I am slowing getting my new suspension together for next summers schools. I will do 2-4 schools hopefully. I am starting the season in group 2 for the CCA ones. I currently run the bilstein sport/H&R OE sport combo with R-comps. I have been advised that I still have things to learn before I make the leap to adjustable coilovers, so this is what I am getting: Mounting my new H&R sports on new Bilstein sports with k-mac camber plates and some aftermarket sways. Also adjustable rear arms if I can come up wit the money. Only thing is I can't make up my mind on which sways will work the best with this setup. I am really leaning towards the UUC, because of the price and included adj end links. The turner ones look very track-oriented but are more $$$. I have a friend that can get me a decent deal on the TC Kline ones, if I go with those. Also I have always been under the impression that the H&R and Eibach sways are kind of generic and did not undergo much track time and R&D before they were released, simply because they are available for a huge range of cars.

cliff notes:
which sways go with my setup for the track?
1.UUC
2.Turner
3. TC Kline
4. H&R
5. Eibach
6. other, and why

take my opinion for what its worth, but save the swaybar money and use that towards the coilover purchase. coilovers make a much larger difference than swaybars do. and if the instructors are telling you to hold off on the coilovers, they might be implying that you should hold off on the suspension mods for a little.

but as a note, i was/am the absolute moron that did my first track event on GC coilovers with UUC sways, and a host of other mods/tweaks. it made for some "interesting" moments out there for my first few events. now i'm a big advocate of telling friends who want to mod their cars to get at least one or two days minimum on a stock car, would have made learning so much easier for me.

i really like the GC sways. the GC sways are pimptastic. infineatley adjustable fronts, 5 hole adjustment rears. hollow, come with front and rear adjustable links, grease gun fittings on the bushings. but they are not cheap. i upgraded from UUC to the GCs and couldnt be happier. but they are probably a little overkill for softer springs, even with 500/550 springs i have them set quite soft, they are THICK!


again, thats just my opinion, take it for what its worth. but if i were to suggest a swaybar for your "current" setup, it would be the UUC's. i really liked mine, they were reasonably cheap. just spend the extra $100 for a set of GC front endlinks. and obviously you are upgrading to m3 struts, right?


later, Brent [/steps off soapbox]

I thank you for your opinion.

First off, coilovers may be 2 or 3 years down the road. Saving the money now to spend in 3 years doesn't sound like a good plan.

The instructors told me I still had things to learn with the rate of spring that I am running, so I am ditching the OE sports for the reg sports to use more of the dampening the bilsteins have, and to lower the car down a bit more. Eventually I would like to get a LSD, but as the car sits now, it does not. I was going to use the sways to reduce body roll and keep the inside tires on the ground, to more put the power down more efficiently.

I had not thought about getting the M3 struts. I got a good deal on the springs, but they are for the 325/328. Is there any way to make them work on M3 struts? If there is I will order the M3 struts and the UUC sways for the M3.

i believe you can run the 325/328 springs on the m3, i dont see why you couldnt...... might want to look into that

but as you know the m3 struts have th swaybar mount on them, which works better with most aftermarket swaybars, that way you can have the ability to run adjustable front endlinks, which again, i highly recommend.

I'm a little surprised that your instructors are concerned about suspension upgrades....... but you're running r-comps. IMO r-comps should be one of the last upgrades.

Swaybars were one of the 1st upgrades I did. They will help even with OEM springs/shocks.

I suggest you try to get a picture of the exact suspension you want when you're finished. Without compromise. Then, design a step-by-step approach to getting there. Don't buy pieces that won't be compatible with the final product.

Jay

get a LSD diff instead IMHO. with a non-m you really should re-enforce the sway mounts or you'll risk subframe damage in that area....the re-enforcing will add to the price, significantly if you can't weld or don't have the hook-ups.

I'm a little surprised that your instructors are concerned about suspension upgrades....... but you're running r-comps. IMO r-comps should be one of the last upgrades.
Jay
The R-comps I ran last season were an old set of TA-R1 that I got used from an instructor for $20 each. They worked great for a school and 3 autox events, but I think I am going to retire them this winter. I don't know if I will be on r-comps next season for sure yet. I hope to be, but you never know what will come up.

get a LSD diff instead IMHO. with a non-m you really should re-enforce the sway mounts or you'll risk subframe damage in that area....the re-enforcing will add to the price, significantly if you can't weld or don't have the hook-ups.
I have already found a place that sells the tab re-enforcement kits for $2 each. I have friends that can weld.

suggest you try to get a picture of the exact suspension you want when you're finished. Without compromise. Then, design a step-by-step approach to getting there. Don't buy pieces that won't be compatible with the final product.
Jay
What Jay says--a logical upgrade path with maximum re-usable parts. My UUC sways made a HUGE difference in the car, as do the adjustable camber plates.