Over winter, I had planned to save money to put BMR upper& lower a-arms and front and rear sway bars on my '93 Z28.
After reading about racers having the BMR PHB fail on them, I'm a little leary about using their stuff now. I don't want to have to worry about those parts failing on me in a high speed turn.

What are some good comapnies who sell the same type of parts that BMR does?

I was looking into LG2 front and rear sway bars, but who would would be good to go to for upper&lower a-arms?

Also, for the racers out there, what's the real difference between the 21.5mm rear sway bar and the 19mm? I'd imagine the 21.5 makes the car looser (rotates better), but I like oversteer, as long as I can feel it gradualy increasing and it's not snap-oversteer like on porsches.

Other planned mods are control arms and torque arm.

Thanks.

 

I bought LG bars (still own the rear) but I wouldn't buy them again. As a matter of fact, (get ready Mike...) I would only buy the Suspension Techniques 35mm front bar and leave the rear bar alone for now.

Call Sam Strano for all your suspension parts. One of the best calls you can make for your car. Go to www.stranoparts.com for the number.

I like the 21.5mm rear (it's probably a 21mm, I'll measure one day) simply because I like a more neutral handling car. Some people think it's too large though. It really depends on your driving style and what kind of driving you're going to be doing with your car.

 

For sway bars, I have the 1LE setup (stock '99 WS6 in the front) and the 1LE 21mm GM bar in the rear. I really like how neutral it feels on the car. I'm thinking of trying the 35mm bar one day, but I'm not in a hurry (unless someone let's me try their's out).

As for BMR, I've heard some rumors (I havn't heard first hand yet) on failures. I have the BMR PHR and I like it. It hasn't failed me yet, but I will be looking closer at it this season.

I do believe that LG does carry upper and lower A-arms, not sure how good their stuff is, but I hear good things.

 

What is the major difference between the 35mm front sway bar and a 32.5mm sway bar handling wise? Will it make the car more tight/loose if I stay with a 19mm in the rear?

 

BIG difference between the 32.5 (hollow) and 35mm front bar. Actually, no comparison. Go read a few post back and hear from a few people on how they liked it.

In theory, a large front bar and small rear bar will make the car understeer, in practice, that's not normally the case. The front sticks better because of less body roll, the tires stay planted better on the ground. The only way you're really going to dial in oversteer is if you go with the 25mm rear bar, which most everyone recommends you don't do.

 

I've read some good things about Sam. Does he help you plan out suspension mods based on your needs?
I eventually want to lower the car with BMR lowering springs, but don't know what shocks to go with.

 

Yes, he does. He'll talk you you for quite a while to figure out EXACTLY what you want to do, how you drive, all of your expectations, and then give you advice on what to do to the car. It'll be the best phone call you can make.

He won't talk to me anymore, I've already bought everything... but his mom is really nice...

 

I'll talk to you.... your timing just sucks.

I'm betting 93RedDevilZ28's real name is Zach... If it is, I tried e-mailing you back, but it bounced twice.

I'd forget all the crap about upper and lower arms and such now. We want to concentrate on the springs/shock/swaybar combo to start with. Then, maybe, if you still feel you need further changes we'll progress to other things. My best advice, save your cash and don't buy things like STB's and LCA's now. Put that money into a good shock setup, with matched springs if you are so inclined. Also, don't think you NEED to have springs, stock sprung cars can do some pretty cool tricks with proper shocks and roll stiffness via swaybars.

 

Uh huh, you'll be talking trash to me when you come down to kick my ESP butt with your F Stock car!!!!!!

 

That's for sure. My first f-body ('96 LT1) I went out and just bought a set of shocks that weren't very good, and some cheap lowering springs. Never, Never, again.

When I got my '99, I started with a set of Koni SA, and just happened to come across a pair of SLP front springs in a junk yard. This setup with my stock rear springs has made me extremely happy. The difference between my '99 and my '96 are night and day. It may not be ideal, as what I read, but I'm very comfortable driving it and it works for me.

I'll never buy another "cheap" shock again.

BTW Sam, I may be giving you a call this year. I might want to try one of these 35mm bars