GM Handling Kit

Hey everyone,

I was on GMPartsDirect.com and noticed that GM puts out a "handling upgrade kit" for the GP. It's located in the "upgrades section of the site". Does anyone know if the parts in this kit are different from the parts already found in our GTP's, and how they compare with the aftermarket swaybars and other parts for sale at w-bodyshop.com and other sites?

The kit is different than the facotry GTP parts. There's a couple of guys in the St. Louis Club GP that have these kits and love them. Not sure about an actual product comparison though.

I like the kit and have had it on when I installed the GMPP Koni's, when GM released new performance parts for our car's a few years back.This is the parts that they were installing on the Police package Impala.You cant beat the price shipped @ $154.00 for F/R sways & bushings,larger tubular trailing arms and they even included a front STB,but I gave mine away since I already the Next Level STBs.

http://www.gmpartsdirect.com/part_images/PK124561481.jpg

DESCRIPTION:GMpartsdirect Part # pk12456148


Grand Prix, Impala and Monte Carlo Handling Upgrade Kit

This suspension kit is intended to reduce body roll and chassis flex while enhancing cornering capabilities.
Kit is for use on 1997-2003 Pontiac Grand Prix and 2000-2005 Chevrolet Impala and Monte Carlo. Handling Kit inlcudes all hardware and bushings to replace existing sway bars and to add the strut tower brace, and consist of:

P/N 12498642 Heavy Duty Rear Sway Bar w/insulators

P/N 12498643 Heavy Duty Front Sway Bar w/insulator and end links

P/N 12498649 Rear Tubular Trailing Arm Kit which contains two trailing arms P/N 10409660(ARMS NOT PICTURED)

P/N 12456148 Strut Tower Brace.

An additional strut brace P/N 12456148 can be ordered for rear strut tower, but is a labor intensive installation.

(If you are adding this to a vehicle that does not have a rear sway bar from the factory you will have to modify the brackets in order to install this rear sway bar.)



~Larry~

Shipped for $154? would this be a good upgrade for a stock GTP?

Please don't laugh :-) , but how do I know if I have a rear sway bar?

Shipped for $154? would this be a good upgrade for a stock GTP?

Please don't laugh :-) , but how do I know if I have a rear sway bar?


This is a great upgrade for the GTP. The price is right too. I plan to do this upgrade after I buy my rockers.

Yes, you have a rear sway bar.

you think this upgrade can be done by a local mechanic? would it take a lot of time?

you think this upgrade can be done by a local mechanic? would it take a lot of time?

I could be done by you! :icon16: It's really not a difficult install. Do you have a local chapter of the CLubGP?

Here are some instructions for replacing the front sway bar Click Here (http://www.grandprix.net/upgrades/frontswaybar.html) and Click Here (http://www.grandprix.net/upgrades/rearswaybar.html) for the rear

IIRC the stock size of bars are, front 30mm,rears 15mm and the GMPP kit steps up to 34mm and 19mm makes a nice difference on our car's.

Right now there is only one other company that is selling sway bar's and thats SLP.For some odd reason, there no longer any sways being offered by Next Level/Speedbuilt or BMR.ADDCO use to make some for our cars also but they have even pulled them off the market.

The trailing arms are great also,since the stock arms are stamped steel and very thin.I have seen many of them bent once people went to replace with the new tubular trailing arm's

http://www.paceperformance.com/images/products/manufacturer/GM/images/12498649_ARM_2.jpg


~Larry~

Thanks for the instructions Big-L.
I don't think New Jersey has a local chapter--but do you know if there's a way of checking for sure?

Try this club....there are alot of guys from NJ in that club.

www.macgp.com


~Larry~

Also check out this thread from ClubGP

http://www.clubgp.com/newforum/tm.asp?m=1850180&p=1&mpage=1&tmode=1&smode=1&key=&language=

Would this mod help my GP GT very much? Would i notice a larger difference than a GTP with the upgrade since the suspension is different? I noticed that the rear suspension in my GP GT is very bouncey, and that if i go over small hills i get a bounceing effect. Are there any somewhat cheap upgrades for the suspension/ handling for my GP? My friend partakes in an auto-cross club and i was hoping to but my car is a bit of a boat compared to small BMWs (BMW auto-cross club).

Would i notice a larger difference than a GTP with the upgrade since the suspension is different?

The GT & GTP suspension are the same.

I noticed that the rear suspension in my GP GT is very bouncey, and that if i go over small hills i get a bounceing effect.

Time to replace the struts.

Are there any somewhat cheap upgrades for the suspension/ handling for my GP?

This kit is as cheap as you will find.Again it's the best bang for the buck.



~Larry~

After i bought the car, a mechanic gave me a work list of everything ever done on the car including recalls, and it said that the person had replaced the struts about 3000 miles after buying the car, what could this mean? ramming a median or curb very hard? and how much would a replacement of them cost since they are bouncey?

Also, is the kit reliable? no worries about it breaking on me eh?

You have 2 guys telling you that one has them on his car. The other says he's going to put them on his car. And I have to say, they both have nice cars and will not tell you anything that is wrong.
Replace your struts and buy the kit.


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v425/kustomkid54/cid_001601c4fc1de063bb209c9aa104dell8100.gif



Also, is the kit reliable? no worries about it breaking on me eh?

Hey Big-L, can you tell me the difference between the two stb kits from gm parts direct. Kit # 12456148 has one strut tower brace and Kit # 12498648 has two strut tower braces. Why would you need two? Is it just for a replacement?

Hey Cass, I realize now that I have a rear sway bar, after i saw it...i'm a damn amateur...

Hey Big-L, can you tell me the difference between the two stb kits from gm parts direct. Kit # 12456148 has one strut tower brace and Kit # 12498648 has two strut tower braces. Why would you need two? Is it just for a replacement?



So one can be installed on the back strut tower.Only thing on the rear, is that you have to hog the hole's out some to make it fit.Here are some instruction's Click Here (http://www.oqcgp.com/upgrades/stb_1/stb.php)


~Larry~

man i feel like an ass...two braces?? but why??, i apologize for that question...

Thanks for the response Big-L. I checked out the instructions and it seems they will be a great help when I get the stb's. What kind of paint should I use for the holes though? (in the instructions, the author painted the holes when he drilled them out).

Thanks in advance.

two braces?? but why??

It tie's the the uni-body together,so it doesent have as much flex.

What kind of paint should I use for the holes though? (in the instructions, the author painted the holes when he drilled them out).

Any gloss black paint,or you can paint them the color of your car.No one is really going to see the back one.


~Larry~

It tie's the the uni-body together,so it doesent have as much flex.

I meant, sorry for asking in the first place. I answered my own question right after I posted.


[QUOTE=BIG-L]
Any gloss black paint,or you can paint them the color of your car.
QUOTE]

What character in the VIN tells is the color code for the car? I'd like to match the colors as close as possible.

Thanks alot!

-JRK-

The tag is located on the bottom side of the trunk lid and should start with a WA,mine is WA8774.Here is a link of color's for a 2000 GP,just enter your year,make then model and it will show you the color for your WA # Click Here (http://www.paintscratch.com/)

~Larry~




http://www.paintscratch.com/images/gm_partid.gif