Welcome a new member of the family: Balto!

[MP81]

I started my suspension overhaul today


Ahh, the car should never have this much wheel gap again:




Rear:


Front:


Stock setup:


Removed the swaybar endlink from the strut - which took way too long thanks to GM's placement of a shitty soft metal nut on the backside of the strut. In theory it makes great sense - just don't use something that rounds off instantly. Vice grips were my friend here.


Strut/spring is out:



So is the lower control arm:



It was dark by then (started about 7, ended about 9:30), so I cleaned up and headed out to Woodward for a bit. Running on like 3 or 4 hours of sleep - so bed. More tomorrow!

[Gottork]

WAHHOOOO, I am happy for you kyle, I bet your geeked

[MP81]

Haha, yeah I am.

Day 2.

Sam came over and gave me a hand today.

In short: Got the left strut/spring combo and lower control arm removed, as well as the swaybar endlinks (GM's design still proved to suck a lot). Unbolted the steering rack and then the swaybar.

Proceeded to remove the swaybar which was absolutely a HUGE pain in the ass, and I never want to do it again (had to remove the trans mount, and GM decided to wrap the swaybar around damn near everything). Putting the new one in was better, but still not easy, especially since it was 5mm bigger...well, everywhere, ha. Installed the steering rack spacers at that point too.

Put the FE5 aluminum control arms in, then got the new Moog end links bolted to the swaybar.

Fred let me use his impact wrench to disassemble the FE1 struts so I could assemble the FE5 struts (needed the top hats/bearing and what not).

Very productive day - I'm very sore, but it's all for a worthy cause!

Pictures.

Left strut/spring and control arm removed


The rubber spray in the left wheelwell - as well as under the car. =D





Stock shit


FE5 24mm swaybar on top vs. stock FE1 19mm swaybar on bottom:



Stock stamped steel control arm vs. FE5 aluminum control arm - the weight difference was insane.




Control arm and FE5 swaybar in (right side shown)








Stock springs (left) vs. SSC springs (right)


FE5 struts loaded with SSC springs


Thanks again to Sam and Fred for the help today!!!

[kammi10]

looks good kyle... but quit spending money on all this other stuff and buy a set of wheels and tires, the car is begging for it..

[nascarnate326]

Do they make mock ss rims in the 4 lug design?



Looks good to me!!!!!!

[Gottork]

YAY KYLE!!!! awesome job brutha.. can't wait to see the stance after you get it finished..

[MP81]

looks good kyle... but quit spending money on all this other stuff and buy a set of wheels and tires, the car is begging for it..

I know it needs rims - but these parts will provide more of a performance/handling increase than rims and tires - not to mention, I was not about to put 18s on my car without lowering it - it looks very strange.

Do they make mock ss rims in the 4 lug design?



Looks good to me!!!!!!

I don't think they do - but I'm not looking to run those anyhow. I'm still planning on MSR 045 multispokes

YAY KYLE!!!! awesome job brutha.. can't wait to see the stance after you get it finished..

Haha, thanks.

All done!

Front FE5 struts with SSC springs are installed



I think I need new brakes...



Hehehe...


Front is all done! Car has an extreme rake at this point:




Getting ready to lift the back up. Steelies!



Stock rear suspension




Stock spring and shock, removed:


Awaiting new parts:


SSC spring vs stock spring:


SS/TC FE5 shock vs stock shock:


Springs and shocks installed:





Front and rear wheel gap (respectively)



The result

[SoulTerror]

Nice!

[Gottork]

that looks TIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIGHT!!! nice job..

[meissen]

Wow - very nice drop!

[9T8W66]

Excellent Work Kyle that looks real good. Now the question is how does it handle. Don't forget to get a new alignment.

[MP81]

Big thanks goes out to Brian, aligned the car for me.




Took it out onto 75 to test the alignment (no shaking at 100, so we're good ), and man, the on-ramp and off-ramp I took faster than ever. Probably could've gone even faster, I just don't know the limit of these not-sticky tires...

There is a HUGE improvement in handling, though. So much less body roll. Rides stiffer - but not like a truck. Feels "hooked up".

Thanks everyone!

[MP81]

DJ finally was able to upload one of my in-car vids from Ubly.

For the first 2/3 of the video, the sound of the car next to me totally overpowers mine - you can hear mine a little near the end.

[jakes_GSXR]

[MP81]

My weekend's endeavors...(cell phone pix)

Cutting the 3/4" MDF


Picture of my car


All cut.


Assembling the box, with the help of my dad (who is awesome)


All glued and screwed together


Cutting out the holes



All siliconed, inside and out