i own two sunbirds and a sunfire. the sunfire feels alot more alive on the road, not quite as tight as i'd like it to be but def. bettr then the two 2nd gens i own. has anyon ever swapped over the suspension from a 3rd gen to a 2nd gen? i'm not sure whats different about the front, but i know the rear end is different. is this even worthwhile? i figured it would be easier to swap in the 3rd gen suspension, and from there the options to upgrade would be better because of the increased aftermarket support. any insight to this idea of mine would be appreciated. thanks! <br>
-andy
'88 convt. sunbird GT turbo (project car)
'02 sunfire GT (daily driver)
email me
Not worth the time and effort required, besides, if you really want to have the same benefits as 3rd gens (coil-overs being about the only thing available that ISN'T a direct bolt on) you need to do some searching. There are several guys who have used 3rd gen struts on 2nd gens, and the rear really isn't a big deal, use a threaded body shock instead of a strut and threaded sleeve. I'm wondering what you plan on doing that would require a swap..... <br>
James Cahill wrote:Not worth the time and effort required, besides, if you really want to have the same benefits as 3rd gens (coil-overs being about the only thing available that ISN'T a direct bolt on) you need to do some searching. There are several guys who have used 3rd gen struts on 2nd gens, and the rear really isn't a big deal, use a threaded body shock instead of a strut and threaded sleeve. I'm wondering what you plan on doing that would require a swap.....
Tell me how the second gens are steering with the third gen struts? The second gens have the tie rod connected to the strut and the third gen had the tie rods connected to the steering knuckles.
Also has anyone swapped in the third gen steering knuckles into the second gens? Becasue if they have then the Baer kit would be a bolt on kit. Im just wondering if there is a size difference, and if needed I could chop off the tie rod attachment point if it got in the way of the body frame. <br>
<img src="http://boner.berettaspeed.com/cavysig.jpg">
Update your registry boner. <br>
Whoever it was (I really don't remember and I can't find the post) ended up having to make steering arms off his spindles.
You dont
need to swap to 3rd gen spindles for a big brake swap. You can if you
want to, but its not needed. The rotor, caliper, and bearing are all the same from 92-04. The only difference between the 2nd and 3rd gen spindles is that the 3rd gens have the steering arm on it. You still need to machine off the caliper slides, just as with the 3rd gen spindle, but it will work.
Same goes for the rear. The bearing, drum and all the hardware are the same from 92-04 (even the 91 bearing bolt pattern is the same, it just doesn't have ABS). So you can bolt on a big brake kit there too.
The reason aftermarket companies don't list these kinds of things is 1- they're too lazy to do the research and possibly sell to a larger market, and 2- its cheaper to sell one kit for one platform rather than have tiny differences such as the brake lines that are included. And.....most people think that when there is a major body change, there is a major platform change. Not true with GM (at least not all the time). <br>
James Cahill wrote:
You dont need to swap to 3rd gen spindles for a big brake swap. You can if you want to, but its not needed.
I know that all of the brake components are the same, but say you order the Baer 13" rotor set from RKsport, and they already come with the machined third gen spindles. So you wouldnt need to do the machining if the spindles are the same size because its already done for you and theoritically would be a bolt on kit.
At least thats my 2 cents. <br>
<img src="http://boner.berettaspeed.com/cavysig.jpg">
Ok, I didn't realize the kit came with spindles. You could do it that way if you wanted. The width of the strut mounting arm (if you know what I'm talking about) is the same between the two also. The ball joint will fit too.
You can get the Baer kit much cheaper from Summit Racing, as well as any other kit that will fit a 3rd gen. RkSport is too expensive. <br>
Yeah I kind of want some big ol rotors and more piston calipers on here! I dont want the third gen stuff though because Ive already got some nice bilsteins and eibachs. <br>
<img src="http://boner.berettaspeed.com/cavysig.jpg">
If you just want to bolt up a brake kit you can. All it takes is to machine off the caliper slides and bolt away! <br>
I am going to bring back this old post because I am giving serious thought to doing this swap.
I have a set of spindles/knuckles from when I did my baer big brake swap on my 98. I was in the process of bolting my new suspension into my 87 RS conv when I realized the driver's side axle boot was bad. So I pulled the spindle to change the axle and began to wonder about the swap.
Don't have the problem of having to bend the brake lines to put 93 or 94 brakes on.
Research that I need to do: Check the geometry & fit up for the spindles & ensure the wheel bearings will fit the 87 axles.
Anyone have any thoughts?
