well, new to me. i just got mine in the mail. it's lookin great. i installed it...easiest thing so far for install. almost easier than changing the oil. test drive...great. since the front end rebuild and the sfc's the rear end felt kinda loose. this solved most of the problem. the rest i think is the springs/anti-roll bars

 

I would also install Spohn's Rear LCA to complete your project.

 

I'd install every single spohn part O_o haha so far I'm close to it and I'm pretty damn satisfied

 

yea i plan on finishing with spohn products. lca's and relocation next. then saving for the torque arm..

 

I just put my Spohn LCAs on yesterday. They were really easy to install too (although one bolt was rusted together pretty good).

 

The torque arm is bad ***...I can seriously feel the difference with it in the car. The rear end just feels like its being forced adn shoved to the ground. Traction on the launch and around turns is way way better.

 

Absolutly, the Spohn torque arm is awesome. I installed the kit for adding a TH350 and that thing has some potential. I am afraid to launch hard cause I can't afford a new rearend yet!

 

i was wondering. i read about the lca's relocators and how they have hole in an arch so you don't need to buy longer lca's. the thing is. what if i had adjustable lca's and lengthed them to fit further holes. WOULD longer lca's have any affect on traction. would longer be better or worse????????

 

Where exactly do these torque arms get mounted to? Where on the car are they? I'd like some too. -89IRO

 

The torque arm is mounted to the rearend housing and the rear of the transmission. THe Spohn Kit relocates the torque arm forward mount to the crossmember, where it should be in the first place. BTW, there is only ONE torque arm per car. You used torque armS, so I wanted to clarify this.

 

Oh ok cool, so I would only need one. Is this something that can be bolted in or would it have to be welded? -89IRO

 

89IRO, why are you getting all these parts when you don't know what they do, or even what they are? It's cool, more money for Spohn. Seriously, why spend it if you don't know the least bit about the part? It doesn't sound like you race.

The torque arm bolts in. No welding required, unless you want to change it for some reason.

 

Yeah, I agree guy. Instead of buy parts that you don't know much about, buy some books on the subject and read them cover to cover. Learn everything you can about how the suspension works and then you can buy the parts intelligently.

BTW what type of driving do you do?

 

Actually I never said I was going to go out and buy a torque arm. Isn't the point of this website to ask questions? I like learning as much as I can on anything, so that when (and if) I am ready to buy something I will know what I'm getting myself into, and know how it works. Sorry if I stressed you guys out over a few questions! -89IRO

 

Oh, and how do you know I don't race?

 

Amen!

 

That's all fine and good. Take your time and learn, don't jump into purchases. You mentioned you were short on $$.

Sure sounds like you were going to buy. Just trying to help a guy out from buying tons of stuff and not knowing what it all does or is for.

I read your posts about SFCs, LCAs, LCA brackets, etc. etc. etc., which is why I asked. Your comments about "needing" to get LCA brackets because some people said you needed it, for example, sounded like you were convinced by some comments by other folk who race.

As for not knowing if you raced or not, just a guess. People that race aren't completely ignorant of suspension (I'm not talking about hitting the gas with some goob from stoplight to stoplight). Going 150+ mph on a track and not knowing what your doing means you wouldn't be typing anything on this forum because you'll be a red smear on your shattered windshield.

As long as you understand that when some people say they need things, it sometimes comes from a different perspective. Example, AGood2.8 is a racer, and his needs are different than those that just pose. I don't know him, but I can pick it up from his posts. Other people may want things, for the bling-bling factor. Discrete differences from needing and wanting. Wanting is cool too, just that it costs $$ to pose.

Hope that helps, and I didn't mean to come down on you or anything. Just trying to open your eyes to all the "need" chatter on the forums.

 

Hey, my bad. No offense 89IRO. It just sounded to me like you were about to get in over your head. I have been in over my head plenty of times when I was younger and, for my experience, I probably wasted more of my time and money than I needed to. Keep asking questions, keep learning!!

 

Well, I'll tell you right now I don't race and don't plan on taking my baby to the track- these cars (in their stock) design weren't meant to go fast in a straight line anyways. Plus, my engine has 200,000 miles on it with a leaky axle seal. Just said it to wake you up, when you were quick to tell me I "probably" didn't race, but it's all good. Thanks for setting me straight on the torque arm thing- I had no idea it was really only useful for racing when you need to get as much torque to the back wheels as possible. But as for the LCA relocation brackets, there has been a lot more than one guy tell me that they are a good idea when lowering the car. Same with the panhard bar. I think I would put off the LCAs though. But the first thing I'm gonna do after my body work and tires is SFCs. Then, I'll work on shocks/struts, then I'll maybe look into lowering it. Well now that you all know the plan for my car, tell me what you think. Got to get back to the Laker game. -89IRO

 

They are a good idea, yes. It's not necessary though, just a recommendation to put the geometry back. No harm will come if it's off a bit and you won't be taking it to the edge to really discern if you do or don't need to get it. You're going for Pro Kits, right, that's just a small drop and you probably won't even need the LCA brackets. It doesn't hurt to get them, but it also won't hurt if you don't. Everything you do to your car, in terms of mods, is optional. It's a matter of what you want/need and how much you want to spend.

The SFCs are the biggest bang for the buck, followed by the strut tower braces, if you're talking suspension mods. Getting some extra jack points are always nice too (from the SFCs). You'd probably need to change the shocks and struts, if you are still on the OEM originals, so upgrading while you are repairing isn't a bad way to go.

The LCA and panhard rod is very easy to install, so getting it over time is good, if you are set on getting them.

Your plan sounds good, though I would probably do the shocks and springs together, but that's just me.

 

Well I guess I have just been too damn shy to say but I think the Spohn Torque Arm has been the single biggest improvement to traction out of all of it. Bite off the line, out of the twisties and... braking!

Have fun with your mods.

-Schultzy

 

Yeah, the SFCs are a "for sure" as far as the suspension mods go. And if I have some extra cash after them I'll get the Hotchkis STB. Yes, I want to get the Pro-Kit, the other one from Eibach would be too low for me. Your right, I could go ahead and install the bilstein or Koni (still undecided) shocks and struts, along with the springs all at the same time, and drive the car for a while and see how it handles. If I am satisified with it, I'll forget about (or at least put off) the panhard bar, LCAs, and brackets. So I'm just going to take it one step at a time. Which do you recomend for SFCs, Hotchkis or Spohn? Everyone here likes spohn, so that sounds good, but the only thing I don't like about the spohns is that you have to pay extra for the powder coated ones, however, with the Hotchkis ones, they come powder coated. But I live in So Cal and it's dry here, so I don't think I would have a rust problem. -89IRO

 

See, he's not a racer. LOL.

 

SFC are a great idea for any unibody car I think. Also after you lower your car you may want to use an adjustable panhard bar to be able to center the rear end housing in the car. When I put in my sfc and panhard bar I felt huge gains. Then the strut tower brace and rollcage really tied everthing together. I run Bilstein shocks and struts and I am happy with them. However when they wear out I doubt I will replace them with similar units, very expensive. Have fun.

 

89IRO
Picture of the Hotchkis STB intstalled over a TPI engine. This Mod is up there with the SFC's for tightening up the car.

 

I know it's a crappy pic, but maybe it'll help.

 

AJ- thanks for the diagram, it cleared some stuff up. DJ- one reason why I want to get the Hotchkis STB is because it looks downright bad-***- looks good! How do you like it? Did you actually feel the improvement? --89IRO

 

DJ- I know Hotchkis also makes one in silver, I think they call it like their "signiture edition" or something like that. Have you seen a picture of it in this color? If you know of one can you post it? I like the red, but if there is something that doesn't stand out as much (my car is white) then that would be even better. -89IRO

 

Never seen a Hothckis STB in silver, Sorry. I have had that red one on my car for the last six years.

 

Hotchkis makes the STB in Black, Red, Silver (signature edition) and polished aluminum.

Hotchkis Performance

-Schultzy