Suspension & Brakes Springs | Shocks | Handling | Rotors

Which drop kit?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 11-13-2002, 03:29 PM
  #1  
TECH Enthusiast
Thread Starter
 
uLoSeAgAin's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Georgia
Posts: 613
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default Which drop kit?

I want to drop my car about an inch or 1 1/2 and I dont have a clue what I need to accomplish this.....any suggestions?
Old 11-13-2002, 04:18 PM
  #2  
Teching In
 
02smknSS's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: San Diego, Cali
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default Re: Which drop kit?

I just today finished lowering my car with Eibach springs and it looks great! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" />
The installation wsa kinda a hassle but now that i see it the way itis, i would do it over again in a second. THere are different ways to lower it, one of which is by simply adding lowreing springs which is what i did.
The car feels much more stable and has much less body roll with a nice look. It took me about 3 1/2 hrs for the front struts, and 1/2 hr for the rear.(The rear is really simple) There are many differnt spring companies, but i choose Eibach b/c i think they are the best. The Pro-Kit lowers the car 1.5 in in the front and 1.4 in the rear. I think that this is perfect. The sport-kit lowers closer to 2 in the front and 1.8 in the back. i wouldn't reccommend the sportkit, if you have longtube headers, you will scratch them everywhere.(although it looks great). Anyway i think that if you are lowering your car you might as well get good shocks as well and new sway bars which will improve you cars entire handling dramatically. just my 2¢ -Have fun -jon
Old 11-13-2002, 07:37 PM
  #3  
TECH Enthusiast
Thread Starter
 
uLoSeAgAin's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Georgia
Posts: 613
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default Re: Which drop kit?

I would go with the pro kit. All I would be getting is the springs in the pro kit....correct? Where can I buy these? Also what are the benfits of putting the sway bars and shocks? Any reommendations? I have also seen where people say you need to pandhard rod.? Thanks for the help!

<small>[ November 13, 2002, 07:42 PM: Message edited by: Pewter99_TransAm ]</small>
Old 11-13-2002, 09:14 PM
  #4  
TECH Enthusiast
Thread Starter
 
uLoSeAgAin's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Georgia
Posts: 613
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default Re: Which drop kit?

Come on guys I really need some help.
Old 11-13-2002, 09:58 PM
  #5  
Launching!
 
5LiterBeater's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Point Mugu, CA
Posts: 240
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default Re: Which drop kit?

I have heard that the car rides like crap if you don't replace the shocks at the same time as the springs. Also you should get a new panhard rod generally an adjustable one, and Control Arm relocation brackets. That would help out with the geometry of the wheels as well as the rear end. The stock shocks wear out very quickly with lowering springs, that is why almost everyone gets either revalved Bilsteins or some other brand of shocks with them.
Old 11-13-2002, 09:59 PM
  #6  
TECH Resident
 
rnr27band1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Augusta GA, Atlanta GA (school)
Posts: 776
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default Re: Which drop kit?

you will deffiently need springs, if you got lots of money you could get some shocks, you might need an adjustable panhard bar and lca relocation brackets. and you will need to get the front end aligned. i am gonna probly lower my car really soon, hopefully over thanksgiving if you wanna help and check it out.
Old 11-13-2002, 10:00 PM
  #7  
Teching In
 
02smknSS's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: San Diego, Cali
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default Re: Which drop kit?

If you lower your car, the stock sway bars may not be able to keep up. its a good idea to get high performance ones. New shocks are just an idea because since the springs are a hassel to install in the front, and since i didnt want to disassemble the front suspension again, i just installed the shocks as well. I would install a strut bar to go across the engine bay. They are cheap and you can really feel the diference. You can find any of these parts @ just about any performance online store.: Tunderracing.com Ls1motorsports.com, SLPonline.com, LMperformance.com...you choose they are all abotu the same which for the pro kit is around 239-
Old 11-14-2002, 09:17 AM
  #8  
TECH Senior Member
iTrader: (2)
 
Xsta Z 28's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Schaumburg, IL
Posts: 12,092
Likes: 0
Received 7 Likes on 7 Posts

Default Re: Which drop kit?

Might get better responce over in the Handling Section . . . .
Old 11-14-2002, 11:50 AM
  #9  
TECH Enthusiast
Thread Starter
 
uLoSeAgAin's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Georgia
Posts: 613
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default Re: Which drop kit?

Thanks for the replies so far. I am not really going to handling I just want to lower it 1 or a tad over an inch and anything I need to do so and keep the ride I have now atleast....dont want it ride like crap. Can anyone recommend some products and combonations of parts I should go with? From what I understand so far to lower my car and do it right ill need drop springs,shocks, and a pandhard rod. Anything else I need? And whats the purpose of the pandhard rod?
Old 11-14-2002, 03:10 PM
  #10  
TECH Enthusiast
 
TomQ's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 737
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default Re: Which drop kit?

you need these:
http://www.thunderracing.com/index.c...yid=1068#T1062

http://www.thunderracing.com/index.c...yid=1068#T1143
Eibach Performance Spring Kits

http://www.lmperformance.com/839/1.html
Bilstein HD Front/Rear Shock Set(4)

http://www.lmperformance.com/1478/1.html
Spohn LCA Relocation Brackets weld-on, 1982-2001 F-Body

after all of the above you will be good to go, there are tons of other suspension mods, but these are mostimportant when lowering your car
Old 11-14-2002, 03:47 PM
  #11  
TECH Enthusiast
Thread Starter
 
uLoSeAgAin's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Georgia
Posts: 613
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default Re: Which drop kit?

What about the pandhard rod? How much would it costs me to get all the things he listed installed? (ballpark figure)
Old 11-14-2002, 05:08 PM
  #12  
TECH Resident
 
rnr27band1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Augusta GA, Atlanta GA (school)
Posts: 776
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default Re: Which drop kit?

panhard bar recenters the rear end, let me finish my install and i will tell you how much for the install.
Old 11-15-2002, 01:12 AM
  #13  
TECH Enthusiast
 
TomQ's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 737
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default Re: Which drop kit?

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by Pewter99_TransAm:
<strong>What about the pandhard rod? How much would it costs me to get all the things he listed installed? (ballpark figure)</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">springs+shocks+bushings shouldn't run more than 300, i would estimate it around 250.
it's not hard at all, just very time consuming.

reloc brackets i think it's like 30 mins job, soit's like 50-70 bucks (just make sure the welder has done the reloc bracket before).

Penhard rod is a good thing to have, but it's really not necessarily in your case becaseu you mentioned that you just wanna lower your car(just my opinion) and don't touch your stock sway bars, no need at all.
i mean you said you just wanna lower your car, so i told you what you need to accomplish it in a proper way, all other things is good to have but not necessarily.
Old 11-15-2002, 06:10 AM
  #14  
TECH Enthusiast
Thread Starter
 
uLoSeAgAin's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Georgia
Posts: 613
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default Re: Which drop kit?

Thats the answer I have been looking for tom q. But I have been looking around at how much everything costs and the bilstein shcoks are like 400 justt for the set of 4 and the srpings are $200 and I have now idea how much the struts are. Where are you getting this stuff so cheap? rnr27band1 just let me know when you get your stuff done man I would like to see it and tell me what all you put on your car. Thanks for the help everyone.
Old 11-15-2002, 01:17 PM
  #15  
TECH Enthusiast
 
TomQ's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 737
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default Re: Which drop kit?

springs have always had such price
and i got lucky with shocks, i bought mine for 300 for set of 4.
i got all my stuff like months ago
you will like the way your car perform and handles, but rememebr the ride will be much more stiffer and harsh, gonna feel all little pits on a road.
Good luck man
Old 11-15-2002, 04:13 PM
  #16  
Teching In
 
gm guy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: st louis
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default Re: Which drop kit?

I have done most of the suspension stuff: LCA, Panhard bar, SFC, etc. I think all this stuff helps. The one single thing that I did that made the most difference was going to 18" tires. It gave me a much quicker turn in, and has greatly improved the overall drivability of the car. The only thing I have not yet done was add larger sway bars. I know from past experience that it will make a difference. I have done my upgrades over the course of about a year. I started with SFC, Strut tower brace, then did all the rear end stuff. I have not lowered my car. Every change I make has made a difference. I love driving the car now, much more so than stock SS. Next for me are 15" Brembo's in front, Bilstein shocks. I have just done sway bars, and shocks on a sport truck and the difference was absolutely amazing. Good luck on your deal. Don.



Quick Reply: Which drop kit?



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:39 AM.