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Post suspension rebuild updates/product reviews:
-Elephant Racing Poly Bronze: make the car a little jouncier, you can feel and hear them clunking a little over hard bumps, but that isn't as noticeable after a while and the suspension moves very freely. Super predictable, very happy with them as part of the complete suspension package.
-Stock Bilstein HD dampers: good enough for me, for sure, the car is never under damped.
-21/17mm rear/front torsion bars: good, as stiff as a newer car but no stiffer. I may yet raise the ride height a bit and go softer though, to retain the vintage feel. As is, sportier than my newer Alfa Romeo Giulia in the canyons and tighter than anything I have butt dyno memory of without being punishing.
-Rear sway bar: really good to have, holds the ass end of the car together, was expensive to buy a new bar and have the upgraded rear mounts welded on but ties the car together very well.
-Steering rack: didn't rebuild it, don't feel like I needed to.
-Turbo tie rods: couldn't feel a difference, don't think I'd do those again in retrospect for the sake of saving $. Mine were fine.
-Rear trailing arm bushings: those were worth doing, the old ones were SHOT and that can't be good.
Now that the car handles so nice, I'm heating up the motor in the canyons so the next upgrades are a front oil cooler and a radio upgrade. Nothing has fallen off the car even though I'm a novice mechanic. So if you're wondering whether it can be done, it can! Patience, tools, and determination are all it takes. Pay professionals for the tough stuff like heavy engine work and transmission stuff if you must, but brakes, suspension, axles, etc. are all within the realm of the ambitious home mechanic in my opinion.
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