What is the best $200 or less suspension mod? I hear Steve Spohn has the best suspension products.

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86' IROC-Z
5.0L TPI
Stock(for now)

 

If I were starting out with a stock car, I would be looking at (1) a good allignment and (2) some decent shocks. I got a decent set of KYB struts for about $200. A lot of guys will tell you to get adjustable Koni's or
something like that. I think thats great if you're auto crossing, road racing, etc. But if you're a street guy and you're going just set your shocks in the middle adjustment and leave it there, those shocks aint nuthin but sig enhancement. And ya ain't gonna get those for 200 bucks. Hope I didn't just start a riot.

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Nor Cal Mike
Red 84 Z28 HO, stock L82 350, L69 carb, intake, and air cleaner.
5 Spd, 3:73 Posi, 1 5/8" SLP headers, 3"cat connected to
stock L69 exhaust, KYB's, homemade SFC's,STB and wonderbar
Some are faster but mine's fast enough.

 

The best bet is to replace all of those old bushings with poly-urethane or poly-graphite.

Just my $0.02 on the matter...

 

I'll second that motion.

Mike

 

Depends if ya want to road race or drag race.

 

Neither. I just want something to make it ride better, handle better, corner better and anything else suspension does. I'll be doing it little by little, paycheck by paycheck, so I will have to do each mod at a time.

 

I like NorCalMike and Raven's ideas.. altho it might put you a bit over $200.

http://www.p-s-t.com ($159) and http://www.energysuspension.com both sell front end rebuild kits. PST's polygraphite is $159, ES's polyurethane kit is $118 (ES part #3-18115) through http://www.summitracing.com . Click on "search" near the top right of this page to search for "polygraphite polyurethane" and you should find all the old debates as to which is better

Then score some new front struts. Summit has KYB "GR-2" front struts (KYB-236001) for $50 each.

Then, after rebuilding the front suspension and doing the struts, you'll need an alignment- no way out of that one. In fact you'd have to get an alignment after doing either job.

So.. $118 (kit) + $100 (struts) + $40 (alignment) = $260 .. and that's assuming you do the work yourself.


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-Tom P (Hot rodded 1986 Firebird 2.8l) from http://www.f-body.net/mailbag/3rd/3rd_mailbag.html message boards
---Think your car could be pic of the week? Visit http://www.f-body.net for details!

 

If you don't go with the bushings then I would definitely go with a good set of subframe connectors like the ones from SSM or Steve Spohn. Especially if you have t-tops.

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1991 Z28 - 350 TPI, T56, McLeod street clutch, ported plenum & runners, AFPR, Holley Annihilator ignition box and wires, Hooker shorty headers w/o AIR, Flowmaster muffler, homeade ram-air, SSM subframe connectors, Kenny Brown STB, Global West steering box brace, Steve Spohn adjustable torque arm and T56 crossmember

 

I just put polyurathane bushings and KYB struts on my car and it handles 10 times better than before. So if you want it to handle better for a reasonable price i would go with that.

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85 Trans AM
305 5sp
180,000 miles
KYB struts front shocks rear
polyurathane bushings
solid panhard bar
new world class t-5
new clutch

 

I way second the SSM subframe connectors!

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84 Camaro ZZ4 with HOT cam. 1.88 60' (12.98 @ 105MPH E.T.)
Other Mods: You name it and I have probably changed it.

2001 Dodge Ram Quad Cab 5.9L 4*2

The Bowtie
ASE Certified Auto Tech
LIVE AND DIE BY THE ALMIGHTY BOWTIE!

 

What about ball joints, centerlink and idler arm? What do they do? Any prices or brands or certain quantity I need?

 

Only if your old ones are worn out. Moog or TRW are good replacement pieces. You can get TRW at any Advanced Auto Parts. Not sure which store sells Moog.

 

I still say do the bushings first....

Then do Subframes...

My personal prefrence for quality is Spohn's.. for subframes, LCA's, or Torque Arm....

He has the highest quality parts so far for 3rd and 4th gens, plus he is also a supportor for Thirdgen.org. You just can't beat his commitment to us 3rd/4th gen owners....

 

The front end rebuild kits should come with new balljoints, at least the PST one does...

 

Just my opinion, but PST carries everything for a front end rebuild. I bought a full front end rebuild kit in polygraphite, KYB Shocks/struts, sway bars, idler arm, and tie rod ends. All of it seems to be great quality. I just put in an order for Spohn suspension parts in the rear, so I'll let you know how everything works out. Once I get everything, I'm going to hook it up. I did spend around $2,000 on my suspension though.