Fox T-Bird/Cougar Forums

Technical => Suspension/Steering => Topic started by: slamedcat on February 27, 2006, 06:58:42 PM

Title: Suspention setup question.
Post by: slamedcat on February 27, 2006, 06:58:42 PM
I want to put my car money into a suspention setup. Here is what I want to go with. What are the pros and cons to the components I have selected?

Summit Racing
   HAL QA1 K Member $229.95
   
CHE Performance
   Uppers/Lowers Rear Arms $215.95
   
Griggs Racing
   Front Coil Over Kit $219.95
   
Maximum Motor Sports
   Strut Tower Brace $129
Title: Suspention setup question.
Post by: shame302 on February 27, 2006, 09:07:40 PM
well, personally, if i were you id rethink the qa1 and go with the MM tubular k if you are going to use coil overs. thats the one i would have used if it worked with spring purches...
Title: Suspention setup question.
Post by: slamedcat on February 27, 2006, 09:20:50 PM
I've heard that the QA1 had quality issues but nothing specific. Any more info would be helpful. I would like to get as much input as possible before ordering.
Title: Suspention setup question.
Post by: Chuck W on February 27, 2006, 09:26:26 PM
I wouldn't trust my ass on the street to a $230 K-member....but that's just me.
Title: Suspention setup question.
Post by: Thunder Chicken on February 27, 2006, 10:36:59 PM
I've always wondered about coil-over kits on the street. The strut towers in these cars were never designed or intended to carry the weight of the car, they were designed simply to locate the top of the strut. Of course they are fairly thick metal and are designed to take a bit of a beating, but will they hold out against carrying the full weight in a street application? I mean, look at the thickness in the metal of the K-member (the part actually designed to carry the weight) compared to the thickness in the strut towers...

I've no intention of going with a coil over setup myself, but I'd be interested in hearing what the resident suspension experts think...
Title: Suspention setup question.
Post by: Red_LX on February 27, 2006, 10:59:35 PM
I've asked that question before too, but everyone insists they're fine... :dunno:
Title: Suspention setup question.
Post by: slamedcat on February 27, 2006, 11:01:41 PM
http://www.corner-carvers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=670
Title: Suspention setup question.
Post by: Chuck W on February 27, 2006, 11:34:27 PM
I'm no expert, but when the Tbird rolls out of the garage again this spring, it will be on coil-overs in the front.  There is a large safety factor built into the chassis, and while this degrades over time with useage, I don't see any issue with the coil-overs, but I would suggest "good" CC plates and an STB.
Title: Suspention setup question.
Post by: Red_LX on February 28, 2006, 12:40:56 AM
Some good info over there at Corner Carvers. I should join that forum, but I really don't have THAT many suspension questions...hm
Title: Suspention setup question.
Post by: Chuck W on February 28, 2006, 06:58:29 AM
There is some good info if you can get through the .

Those guys talk alot just to hear themselves talk I think to prove how "smart" they are.....
Title: Suspention setup question.
Post by: CougarSE on February 28, 2006, 11:21:09 AM
My god those guys talk out there asses.
Title: Suspention setup question.
Post by: shame302 on February 28, 2006, 04:55:07 PM
coil overs are great and all...but im all set, you will never see them in my car. just not for me, for my own peace of mind. sure the shock towers might be strong enough but they werent desighned for it. i deffinetly wouldnt run them withought a high quality 3 pt tower brace...
Title: Suspention setup question.
Post by: slamedcat on February 28, 2006, 06:50:22 PM
Well in light of some new info on that K member that I found here (http://"http://www.westsidemustang.com/K_member.htm"). I think I will start doing search on the PA Racing (http://"http://paracing.com/product_info.php?cPath=25&products_id=126&osCsid=751fe06c321e55ed72c682428f8ae53c") K members.
Title: Suspention setup question.
Post by: Chuck W on February 28, 2006, 08:35:30 PM
Eep!
Title: Suspention setup question.
Post by: shame302 on February 28, 2006, 09:04:27 PM
glad you wised up...always said that thing was a peice of ...for some reason the mustang guys cant get enough of them.
 
fron the link posted:
Quote
Another reason for choosing the QA1 K-member is, it looks just the the UPR K-member but painted black.

thats because UPR copies everybodys products and sells them as their own......
Title: Suspention setup question.
Post by: Nate on February 28, 2006, 09:08:37 PM
i wouldnt even have modified it, i'd call QA-1 ,bitch, and get a full refund including shipping. nothing new should need to be modified to fit, expecialy if its for that car unlike us...
Title: Suspention setup question.
Post by: slamedcat on February 28, 2006, 09:10:40 PM
I do like what I see from the PA Racing K member and havn't found one person that has a bad word about them.
Title: Suspention setup question.
Post by: shame302 on February 28, 2006, 09:22:12 PM
that one looks nice but i dont like the arm mounts on it.....
Title: Suspention setup question.
Post by: Chuck W on February 28, 2006, 09:29:00 PM
I guess it's ok for drag racing or light street use....but it's far too spindly for my tastes for any aggressive handling....
Title: Suspention setup question.
Post by: slamedcat on February 28, 2006, 09:57:48 PM
I was also going to look into getting a G load brace. Know of any place that sells them?
Title: Suspention setup question.
Post by: shame302 on February 28, 2006, 10:05:44 PM
MM is realy the only way to go. its a realy burly, safe, well made unit. sure its expensive, but well worth it. i would have gone with one myself but i refuse too use coil overs and you cant with the MM k member.
 
 
why exactly do you want the tubular k member anyway, any particular reason?
Title: Suspention setup question.
Post by: slamedcat on February 28, 2006, 10:17:31 PM
Clearance, weight, I am tired of busting my knuckles on shiznit when I try to fix the exhaust, change the starter, change the oil....
Title: Suspention setup question.
Post by: Chuck W on February 28, 2006, 10:20:44 PM
Quote from: slamedcat
I was also going to look into getting a G load brace. Know of any place that sells them?

If the place that sells that K-member does not make one that fits it...no.  Unless it's just a 2-point one, it will have to be custom.
Title: Suspention setup question.
Post by: shame302 on February 28, 2006, 10:24:42 PM
well thats prety valid. alot of guys do some stuff just for the sake of saying they have it. take a look at the AJE. i felt it was a happy medium as far as whats out there. the PE raceing one is nice but im not digging the tabs for mounting points. while my AJE isnt anything like the MM one i wanted it still alows me to swap the 4.6 in and still use the modified macferson strut/springs. its a little more rugged than some of the other units out there. id still like to add some braceing to it as well as add a 2 or 4 pt brace.
 
(http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/4/web/472000-472999/472287_45_full.jpg)
Title: Suspention setup question.
Post by: slamedcat on February 28, 2006, 10:32:25 PM
Is that one long bolt that mounts the A arms? Is that the one that sells for like $300 even?
Title: Suspention setup question.
Post by: shame302 on February 28, 2006, 10:39:08 PM
there are 4 bolts, 2 on each side. mine was a little under 400 shipped with the spring purches.....
 
http://www.ajeracing.com/ (http://"http://www.ajeracing.com/")
Title: Suspention setup question.
Post by: Red_LX on February 28, 2006, 10:52:22 PM
Far as I know, MM is the only place that sells a 2-point K-member brace for their tubular K-members.
Title: Suspention setup question.
Post by: Red_LX on March 01, 2006, 04:17:30 AM
By the way, I was looking at a Summit catalog earlier, and noticed the Granatelli tubular K-member in there for $220. It looks fairly well built...what's the opinion on it? Granatelli's tubular control arms are pretty cheap too ($200 per kit)