Upgrading Brakes & Suspension?

[Ree]

I have a 92 Z34 Lumina and the brakes are squeeling badly. I figured the rears are shot and the front are probably done also. I cant tell because the grinding sqeeling noise is so loud. It even makes noise when I'm not pressing the brakes. I'm almost done with my project Impala SS and would like to make the Z34 my next project. Right now its a daily driver. the front suspension is making a lot funny noises too I feel like it about to fall apart everytime I go over a bump it makes a clacking noise and I can feel every bump on the road. wsup with that? I feel like I'm riding on 20's. I want to upgrade the brakes and front suspension. I have a GM parts connection where I can parts at 5% over cost. Can someone tell me what common issues I have, what to replace and part numbers if available?

[Ree]

By the way If anyone wants the GM parts connect, the guy's name is Dal His phone# is 877-448-5451. He sells at 5% over cost He usualy deals with all the performance GM forums like Z28.COM, ImpalaSSforums.com and other GM cars. So if your tired of getting ripped off by the stealership call him for parts? Tell him you heard about him through a guy name Helmut, thats me :P

[dykz34]

I would upgrade to the 94+ style rear brakes. They are bigger and less prone to problems. The only downside is that the parking brake is a pain in the ass to hook up. Also, 96+ style front brakes are available. They are .75" bigger, but much harder to install. You need the entire strut assembly from a 96+ car to swap. Both of these upgrades can be had at a junkyard for pretty cheap. I paid $100 for the fronts and $75 for the rears. (Plus rotors and pads which are up to you) For more information on these, go here: http://www.w-body.com/upgrades/brake...alipers94.html and here: http://www.w-body.com/upgrades/brakes-rotors.html

[Lyle's GTP]

Well if you want to upgrade GM is not the answer. You can get some good preformance brake rotors from GM. I'm assuming you don't want to do anything obscure like a big brake upgrade. If so RSM has a kit (not cheap).

Well brakes, a set of rebuilt calipers would be a good idea, stainless braided brake lines, preformance pads (lot's of good brands available), and some rotors, drilled, slotted, or drilled and slotted are all good choices. However the concensus around here, (I think), is the drilled rotors are a bad investment cause they will crack before long.

As far as suspension sounds like your struts are right fucked. Get some KYB GR-2's they are awesome, and don't cost much. You can get front lowering springs from "Suspension Techniques" and rear coilovers from "Fast Front Wheel Drive Preformance" or "Held Motorsports" has some coming out soon, they will also have fronts as well. Held also let's you pick a custom spring rate as well. All of these components are fairly cheap. I would also recommend a set of poly bushings, but there isn't a good place that we know of yet, RSM has them but are expensive. Upper strut tower braces are also available, the only place I know of is RSM, which aren't a bad price. Also Addco has a 7/8" rear anti-sway bar as well. Plus you'll probably want to change your ball joints while you are at it. I think that's everything that I can think of.

Lyle

[mihela816]

Replace the spring pucks on the rear monoleaf.

[Lyle's GTP]

Yeah, if you decide to keep it. If you don't the spring can wear right through the metal supports (or (visa-versa) and your car will hit the ground. OUCH!!

Lyle

[Ree]

Wow thanks for the responses guys I already had the rear passenger side strut pop out on me, it just sat in the rear well and drove that way till I replaced it. Damn NYC pot holes I'm going to do some reseach but it doesnt look like a big aftermarket for these cars some of yous have mentioned some aftermarket place to go to but is there a list of aftermarket vendors I can look at?

[blk92z34getrag]

http://www.geocities.com/luminaz34page/

Go to links. I got a lot of my stuff through the various link son that page.

[Ree]

I had to come back on here and give you guys props I scored a pair of front strut assemblies with brakes and all for $80 bucs each. They came off a 95 Grand prix that just so happen to come in that yard 3 weeks ago. The install wasnt too dificult, just need someone else to help you guide the strut into the wheel well. The old calipers fit perfectly over the new (rusty) Grand Prix rotors so I didnt have to bleed the brakes. Although I know the rear brakes are not in good condition I chose not to replace them yet. (Money issues) The're not making any noise so I'm thankful till they do. By the way that clackety metal to metal noise is gone with the new installation. I furthered inspected the rest of the front suspension bushings and they are in bad shape. I'm noticing a slight raise in the front also witch I dont like but can deal with.

[pocket-rocket]

If so RSM has a kit (not cheap)..

Lyle

That is what is on my 92. Front 13", rear 12". And they stop the car hard. Only thing I don't like about them is with the full floating caliper design, when I go over front bumps, it sound like there is something really loose on the front end. In reality, it's the front calipers bouncing up and down in their grooves (no slides to slide on like conventional calipers). From the size of the brakes, the rims on the 92 don't really look like 18"s in the pics. If ya want to have a look (those crap ass rear tires have been changed since then, luckily):

http://www.60degreev6.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2728

[blk92z34getrag]

Lucky you got them with the car. How much did you pay for the car? Probably less than those brakes are worth... I wish my car had even a good alternator when I started... good thing it was only $1000.

[pocket-rocket]

I paid $2600 for the car, plus all of the shit the guy took off of it (original rims, springs, monoleaf, all sorts of vacuum lines and stuff), plus the GM shop manuals, and the stereo already in the car minus the head unit (all speakers in the car are Polk, the subs are Kickers). Only catch was I had to fly Ben and myself down to Texas to take a test drive and pick it up. Clutch took a shit on it 1000 miles after getting it home, but I didn't care because of the price I paid for the car, plus I used the warranty on the clutch in the 91 to get a new one for free What RSM doesn't tell you is the brakes come from a 91 ZR1 Corvette w/ the HD brake package. The rears is a simple adapter bracket to get the caliper to fit, plus putting on the new rotor (re-drilled for our lug pattern). The fronts you have to swap out to new strut assembly that has been modified by RSM, and you send back yours to get your core back, plus the re-drilled front rotors. It also comes with SS braid brake hose all around. So far in soaking wet conditions on pavement I have G-Teched a 60-0 of 121 feet. For some reason it will keep going when I do a dry 60-0 run.