Howdy all,

Am intentding to get my 2nd gen wagon lowered on the weekend to lows and have been reading up on other suspension mods but have a few questions.

1. Should I get new shocks if I get new springs even if they seem to be in decent condition?

2. Is a strut brace a worthy investment for $100-$150 or should I save my money for something else?

3. Have read that sway bars will improve performance. I know I've got a rear bar mainly 'cos my old one snapped on me, but it's only stock so is there any need to get a different one?

Thanks for any help,
Cheers.

Howdy all,

Am intentding to get my 2nd gen wagon lowered on the weekend to lows and have been reading up on other suspension mods but have a few questions.

1. Should I get new shocks if I get new springs even if they seem to be in decent condition?

2. Is a strut brace a worthy investment for $100-$150 or should I save my money for something else?

3. Have read that sway bars will improve performance. I know I've got a rear bar mainly 'cos my old one snapped on me, but it's only stock so is there any need to get a different one?

Thanks for any help,
Cheers.

ok

1: Depends on the k's of the shock, then yeah should be fine, i was running 45mm lows on stock shocks and no issues.

2: imho yes they are worth it, ive got one on my TH made a resonable amount of different seemed to tighten up the front end.

3: imho also yes, im getting mine this week i hope so ill update when i have them installed.

ok

1: Depends on the k's of the shock, then yeah should be fine, i was running 45mm lows on stock shocks and no issues.

2: imho yes they are worth it, ive got one on my TH made a resonable amount of different seemed to tighten up the front end.

3: imho also yes, im getting mine this week i hope so ill update when i have them installed.

3. So are you saying that you can get additional way bars? Or are you saying that there are 'high performance' sway bars?

Yes, you can get aftermarket sway bars. Whiteline make a few to suit Magnas. I believe they're thicker than the stock unit and hence offer an improvement in handling.

Is there much benefit in getting a strut brace and a front sway bar?

Thanks heaps for the info guys, it's really helping me get my head around this stuff. :think:

Is there much benefit in getting a strut brace and a front sway bar?

Thanks heaps for the info guys, it's really helping me get my head around this stuff. :think:

the general way is to go strut brace and a upgraded rear swaybar first.

1. Should I get new shocks if I get new springs even if they seem to be in decent condition?
IMO... Only replace the shocks if they need replacing - otherwise just do the springs and then the shocks in a year or two when they need replacing.
Oh, and go for superlows on the front & lows on the rear. (if you want to and it's not too late)

2. Is a strut brace a worthy investment for $100-$150 or should I save my money for something else?
IMO... They're a reasonably cheap mod that improve handling and look cool too. Go for it.

3. Have read that sway bars will improve performance. I know I've got a rear bar mainly 'cos my old one snapped on me, but it's only stock so is there any need to get a different one?
IMO... (from what I've read on AMC)... A whiteline rear sway bar will give you a noticeable handling difference.
For looks, do the Strut Brace first.
For handling, do the rear sway bar upgrade first.

At the end of the day, you can do a lot of suspension & handling mods. Although you will improve and even make the wagon handle nice, it'll most likely never be a high performance handling machine. But having said that, lowered looks cool and any handling mod is definitely and improvement and not a waste. It's one of those mods that improves safety too. (most of the time)

1. Should I get new shocks if I get new springs even if they seem to be in decent condition?
IMO... Only replace the shocks if they need replacing - otherwise just do the springs and then the shocks in a year or two when they need replacing.
Oh, and go for superlows on the front & lows on the rear. (if you want to and it's not too late)

2. Is a strut brace a worthy investment for $100-$150 or should I save my money for something else?
IMO... They're a reasonably cheap mod that improve handling and look cool too. Go for it.

3. Have read that sway bars will improve performance. I know I've got a rear bar mainly 'cos my old one snapped on me, but it's only stock so is there any need to get a different one?
IMO... (and from what I've read on AMC)... A whiteline rear sway bar will give you a noticeable handling difference.

At the end of the day, you can do a lot of suspension & handling mods. Although you will improve and even make the wagon handle nice, it'll most likely never be a high performance handling machine. But having said that, lowered looks cool and any handling mod is definitely and improvement and not a waste. It's one of those mods that improves safety too. (most of the time)

Well, if it looks cool I'll have to lol.

Safety; that's the excuse I use when my girlfriend asks why I bother modding my "Fagna" as she calls it. "I'm doing it to make you safer, babe" I say. What a load of bull****, I'm doin' it 'cos I want better rig :badgrin:.

Hey, I just got some suspension work done to my 2nd gen wagon. I ended up getting:

1. King lows in the back and im pretty sure king superlows at front

2. New KYB shocks all round

3. Whiteline rear sway bar

4. Camber bolts

5. Full custom alignment and wheel balancing

Made a huge difference, though as it was all done at the same time hard to say the benefits of each bit seperately. Although it looks awesome and sits real nice with the springs combination, and I was really suprised at how comfortable the ride is considering im on 18 inch wheels and was expecting a very hard ride, I have noticed a bit of an issue.

I think its because of the superlow at the front, but it seems that either the springs are not stiff enough or there is not enough travel. I find sometime even going straight over biggish bumps/dips, the front reaches full travel and really crashes through. If you corner hard, and little bump in the road does this also. I am going to enquire about getting this fixed up, as originally I had asked for lows all round, and I think this may have fixed that, but they put superlows on because it sat nicer and even, so the front wasnt sticking up compared to the rear.

I am also thinking it may be to do with the bumpstops, maybe they are non existant or in poor condition, and it not cushioning the big blows. Ill be giving them a call sometime, as they are quite helpful and knowledgeable.

Ollie

Hey, I just got some suspension work done to my 2nd gen wagon. I ended up getting:

1. King lows in the back and im pretty sure king superlows at front

2. New KYB shocks all round

3. Whiteline rear sway bar

4. Camber bolts

5. Full custom alignment and wheel balancing

Made a huge difference, though as it was all done at the same time hard to say the benefits of each bit seperately. Although it looks awesome and sits real nice with the springs combination, and I was really suprised at how comfortable the ride is considering im on 18 inch wheels and was expecting a very hard ride, I have noticed a bit of an issue.

I think its because of the superlow at the front, but it seems that either the springs are not stiff enough or there is not enough travel. I find sometime even going straight over biggish bumps/dips, the front reaches full travel and really crashes through. If you corner hard, and little bump in the road does this also. I am going to enquire about getting this fixed up, as originally I had asked for lows all round, and I think this may have fixed that, but they put superlows on because it sat nicer and even, so the front wasnt sticking up compared to the rear.

I am also thinking it may be to do with the bumpstops, maybe they are non existant or in poor condition, and it not cushioning the big blows. Ill be giving them a call sometime, as they are quite helpful and knowledgeable.

Ollie

Good point, might do the lowering and then see how it goes.

Roughly how much would it be for a Whiteline rear sway bar and strut brace?

Ive done the three in stages, ie, Lowering, strut brace, and Rear sway bar.

Lowering made a massive different, car sits much more flat through the corners, grip levels are higher through tight corners (however, dont forget its not the height that determens the handling, but rather the spring rate).

Few days ago I installed a strut brace. Massive improvment. Steering was more direct and more responsive. Car was able to keep better grip around a very tight left hander I always take at speed.

Today the rear swaybar went in. Its been raining here, so I havnt really taken the car for a spirited drive, however, first impressions seen the car is again tighter, less roll, and Im really able to throw it into a corner and it seems to sort itself out. Interesting to see how it goes once I give it a real test.

So roughly how much did all of that cost you?

The springs cost me 280, however, you can get them cheaper off Phillcom (site sponser)

Swaybar, and strut brace cost me 345, bought off Sharkie when he did a group buy.

All labour was free.