Z1Performance
Member
good stuff!
GT Spec Suspension Bracing
- Thread starter rookie
- Start date
Z1Performance
Member
it's our pleasure - enjoy em!
(Bumping to the new page) BTW Adam, feel free use the pics
New Mod alert!!
Yep I got 'em. One of the two remaining sets that were left. Soon as I heard, there wasnt a chance I was letting this out of my hands. Especially knowing that there may never be a 2nd production run.
I dont have the driving time on them to give a well rounded review, but from the little that I've driven, these bars are a deffinate want for those that are into close to perfect balanced handling.
First impression is that the front is way stiffer, & the ride quality seems all the better.
install was pretty straightforward, but I have to warn, dont even attempt if you dont have access to a lift & impact gun. I had to disconnect the steering arms on both sides to get my socket in for tightening on the ladder brace (you'll see below), & I had to bend a line at the front for clearance of the front bar (no bigee).
Otherwise, they went on without any fitment issues. The hardware used to put the insert in is pretty ingenious. JC posted the vid on page 29. That was fun getting those in, & that's also where you need the impact gun, unless of course your name is Arnold
. I'll have more to say later on, but for now, if you're thinking about kicking yourself for not fetching a set, . . you probably should.
.
.
I needed to disassemble for clearance (Shit was tight, but nothing a small sledgehammer couldnt break free :zip:
New Mod alert!!
Yep I got 'em. One of the two remaining sets that were left. Soon as I heard, there wasnt a chance I was letting this out of my hands. Especially knowing that there may never be a 2nd production run.
I dont have the driving time on them to give a well rounded review, but from the little that I've driven, these bars are a deffinate want for those that are into close to perfect balanced handling.
First impression is that the front is way stiffer, & the ride quality seems all the better.
install was pretty straightforward, but I have to warn, dont even attempt if you dont have access to a lift & impact gun. I had to disconnect the steering arms on both sides to get my socket in for tightening on the ladder brace (you'll see below), & I had to bend a line at the front for clearance of the front bar (no bigee).
Otherwise, they went on without any fitment issues. The hardware used to put the insert in is pretty ingenious. JC posted the vid on page 29. That was fun getting those in, & that's also where you need the impact gun, unless of course your name is Arnold
. I'll have more to say later on, but for now, if you're thinking about kicking yourself for not fetching a set, . . you probably should..
.
I needed to disassemble for clearance (Shit was tight, but nothing a small sledgehammer couldnt break free :zip:
Just an update. I got a little driving time in tonight. I didnt really get a chance to push it to the limit, but I did manage to hang the tail out on a couple turns & drive on various road surfaces. The fronts in combination with the rears enhance the whole driving experience nicely, but they have different feel than what was added with the rears only.
Most noticeable change; At first I felt a bit disconnected from the car's feel. It is very different with the fronts added. Since there is so much chassis stiffening going on, those bars have taken all of the buzz & vibration (previously minimal, although present) out of steering wheel.
Almost to the point of being numb. I couldnt decide if I liked it, or if I was just so used to the feel before the bars. But after some miles, it's grown on me.
The steering feels a bit luxe now, & tracking feel is near perfect. Irregular surfaces feel way smoother now, cuz you dont feel much chatter in the wheel, & the chassis feels like it can take on any surface. It feels so tight & solid over the bumpy. The steering also feels less inclined to 'wander' in a linear path, & really tracks better with less driver input. I also feel like a have better grip . . as if it hooks up better powering out of a turn & it really feels like the bars are helping reduce the understeer character that FX's have. Would be nice to hit an open lot to see if the terminal understeer I had a couple of instances at the Speed Ventures track event has been diminished.
Anywho . . more later
Most noticeable change; At first I felt a bit disconnected from the car's feel. It is very different with the fronts added. Since there is so much chassis stiffening going on, those bars have taken all of the buzz & vibration (previously minimal, although present) out of steering wheel.
Almost to the point of being numb. I couldnt decide if I liked it, or if I was just so used to the feel before the bars. But after some miles, it's grown on me.
The steering feels a bit luxe now, & tracking feel is near perfect. Irregular surfaces feel way smoother now, cuz you dont feel much chatter in the wheel, & the chassis feels like it can take on any surface. It feels so tight & solid over the bumpy. The steering also feels less inclined to 'wander' in a linear path, & really tracks better with less driver input. I also feel like a have better grip . . as if it hooks up better powering out of a turn & it really feels like the bars are helping reduce the understeer character that FX's have. Would be nice to hit an open lot to see if the terminal understeer I had a couple of instances at the Speed Ventures track event has been diminished.
Anywho . . more later
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"(Bumping to the new page)" -Dave
He wanted the pics on the new page so more people can see it, in case they missed it.
He wanted the pics on the new page so more people can see it, in case they missed it.
P
Psiclne
Guest
Time for a demotion.......hahaha the other day he posted in the wrong thread.
the other day he posted in the wrong thread.
I've done that before, and it made no sense... yet nobody said anything :dontknow: luckily we can delete/edit anytime... some other forums, you can't after 5 minutes
Looks good Dave. I got mine installed in myself and managed to messup one of my rivets. For the life of me I could not install the 4-Point Brace myslef. I could not get the Bolts to come off. I took it to a local gastation with a lift, $45 and 1/2 later it was on.
The only thing I noticed was that after getting the rears installed, I did a 4 wheel alignment, and the rears where off by a lot.
I suggest getting a 4-wheel alignment just in case.
The Pics look great as always.
BTW, if you ever find a place to drive test, let me know.
The only thing I noticed was that after getting the rears installed, I did a 4 wheel alignment, and the rears where off by a lot.
I suggest getting a 4-wheel alignment just in case.
The Pics look great as always.
BTW, if you ever find a place to drive test, let me know.
How were you able to get those rivet inserts in . . by hand?!
& ya, like I said, a lift is required. Did you also take apart the steering like I did to get the front of the Mid-Ladder on?
I'm so thrilled with this setup, & the ride feels so tuned now.
How do you like them overall?
& ya, like I said, a lift is required. Did you also take apart the steering like I did to get the front of the Mid-Ladder on?
I'm so thrilled with this setup, & the ride feels so tuned now.
How do you like them overall?
P
Psiclne
Guest
would it be worthwhile to just get the rears? $199 shipped sounds good to me
Yes....well worth it
would it be worthwhile to just get the rears? $199 shipped sounds good to me
I only have the fronts and it's well worth it. When it comes to handling, it's like night and day.
If the car is not on a lift it's really hard using both hands to turn things while laying on your back.
The rivets come with a long screw that bolts on to the rivet, and an over-sized, elongated nut that turns freely on top of the screw. Finally, you put another bolt on top of this setup. You will have to hold the long bolt from spinning while holding the rivet in plate. With the other hand you'd have to tighten the bolt on top. This will tighten the screw on itself causing the Rivet to pull inside-out. This enlarges the rivet inside the hole keeping it in place.
It was not easy since there is no room to anchor the wrench while using both hand to tighten the bolt.
Although I can feel the rigidity of the frame all together, I have not had a change to really take sharp turns to test.
The suspension does not need to come apart to get the lather on. Much like the rear braces, the bolt needs to be loosened for the brace to go back on. This is the part I had done by the guy at the gas station across my office.