StuntmanMike

iTrader: (2)

I was thinking of doing some suspension upgrades to my car, and am wondering where to start.

I run Koni rear shocks, and have a set of Bils to go in the front, but everything else is stock.

I know I def want to go with a set of 35/22 swaybars, I know the benefits of those.

However, on a car with stock height suspension and the stock rear end, when is a tubular panhard bar and new LCA's a good idea?

As far as the LCA's, I know they can be a bad thing, as the poly bushings can bind and make it harder for the axle to articulate...not good on a street car IMO.

However, I know it's possible to get them with rubber bushings. Would a set of tubular lca's with rubber bushing be better than say a set of the stockers with 1LE bushings?

And same goes for the PHB...I know an adj one allows you to recenter the axle. In fact I run adj on the front and rear of my Jeep...although in the Jeep world we call the "track bars".

But I really don't need that with this car.

Any benefit to a fixed length PHB on a stock height/rear car?

And I imagine the poly bushings shouldn't be an issue with that, since bar doesn't twist, it just goes up and down.

Sorry for all the questions, I just want a clearer understanding of these parts. I read a bunch of posts, but didn't really find a "why you need it" kind of post.

Thanks!

shorty(98TA)

Your rear axle in these cars isnt articulating like the axles in your jeep. The poly bushings will not be a problem in your street car and if your are really worried about axle articulation your can go with rod end LCAs. Aftermarket LCAs and panhard are going to greatly reduce flex and unwanted suspension geomatry change in your car.

And dont forget the inferior stock torque arm, replacing your stock LCAs and TA will all most completely eliminate wheel hop. Its also a good idea to do relocation brackets for the LCAs and crossmember for the TA

I did all of the above (LCAs w/ relocation, panhard w/ relocation, and torque arm w/ relocation) and i cant believe what a difference it made in the way my car handles. Better launches, better corners, just better all around

u118224

iTrader: (3)

I too question the need for an aftermarket panhard bar and rear control arms for a non lowered car. I have the 1LE suspension on my 2002 and I've never had any wheel hop issues. I would try the 1LE bushings first.

ECU_Pirate

iTrader: (5)

The adj. LCA (poly/rod end) w/ relocation brackets made an incredible difference with eliminating the rear from squatting and you can feel power being transferred to the ground much more efficiently.

StuntmanMike

iTrader: (2)

Thanks for all the info.

Seems like these are cures for symptoms I don't have. Looks like I'm good with the stock stuff for now. I have plenty of traction, and no wheelhop issues at all. Being just about all stock with 2.73's is probably the reason for that.

I'll just change the bushings to 1LE parts if I need them, otherwise I think I'm golden.

As far as axle articulation, no, I won't be rockcrawling with the thing, but the axle still articulates some, such as when pulling out of driveways or most parking lots at any angle, or when going over speedbumps at an angle, things like that.

And I hate rod ends, so I'd never use those. I used to run a front TB on my Jeep with rod ends, I hated it. They wore out very quickly and made all kinds of noise. I'll never run rod ends again.

HWI

iTrader: (2)

Wait, there's still people riding around at stock 4x4 height?

99SSJarhead

iTrader: (2)

Yeah, all of us who can't afford Koni's/Strano's yet

StuntmanMike

iTrader: (2)

Or those of us that have to contend with lowsy roads. My car hits enough as it is, I could never lower it.

libertyforall1776

iTrader: (2)

X2

JRENIGAR

iTrader: (37)

x567.342

SparkyJJO

iTrader: (11)

Or a mix of both.

I could never afford to lower my Camaro (it needed money elsewhere anyway) and even if I could, I wondered if I really wanted to given the roads.

At least the springs were a bit saggy so it was already "lowered" a tad and wasn't as 4x4 looking as many others

HWI

iTrader: (2)

Pussies. Hawaii has the worst roads I have ever seen and I roll on BMR springs and Koni shocks, just gotta take it slow sometimes.

SparkyJJO

iTrader: (11)

What's the fun of driving slow on roads in a fast car

Awake455

If they're rough enough for a lowered car to go slow, do you really want to beat the hell out of your car bouncing it off of bumps at high speeds on those roads?

DWake

iTrader: (1)

I bought my car with bil/eibach pros that had lca relocation and I thought the car handled amazing. Did tubular lcas (with rubber bushings) and an adj phb couple months ago and it made my car handle even better. The #1 thing I loved about this upgrade was the rear end doesn't get upset over bumps. Bumps I slowed down for don't feel as bad anymore.

StuntmanMike

iTrader: (2)

Thanks for the info! Maybe I will look into them then, with the rubber bushings.

My rearend does get a bit unsettled going over bumps while cornering, the Koni's helped a bit, but it still does it.