GM Handling Kit

[WRBsGTP]

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?

[carnutcass]

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.

[BIG-L]

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.

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~

[KX2000GTP]

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?

[carnutcass]

Originally Posted by KX2000GTP

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.

[WRBsGTP]

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

[carnutcass]

Originally Posted by WRBsGTP

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

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

[BIG-L]

Here are some instructions for replacing the front sway bar Click Here and Click Here 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




~Larry~

[WRBsGTP]

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?

[BIG-L]

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

www.macgp.com


~Larry~

[BIG-L]

Also check out this thread from ClubGP

http://www.clubgp.com/newforum/tm.as...key=&language=

[Phoenix69]

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).

[BIG-L]

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~

[Phoenix69]

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?

[Phoenix69]

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