Suspension/Brake Upgrade Question Thread

[mra32]

BRAKES

 

I need to get new brakes for the lumina (91 Base) and I figure instead of having someone else do it and put the same crappy brakes that will fail in a few years again and have me pay out the ass to get it done ($400 wtf) i'd like to actually get some stopping power when i pay for brakes. So, what are my options here.

 

I remember Marchi1 doing the F-Body front caliper swap (http://www.w-body.com/forum/index.php/topic,55045.0.html) and I was interested in some more of the specifics of this project. I know his car is a Gen 2. Would I be able to grap some F-body calipers and 12" rotors and make a mounting bracket and put them on my car? Fabricating is not an issue. I have access to a machine shop and materials and could use the practice welding (I'll be helping fabricate the chassis for the racecar this year )

 

There is also the 12" W-body brake upgrade. The steering knuckle would be required for this (could I make a custom mounting bracket for this too?) Would the steering knuckle have any fitment issue with 1st gen lowering springs?

 

I also remember there being like a 11.25" Front brake upgrade, but I'm not sure what I would need to do that

 

What options do I have for the rear? Any more options for the Front?

 

 

SUSPENSION

 

So I'll be replacing the front springs and struts. I know that I will need the strut and strut mount obviously and if I have everything out, I'd like to replace the old worn out components (strut bearing and others?) Is what strut mount is reccommended. I see a HD suspsension one. Whats the difference between that and a regular one and is it worth 150% the price of the standard one?

 

Are there other things I should do at this time to avoid getting 2 (or more) alignments down the road?

 

Also, I'm not 100% sure on the process to change out the springs and everything. I read through the thread where loudcut asked how to do it (http://www.w-body.com/forum/index.php/topic,53757.0.html), but I'm having a hard time visualising it (maybe because I haven't looked at my suspension in a while).

 

Sway bars...what cars came with rear sway bars. Did all Z34's have rear sway bars? Which would be the best one I could salvage from a car?

 

To mount a 34mm front sway bar to a car that didnt have one, what is needed?

 

Holy Crap. I just asked so many questions. I'm sorry.

[pwmin]

brakes: theres a guy on 60degreev6 that took his stock front assemblies, cut the caliper bracket off, and welded up something to hold f-body calipers. had to grind some off of the control arm, though.

 

suspension: are you wanting to lower it at all or keep the stock height? i think you said somewhere before you wanted to keep it stock for the shitty pa roads.

[mra32]

i'll be lowering with the twin dual cam suspension setup. and i was probably raving about how the monster truck lumina is good at parking on snow piles.

 

The reason I'd want to make an adapter plate if it go the route of F-Body brakes is because I wouldnt have to worry about welding the caliper brackets on straight

[pwmin]

k, ill try to answer your questions a little more.

 

rear sway bar: apparantly, you can fit a 7/8" one from a 1.5-gen. buy new inner bushings from gm for 7/8 and addco outers. youll have to englargen the holes a little.

 

front sway bar: youll just need to drop the sub (make sure the steering doesnt pull out) and get ES poly bushings (see my cardomain for what i used)

 

front mounts: KYB wont fit as the strut jounce is integrated and needs to be cut in half, so id go w/ the HD ones from whoever it is.

 

f-body brakes: i dont think a bracket will work. i think youll just have to cut the bracket and make another one. the other guy cut the ears off, welded them to another piece that he welded to the assemblies, and the reinforced it. i would just make a whole new piece. im sure you could easily sell them judging by your situation. it wont be hard at all welding it on straight. just take the hubs out and use a level.

[mra32]

The heavy duty one was a KYB. I guess AC Delco is the way to go?

 

Do I need new spring isolators? I'll probaly get new strut bearings.

 

I'm starting to lean toward just getting a set of 96+ knuckles and calipers and then building up a whole new knuckle assembly so i can quickly swap out the knuckles and get lowered and bigger brakes.

[pwmin]

monroe will work.

 

i wouldnt think so.

 

thats what i would do if you dont wanna mess w/ fitting f-body calipers. actually, thats what i did to mine.

[mra32]

So about the front suspension...

 

Assuming I'm going the route of getting 96+ steering knuckles, which i assume to be pretty much the same as the ones I currently have aside from the caliper mounting points (which is beside the point), I'd just need to get:

 

Struts

Strut Mounts

Strut bearings

what else?

 

I also have a popping in my steering that I'd be looking to get rid of. I do realize that this is another topic altogether, but I'll describe the popping. It happens when I turn the wheel alot, like making a hard turn. Parking comes to mind and I can't remember if it does it at higher speeds. There is also a squeak that I believe to be related since they appeared at the same time. I'll get a video of the noises if you guys need.

 

I'm looking at new balljoints and tie rod ends since I'm going to have the front end apart. Could these items be a source of the popping I'm experiencing.

[pwmin]

ya, the only diff is the caliper bracket that is welded to the assembly. youll be able to reuse your calipers and pads, but will need the larger rotors obviously.

 

the popping could def be in the assemblies, probably the upper mount. mine used to do that sometimes.

 

 

[mra32]

Thanks pwmin for the responses. You've helped me narrow down what I want.

 

Can anyone give me an answer as to what would work on my car in the front. (91 Base lumina going with lowering springs). I will be replacing the strut and mount. The strut bearing deal slightly confuses me. Are there two? one on the top and bottom? Do they come seperate from everything else. Is there anything else I need to replace?

[pwmin]

no problem

 

theres the bearing in the mount and then theres a bearing at the top of the housing (the part of the strut that screws in there). so, the bottom one will be integrated into the new strut. the stock unit is filled with fluid, whereas the aftermarket unit will be self-contained. youll just need the mount and the strut insert. the spring seat does move on the housing, but does not have a bearing, since its not supposed to move when turning or anything, but you can turn it by hand to line it up.

[mra32]

I was at the j/y the other day, scoping out the suspension and brake pieces that I need and I saw a Grand Prix with rear rotors that appeared to be larger than the ones that I currently have. It was a first gen w/ a 3100. I didnt have a tape measure, but they looked bigger to me. Did they make different size rear rotors for the first gen, or was the heat getting to me?

 

If so, what would it take to get these on my car?

[pwmin]

yes, 94+ w's (95+ luminas) have larger rears (about an inch), as well as more reliable calipers. see the FAQ page

[mra32]

OK so parts are slowly gathering in my trunk. I just got the struts for the front today. I ordered KYB GR2's from tire rack and what came are called Excel-G's. I searched the internet and not much came up. I was just wondering if anyone else got the Excel-G's when they ordered shocks?

[pwmin]

if you look on kyb's website and look at the vehicle look-up, it says "GR-2 Excel-G", so they should be the same thing. damnit, if only they made AGX's for our cars.