Finally collected all my parts to upgrade my suspension

[eaglesnick]

Well I finally got the final parts to upgrade my suspension.

Big thanks to Bruce at Full Tilt Boogie and Matt at Steeda.

Let me know what you all think:

Before

after

before

after

rear wheel gap before

rear wheel gap after

front wheel gap before

front wheel gap after

new parts

new parts a little closer look

FRPP cover installed with FTBR rear diff lowering mount

strut tower brace and CC plates installed

 

[SVT_Troy]

what springs are those? I can't wait to get me a FTBR kit in!

 

[eaglesnick]

what springs are those? I can't wait to get me a FTBR kit in!

Steeda springs, yea I just got my FTBR kit today, had to wait for the milled rear diff cover :thumbsup:

 

[1Kona_Venom]

so, are you going to run isolaters w/ ur springs and what kind of drop are you trying to achieve

i like new stuff in packages looks good

 

[eaglesnick]

I used to have H&R sports and the car was too low, I was bottoming out on dips in the road at highway speeds so I swapped out the H&Rs for a set of coupe springs which is what is on there now, but it looks like a 4x4. Based on the research did it seems like the Steeda springs drop the car the least, so I decided to go with those and leave the isos in and go from there.

 

[mach1033]

looks good. Who are you having do the install?

 

[eaglesnick]

A local guy I know who does a lot of custom work on some pretty badass rides.

 

[Icecold]

i got thoes springs on my tr vert ... i took out the bottom isos front to back... just taped up the bottom for a little bit of cushioning love how it sits. I made the mistake on not getting shocks/struts tho. The verts are valved for soft spring rates and these springs are rated a lot higher ... im bottoming out and bouncing everywhere. Hopefully thoes shocks/struts are good for you, im looking at the same ones for myself.

 

[eaglesnick]

i got thoes springs on my tr vert ... i took out the bottom isos front to back... just taped up the bottom for a little bit of cushioning love how it sits. I made the mistake on not getting shocks/struts tho. The verts are valved for soft spring rates and these springs are rated a lot higher ... im bottoming out and bouncing everywhere. Hopefully thoes shocks/struts are good for you, im looking at the same ones for myself.

I'll keep you posted, car is going in on Monday for the install. If you ca post up some pics of your car so I can see the ride height it would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Icecold]

sorry i took the top isos out not the bottom and used the stock ones ... the mm ones are bigger so youll have more of a gap. I dont have very good pics at all and the car is in storage so i cant go take any ... i have a few in the dark and is hard to see but will give you somewhat of a idea. Id go without the one iso myself but i do my own work so its nothing for me to take the spring back out to take the iso out if i didnt like having both of them in. The rear really somewhat got on my nevers because it depends on how the spring pig tail sits on the arm ... i think i had to run both iso on my left rear and turn it a little to get it almost even on both sides i think im out a quater inch or an 8th from left to right in the rear. Just a little thing that really bugs me ... you cant tell by lookin at it but you know its just not perfect lol. Hope this info helps and the pics help. Sorry I wish I had better pics.

 

[eaglesnick]

Well, I dropped it off this afternoon so i will update with some pictures when i get it back and possibly during if I get a chance to stop by the shop while they are working on it.

 

[P49Y-CY]

congrats! do you have full length subframe connectors?

 

[eaglesnick]

congrats! do you have full length subframe connectors?

First mod I did when I bought the car back in 03 ;-)

 

[Icecold]

Haha still waiting for pics and comments on how it now rides Also did you leave all isos in ?

 

[eaglesnick]

It is still at the shop, but I will share my experience to this point. I stopped by the shop today to check on the progress and I forgot to bring my camera and take pictures of the carnage. Definitely not a job for the faint of heart to see your entire IRS in pieces. The guy working on it said the FTBR kit is one of the best kits he has seen, top notch components, well engineered, thought out and complete. He also said he can't imagine this car will hop once put back together. He said the videos are worth their weight in gold, makes the installation process very easy. I did have the BF rear diff brace installed but still had a leak at the rear so upgrading to the FRPP diff cover is a worthwhile upgrade for those of you making some good power. I did go with the FT-5001 kit which includes the rear diff lowering mount, so I needed the milled FRPP cover and it fit like a glove. GREAT JOB BRUCE!!!!!!!!! As for the stock bushings you could actually see worn aluminum and dust/shavings from the bushings moving around so much. I can attest to the smooth easy movement of the upper and lower control arms after the install of the new bushings compared to the binding of the stock rubber pieces. Bruce was also right on on the angle of the grease fittings they are easily accessible for maintenance in the future. As of quitting time today the IRS was re-installed with the new shocks and springs in, tomorrow the front work will begin; struts, springs, CC plates and strut tower brace then off to the alignment shop. Now if I can only find someone who can measure and adjust the bump steer. I will keep you all posted.

 

[Icecold]

Thats good to hear everything is going well ... i dont have the ftbr kit but i got the steeda stop hop package or whatever it is ... i just didnt have enough summer left to tear out my irs and cut the old bushings out etc lol so i just put in the springs and drove it, this spring my little brother and I are going to drop my irs and install the kit I dont think its as good as the ftbr one but it will be 100 times better then the worn out stock one so and also put in new shocks and new quad shocks... i also put in new adj sway bar links(due to me braking a stock one :s).

Cant wait to see pics of your car when its all done

 

[eaglesnick]

Well car is all done with the exception of the alignment so the handling/ride can not be commented on as of yet. Car is getting aligned on Monday or Tuesday so hopefully I will be able to get some seat time after the alignment. The weather here is less than optimal so depends on the weather. I will post up some pics tomorrow if it is nice out. As for the ride height the rear dropped a full inch to 27" and the front dropped 5/8" to 26 3/8". Overall I am happy with the drop and with the FTBR bushings, shocks/struts, springs and the front strut tower brace the car feels much tighter. Can't wait to get it aligned and get some seat time in it and play with the shucks/struts settings.

 

[earico]

Sweet! Congrats. You are going to love it. I love my D-Specs BTW.

 

[eaglesnick]

Updated photos in first post with before and after photos. Car didn't drop a lot but I wasn't looking to drop it that much. Going for an alignment tomorrow so can't really comment on the handling as of yet, but I can tell you the car feels A LOT tighter/stiffer.

 

[Bruha]

Nice upgrades!! This will be bad ass!!