Bruce
01-20-2004, 11:14 PM
I've run every shock made for the G-Body other then Koni's. The answer for a street car is Bilsteins. Others give the illusion of better handling since they are so stiff, that they do offer better turn-in, but unless your racing on a perfectly smooth surface the trade off, is actually lower corner speeds.
Dropped spindles, vs cut springs.
Cut springs, the dropped spindle have the same lousy (IMO) geometry as the stock setup, and with the positive camber gain offer less tire clearance in roll.
Rear axle?.
The best answer is converting to coil-overs. The stock setup has the shocks and springs running in two different archs. So the leverage acting on them is always different, and yes it is a noticeable difference.
Front bar is fine, once you add poly bushings.
Rear bar is lacking, IMO. The ATR takes all the lean out of the car, and greatly improves tracking at high speeds (especially in windy weather), but it tends to bind up the suspension as it moves. HR PartsnStuff's rear bar is the best answer I know of. Wolfe is OK, if you want to play exhaust pipe games, since it runs over the axle where the exhaust system normally hangs.
With some work the GNX setup is probably the best.
ALignment?.
As much caster as you can run, with the R/F having .5 more then the left.
Chamber, .7 to 1d neg depending on your tire allowance, more chamber eats tires.
1/16" toe in or your personal preferance.
And poly body bushings.
AND, all the braces, you can find. Rear seat, cross-member, frame rail to rail under the radiator, upper fender, all add to the solidness of the car.
Dropped spindles, vs cut springs.
Cut springs, the dropped spindle have the same lousy (IMO) geometry as the stock setup, and with the positive camber gain offer less tire clearance in roll.
Rear axle?.
The best answer is converting to coil-overs. The stock setup has the shocks and springs running in two different archs. So the leverage acting on them is always different, and yes it is a noticeable difference.
Front bar is fine, once you add poly bushings.
Rear bar is lacking, IMO. The ATR takes all the lean out of the car, and greatly improves tracking at high speeds (especially in windy weather), but it tends to bind up the suspension as it moves. HR PartsnStuff's rear bar is the best answer I know of. Wolfe is OK, if you want to play exhaust pipe games, since it runs over the axle where the exhaust system normally hangs.
With some work the GNX setup is probably the best.
ALignment?.
As much caster as you can run, with the R/F having .5 more then the left.
Chamber, .7 to 1d neg depending on your tire allowance, more chamber eats tires.
1/16" toe in or your personal preferance.
And poly body bushings.
AND, all the braces, you can find. Rear seat, cross-member, frame rail to rail under the radiator, upper fender, all add to the solidness of the car.