Thinking of getting some suspension goodies...

**GottaHaveLS1** · 11-26-2007, 11:51 AM

I'm a suspension newb but i've bee thinking about getting lowering springs (and maybe shocks) as well as F&R sway bars and possibly some control arms. How would my ride be affected by these mods? What are the best bang for buck mods when it comes to stuff like this? What the first mod I should do? mods in sig

**Eugenio_SS** · 11-26-2007, 09:03 PM

what are your goals and use for the car ?
will definitely define what to get.

**SexOnWheels** · 11-27-2007, 06:41 AM

Dampers (shocks) should be your first mod but if you want springs you will need to match the shocks.

**Benner** · 11-27-2007, 06:43 AM

If your lowering it, you should definately go with an adjustible panhard rod and adjustible lower trailing arms so you can realign the rear end.

**GottaHaveLS1** · 11-27-2007, 07:17 AM

I just want it to handle a little better and have a good stance. I never go to the dragstrip or autocross. It's a DD in the summer and I want it to handle better so people can't say its "just a straightline car" anymore.

**The Guz** · 11-27-2007, 07:42 AM

I have the entire hotchkis suspension on mine (sways, springs, strut bar, control arms, adjustable pan hard bar). I am happy with the entire set up. I also went with koni's for the shocks. My car is not my daily driver and does not see the track. But it handles way better than it did stock.

**GottaHaveLS1** · 11-27-2007, 08:30 AM

Originally Posted by The Guz

I have the entire hotchkis suspension on mine (sways, springs, strut bar, control arms, adjustable pan hard bar). I am happy with the entire set up. I also went with koni's for the shocks. My car is not my daily driver and does not see the track. But it handles way better than it did stock.

how is the ride? Is it harsh on small bumps? How much did all that cost you?

**Eugenio_SS** · 11-27-2007, 04:39 PM

DD
save on springs, keep stock ones.
Get Koni SA for the front + Bilstein HD rear, or Koni SA allround.
W/ Koni SA, you'll be able to lower car by 3/4" due to 2 perch locations and will handle great.
The shock is a bit more $$$, but you save in springs, and the package is better.
Get a bigger front swaybar (35-36mm), keep stock rear.
The car will be more confortable than it is now, will handle much better, and you'll have a great

Also get an alignment once all installed... make sure to align to better specs than stock.

**The Guz** · 11-28-2007, 03:42 PM

Originally Posted by GottaHaveLS1

how is the ride? Is it harsh on small bumps? How much did all that cost you?

It rides good for being lowered 1". I am very pleased with the set up. The Koni's compliment the springs very well. As far as price it was not cheap. The full hotchkis package cost me $1275 and the koni shocks cost $806. I have had this set up for about a year and half now.

**Sam Strano** · 12-06-2007, 10:05 AM

You could be happy with just some good shocks. I've put together some packages because frankly it's good business sense in the world of the web. However, I prefer a more methodical approach, especially in cases like your when you aren't sure how much you want to go with.

Sure, springs, bars, SFC's, PHB, LCA's, and all that are options, and all have jobs they do (and then there are different types of those products that are best suited for specific uses). But the single biggest problem with the car is the absolutely horrible, terrible, junk DeCarbon shocks. If you aren't sure about lowering, or don't care to, then I'd say let's just roll with some good shocks, and re-assess the car after some time. I assure you, the difference it HUGE. Stability, impact harshness, roll rate control, pitch rate control are all improved by a dramatic amount.

Of note, I would not recommend the old Koni/Bilstein combo we used to run for a few reasons. Most notably that that combo only save you about $40 vs. a Koni 4/3 setup, which isn't worth giving up the adjustment for. And Bilstein has been playing valving games lately and not all HD's are the HD's we used to to use.