Chevy Performance Suspension?
- Thread starter Midtown_Guy
- Start date
mightysonic
Member
I've just ordered my GM Kit from Jegs, cheapest price I could find. Turns out I just checked the order status and it is telling me it's back-ordered. I saw when I was ordering that the expected ship date is March 14th which I am fine with but any longer and I may have to cancel my order with them.
Has anyone had any similar experiences when ordering this kit? I did see earlier in the thread that this kit was being held-up by GM due to a recall. Has that been resolved?
Has anyone had any similar experiences when ordering this kit? I did see earlier in the thread that this kit was being held-up by GM due to a recall. Has that been resolved?
mightysonic
Member
Bummer on the out of stock...I will wait until 3/14. If still not shipped I may wait to lower my car if that's the case.
Where did you order yours?
carsNskis
New member
Looks like several other sites are pretty close on price too https://www.google.com/search?q=231...&ved=0ahUKEwiaqvaQ57TLAhUKw2MKHabLDj0QsnMInQE
Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk
Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk
mightysonic
Member
I just called Jegs Customer Care and the rep confirmed a 3/14 expected ship date. Hope to get it by next weekend! 
mcanderson0
Member
Need spring compressor or not?
I see a lot of folks ordering this suspension kit, but only one person advised needing the spring compressor. I've done other suspensions without. Any more input?
I see a lot of folks ordering this suspension kit, but only one person advised needing the spring compressor. I've done other suspensions without. Any more input?
carsNskis
New member
For the front I believe it's necessary. I had my dealership take care of it for me though, so I didn't get to witness first hand.
....if it has tits or tires it can be upgraded
This is the first suspension that I actually had to take to a shop to install the springs onto the strut. Spring compressors from Auto Zone, etc. will not cut it. The front Macpherson strut springs are counter arched due to the design and will require a larger manual or hydraulic compressor at a shop. GM also shortened the strut shaft approximately an inch which makes it even more challenging even though the spring is slightly shorter.
mcanderson0
Member
Thanks for the input, K-Jam. I didn't seem to find that write up you promised, but instead, I noticed Crate Engine Depot has an instruction manual on the product page for the GMP kit. It seems to show the spring compressor 'style'. Now I'll try to find one.
Does anyone else have any experience doing this themselves? I refuse to take the car to a dealership unless absolutely necessary.
Also, are you guys still pleased with the amount of drop from the GMP kit? Do you yearn for more drop or is it juuuust right?
, but instead, I noticed Crate Engine Depot has an instruction manual on the product page for the GMP kit. It seems to show the spring compressor 'style'. Now I'll try to find one.Does anyone else have any experience doing this themselves? I refuse to take the car to a dealership unless absolutely necessary.
Also, are you guys still pleased with the amount of drop from the GMP kit? Do you yearn for more drop or is it juuuust right?
carsNskis
New member
You can do it yourself with the right tools, it's super easy. I work for a dealership so it was convenient and cheap.Thanks for the input, K-Jam. I didn't seem to find that write up you promised
Does anyone else have any experience doing this themselves? I refuse to take the car to a dealership unless absolutely necessary.
Also, are you guys still pleased with the amount of drop from the GMP kit? Do you yearn for more drop or is it juuuust right?
For cosmetics I would like another 1/2" to 1" drop, but living in Colorado and dealing with blizzards that can happen into April I'm ok with it for now.
I'll probably do lower springs next dinner then decide if I want to do coil overs at that time
....if it has tits or tires it can be upgraded
I want to apologize for never getting to the write-up. I am rarely setting at my laptop when I am at home. I use Tapatalk almost exclusively and don't have the screen time that I used to on my laptop which I prefer when organizing a write-up with pics, etc.
Personally, the drop is perfect for real use. I can still pull up to most parking ties with no issue, but I am very careful. The ride compliance is perfect. When loaded, springs and dampeners work in unison. After this suspension, (IMO) all the car needs is small amount of oversteer which can be achieved with a ZZP rear sway or a DDM rear brace bar. I have a DDM that I have not installed yet but will be able to give feedback in the near future.
If you have never lowered or changed spring rates and dampening, this kit will be your best bet. Managing unsprung weight and vehicle dynamics is a very fine balance and can easy destroy the drivability of the car and potentially bushings, steering sectors, and transmissions. GM Performance has provided a track tested setup that I would have no trouble with road coursing on a weekly basis.
In the past, you could call up Koni and speak with their engineering team. I would ask for what combinations they used when finalizing valving design on a specific dampening setup. Every strut/shock combo has a sweet spot when mated to a specific spring rate. One build that I completed utilized Koni Reds and after discussions with Koni, I picked up a set of Eibach Pro-kit springs and set dampening to the middle setting. Even to this day, it was the best handling car that I have owned. Mind you, I had completed a few other items to get to my goals.
14 Sonic LT 1.8A MBM
Personally, the drop is perfect for real use. I can still pull up to most parking ties with no issue, but I am very careful. The ride compliance is perfect. When loaded, springs and dampeners work in unison. After this suspension, (IMO) all the car needs is small amount of oversteer which can be achieved with a ZZP rear sway or a DDM rear brace bar. I have a DDM that I have not installed yet but will be able to give feedback in the near future.
If you have never lowered or changed spring rates and dampening, this kit will be your best bet. Managing unsprung weight and vehicle dynamics is a very fine balance and can easy destroy the drivability of the car and potentially bushings, steering sectors, and transmissions. GM Performance has provided a track tested setup that I would have no trouble with road coursing on a weekly basis.
In the past, you could call up Koni and speak with their engineering team. I would ask for what combinations they used when finalizing valving design on a specific dampening setup. Every strut/shock combo has a sweet spot when mated to a specific spring rate. One build that I completed utilized Koni Reds and after discussions with Koni, I picked up a set of Eibach Pro-kit springs and set dampening to the middle setting. Even to this day, it was the best handling car that I have owned. Mind you, I had completed a few other items to get to my goals.
14 Sonic LT 1.8A MBM
carsNskis
New member
(Back in the early "hot import" era circa 1999) My 1990 Acura Integra 2dr was the best handling car I've built thanks to Koni. Skunkworks coil overs ride like poo with the stock struts/shock. Called Koni up and they schooled me that the newer Integra parts were close, they had several time attack cars running their product. A few days later I was turning over 1g in the skidpad... damn I miss that car's handling (and NO it didn't have VTEC, yo)
I keep wondering if Cobalt stuff would fit up with a modification to the top hat. Would love to have some better options available for future plans
....if it has tits or tires it can be upgraded
ScarabEpic22
Member
Just a heads up to the guys that are looking to grab this kit
23158161 - $467.50 shipped within the US from me if you're interested.
GM shows in stock shipping directly from the manufacture, so ship times might be up to 4-6 business days but I can get it done.
Also, just a heads up for people reading this, this is the kit for Non-RS models. The RS model kit is much less expensive as it uses the stock front struts. Part number is 23158162 for RS models.
mightysonic
Member
Forgot about this thread...yes I received the kit a few weeks ago and got it installed. With my beginner mechanic skills it took me all day to install it on Good Friday. I ran out of patience...and energy when it came time to swap the fronts out with the new shocks and springs. So luckily I found a small shop that swapped them for $70 a piece. Probably a little pricey but at that point I was exhausted and just wanted it done.
The plan was to swap the shocks and springs myself with a spring compressor but I didn't have the needed bigger torx bit & angled wrench to get the tophat loose. At that point, I took it to a real mechanic
I guess 2013s have different size bolts/nuts for the suspension compared to Danny5s guide. For those trying this...it seems that it may be possible to leave the front assemblies in the car and try to separate the shock and spring. I was told this by a mechanic where I tried to get him to swap the needed parts. I've also seen this on youtube (mightycarmods) after my GM kit install. I definitely can tell a difference in the stiffness of the ride. I can feel the road and bumps more...which I don't particularly mind. Its hard to really say how much better handling is now as I really didn't bench test the stock suspension too much. Too many damn idiots in front of me when trying to push the car around highway on-ramps...instead I was forced to do 30mph against my will
Next up an in-person tune with Jerry @ BNR!
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