The G8 dropped a little...

[beach]

Today was finally the day to head back to Rocksand for the install. Number one, of course, the handful of key bushings for the most problematic spots, especially the strut mounts and bushings that...well...were clearly toast from when I first got the car new, let alone now past 3500 miles. Crushed in angular fashion. While Frank took me on a breakfast adventure, Walt worked on those, got the front springs in, and was on to the back.

The one fly in the ointment was that the Pedders struts & shocks didn't arrive in time, but Frank thought it best still to install everything else--springs included--just with the stock dampers for the time being. The results:

1) Holy freaking crap, the front end of this car was crap in more than one way, even though I actually had no noise, pulling, clunking, etc. issues at all other than the cold strut squeaky creaky. After the bushings and new front springs, I could immediately feel a HUGE difference in how smooth and easy the steering now was, and then running up and down the hills and curves near Rocksand, how much more direct it felt. Awesome.

2) Brakes. Again, like the steering, I never knew anything really was wrong, other than starting to get bothered by the oddly squishy feel under braking up front. Yeah, it was bushings. Now no squirm, squish, etc., just slows and stops crisply and with a more confident brake pedal feel.

3) Handling/grip/ride. Still with the stock dampers but the new springs, first on the back roads around there, it felt a lot more in control, crisper, and when I did hit any lumps, it sucked them up in a more controlled way without the wriggle I was used to. Coming home, however, on a few highways that were a bit more than bad with sharp cracks, lumps, and more, it felt a lot steadier and more controlled but also more abrupt and "smash-smash" after the initial bump. I had the sensation that it felt like new stiffer springs matched to dampers that weren't up to par enough to work with them, and hopefully that is the case. Those should be on soon.

4) The drop. From the start, I was "one of those" who didn't want it to drop any, actually, and still really do have a thing for the stock stance of this car with the 19's, etc., but could also appreciate what higher quality springs and a little less excess height could do to the car. I'm still adjusting to the look--the rear dropped the most, as expected--but like it so far and it certainly did lose a lot of the "up on stilts" sensation tooling around curves. It just feels a lot more steady and connected at this slightly lower height, even without any changes to the bars or otherwise.

Now, for the Pontiac Porn...

Install:
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c101/caddycruiser/My%20Cars%20Stuff/09%20G8/May%2017%202009/Image00001.jpg
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c101/caddycruiser/My%20Cars%20Stuff/09%20G8/May%2017%202009/Image00002.jpg
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http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c101/caddycruiser/My%20Cars%20Stuff/09%20G8/May%2017%202009/Image00006.jpg
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c101/caddycruiser/My%20Cars%20Stuff/09%20G8/May%2017%202009/Image00015.jpg

[beach]

After:
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c101/caddycruiser/My%20Cars%20Stuff/09%20G8/May%2017%202009/Image00016.jpg
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c101/caddycruiser/My%20Cars%20Stuff/09%20G8/May%2017%202009/Image00017.jpg
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http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c101/caddycruiser/My%20Cars%20Stuff/09%20G8/May%2017%202009/Image00020.jpg
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c101/caddycruiser/My%20Cars%20Stuff/09%20G8/May%2017%202009/Image00021.jpg
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c101/caddycruiser/My%20Cars%20Stuff/09%20G8/May%2017%202009/Image00022.jpg.

So...I like. Still adjusting to the droopy look, at least compared to the Baja runner it was before ;) , love the crisp, smooth feel, and can't wait to see how much or just how the actual Pedders struts & shocks to compliment the springs help the ride over bad stuff. As is, very enjoyable...and Rocksand, Frank, Walt, etc. are the best ever.

[El.Diablos.G8]

looks good

[BigRob]

looks really sharp. what did that all cost?

[-Ray-]

Congrats to another Pedderfile.

[beach]

looks really sharp. what did that all cost?

I honestly don't know yet;) The part cost is set, the labor is the other variable, and it really didn't take too long to do this stuff, but we didn't figure it out yet...so we'll see.

Since the struts & shocks didn't make it in time, I'll drive it as is to "see" and then when they are in, my only new cost will be just the part price on those--labor is nothing, because of the delay.

As I've come to know...Pedders pieces are not cheap, but no one else offers even remotely the number of pieces for every little thing that all are made to work together perfectly, has the warranty valid with any Pedders installer, etc., etc.

[55belairgasser]

That looks great, I love the look of it- a little closer to mother earth. - Lance

[cobrakid]

looks awesome. I'm jealous bro.

[Chewy]

Glad you like! I knew you would. The brakes were VERY noticeable on mine as well.

It's amazing what a little less suspension movement does!

Chris

[Night Train]

Congratulations. I really need to go this way.

[ulakovic22]

Car is beautiful!!! Maybe I missed it but what Pedders suspension package did you go with?

[beach]

Car is beautiful!!! Maybe I missed it but what Pedders suspension package did you go with?

Sort of a mix & match, as Rocksand & Frank typically doesn't like packages, but rather fine tuning with only the specific pieces recommended. So, for mine, bushings, springs, struts/shocks to come, and that's about it.

I looked at my spring boxes this morning, and they're not the OE height ones I expected...well, of course, after seeing it...but rather the 2954 fronts and 2955 rears. It's odd. It definitely is lowered. But, at the same time, people haven't noticed it or asked from just walking by. Depending on where I'm at, I have a different impression of it.

[BMWHunter]

With the Track II with Drop kit, my front was lowered by ~1/2 inch and the rear was lowered by ~1 inch.

Looks good.

[ulakovic22]

Thanks for the part numbers. It appears in any of the kits they offer with a drop it uses the same spring package. I was just checking to see if I got a Street package versus a Track package if there was any difference in springs and there isn't, just what is included in the rest of the kit.

Again, car looks beautiful, the stance is spot on for my tastes. We even like the same color, lol.

[BobtheMonkee]

pedders = win

[Panzer Leader]

Thanks for the update. Please let us know how it handles with the new dampers and shocks. Looks really good. BTW when I spoke with the Pedders folks they said with the Street II package expect a 3/4" drop in front. Are you planning on chamging out the OEM sway bars as well?

[bdy]

looks great

[beach]

Thanks for the comments guys! Now that it's been a week, I thought I'd post a little more and a bit of a review.

First, a few more pictures. I still haven't gotten just the right light, time, etc. to get good in the sun shots, but still...there are more, and the car is cleaned in these.

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c101/caddycruiser/My%20Cars%20Stuff/09%20G8/May%2018%202009/Image00003.jpg
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c101/caddycruiser/My%20Cars%20Stuff/09%20G8/May%2018%202009/Image00008.jpg
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http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c101/caddycruiser/My%20Cars%20Stuff/09%20G8/May%2018%202009/Image00037.jpg

The Look
The funny thing...the rear did drop a lot and the front less so because with the trashed front strut bushings as it was and the fact that there's less to drop up there in the first place. But, it's not immediately apparently "dropped". The proof of this came in how NO ONE said anything about it, asked, etc. except for those I actually told. Otherwise, a couple of extra looks, but not much else. That's actually the best part. I'm not a fan of lowering anything, but as everyone else generally has said...it's just right. All this past week I've seen various Jag R-series, MB AMG, BMW M cars, and it has exactly the same tighter over the wheels look now, vs. on air stilts before--at least in back.

I didn't want anyone who knew the car outside of me to notice, and mission accomplished, with a terrific new look that's dead on proper. I never realized how high these cars do sit stock until a few days later of looking at my own pictures before and seeing another GT Sport rolling along this week.

The Feel
Another thing I feared was losing the soothing, "hovercraft" ride quality this car has always had, even with the 40 series 19's and such. It's important to remember, as they didn't come in yet, I'm still riding on stock struts and shocks but the Pedders sport springs with them now. Initially the first drive home it did feel quite a bit stiffer especially over highway ridges, bumps, etc., but at the same time also a heck of a lot more stable and when I did hit something there was the initial thump then nothing. Before it was softer, of course, but I never realized how much then the extra wobble from the soggy springs, dampers, and bushings together added in. Smaller bumps are actually filtered out better now and it feels smoother even though it's firmer because of the lack of wobble and shake.

Over some bumps it's firmer, of course, but more controlled. And now after a week of driving, especially yesterday I noticed how it seems things have settled in and it feels smoother already. Now the biggest mystery is just how much the ride and handling will change once the struts and shocks are changed out to Pedders, correctly. As is, after a week of driving at least in the flat, straight, no bump land of Delaware, the soft stockers with the new springs do well and probably give it a touch more cushion. But they also still allow for that bottom-less float at bigger drop offs (very little, the springs made a big change, but this is typical), sharper or more frequent bumps, and such. It will likely be firmer all around, but the post bump damping being matched to the springs correctly should help clean up any last slop and even that ride/handling steadiness. We'll see. It'll be odd, as I've gone from all stock to half Pedders to soon full Pedders with the dampers...never will have a direct comparo of what the complete damper/spring change is really like vs. stock. But that's okay. Now, about those stock 4k mile struts & shocks (oh, and the springs) soon to be in the closet...

As before, probably the other biggest thing is the dramatic steering change. I never, ever, ever had a complaint or even second thought about the steering, other than sometimes what the struts moving all over the freaking place with the lack of a proper mount were doing to the feel. It always felt a bit grainy and now I know that's what it was. From the first time I backed out of Rocksand's garage and down the gravel driveway, the steering felt like smooth silk and MUCH sharper, and that is exactly how it continues to feel. Aside from the new stability in ride, that's probably the biggest improvement. Same thing for the brakes, as mentioned before, with all the unexpected front end slop at 3k miles (really, from day 1) mostly remedied and especially the new radius rods. The same extra sloppy, grainy "something" when I'd stop is not there anymore, it just slows and stops smoothly and solidly, enough to make the brake system itself feel different.

The one "bad" thing is that, at least after the first couple of drives and the horrid highway spots in places to and from PA, there are a few new plastic buzz/rattles now apparent inside...or maybe they always were and I never noticed. Not sure, but I'll take care of it. At least this Zeta tank itself feels even more solid now with a correctly supportive suspension holding it in place.

Overall
It looks just right, it's much more controlled and planted, with just some extra slight looseness remaining with the stock dampers--would be more noticed if I didn't live in the glassy smooth flat lands. Ride is tighter and it isn't as ethereal swoosh-swoosh over bumps and lumps as before, but it's much more controlled and stable and because of this actually feels smoother in a lot of ways. Steers and brakes so much more smoothly and crisply now (seriously...drive one before and after a strut mount replacement...THEN you'll see how the steering should feel), and overall should tighten up firmer but not in a rough way once the Pedders dampers are in. The car still needs to be correctly post-Pedders aligned, too, but we're waiting for the dampers--no noticeable issues in the meantime, but again should only improve once corrected.

No sway bars, strut tower brace, etc. at this point given my driving and where at, but there's always time to keep playing. That's the best part about Pedders. Everything works and was designed together, and builds up in stages if you want. Then, if there ever are any problems (rare) or you just want more, wherever you're at, find the closest Pedders dealer/installer and you're set. There's really no other suspension company, etc. that offers such a total understanding of the platform, working directly with GM in some aspects, or the dealer/warranty network.

To be continued, with the rest of the "fancy red parts" before long:)

[beach]

For everyone, just to say it again...even if you're not going to do anything at all to your car, suspension wise (ahem...me...well, before), if you have a few hundred bucks, just get the always squashed OEM front strut bushings out of there and replaced with new Pedders pieces and bearings. Even just that, will be a big difference, and should even cure alignment and other issues, pretty quickly. Won't be a lifetime fix, but at least things will be as they should have been to start in that regard. Trust me, this is from a car that I really had no issues with other than the squeaky-creaky when cold...was straight, steady, tracked like on rails, or at least as much as it could.

Thankfully it's a much better car than the GTO at the core, but there are still these trouble points that can be taken care of before they're really a problem, for not much.

[Panzer Leader]

Thanks Beach! Great update. Cain't wait to hear what the new dampers do for the ride/control. You are fast making me a believer.