The Monkee Machine gets pedderized!!!

[BobtheMonkee]

wooot, i'm loving me some pedders right now. Got the street 2 bushings installed today, and i must say, a lot of the issues i had with the suspension (all related to hitting bumps) are no longer issues. this thing just glides over the bumps now! and its a MUCH smoother ride than before

now i'm just waiting on the coilovers and strut brace

And of course, i have to give props to Norpac Street Performance over in Onalaska, WA...Had a blast working with Justin. His mechanical skillz are 1337!

Here are some pics of the install

Pedders yummies...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v625/bobthemonkee1/IMG_0157.jpg

My pedders yummies...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v625/bobthemonkee1/IMG_0163.jpg

Front radius rod bushings before and after
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v625/bobthemonkee1/IMG_0165.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v625/bobthemonkee1/IMG_0167.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v625/bobthemonkee1/IMG_0169.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v625/bobthemonkee1/IMG_0179.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v625/bobthemonkee1/IMG_0192.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v625/bobthemonkee1/IMG_0205.jpg

Subframe connector bushings before and after
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v625/bobthemonkee1/IMG_0175.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v625/bobthemonkee1/IMG_0182.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v625/bobthemonkee1/IMG_0183.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v625/bobthemonkee1/IMG_0185.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v625/bobthemonkee1/IMG_0188.jpg

Rear differential mount bushings before and after
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v625/bobthemonkee1/IMG_0194.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v625/bobthemonkee1/IMG_0195.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v625/bobthemonkee1/IMG_0198.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v625/bobthemonkee1/IMG_0201.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v625/bobthemonkee1/IMG_0203.jpg

[Steve]

Hey cool to see you got your stuff in! :) That shop looks familiar ;)
Let me know next time you go down there!

See they're still using the 'socks' ;)

[grandmacpubah]

I'm JEALOUS!!! Brandon can you PM me with the install rates? I'd like to do some pedders next.

[Executor999]

I had a great talk with Rich on Friday, and Justin is looking into installing the Track II kit for my G8. Hopefully it'll all happen next month!

[GRRRR8]

Congrats!

[r33pwrd]

I'm JEALOUS!!! Brandon can you PM me with the install rates? I'd like to do some pedders next.

+1

[solty]

+2



I'm JEALOUS!!! Brandon can you PM me with the install rates? I'd like to do some pedders next.

[BobtheMonkee]

yep, i'll let you guys know on a rate...Steve's G8 was kinda the guinee pig and mine was the confirmation. I think that justin has enough experience with our cars now to get shit done fast! and yes, he is still using the "mechanic socks" as he called em, to protect the boot ends of the differential against the subframe

Definitely go to Norpac tho...in my mind, there is no other choice. They were incredible to work with!

Steve, Justin wants u to give him a call, he wanted to ask how everything feels. He's sad that you never call him ;) I feel his pain, half the time when i call, i get nothin too :P

[Steve]

lol busy bee but yeah I'll give'm a jingle - Let me know when you're putting in your xA's ; maybe i'll head down there with ya :)

Btw Justin ever tell ya about me doing a full blown donut (by accident) in the middle of the intersection ? ;) haha

[BlownG8GT]

What kind of results are people seeing with a bushing upgrade? Typical urethane bushing squeaks?? Ride differences? Handling?

[Chewy]

Sweet! I am going in this Friday for my install. I am having the touring kit installed with the front control arm bushings and caster washers as well. I have the rear sub frame bushes done already.

I hope to be as impressed as you.

Chris

[jbradsh1]

wooot, i'm loving me some pedders right now. Got the street 2 bushings installed today, and i must say, a lot of the issues i had with the suspension (all related to hitting bumps) are no longer issues. this thing just glides over the bumps now! and its a MUCH smoother ride than before

Great photos! Isn't this the street 1 bushing set, which includes the radius rod, diff, & subframe bushings?

[Steve]

No Squeeks here - and much better handling!

[BobtheMonkee]

haha, yeah steve, he told me the story...pretty hilarious

The ride is much more solid with the new bushings. Not as many rattles and such when hitting bumps. Its not extremely noticeable when you drive away from the install, but as you drive it more, you notice it more! Feels awesome!

I'm kinda confused as to the kit i got right now, originally, i got a quote from pedders for the street2 bushings and the coilovers, but ended up ordering through Norpac, which might have gotten things confused. I think i should be getting another set of bushings and as well a strut brace. I have to give pedders a call and find out what happened.

EDIT: looks like i may have been shorted the gto bump stop front (whatever that is) and the strut brace from what i was originally quoted. Whatever comes with the street 2 (minus the struts/coils) and the coilovers was what i thought i ordered. I'm sure it will all get ironed out.

Just wanted to add that i was not a pedders believer. I was actually quite skeptical that the bushings would really make that much of a difference. I am now a pedders believer! The bushings make a HUGE difference in ride quality! Cant wait to get the rest of it installed!

[Steve]

From the pics I think that's all the bushings you need/get either way

SubFrame, Rear Diff and Front arms. (excuse the 'ad-lib' terms :) )
then you just add the struts/shocks on top of that (or in your case coilovers). I don't have the strutbrace but other than that I think your setup will be identical to mine.

Bump stop isn't needed seperately with the XA's since they come with 'm. and they also already come with the strut mounts


Street 1:
http://wretchedms.com/images/G8-Street1-800.png

Street 2:
http://wretchedms.com/images/G8-Street2-800.png

As you can tell the real difference is just the struts/shocks/springs
(though on the site it does show it should come with the strut brace)

[BobtheMonkee]

thats weird...i could have sworn that pedders said there was an extra set of bushings...oh well, i should definitely get the strut brace though! If its not part of the xastreet deal, it should be removed from the parts of the g8xastreet package.

i'm still trying to figure out what the "Pont GTO Bump Stop Front" is

EDIT: nvm, says "*Replace when changing Springs or Struts" for the bump stops

[Steve]

The bumpstop would go 'in' the coilover to act as a' full stop' so it can't go any further. the xA's already come with it - looks to me like you got it all except the brace.


160064 G8 Ext XA Adjust Coilover 1 4659 G8 Extreme Strut Brace 1 EP1167 Zeta Differential Mounts 1 EP6560 Zeta Front Radius Rod Bush 1 EP1169 Zeta Rear eXtreme Sub-Frame Co 1

[beach]

VERY good to hear your review of just bushings...

I've been planning on getting the strut top bushings & bearings done to cure the very common creaky-squeaky when it gets cold, at the BARE minimum, and was also pretty sure I at least wanted to do as many other bushings too, but perhaps without the cost of struts/shocks, springs, and bars yet...so nice to hear this.

Perhaps it will clear up some extra clippity cloppity firm but loose over bumps--at least marginally until perhaps new dampers, etc.

[BobtheMonkee]

yep, this thing definitely takes bumps like a monster now!!!:woohoo:

[jimmytt6]

congrats..can't wait for my Pedders to show up.
Still waiting on Xa's and strut bar. Have all bushing and sway bars sitting in garage.

[BMWHunter]

Good stuff. I'm in line to get the Street II Drop with the STB. I think this should do it -- give me the stability on hard cornering and markedly improve the transient response.

Can't wait...:thumbsup:

[beach]

My 2500 mile GT goes in to Rocksand Racing in PA on Saturday for a full check out and, I hope, at least some bushings (strut tops at a minimum) to get me started. Depends on time.

The more and more I drive it, the ride/handling is very nice, but the firm yet still loose and jittery at times feel is starting to get to me--I really only pick it apart now as I drive it daily and "know it"--as does the nasty sound up front when it's cold from the struts. Again, hopefully bushings at least tide me over until I want to spend more with struts and such...OR...may I just say screw it, and do everything at once? Hmm.

[Night Train]

I can't wait to get mine installed!!