My rear trailing arms arrived today. I had also ordered the larger Moog end links as well, but I suppose either I didnt specify two of them or the guy didnt write down two of them. I'll take the hit on that as its entirely possible that I didnt specify two. I wish I had though, the one I got is much larger in diameter than the OEM one.
I have only drove a couple miles with it installed so I have no real impressions of its effectiveness. That said, my real motivation was just to get rid of the stamped 'U' shaped arms and their potential for flex. Once I get the moog parts in I think I will nearly be done with the suspension work I want to do though I havent done a great deal. The after market struts and shocks are a tad out of my range for now. I'd like to lower it but I will consider that more seriously if I see a good offer on lowering springs. Right now my immediate thing I want to do is get another STB and brackets for the rear but that too will have to wait until I see a good deal on that too.
Suspension work done:
GMPP STB w/ZZP brackets
GMPP rear sway bar
GMPP front sway bar w/urethane bushings
GMPP rear trailing arms.
Suspension work to do:
-Install Moog large rear end links (will be completed next week)
-Install Moog front end links (will be completed next week)
-Install rear STB
I will tell you this; if you got in it and went for a drive you would be totally suprised at how a car, with the wheel base that the GTP does, stays as flat as it does in corners.
I don't think I'll have it ready for the track this season. I don't want to go until I get a modular pulley system for the blower and can slap on a 3.4" pulley. I don't want to go intercooled so that will probably be about as small as I can go, maybe a 3.2" but Id have to keep a close eye on KR if I put that on there.
So right now Im shooting for next season to be at the track ready to suprise a few hopefully.
The OEM rear trailing arm, as you can tell by its shape and design, is very prone to flexing. In fact I can use screwdrivers and twist it a little by hand. The GMPP ones are a solid design if I remember correctly and those suckers aren't flexing or twising I assure you.
I also built a laptop stand for my car that will become an important asset to my storm chasing and tuning/scanning of the car. Right now I just have an enhanced parameter scan tool but I hope to add tuning hardware in the near future that will allow me to modify the PCM and squeeze out just about all it will give.
Stay tuned, the fun is just getting started.
____________________ My car is a synner! It uses Amsoil Synthetic Lubricants.
2001 Pontiac Grand Prix GTP
It whines a lot, but I like it
Well, I got the Moog end links installed today. Thought I would show you some pics so you can see the difference between the OEM parts and the upgraded ones.
Here is the front end link hardware. OEM on top, new Moog parts on bottom.
Here is the comparison between the OEM front links and the new ones. Now I had urethane bushings up front. And Im sure they compressed a little, but you can still see the difference between the two. Im sure the old urethanes didnt compress THAT much. In effect the new links will add a tad more pre-load on the sway bar for a bit better handling up front.
Here are the front link bolts. New ones are slightly larger than the OEM and also a grade 8 bolt where as the OEM one I have no idea but it couldnt have been that good of a bolt with the shape it is in.
Okay, on to the rear end links. Look at the size difference (diameter of the rod and the ends as well)
The OEM one is like a friggin twig next to the new part
I ordered my rear GMPP strut tower bar today and hopefully it will be here next week. Once I get that in I'll be done with the suspension phase of the modifications to the car. I got a reason to buy a grease gun now and use the Series 2000 Racing Grease that has been sitting on my shelf . The new rear end links have grease fittings.
____________________ My car is a synner! It uses Amsoil Synthetic Lubricants.
2001 Pontiac Grand Prix GTP
It whines a lot, but I like it
Much stiffer suspension for much better cornering. In a long wheelbase such as the GTP, body roll can be a pain if you dont upgrade the suspension from the OEM standards.
The shorter wheelbase of the Focus makes it naturally better in the corners because, well, its shorter. I had upgraded springs, sway bars and bushings in my Focus and I think the GTP is now nearly on par with its cornering abilities.
____________________ My car is a synner! It uses Amsoil Synthetic Lubricants.
2001 Pontiac Grand Prix GTP
It whines a lot, but I like it
. The new rear end links have grease fittings.
