Front Suspension Options

[Buttz1969]

I am trying to finalize my front suspension plans for my 69 Camaro, and it seems everyday, I change my mind. I am looking for good to excellent performance without breaking the bank.

Currently on the car:

• BMR Fabrication Tubular UCA
• BMR Fabrication Tubular LCA
• Stock Spindles
• SSBC Disc Brakes
• QA1 DA Coilovers
• Stock Steering Box and Linkages

Things I have considered:

1. Unisteer Power R&P, Upgrade to Wilwood brakes, gmod
2. Same as 1, but add tall upper and lower ball joints
3. ATS AFX Spindles, Some C5 brake package, Some steering option
4. Ditch the BMR CA and replace with GW units, otherwise follow 1

I will say that I am not just out to put a bunch of neat looking parts on the car, it will be driven... hard. At the same time, I want it to show well, and at least semi impress when I show it off. The budget is also a concern, but if there is a considerable handling gain, then I will consider anything.

What are other ideas? Comments?

Thanks all.

[andrewmp6]

id go with 1 and 2 c5 brakes are ok but you can get wilwood 6 piston cailpers about the same price. whats your idea on the rear suspension.

[Marcus SC&C]

1) would be of some benefit but not a huge difference. IMO you`d be better off with a Lee 670 steering box than the R&P. Better feel and half the cost. For 2) you wouldn`t want to use tall lower ball joints,just uppers. Our X-Tall Severe Duty uppers would be even better. They provide more benefit than the G Mod with no fuss.
3) is an outstanding option,especially if you`re looking to do a big brake upgrade too. If you`re running the 12.19" 4 piston Wilwoods now,the Baer GT-AFX 13" set up would be a nice upgrade in braking performance. The Baer`s use a 2 piston C5 based caliper with a larger piston sweep area than those 4 piston Wilwoods and being DOT approved calipers with dust and moisture seals they hold up better on the street.
4) No benefit to that at all,unless you`re trying to dispose of some extra money you just have laying around. You could upgrade to our adj. tubular arms which would give you more adjustability and less weight but just changing arms won`t generally help performance on it`s own. Mark SC&C

[andrewmp6]

which wilwoods are you talking about geting the 4 pot or 6 pot.i wouldnt use baer brakes they are just renamed pbr which is the samething used in the sn95 mustang 4th gen camaro and corvette.who really cares about dot besides cops.

[crazycarl]

Have you looked into a complete clip? With all the parts you're looking to replace, you could probably pick up a good quality setup from one of the myriad companies that make them now.

[Marcus SC&C]

There`s always more than one way to look at things. Yes, Baer 2 piston calipers are made by PBR,which is no secret. They`re among the best factory performance brakes out there,that`s why they use them on Mustang GTs,Z-28s and Corvettes. Making a 38 year old F body stop like a new Vette is a VERY GOOD THING! Baers have much heavier duty rotors,much better pads than OE PBRs and they bolt right onto the original spindles. That`s what you`re paying for. Who cares about DOT? Well when it comes to brakes it means that the calipers have dirt and moisture seals so you don`t have to rebuild the calipers and change the fliud regularly like you should on race calipers. Wilwood wants you to rebuild the calipers and change the fluid every time you change pads for optimum performance. Wilwood`s Carl Bush has a way of making that sound fun and even glamorous (he`s good!) but I still don`t know anyone who wants to do it. DOT brakes also tend to have anti vibration/rattle hardware. On race brakes who cares,you can`t hear the calipers rattling over the open headers anyway. Wilwoods are great race brakes,Baers are better street brakes. Mark SC&C