Suspension Refresh - Need Convincing, sort of...
 

I have an '87 and decided that it was time to replace the tires. Ordered tires, they were delivered to the installer and one of the installers asked how old my spring plate bushings are. He mentioned that they need to be good in order to align the rear end of the car correctly. I dig through the records and long story short all the suspension is original. This car is a convertible so I'm not tracking it and OEM rubber will meet my needs. Luckily I live right down the way from Elephant Racing. A few conversations with ER and I'm going to have them refresh my entire suspension. The one thing I need convincing on is paying the extra money to have all the parts refinished visually (powder coating and replating). Are there people out there that refreshed their suspension and wished they also powder coated and replated? Convince away...

There are plenty of people who send all the parts out to plate them and/or make the underside as nice as the topside. I'm not one of them. I took it apart and put it back together with new parts the same day.


I have never heard that you couldn't realign the car with worn bushings....that seems a little silly. I know it wont be perfect, but still.

+1. Currently, I'm doing a bushing refresh on my 911 and I have no plans to powder coat or replate.

So if the parts in question don't need replating and/or powder coating what's the point?
Unless it's a matter of personal preference.

Rattle can is good enough for me

I only cleaned and resprayed my spring plates with a Krylon gold paint. Just enough to cover them good. Mine is a daily driver so replating was not worth the extra time and money. I did a complete ER rubber upgrade this past summer. I also installed larger hollow torsion bars.

Update - As you can see, the suspension needed a refresh. One of the torsion bars was actually rubbing and needed to be replaced.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1333567698.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1333567738.jpg

Chuck and the crew from Elephant Racing did an amazing job going through the front and rear suspension, rebuilding the calipers and new rotors and pads all around.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1333567818.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1333567843.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1333567861.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1333567880.jpg

Now I just need to get the rest of the car this clean!

Nah, you just need to get the new parts dirty. Chuck has a lot of pride in his workmanship and could not put a car together that did not look the biz.

I've had one that the bottom was literally shinier than the top and it didn't go any faster.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1333573718.jpg
All powder coated. Looks great and should be easier to remove later. I like to think it will make future work cleaner.

I too need to replace the original bushings on my 89 Cab. I have bought the ER rubber bushings but have been trying to find a place that would plate or coat the spring plates. I think I am now just going to clean them and maybe use some spray paint on the covers. The weather has been so nice this winter I never had that block of time to not drive the car.

Don't want to hijack the thread...but what were your results

Avale,
Would love to read a report on your driving experience with the new components, including any extra noise and/or harshness.
I'm planning to have the same work done to my car this month.

@ruwoodbury - the car is getting new tires installed today. Not sure if they will finish up today or not but I'll report back when I get a chance to try out the new setup.

I too live nearby to ER, and sent an email asking for the same type of setup, I hope to hear your results. Please post what exactly was done, and maybe pricing?

Looks good and you went with powder coating. Your thread has taught me that ER rebuilds calipers. Mine just went to PMB Performance, but it is good to know that there are others that can do the work.

A few clearer pictures of ER's amazing work...

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1333814391.jpg


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1333814410.jpg


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1333814430.jpg


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1333814447.jpg

The car handles amazingly well. When components wear slowly over time you don't realize how much performance you have lost.

I would also like to update my suspension with new bushings, shocks etc. My suspension is original as well. Could I ask what approximately this cost to have done?

x2

It's something I need to soon address as well.

I did this a couple of years ago and the results were great. My original ride. I powder coated everything that originally was painted and plated what was originally plated. Why? basically because paint doesn't last as long down there and PC cleans up easier.

I'm having my undercarriage on my 69 911 refresh and I wanted everything to look
like new so there were parts that powder painting is ideal especially if you plan to
keep the car for a long time and its also about doing it "right" since you're there.
I must admit inspite that its costly, its worth it. ;)