Hi…
I need some good road setup. Car that will handle very well on twisty roads (don’t care about drag racing). I don’t want to go to extremes, just something better than stock setup. But without sacrificing ride comfort, I don’t want to jump on every bump. And I dint want to lower the car too much (less is better)…
Right now I have BMR: STB, SFC, LCA, PHB. Frist thing taht I decided to purchase is Suspension Techniques Swaybar kit 35mm/25mm, and I just need good spring and struts and shocks setup. I don’t want to get Bilstein HD because they have to be revalved (to expensive for me). I was thinking about whole package something like SLP Optional Package or any other matching springs/shocks.
I saw those shocks on eBay are they any good??? And what about Jamex springs( can have those really cheap)….
Sebastian

 

Since know one has responed I will give you my opinion (but I am by no means any sort of expert). I think your plan of going with bigger bars is a good one based on your goals (you will get less body roll but will maintain the same "ride comfort"). Most would say that a 25mm bar out back is to big but if your main use is for twistes at higher speeds I think it is fine (Others would probably say less is better if your goal was Auto X for example). I think most would agree that the those shocks on ebay are a bad idea. I would not dismiss the Bilstein HD (even in there unvalved) these are a great shock for a reasonable price (approx $300 - $320 for all 4). If anyone can name a better shock in that pricer/performace range please let me know. For springs (based on cost being a factor) I would recomed one of two things. If you want to maintain stock ride height get ss/ws6/1le or slp Lvl II springs (Sometims you can find them used for real cheap from folks with SS/WS6 upgrading or for example new SLP Lvl II's are $140). I you don't mind a drop in height get the Eibach Pro-Kit. Anyway that gives you a spring and shock combo price around 500. If you don't want to spend that kind of money I would say just ket the shocks (given the the bigger bars and SFC's you have already that should amount to some pretty decent handling through the twisties.

 

Koni sa and revalved bilsteins in the rear. 35 mm front sway bar and wait to see if you really need the rear bar.

This is the set up I'm going to be running. I'm buying everything tomorrow from Sam. $600 for shocks and $200 for sway bar that is Hollow.

You can lower the front of the car about 3/4" with the Koni's and there is a mod to do in rear that will lower it about an inch.

 

considering you already ordered the 25mm rear bar, i can't tell you now not to get it.

most drivers would prefer a smaller rear bar....guess you're just gonna have to find out for yourself.

i would actually recommend getting either 1le springs beacuse ride height is basically unchanged but the springs are a bit stiffer, or just keeping your stock springs and then spend a little more money on your shocks. shocks, in my opinion, are not something you wanna be cheap about.....cuz, if you think about it, GM was cheap on shocks, and that's why you're thinking about getting new ones....

bilsteins (NOT revalved) in the rear is rather a safe bet, and are definitely a good shock.
now for the front, having adjustability is almost a must. because, when you get down to it, you don't know exactly how stiff or loose you want your front shocks to run...and hell, you just might prefer it sometimes if they were a lil different from time to time. putting out the money and getting a set of adjustable front shocks is money well spent. koni is highly recommended, and their single adjustable's seem to do the job just fine for many enthusiasts....

furthermore, when you install the new shocks, and springs (if you get them), i would recommend that you first install JUST THE FRONT swaybar. take your car to the track, get used to its new setup, get acquianted with how it handles and its limits. THEN install the larger rear bar and see if you actually like how the car drives with it. as i said earlier, you might love a rear bar that big, but on the average, a rear bar that big on our cars is undesirable. so i would most definitely try out both possibilities, with/without the larger rear bar.

 

I installed the susp tech 35mm front and a BMR 21mm rear. I autocross and do spectator drags. I went with this setup because I want my car to autocross and drag when needed. I have nothing to compare it to, but I am satisfied with this setup. I couldn't shake my rear loose at the autocross with 275 nitto 555 street tires on the rear and the stiff 21mm bar. I have stock shocks, panhard, and lca's. I'd probably be satisfied with the 25 on the rear. I'm thinking that if you know how to control your car with that 25mm on the rear, then you will probably like it a lot better than the stock rear bar.