I've read a lot of threads saying that the 3rd gen is a more capable handler then the fourth gen. I would figure that the weight differance would be helping the 3rd gen, but from the sound of the posts it seems like it is also a better design too.

Is this true? All I've heard and read about the 4th gens front SLA suspension is that it was a marvel for it's time and the best design for the money.

The weight thing I can understand, but I can't fathom chevy actually designing a less capable suspension design when they were coming up with the 4th gens.

 

The 3rd gen had problems in it....I talked to anthony jones on this years ago..
I forgot most of this but The 3rd gen has forward caster and loses toe and camber when susp. moves....where as the 4th gen works better at this

They have built stuff to correct this the relation to the front and rear mounting point on a 3rd is angled and the 4th is more straight

also the 3rd gen steering, at the time I was looking at buing a k-member, a-arms, coil overs and pinto rack and pinion for my 3rd gen. he told me all the plusses of it....this was for a drag car

I had another 3rd gen I auto crossed and when you turned the wheel it kept going straight and the tires just slid, I had to stab the gas to turn it.....AJE told me his stuff cured those problems, i don't know all the technical stuff on it tho....hope it helps in your quest