Photos of my Pedders Track II installation. [Archive] - Pontiac G8 Forum: G8 Forums

G8V8

06-10-2008, 06:37 AM

Must keep MasterCard in wallet. :)

I hear you and i sweat bullets. I ended up selling some prized possesions to afford the kit and wondered if I was doing the right thing. The G8 handles pretty good out of the box.

Now that I have most of the Track II, bars will go in as soon as the boat gets here, I don't regret it one bit.

For normal driving and daily commuting the stock G8 is great. I think for80% driving it is very good. The problem for me was that with the power the car has and the speeds it can easily reach I wanted better than 80%. I had a very high-speed (my bad) situation where I had to make a lane change to avoid a very big, very heavy rolling road block and the car didn't feel so confidence inspiring. In fact it felt like I was one very slight over correction away from disaster that would have ended my life. That is when i started researching suspension upgrades. It was then that I decided that if I was going to invest in upgrades, I wasn't going to do it on the cheap and cobble together parts that would get me to 90% when I could buy a system that approached, IMO, 100% of what i think the chassis and suspension is capabile of providing.

I also wanted to lower the stance a bit. Not a lot but some, both for better handling and looks.

I talked with guys that had Pedders systems on their G8s and on their GTOs. Everyone I spoke with was saying the same thing, the system of matched parts worked and until you experience it for yourself, it is difficult to express.

I first thought of the Street II system with drop. But, I know from other cars I've owned the effect good bars can have. The Track II gets you adjustable bars and some additional bushes and it just seemed like the increase in cost was worth it. "In for a penny, in for a pound." I wanted to know that I had done everything to make my G8 live up to its full handling potential without making it harsh or otherwise detracting from its ride quality. I was very successful. The ride if firm, like a good sport sedan should, be but very compliant, controlled and responsive with outstanding road feel and feedback.

Now that i have the Track II installed less the bars and 2 radius arm bushes and have several hundred miles on the suspension, I know with 100% confidence that, for what I wanted, this was the right choice. The Track II without the bars gives you 90% of what the Track II with bars provides. Now that I've felt the transformation, I am dying to get the bars (the bars are one their way as are new bushes that had to be designed because Pontiac changed the design or supplier of the front radius arm so the original Pedders bushes may or may not fit depending upon which Pontiac used when my G8 was built.

OK, off my soap box. Yes, this is a lot of money and each of you thinking about a suspension upgrade needs to honestly, really honestly decide what you really want and or need and how much it is worth to you. I'm not saying that everybody needs to Pedderize. But, if you are thinking about improving your G8's performance, I hope that sharing my reasons for going this route and results will help you decide, one way or the other, if this is the route you want to take. Your money, your car, your choice. Doesn't make a poop to me.