Aftermarket A arms?

[kwin]

I would like to improve the handling and straight line "feel" of my 91 burb, I saw some control arms for the 67-72 trucks , who makes them for a square and has anyone had any experience with making a burb handle?

Thanks

Keith

[jitteryguy]

I dont think you can use the terms "improve handling" and "91 burb" in the same sentence ?
I would look at tires, then quality front and rear sway bars, then good quality shock's.

[kwin]

lol, Im not looking for an indy car, just better on center feel and to tighten things up some.

[N2TRUX]

Replacing the A-arms is not going to make a significant difference in handling. If you want to improve the handling of your Burb, start with the springs, swaybars and shocks. A lower center of gravity is a good starting point. If you are stock height, consider cutting a coil from the front and adding a shackle in the rear. Replace the stock shocks with a premium quality gas charged unit.

Most Burbs came with a front swaybar. If yours doesn't have one, get one. If it does have one, get a larger one from a C20 truck. Some Burbs came with a rear bar, others didn't. Once again, add a bar and better shocks.

This should get you headed in the right direction. Tells us what size tires you are running. That should be addressed too.

[tucsonjwt]

x2 on swaybar first - especially the bushings. I had an upper control arm by Raybestos installed and it did not have the keyhole slot for the brake line clip in it, so a hole had to be drilled out to accommodate it. I would spend the extra money for OEM GM parts - you can get them at a reasonable price from the online suppliers.
I installed front sway bar bushings and the made a big difference in handling.

[kwin]

It is at stock ride hight for now, it will be dropped soon, just trying to make a plan so that I am not buying the same parts over and over.

I may have a c30 sway bar and bushings that i was planning on using, it currently has stock 15's but I am trying to decide on wheels either heading to 17 or 18's. I like to see some side wall!

Will bigger wheel / lower side wall help with straight line stability? It feels very vague, I was thinking an increase in caster might be the solution.

Thanks for chiming in.

Keith

[SCOTI]

Replacing the a-arms w/some that have better geometry could/would make a difference. A burb won't ever be a sports-car.... but it doesn't have to remain a pig. I wouldn't go through the trouble of replacing them if there are not any significant geometry improvements (just because they're aftermarket tubular arms doesn't mean they're that much better).

The Hotchkis front kit & arms would work on a 73-87 (including a 91 burb).

[kwin]

"A burb won't ever be a sports-car.... but it doesn't have to remain a pig."


That sort of sums it up for me!

The kit you speak of is not listed on their site, am I missing something?

[kwin]

I will start with sway bay , spindles , wheels and tires. Because that was in the plans anyway. I love the truck, I just hate how vague it feels at highway speed.

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by kwin

"A burb won't ever be a sports-car.... but it doesn't have to remain a pig."


That sort of sums it up for me!

The kit you speak of is not listed on their site, am I missing something?

The 67-87 front suspensions are the same basic design w/minor changes. The a-arms from a 73-87 can be used on a 67-72 x-member & a-arms from a 67-72 can be used on a 73-87.

Hotchkis offers 67-72 spec'd parts. The front a-arms, springs, shocks, & sway bars would swap under your burb (if you have the coin)....
http://www.hotchkis.net/search.html?...mitForm=Search

The Hotchkis rear parts wouldn't work for you but the front will be where you see the greatest gains. Just match the drop w/shackles & hangers, similar shocks & a sway bar to keep things consistent w/the front.

[kwin]

I was wondering if that was the case, thanks very much for the input.

Keith

[stroker87]

lowering it, installing bigger wheels with performance tires & bigger sway bars will make a night and day difference in the handling you will loose some ride quality but being its a suburban it should still ride nice

a friend of mine done that to his and it was best thing he ever done to it, now when cruising @ 75+ mph it has a more connected feel less sway more predicable body roll is reduced too

[nekkidhillbilly]

i dont think theres much to improve with a arms

springs shocks sway bars and bushions would be 1st steps

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by nekkidhillbilly

i dont think theres much to improve with a arms

springs shocks sway bars and bushions would be 1st steps

The overall set-up can be improved by simply dropping the COG, adding wider, stickier rubber, sway bars & poly bushings, & improving the alignment specs. But, you can still improve upon all of that w/aftermarket arms designed w/better geometry.....

You'll limit yourself w/stock a-arms & geometry.

[INSIDIOUS '86]

Drill the cross shafts and move the whole a arm forward 3/4 of an inch to grab caster then go -.5* camber and 1/16 toe out and 5 degrees caster

Add urethane bushings all around including body mounts and add a rear anti roll bar.

This is going to be the best you can get for stock plus without going all out and chattering your teeth out of your head
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