I admit - I am a suspension noob. I have a great car that is awesome cosmetically and mechanically except for the suspension.
Here's what I have installed that relates to this topic:

Stock shocks (really beat)
Eibach lowering springs (new)
Racing Beat Front Anti-Sway Bar (new)
17x8.5 front wheels with 235/45's
17x10 rear wheels with 275/40's

The car has a RP rear toe link on one side and stock on the other (don't know why). When I hit any small bump in the road it's bone jarring. Driving at speed feels sloppy and there is clunking occasionally in the rear passenger side.

I don't want to spend the money on coilovers and I don't think I need them. This is a weekend driver that doesn't see any racing.

Questions:

What are the best shocks to buy - Tokico or Koni?

If I buy new RP Toe Links and Trailing arms, are there any bushings elsewhere I would need to replace? (I think they come with bushings)

Will I need to get an alignment after replacing all 4 shocks?

What else am I missing or should I know?

Thanks for any input.

Dave

 

I would go with the Konis...

You need to look over the condition of all the suspension bushings and replace as necessary. While you are replacing the shocks, you may also want to replace the upper spring mounts.

Also, when's the last time the car was aligned? You should take it to a GOOD performance shop to get a well done alignment (hint, if they setup race cars, it's probably a good shop).

 

Thanks a lot Rynberg.

 

Freakin` Tyler and his thousands of great replies!

 

I like the Konis also. Use the highest of the 3 settings for the spring perch.

Toe links are OK but the stock ones will last longer especially if you drive your car in the winter or get sand/grit into the metal bearings.

Having just done trailing arms myself, I'd say skip it if you're on rough east coast roads and not a hardcore Group 1 track star. They do increase NVH (noise vibration harshness) over stock or Jimlab type bushings.

Good idea to do so. Pettit specs work well. Stock is OK too.

OK. Let me see....

Stiffer ain't better. Upgrades don't always upgrade *all* aspects of a suspension. If you're not a hard core track star, you don't need to go crazy on *upgraded* parts. Stock-ish suspension works very well. Bushings make a big difference to getting rid of that crashing sound but it can get expensive to install. Stiff/harder bushings aren't necessarily better. Been there, I didn't like it on the street. Kinda cool on track.

Don't forget the diff bushings. For those, I'd go with the Polyurethane ones that FDNewbie or wrankin are selling here on the forum. The stock ones are liquid filled and the poly ones seem to have the right combination of stiffness w/o increased harshness and vibration while increasing useful life.

I used to livein Philly once upon a time...

 

Thanks a lot. That's the kind of advice I was seeking.
The toe links definetly need to be replaced because the old stock one is making all the noise. I don't drive the car in the winter out here - you've seen these roads...

So if I order a set of Jimlab bushings or the stock pillow ball bushings that everyone gets from Malloy - will all of my suspension bushings be covered? This way I guess I can just keep the stock trailing arms. I assume that the diff bushings are seperate from the Malloy or Jimlab package?

I've checked out Dale Clarks write up on replacing the bushings and I believe I can do that job no problem. I have all of the right tools.

 

Dale's writeup is for replacing pillowballs, which aren't the same as bushings. The pillowballs require a lot less pressing force, which is why those basic tools work ok. Bushings (true bushings) require you to remove the component and work with a hydraulic press. To my knowledge it's never been done while on the car.

BTW, I have a full set of new stock toe link bushings. PM me and I'll sell them for less than Malloy's price. The stockers last longer than the aftermarket toe links, FWIW.

Dave