GTO suspension upgrades

I know I never come out anymore, but the GTO is a live and well and I did part 1 of my suspension upgrades this weekend

I installed an Energy Suspension master bushing kit over the weekend. I didn't take any pictures because I was too busy swearing the entire time. PITA but well worth it, highly recommended. I was surprised to see that one of my RR bushings was completely torn half way around. They aren't kidding when they say to replace those ASAP. Braking feels totally different now. The whole car feels firmer and more connected. Much more crisp if you will. The kit didn't come with the rear RR bushings, but those are on order. Rear subframe bushings are pretty cool, really helps keep the IRS planted. I already had a Whiteline diff bushing which helped when I put that in.

I was on the fence with ordering sway bars for it, but the bushing upgrade made me change my mind on that. Definitely much more flat and controlled. Also, Whiteline and Hotchkis are on OB until god knows when and Pedders..... not going there. Part 2 will hopefully commence on labor day if my BC coilovers show up. I'm pretty stoked to get those on the car. I've wanted to lower the car for some time now and these should fit the bill. The say in the GTO world that upgraded sway bar bushings and high spring rates are a nice combo and shouldn't have a real need for sway bars at that point. We'll see.

She still is a slow fat porker, but she is getting VERY nimble!

As much as I love horsepower, I enjoy suspension upgrades a hell of a lot more on a day to day basis. Sounds great man. I did energy in my 240sx, and energy on the front of my old maxima. Great shit. Pedders sells stuff that fits my wife's magnum, seems overpriced to me.

Nice job Jon! It made a huge difference on my blue 70. Night and day difference.

Mike

PS PITA to do!

Nice work. I have pretty much everything except for shocks/struts and that made a nice improvement, can't wait to see what the coil overs do for ya.

I am glad you like them. For as much hassle as they were. You had to pick one of the hottest weekends to install them too.

Since starting my martial arts training, heat doesn't bother me anymore. I didn't know what hot was until this

Ugh.... frackin mod bug..... I forgot how bad it can get Just ordered Pedders sway bars and the all mighty steering rack bushing. All poly besides engine, trans, and axle at this point. BC coil overs come on Wednesday. I hope the sways will make it here this week so I can finish things up this next weekend.

I slapped in my rear radius rod bushings on Saturday. One was pretty beat. I can only conclude that it was in part due to the torn front radius rod bushing on that side.

After some seat time with the new bushings, it is SO much better. Fantastic mod for the money, time, and cussing. It just makes me sad I basically had the sway bars out before doing all the bushings and I'll have to do it again. At least I'll be quicker this time! I can't imagine how it is going to feel after the coil overs and sways are done. Too bad winter is right around the corner.

Well, I got the coil overs on. Pretty straight forward install besides getting one strut out. 2 broken sockets and a nut that had to be cutoff.

Strut bushings were indeed collapsed and the bearings were shot. Each and every horror story about bad GTO suspension issues I've have had. Blown struts, blown RR bushings, collapsed strut bushings. It is becoming a totally different car. It doesn't feel like a 2 ton pig anymore.

Impressions after one day..... I fricking love them. There are quite a few posts on LS2GTO about them being way too harsh and all that BS, I don't see them being harsh at all. Yes if you crank up the dampeners, but it can be pretty smooth when they are turned down. Not really sure what in the hell they are talking about.

It was sitting rather low to begin with the strut bushings, saggy rear springs, and the stereo. Overall the drop isn't real dramatic, but enough you can tell. With the 18"s it is 22.75" from the bottom of the rim to the edge of the fender. If I rolled the rear fenders and got a lame camber adjustment up front you could tuck the tires all the way around. Fun, I like to look at cars like that, but not really my style for my car.

So.... AWESOME ride, stays flat as all get out, and MINIMAL squat from a dig. I'm very happy.

Damn sway bars....... so with all of this I do get a clunk from the front sway bar, but something I can live with and I have a plan when I can put my new ones in. I'm still waiting for mine to show up. Pedders new rear bar is still on back order and they say around 4 weeks until they ship. I was bummed at first, but it is neat to see the improvements step by step.

Stereo - Done
Brakes - Done
Suspension - Done
Motor - Slowly but surely

Time to focus on the bathroom remodel, belt testing, and my tournament in November!

nice! it's cool to see you've actually hung onto that GTO and continued to work on it for as long as I've known of you. most people just throw thousands of dollars at something over a summer and then it's gone by the next spring.

Fuckin Schiller!! wrote:

nice! it's cool to see you've actually hung onto that GTO and continued to work on it for as long as I've known of you. most people just throw thousands of dollars at something over a summer and then it's gone by the next spring.

Including every vehicle you have had since i have known you lol

Mclovin23 wrote:

Fuckin Schiller!! wrote:

nice! it's cool to see you've actually hung onto that GTO and continued to work on it for as long as I've known of you. most people just throw thousands of dollars at something over a summer and then it's gone by the next spring.

Including every vehicle you have had since i have known you lol

haha. in all fairness my ST is the first car I've actually put much into since I got rid of the Subaru