I just bought GMG sway bars and springs as well as a RSS rear toe/steer kit. Evolution Motorsports will do the install and alignment. I'll let you know how it feels (daily driver) when it's completed. Both companies are great to work with and what more could I possibly say about EVOMS?

 

I am very close to ordering the GMG springs, GMG sways and Tarett rear toe control arms. Do you have any thoughts or did you consider dog bones (apparently to fix camber) and locking plates (on the toe links), and drop links (all round beefier units)?

I'm a suspension dummy, so I'm just trying to do my research. Thanks

 

The dog bones help in correcting the geometry on a lowered car, they will refer some stiffness into the cabin.
I used gmgracing stuff in the past, it's rugged and good. Not sure about rss.

 

I put on the GMG springs and sways and am very happy about the compromise between ride quality and handling - it's a daily driver so the comfort factor was definitely important. Highly recommended for the handling and the aesthetics. I'm not enough of a track junkie to know or care about dog bones etc...

 

Another vote for GMG, they are great guys to work with.

 

For those lowered and w/o dog bones, any unacceptable tire wear on the inside edge? Anyone endorse the locking toe plates (only $90)? I read that lowering will push toe settings beyond spec resulting in tires wearing out fast (hence the need for the toe steer kit). Anyone w/o the toe kit and thinks it's fine? Cheers

 

I have GMG spring and bars with the rest standard, and was able to align within specs.

 

No problem here. Just a little big of neg camber on the rear, but that's what I wanted.

 

I know that a certain (otherwise excellent) vendor's website states that in a lowered car, you need the rear upper control arms (dog bones) to have correct camber, and you need rear toe control arm to have correct toe, but neither of this is true. And definitely not true if you only lower your car 1 inch or less and not doing anything excessive with your camber settings. In other words, for 99% of cars here, they are not necessary.

This is not to say that they are not good components. These links with heim joints will all increase precision and stiffness in your car - they all work on the same principle: replacing rubber/plastic/etc. bushings with all metallic heim joints. But... as with most things in suspension, they come at a cost, and as others have mentioned here, that cost is NVH.

Besides NVH, the heim joints are also wear and tear components. They are not set-and-forget as they wear over time; not that fast, not too fast, but you do need to check on them for looseness.

Unless you are a track junkie and are seeking the ultimate precision in handling, my vote would be no to the dog bones, 50/50 to the toe control arm, and definite yes to the drop links. There is no right or wrong answer and my nod for the drop link is not because it is "better" (the links obviously all have different functions), but because it is so cheap, so easy to install, and so easily reversible (do it yourself in 15 minutes) if you don't like the NVH. The effect - stabilization of the rear end - is quite remarkable and educational. Lb for lb and dollar for dollar :-), the most bang for the buck of suspension mod.

In other words, a good basic start is GMG lowering springs + GMG sway + Tarett drop link IMHO. Rear toe control arm is next if you are itchy. Hope this helps.

 

Helps tremendously. Thanks

 

After reading Cannga's post I ordered a set a Tarett rear drop links.

 

Please post your impressions after the install. Specifically what it adds to the springs and sways, and any negatives related to nvh.

 

Will do

 

I've switched back and forth between stock and Tarett drop links many times. My impression on the rear Tarett drop link http://www.tarett.com/items/boxster~...lnk-detail.htm, hope this helps:

NVH: when you go over bump, stock drop link makes a thud sound, Tarett drop link makes more like a crack-thud sound. It makes suspension feel stiffer, but not too much so, and still very much tolerable for daily driver.
Stiffness: Tarett drop link does increase the effective stiffness of the sway bar. It is the equivalent of going from the middle setting of the sway bar setting, to a spot in between middle and hard.
Stabilization of the rear: IMHO the easiest way to describe and test the effect is as followed, not that that's how I recommend anyone to drive :-) ). As you exit a corner (exit not entry), if you stomp on the gas pedal, with stock drop link, the rear will tend to jump sideways, feel a little mushy, and do a mambo laterally and vertically. With Tarett drop link, it is gone, like magic.

I buy those ramps from Pep Boys to lift the car up by driving on to the 2 ramps, and don't use the jack; I don't work on cars much at all and really afraid of car dropping on me during change . Bob/bbywu's DIY thread is helpful as usual - the screw of the drop link tends to rotate as you try to unwind the nut so you have keep the screw from rotating with a torx wrench.

 

I'm dropping the turbo off at Evolution MotorSports on Tuesday. I'm very excited!