collecting suspension parts till spring

[username]

Well I got my stuff in from UMI and I'm really pleased with the fit and finish seems like some solid components.

Now I just need springs and warm weather 😀

 

[G-Body_Vet]

I bought some UMI stuff during the Thanksgiving sale myself. The only thing I didn't get was the front sway bar. I'll probably get mine from Spohn since it's slightly larger in diameter. I can't wait to see the difference this stuff makes.

 

[username]

Yeah thats when I got mine during there cyber Monday sale.I,m excited to try this out going from a 7/8" front bar to 1 1/4" and adding a rear 1" this should be a big difference. What size is the Spohn front bar you were looking @ vet?

 

[G-Body_Vet]

I believe it's 1 5/16". Not a huge difference, but slightly. The rear bar looks massive compared to the stock one though.

 

[username]

A little change in diameter has a huge effect.With all things being the same with comparable bars diameter will effect stiffness to the fourth power for example if you were to go from a 1/2" to a 1" bar the stiffness will be sixteen times greater.I know that after reading several books on suspension tuning and building that I could defintely over think some of this stuff, but what I've read it seems like anywhere from 25 to 50 % of your total roll resistance from sway bars is okay as long as its balanced with springs.

 

[79loserbluebu]

I've heard not to replace the rear end upper ear mount bushings with poly ones. Other than that, looks like someone will be busy for a couple hours 8)

 

[username]

Yeah I have heard that running poly in the attach point for the upper arms is a bad idea but I have 2 rearends and 1 has shot bushings so I think I would like to experiment with both once I get the rest of the suspension dialed in.You know the old saying some of us have to learn the hard way 🙂 but I really want to try out the poly in some places on a suspension that I havent done before on other vehicles just to get a feel for it. I have also been playing around with the idea about doing things one at a time and documenting as I go and maybe do a web page on the results.

 

[G-Body_Vet]

I have also been playing around with the idea about doing things one at a time and documenting as I go and maybe do a web page on the results.

You're a more patient man than I am! I just want to drive it. The last time I modified g-body suspension was on my '85 SS. I only installed drop spindles, 1 1/2" rear drop springs, poly links, and Belltech drop shocks. It handled great too.

I have the same parts for my GP too but haven't installed any of it yet. It's becoming a snowball effect. I'll probably end up buying aftermarket a-arms and just rebuilding the entire front suspension while I'm at it. I haven't done the rear pieces because I want to swap rear ends and undercoat everything first. They say a car is never really finished anyway! :wink:

 

[username]

G-body_vet wrote:
I have the same parts for my GP too but haven't installed any of it yet. It's becoming a snowball effect. I'll probably end up buying aftermarket a-arms and just rebuilding the entire front suspension while I'm at it

I know what you mean so far I have NIB entire front end parts, umi stuff,edelbrock shocks,all the stuff to redo back brakes and axle,and am already looking @ aftermarket a-arms.I have another bare frame setting under a tarp that I should clean up and bolt the new parts on and do this right but @ the moment I dont have the space to go over this frame like I want hence the reason it is under a tarp :?

 

[RockSS]

I did the UMI rear kit (non adjustable upper links) poly all the way around front and rear 1" drop springs eibach. The ride is consideralbly stiffer but I like it theres a feeling of controll. Now I'm saving for tubular upper n lower A arms (even tho I just did poly bushings) and a set of those sway bars. good luck with yours I deffinitly like the UMI product.