Can't Lower Car w/ G-Bar System

[realcoray]

Originally Posted by TheJDMan

What I can tell you is that I purchased a Prodigy bar from Frank and what arrived was the G-Link from Alston. That tells me that what Frank is selling as the Prodigy Bar is actually the G-Link. That said, I understand this suspension has been undergoing a number of improvements recently.

You mean G-Bar. There are two different generations of Alston things, the G-Bar which is what the Prodigy Bar is based off of, and the G-Link which is similar but different.

The G-link doesn't need it's bearings changed in general because they have spherical already (except maybe the lowest variant). The Cradle is vastly different and I believe offers much more adjustment.

[TheJDMan]

Originally Posted by realcoray

You mean G-Bar. There are two different generations of Alston things, the G-Bar which is what the Prodigy Bar is based off of, and the G-Link which is similar but different.

The G-link doesn't need it's bearings changed in general because they have spherical already (except maybe the lowest variant). The Cradle is vastly different and I believe offers much more adjustment.

No, G-link!!! Frank sold me what he called his Prodigy 4 link. As I stated previously, what arrived was the Alston G-Link (NOT a G-Bar). BTW, the yellow section of the spring is a take up spring from Speedway Motors. This keeps tension on the upper spring retainer when the suspension is unloaded. The take-up spring became necessary when I swiched to the shorter 8-200 springs.

[onevoice]

Originally Posted by TheJDMan

No, G-link!!! Frank sold me what he called his Prodigy 4 link. As I stated previously, what arrived was the Alston G-Link (NOT a G-Bar). BTW, the yellow section of the spring is a take up spring from Speedway Motors. This keeps tension on the upper spring retainer when the suspension is unloaded. The take-up spring became necessary when I swiched to the shorter 8-200 springs.

In the interest of people searching this in the future, do you have 8-200 springs, or 10-200? You said 10-200 earlier in the thread.

Also for reference, the Prodigy Bar was produced when the only option was the g-bar, or air rides version, both of which had poly bushings. Frank sold what was a g-bar that had been modified to have swivel links. He also at one time sold a kit to do the modification yourself, it included the swivel links and taps. When the G-link came out, there was no reason to do the modification, because the G-link was essentially the same thing

An interesting thing I noticed was that there is evidently different adjustment holes in the g-link brackets. The first pic has 5 adjustment holes. The second picture has 6 adjustment holes. Both are the bolt on mounts.






In the below picture, with the shock bottomed out(on the 5 hole axle bracket), the axle isn't against the frame, but notice that you can see where the factory axle bumper was attached. There isn't much room under there, and getting into the factory rubber bumper too hard will let the axle kiss the floorpan.



That is why the DSE 4link has the shock mount that cuts out so much of the factory floor, it is to provide axle clearance when the axle tube is bottomed out.

[John510]

Wow Im having this same issuer right now with my car not going as low as I want it.

Looks like I need smaller springs.

[Musclerodz]

Originally Posted by John510

Wow Im having this same issuer right now with my car not going as low as I want it.

Looks like I need smaller springs.

you need a shorter shock. the pic showing the shock bottomed out before hitting the bump stop is not ideal. If you run a shorter spring, it in turn has less travel and trying to get the car lower could ultimately damage the shock by bottoming it out.

[onevoice]

Originally Posted by Musclerodz

you need a shorter shock. the pic showing the shock bottomed out before hitting the bump stop is not ideal. If you run a shorter spring, it in turn has less travel and trying to get the car lower could ultimately damage the shock by bottoming it out.

The Alston installation instructions show the factory bumpstop is retained. In that picture, the bumpstop is missing. The shock is fine if the bumpstop is installed, which it always should be.

[onevoice]

Originally Posted by John510

Wow Im having this same issuer right now with my car not going as low as I want it.

Looks like I need smaller springs.

Is there any wonder threads go around in circles forever? You already started a post about your car sitting high, but it isn't even assembled. What do you expect? How exactly is a car supposed to sit at ride height when it is just a shell?

This isn't rocket science guys. Coilovers exist so that springs and ride heights can be easily changed. Alston specified a coilover with 5 inches of travel, because it is generally accepted that a rear suspension needs 2-3 inches of bump travel for good handling and ride. We all know that our cars often run with less suspension travel to get the look we are after. So if you want to run lower, get shorter springs. There is plenty of adjustment on the threaded part of the shock, the different shock mount attachments, and springs, so that you can find an ideal setting for your needs. Its not like it comes welded together in one fixed position.

It really is as easy as that.

Anyone care to guess how many people would complain that there wasn't enough travel if the suspension came with a 4 inch travel shock, and bottomed out into the floorpan?

[Rybar]

Originally Posted by barraza

Anyone care to guess how many people would complain that there wasn't enough travel if the suspension came with a 4 inch travel shock, and bottomed out into the floorpan?

I am no suspension engineer or expert and I know you support Frank and his business. But everyone has a different idea of what they want for thier car. And when an experienced salesman like Frank tells you the car will sit where you want or need it to sit without any of these problems like most of these guys are experiencing, this is why these people are complaining. If it was known or disclosed from Alston or its dealers that the standard 10" spring would have alot of these cars sitting like 4x4's even if they have the correct amount of travel, I doubt alot of the kits sold would have ever been ordered in the first place.

I think I specifically asked you in a previous thread about the DSE shock cross member allowing for a different shock position hence thier suspension being able to work at a lower ride height and you said I was incorrect. Now your saying it's there to allow axle tube clearance when bottomed out?

[onevoice]

Originally Posted by Rybar

I am no suspension engineer or expert and I know you support Frank and his business. But everyone has a different idea of what they want for thier car. And when an experienced salesman like Frank tells you the car will sit where you want or need it to sit without any of these problems like most of these guys are experiencing, this is why these people are complaining. If it was known or disclosed from Alston or its dealers that the standard 10" spring would have alot of these cars sitting like 4x4's even if they have the correct amount of travel, I doubt alot of the kits sold would have ever been ordered in the first place.

Can't miss an opportunity to continue beating a dead horse, can you?

It is simple, the purpose of buying an adjustable suspension is to take advantage of ADJUSTING

To say any of them look like 4x4's is just ignorant. Given the different rear floorpans (you did know 67's have less clearance before the top of the axle hits the floor didn't you?) and the production tolerances, G-links can be adjusted to get as low as the factory floorpan and bumpstops will allow.

[John510]

Originally Posted by barraza

Is there any wonder threads go around in circles forever? You already started a post about your car sitting high, but it isn't even assembled. What do you expect? How exactly is a car supposed to sit at ride height when it is just a shell?

This isn't rocket science guys. Coilovers exist so that springs and ride heights can be easily changed. Alston specified a coilover with 5 inches of travel, because it is generally accepted that a rear suspension needs 2-3 inches of bump travel for good handling and ride. We all know that our cars often run with less suspension travel to get the look we are after. So if you want to run lower, get shorter springs. There is plenty of adjustment on the threaded part of the shock, the different shock mount attachments, and springs, so that you can find an ideal setting for your needs. Its not like it comes welded together in one fixed position.

It really is as easy as that.

Anyone care to guess how many people would complain that there wasn't enough travel if the suspension came with a 4 inch travel shock, and bottomed out into the floorpan?

Do you have a G link with a Fab 9 or 12 bolt.