Suspension Upgrade?
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Feb 2023
Posts: 67
Likes: 4
Suspension Upgrade? I have a 01 TA. Dyno'd at 475. Car is a wknd cruiser, no track or racing etc. I want it to handle better, what suspension upgrades would you recommend and what brand? I am new to the mechanic/swapping parts world but i do it myself by learning from you guys or videos. Any input is well appreciated.
Shocks have always mattered first. I deal in most all of them. Koni Sport being best for bolt on shocks, then Bilstein, then Koni STR.T, then most of the rest. The main issue from GM with these cars was **** poor shock control which manifests in floating and bobbing and as time goes on more and more impact harshness. Sway Bars are nice in that when PROPERLY SIZED they don't mess with any other driving dynamics but offer better performance in cornering and on the highway in high cross winds, etc. But people do screw that up because they think a few mm of size doesn't matter, when it matters a massive amount. Read that this way: Not all sway bars work the same way. Some are too stiff, some are too soft, and some are bad combo's of both. Springs the last of the big 3, and I don't think they are for everyone, despite making my own well proven set for a long, long time now (and they are in stock I'm not saying this because I can't supply mine, or even others). They just need to be thought through, how you use the car, where you drive it, what you want for looks, etc.
As far as SFC's and STB's and all that, those are not suspension parts, they are chassis parts, and while they have their place and you can see some tangible change mostly with some SFC's on some cars in some uses, they are not an automatic must have, certainly not before shocks at minimum.
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Results matter. Talk is cheap. We are miles beyond the success anyone else has had with the 4th gens, and C5, C6, C7 Corvettes,
10 SCCA Solo National Championships, 2008 Driver of they Year, 2012 Driver of Eminence
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www.stranoparts.com --814-849-3450
Results matter. Talk is cheap. We are miles beyond the success anyone else has had with the 4th gens, and C5, C6, C7 Corvettes,
10 SCCA Solo National Championships, 2008 Driver of they Year, 2012 Driver of Eminence
13 SCCA Pro Solo Nationals Championships
2023 UMI King of the Mountain Champion
TECH Resident
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 877
Likes: 55
From: Poway, Ca. where GOD and the sun always shines
Another vote for sub frame connectors, stay away from the vendors, and order through the manufacturers (i.e. BMR, Bilstein, Koni etc.), you will get a better price without the BS. JMHO
__________________
www.stranoparts.com --814-849-3450
Results matter. Talk is cheap. We are miles beyond the success anyone else has had with the 4th gens, and C5, C6, C7 Corvettes,
10 SCCA Solo National Championships, 2008 Driver of they Year, 2012 Driver of Eminence
13 SCCA Pro Solo Nationals Championships
2023 UMI King of the Mountain Champion
www.stranoparts.com --814-849-3450
Results matter. Talk is cheap. We are miles beyond the success anyone else has had with the 4th gens, and C5, C6, C7 Corvettes,
10 SCCA Solo National Championships, 2008 Driver of they Year, 2012 Driver of Eminence
13 SCCA Pro Solo Nationals Championships
2023 UMI King of the Mountain Champion
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I have a 01 TA. Dyno'd at 475. Car is a wknd cruiser, no track or racing etc. I want it to handle better, what suspension upgrades would you recommend and what brand? I am new to the mechanic/swapping parts world but i do it myself by learning from you guys or videos. Any input is well appreciated.
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subframe connectors are a waste of money on a dedicated streetcar. spend that money on a good shock/spring combo (strano springs with Bilstein or koni shocks are hard to beat), sway bars and replacing any worn our bushings in you suspension and a set of good tires.
TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 635
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From: Missouri
i like subframe connectors cause it gives a really good lift point. also the brake/firewall reinforcement that sam makes is another thing id throw on that list, makes a big diffrence in pedal feel.
https://www.stranoparts.com/partdeta...=113&ModelID=7
In this thread Bilstein Shocks @KobeGigi said he was not interested in lowering. This is a weekend cruiser, so skip most of the aftermarket parts and
- Go with bilsteins shocks.
- Make sure you're using rubber bushings in all bushing locations, and be sure your rubber bushings are in good shape.
- Remove the aluminum spacers from the bump stops in the rear, if you have them.
- Make sure your rear bump stops are in good shape
- Check your tire pressure, keep it at not more than 30psi.
- Go with the most comfortable and quietest tire you can.
I went with the Ridetech Level 2 kit, front a rear adjustable coilovers.