What suspention set up?

[Killa_DSM]

I thinks its time for me to upgrade my suspention, but dont know what to really get. I dont want to lower my car that much since I already scrape, but I what a more responsive set up with less body roll. I've been searching around and most of the good set ups cost around 600 to 800 dollars, which to me is too expensive to invest in suspention mods.

Do any of you have a good, but cheap set up you can suggest or recomend?

Could I just get new springs a use the stock shocks? How would it ride?

and

Could I just get new shocks and use the stock springs? How would it ride?

or should I just say f-it to suspention and put the money power mods?

Thanks

[Thor06]

My 01 Cavalier has Sprint springs and Springtech struts with about a 2" drop. I got them for $325 with shipping and everything works great, no problems since I put them on over a year ago. There is almost no roll, squat, or anything and I would say it handles and rides better than stock. My stock suspension was really squishy and rolled around even little slow corners. To find cheap ones I would hit up eBay (thats where I got my springs/struts, rims, sub, and my car itself and no problems with any of it), but be careful. You can get really great deals and end up very happy but it can go the other way as well. As far as going with just struts or springs. Do it right and get them both. The springs are the only thing that determines the ride height, the shocks just take away the bounce after the bump. I know some people who just use the stock struts with lowering springs the aftermarket struts will dampen the up and down motion faster and thats probably a good thing if your car is already that low from the body kit. I've heard that using stock struts with aftermarket springs shortens the life of your struts and they blow out lots quicker. Also, just getting struts and using stock springs wouldnt lower it at all, you just would bounce around for as long after hitting a bump or railroad track or something.

[Gsx_hooptie]

Buy a rear RM swaybar. Ask me why. On a budget, that's all I'd get.

If you want to spend more money (heh, don't we all), you could get some Illuminas, too. They will ride aright, and they're made in mind with stock spring rates, anyway.

Even more money to spend? Buy some GC coils for your Tokicos. The GC coils have Eibach springs, but will keep you anywhere from stock height to lowered a few inches if you change your mind later.

Keep in mind, that thickass rear sway is your first buy. Ask me why if you're curious. Also check out the sticky on the front page called "Sharing suspension info."

Edit>> Oh yeah, don't do new springs with stock shocks, they won't last long. New shocks with OEM springs isn't usually a good thing just for sake of not getting the "most" out of your setup. You won't break anything using OEM springs.

[Killa_DSM]

Originally Posted by Gsx_hooptie

Buy a rear RM swaybar. Ask me why. On a budget, that's all I'd get.

Even more money to spend? Buy some GC coils for your Tokicos. The GC coils have Eibach springs, but will keep you anywhere from stock height to lowered a few inches if you change your mind later.

Keep in mind, that thickass rear sway is your first buy. Ask me why if you're curious. Also check out the sticky on the front page called "Sharing suspension info."

Sorry, I forgot to look at the stickys "Sharing suspension info" I feel like a noob now since I did check in the first place.

Well anyways, going with a RM swaybar sounds like the best bet, I found a couple for $300. Does anyone else know where to get a cheaper one.

And also just to hear it from you why should I get the RM swaybar?

Thanks

[Gsx_hooptie]

The RM is the thickest, for one, and also, it is made to work with both stock and aftermarket exhaust. ST and a few others don't, which I found out the hard way. Thickness is more significant than proportions, too; thickness corresponds to stiffness in exponential form.

I'd say get the rear bar since you're front wheel drive. You'll have more a propensity to oversteer. Or, be more neutral, at least. Forewarning, I think the rear bar, since you don't have one stock, requires a little fabrication. I may be wrong. Hopefully that doesn't scare you, anyway.

The front bar would be good, too, but isn't as necessary. It'll counteract your oversteering to a certain extent, and certainly help with body roll. If you have the money to adjust your oversteer/understeer issues, it's best to correct for it with shocks and springs.

Yeah, they're hard to find for a good price. I've noticed that, too. All decent suspension stuff is. The good news about RM is that it's top of the line, and you'll never need to upgrade it later on. Also helps with resale value, particularly because they're so hard to buy in the first place. Good luck.

[guitarXgeek]

Originally Posted by Gsx_hooptie

The RM is the thickest, for one, and also, it is made to work with both stock and aftermarket exhaust. ST and a few others don't, which I found out the hard way. Thickness is more significant than proportions, too; thickness corresponds to stiffness in exponential form.

I'd say get the rear bar since you're front wheel drive. You'll have more a propensity to oversteer. Or, be more neutral, at least. Forewarning, I think the rear bar, since you don't have one stock, requires a little fabrication. I may be wrong. Hopefully that doesn't scare you, anyway.

The front bar would be good, too, but isn't as necessary. It'll counteract your oversteering to a certain extent, and certainly help with body roll. If you have the money to adjust your oversteer/understeer issues, it's best to correct for it with shocks and springs.

Yeah, they're hard to find for a good price. I've noticed that, too. All decent suspension stuff is. The good news about RM is that it's top of the line, and you'll never need to upgrade it later on. Also helps with resale value, particularly because they're so hard to buy in the first place. Good luck.

Which RM swaybar would be good for an AWD, front or rear?

[Gsx_hooptie]

Originally Posted by guitarXgeek

Which RM swaybar would be good for an AWD, front or rear?

Both! But remember, the AWD still has a bit of understeer. If you have to choose between the two, get the rear. Still, while there's contention about whether or not FF should upgrade the front and rear or rear alone, damn near all agree that AWD should upgrade both front and rear if possible. Upgrading the rear alone to reduce understeer is a janky way of fixing the problem. Spring rates are a better way of tuning the over/understeer to your feel. Sways are solid (even if some have a few different holes), shocks are changeable.

As a sidenote, gs-ts come with a stock front sway, and AWDs come with stock front and rear sways.

I don't know when I'm being confusing. Anyway, buy both, if you can. That's the bottom line.

[guitarXgeek]

Originally Posted by Gsx_hooptie

I don't know when I'm being confusing. Anyway, buy both, if you can. That's the bottom line.

I've actually had a hard time finding a place to buy just one, most places sell both front and rear as a kit. Slowboy has a kit for both front and rear for only $300, best deal I've found so far - http://www.slowboyracing.com/more.php?id=1316&

[Gsx_hooptie]

That's the going rate. It's hard to buy them separately. I watched tuners and e-bay for a used set for three months and came up with nothing. Great, huh. I think you'll need to buy new, and probably buy both. For AWD, go for it. It'll be much more stiff, and keep a nicer camber curve throughout a turn.