Suspension kits

[bertil]

I have a Cobra Convertible 98, and would like to improve the suspension. I take her to the race track now and then and would like to have some better road handling to improve the lap times.

Anyone has experience of the available kits out there (like Steda G-trac / Kenny Brown Suspension Kits etc.)? Did you experience any improvement? Was it easy to put on?

I would like to have some feedback before I buy.

Bertil

[sn8kbit]

hmm, this could open a can of worms....;)

the steeda/KB springs are basically motorsport C springs. in the case of KB, they are.

first on the list would be subframe connectors. i like the MM personally, and standing them beside the KB you can really see a difference between the two. installation is a bit more complicated, since you weld up the seat braces, but definitely well worth it.

check into spring rates. if you are seriously concerned about lap times, look at higher rated springs, even coilovers. the H&R springs (race) are rated at 850 for the front (i'd have to look up the rear for the live axle).

you may also want to go with a panhard bar, which steeda only offers in the 5 link. KB has apparently improved their original design to bolt to the frame now, and not the spare tire well sheet metal, so no more tearing out. the MM panhard bar reportedly can achieve the lowest roll center for a bolt-in piece.

stay away from urethane bushings in the stock rear upper arms. urethane bushings up front, with solid rack bushings would be a plus. the MM adjustable caster camber plates are about the best out there, and are lifetime warrantied not to bend or break (big issue if running coilovers). beware of copies tho!

while i won't bash any specific product, the common average joe proven stuff is Maximum and Griggs. stay away from magazine ads and nice brochures, check several boards like corral.net and corner-carvers and search search search. look at all the products and find someone close that'll give you a ride in theirs to help you compare and get a 'feel'.

[sn8kbit]

pics of mm subs next to kb subs....mm is on the right:

http://www.svtcobraclub.com/svtbbs2/attachment.php?s=&postid=51626

http://www.svtcobraclub.com/svtbbs2/attachment.php?s=&postid=51627

[Big Daddy]

Gee Steve why would you think it would open a can of worms?? ;) ;) I can't give the technical details that Steve did but I and the others in the club who have the Kenny Brown parts on our cars are very satisfied with them. :D :D



See Steve no bashing of MM or Griggs!! ;) AND I didn't tell him about you famous grillin skills! :rofl: :rotf:

[smashedheadcat]

I've got Eibach drag springs on the rear ;) ;) Handles like a champ :D Ehh, I bet it handles worse than stock now, but it helps the girl dig a little. :p

[Big Daddy]

Originally posted by smashedheadcat
I've got Eibach drag springs on the rear ;) ;) Handles like a champ :D Ehh, I bet it handles worse than stock now, but it helps the girl dig a little. :p

Hey Josh, when are you picking your engine up from TBP?? IF the weather permits I'm going there tomorrow to get mine!! I'm just hoping that the snow and ice by my house melts enough for me to get her up the drive and into the garage! :D

[smashedheadcat]

Are they open tomarrow?? I called them on Wednesday, and they said my motor'd be out of the machine shop sometime this week. Not this week, but by last friday... sorry, i'm probably confusin ya, cuz i'm confuzing myself. Ha ha ha. Heck, if they're open, i may just drive up there to meet ya, and check out the progress on my motor, and maybe take your beast for a test drive ;););) Just kidding. Ha ha ha. Let me know if you're going up there, and possibly a time. I may make the drive up there.

[sn8kbit]

hah! maybe i should be clearer...

KB and steeda would fall into what i call "spririted street driving", whereas MM and Griggs would be more "serious street/regular open track/race". he mentioned lap times, to me that says "serious".

KB and steeda are probably more than enough for most of us (i said us to include myself) on the occasional open track lapping day. i doubt many of us as we learn will be able to push the limits of what they offer, and i'm sure it puts a smile on everyone's face, it would mine too (other than that fat cc bill ;) ). i think the point i'm getting at is i want to have something on the car that i can grow in to not out of.

steeda will be out proving their 5 link this year in AI, but still at a weight disadvantage without the coilovers, and since they state specific rated springs for it, i wonder how it'll work with a front coilover setup. it'll be a fun year to watch.

KB's IRS program is completely different, but still in the air due to the fact that no one knows why specifically they change the mounting points of the arms other than the limited "improved camber curve and toe settings". to me, that just doesn't justify spending a tad over 1k simply on modding the IRS subframe. i want to know why i have what i have on there, and how it works, not super-secret stuff. but, so you know, the fastest car at Road America this year ran a bart-works SLA front and KB IRS on a 99 cobra with a small amount of boost. it is however, that same guy's home track also....

[sn8kbit]

oh, keep up the grill stuff, and next track event (CMP) i'll be the rib nazi to ya....."NO RIBS FO SHOO"

[Big Daddy]

Originally posted by smashedheadcat
Are they open tomarrow?? I called them on Wednesday, and they said my motor'd be out of the machine shop sometime this week. Not this week, but by last friday... sorry, i'm probably confusin ya, cuz i'm confuzing myself. Ha ha ha. Heck, if they're open, i may just drive up there to meet ya, and check out the progress on my motor, and maybe take your beast for a test drive ;););) Just kidding. Ha ha ha. Let me know if you're going up there, and possibly a time. I may make the drive up there.

Well I'm going for SURE!! I WANT MY CAR BACK!! :D I should be there no later than noon. I want to take her for a test drive and get loaded on the trailer and out of town no later than 2:00 PM so I can get through Greensborro, Winston-Salem before RUSH HOUR! :D Come on up and I'll take you for a SPIN! ;) ;) ;) :D :rotf:

[Big Daddy]

Originally posted by sn8kbit
oh, keep up the grill stuff, and next track event (CMP) i'll be the rib nazi to ya....."NO RIBS FO SHOO"

I didn't say nutin'!! ;) ;) Nuclear grillin' skills are hard to come by! :rotf: :rotf: :rotf: :rotf:

[bertil]

Thanks Guys,

I'm the only European SCMC. Looking at some of the pictures and modification specs, I must admit that I'm not "serious driver" as some of you. However I try to keep up to some of the Porsches and BMWs that I meet at our events.

I had a Mitsu VR4 before, and I will probably never get the same handling in my Cobra, but I thought of something better compared to what I have at present.

I wish I could follow your advice to try them out before buying, but there is not that many Cobras around in Europe, and of those available most are to standard specs.

In the end I probably need to buy on specs and advise.

I'll keep on looking and asking

Bertil

[smashedheadcat]

Originally posted by Big Daddy
Well I'm going for SURE!! I WANT MY CAR BACK!! :D I should be there no later than noon. I want to take her for a test drive and get loaded on the trailer and out of town no later than 2:00 PM so I can get through Greensborro, Winston-Salem before RUSH HOUR! :D Come on up and I'll take you for a SPIN! ;) ;) ;) :D :rotf:

Well, I may get off my butt and roll up there in the morning.

[sn8kbit]

Originally posted by bertil
Thanks Guys,

I'm the only European SCMC.
Bertil

i think there's a lady stationed at an AF base in germany, where abouts is ya?

oh to get on the autobahn again with what i have now! :thumbsup:

http://maximummotorsports.com/

http://griggsracing.com/

couple of links for you.

[Big Daddy]

Don't know if it matters or not but SCMC members do get a 15% discount on Kenny Brown parts and 10% on Steeda parts. If this is your daily driver and part time track car like mine, I would suggest giving KB a serious look.

[sn8kbit]

oh, thanks for bringing that up BD, almost forgot member discounts.

houston performance carries MM....don't remember our discount amount tho..

apex motorsports carries griggs, and unfortunately i don't remember on them either.

i get my stuff thru delk, they'll also discount on a case by case basis. they are now an authorized MM dealer, along with being a KB/steeda dealer...

[Big Daddy]

Originally posted by sn8kbit
oh, thanks for bringing that up BD, almost forgot member discounts.

houston performance carries MM....don't remember our discount amount tho..

apex motorsports carries griggs, and unfortunately i don't remember on them either.

i get my stuff thru delk, they'll also discount on a case by case basis. they are now an authorized MM dealer, along with being a KB/steeda dealer...

I think we get 10% at both of those vendors! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

[spittincobra01]

well, I know I have the KB kit in my 01, and I love it. KB does not tell you what rate their springs are at, but I can tell you this, I have the full signature series with bilstien shocks/struts and compaired to alot of set-ups in other cars I've gotten to drive/ride in.... mine holds a MUCH flatter stance! I get comments at all of the auto cross events I go to, and open track events, as to how well my car holds the course. (on street tires) The only thing I would do different is get MM caster/camber plates because they are 4 bolt vs 3 bolt, and double adjustable. I may not know all the technical lingo.... but I know what my sences tell me when riding in a car! KB has it all over steeda, eibach, ford racing... I have never ridden in a griggs prepped car so I have no advice there. Best bet is to "test drive/ride" in as many cars with different configurations as you can before you make your decision. Oh and KB does a 15% discount for SCMC members.