you if you will have problems with a big drop and big rims.

 

The more you change the ride height of the car, the more you change the suspension geometry. So the lower you go, the more likely you are going to notice differences in the way your car handles. Things like the LCA relocation brackets and a Baer bumpsteer kit will allow you to fix the suspension geometry after the car is lowered. You might not notice any side effects from lowering, it all depends on how you drive. Its not really that much to fix the geometry compared to some aftermarket suspension components avaliable. Like you said you'd need the LCA relocation brackets (like $70), the bumpsteer kit ($99) and an adjustable panhard bar to level the rear ($100-$150). You can also do these mods in stages. I recommend you do the lowering but if the car feels unstable when you take turns hard then you might want to look into correcting the geometry. The LCA relocation brackets are a good mod even if you dont care about suspension geometry because they prevent wheelhop (all too common with our cars). Also remember that the drop height advertised on the box (1" or 2") does not always come out to those specs in real life. Stock springs will sag over time so if you have alot of miles (and our cars are all 10+ years old already) you might be supprised after installing the springs. Some people who install the Pro-Kit report that their ride height is now higher than it was before because the stock springs were sagg'd. Whatever you do, be sure to get progressive rate springs. I say just go for the Sportlines.

 

Check out the Thunder Racing lowering kit - Eibach spring and BMR adjustable panahard with relo brackets - $350 USD

 

Thanks CrazyHawaiian for your help, I think I am deffinately gonna go for the sportline kit then, pick up a set of LCA's and then later on get the adj. panhard bar.. Like I mentioned I have to also get the shocks/struts and rear calipers so funds might run a little low after all that! Also, I love the color of your 91, soon as I borrow my friends digital camera I hope to get some pics up.

George, where might I find a site for the thunder racing kit?

 

www.thunderracing.com

 

I would recommened eibach sportline over prokit springs.I had prokit springs they lowered the back a little and raised the front it didn't look good.I now have jamex it looks a lot better.

 

Great big red banner at the top of the page that says "THUNDER RACING"....

I'm curious...why are you wanting to change out your rear calipers? You have an '89 car which already has the "1LE" spec aluminum calipers and the bigger @ 11" rotors? I don't get it....all you need to do is upgrade to a set of 1LE front calipers and rotors and you'll have one of the best braking systems our cars can have.

Good luck with the mods!

Ed

 

ebmiller88- I am replacing the calipers because my old ones are shot. They rattle alot, and don't even stop well anymore. I replaced the front about a month ago didn't have the funds for the back, also weren't too bad then, but now they don't work.

 

You might just look into rebuilding them instead of buying new ones...they're $70 each at Auto Zone with a $70 core. A rebuild kit is only $15 or so.

If you get rid of them, shoot me an e-mail and I'll probably buy them to offset your cost. I could always use caliper parts.

Ed

 

I'd get the kit from thunder racing. It's about the best kit available to simplify lowering your car. - CrazyHawaiian definitely knows the limitations to a suspension system, and knows what will do what. I think he's slid his cars around enough corners to know