Now that I see that.... You're correct. Looked @ the notes I took & Hellwig was similar to the QA1 in construction/materials but cheaper. The QA1 set-up had the better front options. I had a QA1 front w/Hellwig rear earmarked in my 'Suspension' notes. I wound up getting a 36mm GM front bar for less than 1/2 the cost of the QA1 front so I went that route
BUILD THREAD “The Juggernaut”
- Thread starter Rktpwrd
- Start date
Another thumbs up for Helwig. I run their rear bar on my car and really like the way it handles. The adjustability is nice. I have the 36mm F body bar up front. As noted, bigger is not better.
Been missing a lot here lately. My fault. Firstly I am kinda shocked how dirty she got while being covered 😳
As always you did a helluva job cleaning up.
Secondly on the sway bar issue. Don't know if it was mentioned but you want a matched setup front and rear. In other words I don't recommend mixing companies products. If you use X company front, use X's rear. Jmho
As always you did a helluva job cleaning up.
Secondly on the sway bar issue. Don't know if it was mentioned but you want a matched setup front and rear. In other words I don't recommend mixing companies products. If you use X company front, use X's rear. Jmho
While the logic is solid, the reality can vary. I understand it if you're using a complete package/1-stop shopping for your combo where everything was designed specifically for that package. Spring rates, ride height, shock valving, & suspension pieces designed to be used together make sense to utilize the matched sway-bar package for the combo.
For those not using the 'all in one' package approach, all set-ups are made to sell for profit. Some construction methods/materials are cheaper vs. others but the pricing may not reflect accordingly. Some materials might be cheaper but @ a weight penalty. Some kits use solid bars; some use hollow, & some a combination of the two. You need to do homework on what suits the applications needs & align that w/what your bank account agrees with.
I agree with the "some extent" Lol
I'm using UMI setup but I don't have any ride time yet. However there stuff on my F body made it handle like a slot car. Now I don't have much experience with corner carving (except for said Fbody) coming from big block Chevelle life. But I trust a company like them that races the crap outta their stuff and seems to be a well thought out combination. Being D's suspension is air ride i have no real clue what would be the best front/back combo.
Best deal right here >>> https://www.sdtrucksprings.com/inde...MI18nokdbj8wIVCJ2zCh2vrgcgEAQYASABEgK7WPD_BwE
Using your UMI example along w/the other provided....
UMI 1.00" tubular rear bar; chassis mounted, adjustable @ $449
UMI 1.375" tubular rear bar, chassis mounted, adjustable @ $489
UMI .750" solid rear bar, chassis mounted, adjustable @ $419
Hellwig 1.3125" tubular rear bar, chassis mounted; adjustable @ $225
While I like & appreciate UMI for who they are & what they do, there's no way I'm spending an extra $200 just so the F&R bars are from the same 'manufacturer' for consistency. I do like their options but where is the approximate $200 difference in improvement? I would be willing to spend $200 extra for a 'spec built' bar built just for my set-up but these are not that product. And, although their front bars are priced competitively & are beefy, they're heavy. Larger diameter tubular bars can yield similar anti rotation properties @ reduced weight.
I just feel it comes down to the individuals goals & what they're willing to spend for the results. Not every guy will buy a proven & supported Connect & Cruise package from GM when their are countless other options/sources that can yield similar or possibly better results for their LS drivetrain.
Understood. Price looks like it's gone up substantially since I got my setup. Hellwig makes great stuff. Wrapped my frame with their kit.
First off, I want to thank all you guys for commenting and sharing your real world experiences and providing me with some options. This is exactly what I was looking for.
Tony, I understand the mentality behind this philosophy, and to some degree I agree with it. But like scoti and others mentioned, it’s not always an option or feasible. In my case, I know I have kind of a mixed bag of parts going together, but it’s out of necessity. My front suspension for example, I have Hotchkis tubular uppers with RideTech tubular lowers simply because of the F body spindles I’m using. Neither manufacturer makes the pieces on their own that I need to use as a package. (Hotchkis makes the shorter upper arms i need to use with the F body spindles, but RideTech makes the lower arms required for the ShockWave air bags).
I currently have a Hotchkis 1 1/4” hollow front sway bar, and a 1” Hotchkis rear bar and those are matched, but the rear bar is the stock style. While Hotchkis does make a Pro Touring style rear bar I could use, it’s expensive and nothing all that special for how much it costs. I’m simply trying to explore all the options open to me and TBH I’d be foolish if I didn’t.
Especially at the price point for products like Hotchkis, RideTech and UMI.
I have personally investigated all the options presented by you guys and Injectedcutty (he’s been helping me research some of these), and the problem I’m coming up against is that there are things I like and things I don’t about all of them.
For example, the UMI option hangs too low under the diff for my liking, I can foresee having issues with that. Also, UMI is pretty proud of their product, and the price reflects it.
The RideTech bar is nice, but also the most expensive out of the entire lot. I’m also unsure about the end links on it.
Some of the more budget friendly bars fit tighter to the diff, but lack things like the lock collars like melloelky linked to. Or the end links/end link mounts are weak and pathetic looking.
Some bars are adjustable (which I’d definitely prefer), while others are not.
So now, I guess I’m just going to have to write out a list of the pros and cons with prices of each option and make my decision based on what I can live with and what I won’t.
Thanks again for everyone’s input. You guys rock.
Tony, I understand the mentality behind this philosophy, and to some degree I agree with it. But like scoti and others mentioned, it’s not always an option or feasible. In my case, I know I have kind of a mixed bag of parts going together, but it’s out of necessity. My front suspension for example, I have Hotchkis tubular uppers with RideTech tubular lowers simply because of the F body spindles I’m using. Neither manufacturer makes the pieces on their own that I need to use as a package. (Hotchkis makes the shorter upper arms i need to use with the F body spindles, but RideTech makes the lower arms required for the ShockWave air bags).
I currently have a Hotchkis 1 1/4” hollow front sway bar, and a 1” Hotchkis rear bar and those are matched, but the rear bar is the stock style. While Hotchkis does make a Pro Touring style rear bar I could use, it’s expensive and nothing all that special for how much it costs. I’m simply trying to explore all the options open to me and TBH I’d be foolish if I didn’t.
Especially at the price point for products like Hotchkis, RideTech and UMI.
I have personally investigated all the options presented by you guys and Injectedcutty (he’s been helping me research some of these), and the problem I’m coming up against is that there are things I like and things I don’t about all of them.
For example, the UMI option hangs too low under the diff for my liking, I can foresee having issues with that. Also, UMI is pretty proud of their product, and the price reflects it.
The RideTech bar is nice, but also the most expensive out of the entire lot. I’m also unsure about the end links on it.
Some of the more budget friendly bars fit tighter to the diff, but lack things like the lock collars like melloelky linked to. Or the end links/end link mounts are weak and pathetic looking.
Some bars are adjustable (which I’d definitely prefer), while others are not.
So now, I guess I’m just going to have to write out a list of the pros and cons with prices of each option and make my decision based on what I can live with and what I won’t.
Thanks again for everyone’s input. You guys rock.
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These items should be easily corrected to your standard w/only a small uptick in cost
