Today was finally the day to head back to Rocksand for the install. Number one, of course, the handful of key bushings for the most problematic spots, especially the strut mounts and bushings that...well...were clearly toast from when I first got the car new, let alone now past 3500 miles. Crushed in angular fashion. While Frank took me on a breakfast adventure, Walt worked on those, got the front springs in, and was on to the back.

The one fly in the ointment was that the Pedders struts & shocks didn't arrive in time, but Frank thought it best still to install everything else--springs included--just with the stock dampers for the time being. The results:

1) Holy freaking crap, the front end of this car was crap in more than one way, even though I actually had no noise, pulling, clunking, etc. issues at all other than the cold strut squeaky creaky. After the bushings and new front springs, I could immediately feel a HUGE difference in how smooth and easy the steering now was, and then running up and down the hills and curves near Rocksand, how much more direct it felt. Awesome.

2) Brakes. Again, like the steering, I never knew anything really was wrong, other than starting to get bothered by the oddly squishy feel under braking up front. Yeah, it was bushings. Now no squirm, squish, etc., just slows and stops crisply and with a more confident brake pedal feel.

3) Handling/grip/ride. Still with the stock dampers but the new springs, first on the back roads around there, it felt a lot more in control, crisper, and when I did hit any lumps, it sucked them up in a more controlled way without the wriggle I was used to. Coming home, however, on a few highways that were a bit more than bad with sharp cracks, lumps, and more, it felt a lot steadier and more controlled but also more abrupt and "smash-smash" after the initial bump. I had the sensation that it felt like new stiffer springs matched to dampers that weren't up to par enough to work with them, and hopefully that is the case. Those should be on soon.

4) The drop. From the start, I was "one of those" who didn't want it to drop any, actually, and still really do have a thing for the stock stance of this car with the 19's, etc., but could also appreciate what higher quality springs and a little less excess height could do to the car. I'm still adjusting to the look--the rear dropped the most, as expected--but like it so far and it certainly did lose a lot of the "up on stilts" sensation tooling around curves. It just feels a lot more steady and connected at this slightly lower height, even without any changes to the bars or otherwise.

Now, for the Pontiac Porn...

Install:
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c101/caddycruiser/My%20Cars%20Stuff/09%20G8/May%2017%202009/Image00001.jpg
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c101/caddycruiser/My%20Cars%20Stuff/09%20G8/May%2017%202009/Image00002.jpg
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http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c101/caddycruiser/My%20Cars%20Stuff/09%20G8/May%2017%202009/Image00015.jpg

After:
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c101/caddycruiser/My%20Cars%20Stuff/09%20G8/May%2017%202009/Image00016.jpg
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c101/caddycruiser/My%20Cars%20Stuff/09%20G8/May%2017%202009/Image00017.jpg
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c101/caddycruiser/My%20Cars%20Stuff/09%20G8/May%2017%202009/Image00018.jpg
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c101/caddycruiser/My%20Cars%20Stuff/09%20G8/May%2017%202009/Image00019.jpg
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c101/caddycruiser/My%20Cars%20Stuff/09%20G8/May%2017%202009/Image00020.jpg
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c101/caddycruiser/My%20Cars%20Stuff/09%20G8/May%2017%202009/Image00021.jpg
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c101/caddycruiser/My%20Cars%20Stuff/09%20G8/May%2017%202009/Image00022.jpg

So...I like. Still adjusting to the droopy look, at least compared to the Baja runner it was before ;) , love the crisp, smooth feel, and can't wait to see how much or just how the actual Pedders struts & shocks to compliment the springs help the ride over bad stuff. As is, very enjoyable...and Rocksand, Frank, Walt, etc. are the best ever.

After settling, did you end up with the 2954/2955 drops? I think it is supposed to lower the car by .7 front and 1.2 rear.

After settling, did you end up with the 2954/2955 drops? I think it is supposed to lower the car by .7 front and 1.2 rear.

Those are the springs, yes, and after about 2000 miles (wow, didn't realize that until just now...) nothing really looks any different or lower to my eye. It probably has settled a hair, but the way the Pedders springs were from day one is the way they remain. And it's still funny that it really did drop but some people still haven't "noticed" really--I definitely do when I go to wash in the wheel wells and such, however. Tight in there.

As another sort of quick update, with the mileage on the springs and bushings--but actually still no Pedders struts or shocks to match yet--the car is definitely stiffer and sharper all around, the "laser" steering and rear end have made big changes and I enjoy them the most, and otherwise no new or different abnormal noises or the like. All in all, the bushing changes alone were huge and the stance with the Pedders drop springs is perfect.

The only thing I have still debated is the post springs ride, because it is considerably starchier and certainly has made the car feel less luxury than the first couple of months all stock. But I also can't remember just how much, and for the most part, it's so much more in control and the front end not wiggly jiggly with the struts and such slopping all around, that it's understandable why it isn't so cossetting. That, and without the Pedders dampers to back the springs up, just the squish-squish stockers, naturally it's a bit of an odd combo (think crash-crash over some larger bumps and such). Those will finally be installed this coming weekend and though it's not going to make the car any softer, I think finally the stiffer, shorter springs getting meatier damping will make the car better settled and overall more refined feeling. We'll see. Well, and also in conjunction with FINALLY having it correctly re-aligned and probably a tire check, which I've yet to do since the original bushings & springs swap 2+ months ago--not recommended to go so long, but nothing was obviously out of whack and I was waiting until the dampers were in.

So, all in all, good changes. No longer as much of a luxury car feel with a quite a bit of softness, but not a jaw breaker at all either. Post Pedders dampers, should only improve. The Zeta chassis really loves the Pedders parts and is brought to life with each and every one of them. If only they were the stock pieces...;)

Rocksand and Frank/Walt again this Saturday...:driving:

So as far as front end bushings what did you get? Thanks

So as far as front end bushings what did you get? Thanks

Here's everything that's in so far and will be in by the weekend, starting at the front.

EP6560 Radius Rod Bushings
5851 Heavy Duty Strut Mounts
5030 Strut Mount Bearings
2954 Front Drop Springs
9464 GSR Front Struts (soon...Saturday)
EP1167 Rear Differential Mounts
EP1169 Rear Cross Member Inserts
2955 Rear Drop Springs
9295 GSR Rear Shocks (soon...Saturday)

So, not quite a package, but sort of a Street I + springs, dampers, and strut mounts/bearings. A Street II "light", so to speak. The Rocksand guys prefer to just do the specific pieces that will give you want you want vs. packages just because (although they'll gladly do those, too), and that's not a bad thing.

I just want to drive it with proper damping and, well, finally re-aligned (although it's never "felt" off since the first work, hence my not having it done yet). We'll see.

Tell Frank and Walt i said hello.

Tell Frank and Walt i said hello.

Will do, now with Frank as the wrench (mostly) and Walt the one handed man;)

I think I may stay for the full day and night just to take in some more Bethlehem sights and the few festivals and such, and get out of Delaware for a bit. Most intrigued to see how much and just how in general the Pedders dampers will change my car with just springs & bushings...hmm.

Too bad the G8 is so filthy from a week+ of rain...it seems to be this way every time before I head up. Oh well.