I am about to start the process of restoring my 88 Iroc Convertible. I have decided to start with the front end and the suspension.

Can anyone recommend a good (i.e. low cost but good quality) source for a front end rebuild kit? Also, aside from the GM dealer, where is a good place to get struts/shocks/springs? I had thought that the original shocks/struts were Blistein. Is that correct? Can I still get the original type? Which model is it? Where is a good (again, low cost, but reputable) source? I have heard shox.com is suppose to be a good place.

I'm not planning on road racing (or any type of racing), but just want to take it on weekend rides with my family. I'm not oppose to any upgrades, but want to try and keep it as stock as possible - so I would not want to lower it.

Thanks in advance for everyone's help!

 

I will try to help as much as I can. I am partway though a similar rebuild.
As far as suspension, you can get bilstein, which are relatively expensive, or you can go with KYB for a little less. If you want you can go with monroe for the best price, though a little softer ride. As far as springs and steering you can get all moog stuff ( its good stuff at a reasonable price) from most any parts store. Do a search and you will find stock numbers for any part.
I would stay away from the dealers, they nail you with pretty high prices for parts like that. shox.com has good prices, especially if you get both shocks and struts from them.

Chris

 

I'll be interested to see what others say because I am shopping for a front end rebuild too. I am looking at Spohn ($343) and PST ($159). The kits don't provide the same parts thus the price difference. My struts will be KYB GR-2 ($50 each). I will order struts from Summit. And the front end rebuild kit directly from either of the two vendors I just mentioned. I plan on staying with the stock brakes at this time. Not sure if I will get lowering springs at this time. If I do I would get them from Summit, but there are other sources. Probably the Eibach springs. Also I want to increase my sway bar from the stock 29/30 mm to 34 mm. Spohn has a sway bar that looks good. I am also thinking about replacing the upper strut mount. Finally I need to a strut tower brace. I have a carb so limited choices here - Edelbrock may be an option. But I am a welder so I think I can build a real nice custom brace that will fit my situation. Have fun!

 

https://www.thirdgen.org/techbb2/sho...hreadid=197895

see that thread. it lays out all the parts, to get moog, or higher quality from your local napa.

 

That was a pretty interesting link - it appears he had used tie rods, idler arms and ball joints are napa parts. I had thought napa parts were "generic/store brand" parts. Are they as good as brand names (don't really know of any, which is the purpose of my post).

Also, that thread lead to either using used WS-6 or Iroc springs or lowering the car, which I rather not do (using used or lowering springs). Is there a good (cheap and reputable) source for stock ride and height springs?

Is the energy suspension a good kit? I had thought those kits came with sway bar bushings? Is there any "complete" kit - just want to buy one kit and swap everything out. Don't want to get started to just to find out I should have gotten some other bushing....

That thread mentioned KYB shocks/struts - I had thought OEM were Bilstein (sp?). The KYB are a lot cheaper than the Bilstein, but I'm really looking to restoring the performance back to the original stock levels, I would consider beig a little better without sacrificing stock appearance or spending a ton of money.

Thanks again for everyone's help so far. Of course, now I just have more questions that I started with.

I'm a novice in the suspension game, so I'm really not sure what is "everything" I need to replace.

It looks like the list is the following:

Control Arm Bushings
Ball Joints (there is an upper and lower right?)
Inner Tie Rods
Outer Tie Rods
Tie Rod Sleeves
Idle Arm
Swaybar linkage (are these the thing on the sway bar ends that look like dumbbells??)
Swaybar Bushings
Front Struts
Rear Shocks
Rear Springs (there aren't any front springs - correct?)
Jam Nuts (what are these? Do they really need to be changed??)
Upper Strut Mounts (again, what are these? Do they really need to be changed?)

Should I also have the engine and transmission mounts changed as well or should I wait until I get the drive train rebuilt? What I really don't know is are these things that would be removed anyway during the suspension rebuild - I don't think so, but you never know?

Is there anything else I should start gathering for a suspension rebuild? How about steering linkages/components? I have heard about a ragjoint that causes slop in the steering wheel. Is this something that is easier to replace during a suspension rebuild or should is a steering rebuild a project upon itself?

 

There are front springs. They go between the control arm and the frame pretty much.

The upper strut mounts are the black things inside your engine bay with round plastic pices on top. They have a nut under the plastic pieces that conects to the top of the strut. Three small nuts hold them to the fender tower.

IF you change all of this stuff, you will need a front end alignment. If you plan to change the upper strut mounts (not normally needed unless you plan to change to spherical ones that some of the sponsers sell) you have to mark the old ones because their position can change the caster/camber of the front tires.

This work isn't that hard.... but i suggest you get a good repair manuel to help you.

 

Hey here's an option if you wanna go with Bilsteins. Not too sure how helpful this is, but I have a thread on how I went about getting my Eibach springs & Bilsteins shocks & struts here. The prices I paid for everything are at the end of the thread.

Eibach & Bilsteins Group purchase through WS6.com at Shox.com

Hope this helps

 

It has been previously discussed that some of the parts that NAPA carries are really just "boxed" as NAPA exclusive, but are actually manufactured by name brand manufacturers, in this instance, Federal Mogul/Moog. Their products are considered good quality and I have personally used their parts on my car and in my rebuild. Specifically, the NAPA Chassis Parts line in many instances has been highly recommended over the Moog stuff, so don't be quick to dismiss their parts.
Again, I see Moog recommended a lot for this, but I cannot since I have no experience with stock ride height replacements. I went with the Eibach Prokit.

I don't think there truly is a "complete" kit out there. You'll most likely find there are pieces missing. By the list of parts you have and some one else referencing PST, I think this is the most complete kit for the essentials. Unforunately the product source and quality has been debated (where or from whom they get their parts for their kits). Some one more reliable in their parts suppliers would be Performance Suspension Components (PSC), but again like the others, you'll still need to get some extra parts that arent included. The Spohn Moog kit has good quality parts, but is way overpriced. The line of parts at NAPA called Master Ride Chassis(MRC) is manufactured by Federal Mogul(Moog) and carry almost identical part numbers and you'll save plenty of $$$. With a AAA card you'll save even more. But the thing about any of these rebuilds is you'll always find something else you'll need. I think it would be better and more cost effecient to replace everything at once anyway, but purchasing individually. All the pieces of the puzzle will work better if they're all done at the same. One worn part and one new part= Learned that the hard way.
IIRC the Bilsteins came in only certain performance models and handling packages, not all models. Im not sure which ones or what years though The KYB's satisfy most people who purchase them, and they are considered to be the best you can buy for the price you pay. But there are better parts available. (Bilstein, QA1, Tokico, Koni, etc.)
You'll need a set of four for the fronts (also called a-arms)
and a set of four for the rear.
There is only a lower. It goes in each of the a-arm and holds the spindle.

Jam nuts are in reference to your tie rod sleeves which hold your inner and outer tie rods at your alignment specs. The stock sleeves are probably worn by now and replacing them would be a good idea. Also, in the link where you got all this info, there should be talk of solid tie-rod sleeves, which would be a good idea. Like joker said, the strut mounts do not always have to be changed, when I did my rebuild, the bearings in my strut mounts were fine so I left them alone.
No, you don't have to remove trans or eng mounts for this type of suspension rebuild, but you'll pretty much be replacing every rubber piece in your car, so an extra four couldn't hurt and you'll be down there anyway. But if you do one, MAKE SURE you do the other.
I think everything is pretty much covered here. You'll be taking care of most of the steering linkage pieces with what you have listed, only thing missing is the centerlink.(Connects the inner tie rods-Don't remember how necessary this is, but again, why not?)
Other than that, you can wait if you want to change out the draglink, rebuild your steering box, or change out any joints in the steering shaft, etc. Thats all engine bay work and can be done separately. If this doesnt help I dont know what will.
Good luck with it all.
-Efrain.
P.S.- Almost forgot some critical components. Please, seriously considering getting the following two things for your vehicle over everything else, they should have been required from the factory.
1. Get a wonderbar (also called a steering brace). It mounts at the same holes at the front sway bar and adds support from flex due to the steering box. This also helps prevent any cracks from occuring at the steering box mount- potential danger. Our board sponsor Top Down Solutions sells these and is highly recommended by myself and others.
2. Sub-frame connectors. It doesn't matter what kind you get, because anything is better than stock. Again, TDS sells them at fair prices. If you want debate over what kind to get and why, try a search. There is plenty of info out there for any question you might have.

 

I just pieced all my parts together for my suspension rebuild, and since I also upgraded the rear suspension at the same time, didn't need some of the bushings that came in a whole kit. I do suggest replacing the motor mounts and trans mount while you have it all apart. The motor mounts aren't easy to get to but they sure are when you have the springs out.

As for springs, a lot of guys on the F-body mailing list have been very happy with Moog replacement stock springs for a nice firm ride and a price tag of only $50 or so for the fronts. I have Eibachs and love the ride so if you find a deal on them, go for it. They really don't drop the car that much lower.

I got my KYBs from Tire Rack but I'd stick with shox.com for a good deal, I kinda think they're the same place anyway.

For a step by step how to, click the link in my sig. I walk you thru the whole rebuild and also a brake upgrade.


HTH....Ed

 

The NAPA parts alone are $348.

$20 for the Coleman Racing stuff

and..

$41 for the sway-bar bushings equaling $409

You actually save $20 by getting the Spohn kit rather than piecing it together. The Spohn kit includes all of those NAPA/Moog parts and he replaces the Coleman stuff with his own. It doesn't include the sway bar bushings either. I didn't price the control arm bushings yet.

Just thought I would share.