Evilokc

im planning to rebuild the steering and front suspension on my 91 firebird. im curious about a few things. ive done some searches and found some answers but there are always more questions than answers, my plan is to use eibach pro springs and koni struts and shock, j&m strut mounts, a 3 point strut tower brace, a wonder bar. 1) when im looking up steering rebuild kits tons pop up and the prices ranges from $114 to over $400. the two main brands I see are hotchis and proforged. thoughts on those two and is the quality difference worth the $150 price difference? 2) if im rebuilding both suspension including ball joints, maybe A-arm busihing and steering is there an order I should do this in? I don't want to put all the new suspension on and then have to pull it back off to do the steering.3) im going to call koni but when I read the information I think the RED truts are more my speed than the yellow. my car is a driver and I want some comfort. the red will still have superior handling to the stock suspension. however I don't see they sell red struts for our cars. is that true? 4) when rebuilding is there anything extra I should do to get the most out of my suspension and steering?

naf

iTrader: (7)

tie rod ends, adjusters, centerlink and idler arm while you're there if any of that is of questionable age and condition. Align it once and done.

solid adjusters are available at not more cost than the standard ones. the rest can be got from RA. Moog is fine.

daferris

iTrader: (8)

X2 on Moog the "Problem Solver" line is the upscale long life one.

For use on the street KYB AGX struts and not much more than stock replacement and you can adjust the ride. "2" is a good setting. They are not as good as Koni but not as spendy either...

You must change the A-Arm bushings but if primarily street use stock rubber ones as the poly are loud and harsh. Use poly for the sway links however.
Make sure the center link is lever compared to the front A-Arm pivot bolts. You adjust it with the idler arm.
Bottom line is that our cars are 30 years old if you have anything rubber I.E. bushings replace them that will make a big difference. Check out Founders Performance for things like rear control arms front strut mounts ect. They have good stuff and are value priced.

Drew

iTrader: (58)

Save the phone call. Koni stopped making all but the yellows for thirdgens awhile back.

Evilokc

it will only be a street car. so I will use rubber for the A-arm bushings. where do you get quality ball joints? I can get them from orileys but I want some good pieces.

Evilokc

this is the steering kit im looking at. opinions? ive already ordered kyb agx front struts and rear shocks. they will be here in a few days. im torn on ball joints. my clicking ball joints are the reason all of this is starting. I saw a sphon ball joint is $130 vs a $30 autozone ball joint. is there really that much difference? I also noticed the j&m strut mounts are cheaper than the sphon strut mounts even though from what ive rear j&m are the best. thoughts?

Evilokc

im online shopping for the strut mounts. I just noticed the price listed $250+ is per side!! what the hell? I hope im reading this wrong but that's expensive. do they make that big of a difference? im using lowering springs or I wouldn't use them at all. I would get kyb replacements.

howie099

Founders Performance is the best price on aftermarket adjustable strut mounts like $150 for the pair. Bought solid aluminum tie rod adjusters like $25 a pair. I used all proforged tie rod ends, center link, and idler. I used moog ball joints and KYB replacement struts. I did get most of the steering parts for rockauto best price on them with fast shipping. Use name brands on steering parts. Replaced swaybar links and bushings with High Energy. I didn't replace a-arm bushings or springs since they were in great shape. Didn't try lower springs have drive shaft loop and full headers so need the clearance. Did do a LS big brake upgrade at same time worth the money. I did also add a Spohn WonderBar for like $50.

Aftermarket struts mounts all do the same thing to me as long as they are welded good and have a replaceable bearing get the one you like. If you choose a main brand like moog for ball joints you can't go wrong. Rockauto sells them for like $13 each no brainer there. If your just driving the car on the street just get OEM replacements on the struts and shocks unless your racing/road racing. Will you really see the difference on the street? Wonderbar for $50 good investment. Do the frame connectors before high dollar struts/shocks you will tell the difference with those. Do all the parts that would effect your front end alignment why pay for more alignments unless you have money to burn.

Evilokc

that's good info Howie. ive already ordered the struts, I feel like my a-arm bushings are going to be in terrible shape as everything else has been.. if they are in good shape I will leave them. the moog steering kits seems to be the way to go. I will look at founders for the strut towers. did you change lower AND upper ball joint? you like the womderbar? everything I read says its a great upgrade. appreciate the post. answered a lot for me.

Evilokc

I looked on the founders web site and they do have the best price for strut tower mounts/caster plates.. I will be purchasing them. i didn't see that they are taller to allow more travel and I liked that about the sphon and a couple others. i don't know if that really offers more travel so it doesn't feel like a lowered car but it sounds good. I also looked at their lowering springs. they are about $100 cheaper then the eibach and have good reviews. so I think im going that direction. im still looking for a wunderbar. as of now I have kyb agx struts and rear shocks, moog ball joints, ac delco control arm bushings. I will order the caster plates and springs in the next day or so. im looking at the steering and they seem expensive for what you getting. its 4 tie rods, a connector for the tie rods, a center link, and an idle arm. how is that $300 worth of stuff?

howie099

You only have lower ball joints since we have struts no uppers. The wonder bar you get and OEM one or aftermarket most places the cost is $50-$60. I would say doing all the front suspension is around $180 range with struts & springs it would be more. The a-arm bushing having someone press them would be the fastest but you can do them yourself with a press kit, some sockets, and a torch. The founders towers did look a little taller. I can measure them since they are on my car if you wanted to know. I was just thinking of getting aftermarket a-arms in the future.

FoundersPerf

Ours are taller by 1" to allow you to trim the bumpstops slightly. If you do choose to trim the bumpstops make sure the tires don't hit anything at full compression and remember they are inboard of the strut so can't trim 1 inch of them.

Evilokc

I knew that about the ball joints Howie. I don't know where my mind was. im excited to start getting parts in to rebuld/upgrade my front end. thanks for the reply founders. im going to buy a couple parts from you. any discount codes for the strut towers and springs? do you guys made a wunderbar?

Evilokc

1

FoundersPerf

At the prices we sell our parts for we don't offer discount codes.

Evilokc

ordered the springs and strut mount/ caster plates from founders this evening. wanted to order the sway bar bushings as well but I'm not sure which size sway bar my firebird came with. I will figure it out. as I order parts the grouping of how to do this presents itself. im breaking it into 3 groups.
stage1) struts, springs, ball joints, control arm bushings. stage 2) caster plates, strut tower brace, wonderbar, and swaybar. stage 3) steering- idle , pitman arm, center link, tie rods.
I may be able to get a lot of this done in the same day but im breaking it into stages to keep it orderly. I still need to order the wonderbar, the swaybar bushings, and the steering kit. im getting there. the parts add up quickly $$$

Evilokc

QA1 3 point strut tower brace and sphon steering brace/wonderbar ordered. I would have been satisfied with a 2 point strut tower brace but there aren't many that are made for a tbi car. the 2 point braces I found were more expensive that the 3 point as well. from what I read the three point is a good brace. im curious how difficult its going to be to drill the two firewall holes with the hood installed. I don't own a 90 degree drill and I don't want to remove my hood to install a brace that should be installed in 15 to 20 minutes. these parts should trickle in this week and I will more than likely start tackling this next weekend.

Tootie Pang

iTrader: (2)

The Heidt adjustable looks great.

http://www.heidts.com/part/cf-371-19...t-tower-brace/

Evilokc

they want a lot of extra cash for the adjuatability.

Evilokc

I got the QA1 3 point strut tower brace today. feels like a really good quality piece.

Evilokc

i have all the suspension parts minus the swaybar bushings and end links

howie099

I was going to get a QA1 brace but I really don't drive it a ton on the road. Mostly just straight. I will get one next some day. Let me know if it seems to get in your way. If you get access to lift do the work on lift so much easier to work on cars. That was the best investment I ever done.

Evilokc

Im hoping to put a lift in my shop at our new house. For now its jack stands.

Evilokc

Im hoping to put a lift in my shop at our new house. For now its jack stands.