mikes2017gt
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Feb 21, 2017
- Threads
- 59
- Messages
- 936
- Reaction score
- 311
- Location
- San Antonio, TX
- Vehicle(s)
- 17 GT Prem M/T 3.55
- Thread starter
- #1
I've finally gotten 90% of the Steeda goodies installed. Did all the work myself and learned a whole lot about my S550 in the process. The car rides like a different car. Wheel hop is gone and the car puts the power down now like it's wearing slicks...though slicks, the Goodyear F1's are not...the traction control's been getting a workout the past few days. 
What I like best is how planted the car feels now, particularly when hitting a bump mid-corner. Stock, the rear would scoot around and I had a few unsettling occurrences where I got on the power mid-corner and hit bumps and the rear slid out. That is now gone. I haven't had the opportunity yet to really get on it on a winding road, but it certainly feels 100% better than stock. Oh, and I can no longer feel every 1/16" diameter pebble I run over, either. Better ride quality AND better handling...what a HUGE WIN. Very, very happy with my Steeda upgrades!!
Major mods installed so far:
Steeda Progressive Sport Springs F/R
Steeda Pro-action non-adj dampers F/R
Steeda Front Camber Plates
Steeda Bump stop kit
Steeda Billet Rear Shock Mounts
Steeda Billet Vertical Links
Steeda Adjustable Toe Links
Steeda Sub Frame Bushing Supports
Steeda Rear Sub Frame Braces
FP Power Pack2
FP High-flow air filter (Airaid filter)
FP Strut tower and K-brace
FP by Borla Touring cat-back exhaust
Steeda and other mods purchased but not installed yet...most should be done in a few weeks:
Steeda F/R Swaybars (I know the front is going to be a PITA so I put it off)
Steeda Billet Swaybar mounts F/R (see above :( )
Steeda G-trac KBrace (Does not fit...seriously. Front arms are 1/2" too short...already emailed Rod)
Steeda Subframe Alignment Kit (Couldn't get a single bolt in...my subframe is way off/didn't want to mess with in my garage)
Brembo 6-pot calipers
PowerStop rotors F/R
PowerStop Z26 pads F/R
G2 caliper paint (black) for rear caliper
Steeda braided steel brake lines F/R
Front rear lower control arm from PP S550 (beefier than the stock GT...not in a hurry for this)
Of course, when doing the subframe braces that's the ideal time to do the alignment kit as well, but as mentioned above, after sliding the sleeves in, I could not get a single bolt to even start threading. My subframe is way off and I didn't want to mess with dropping the entire subframe in my garage. I don't have any car-savvy buddies that I could call for help either. So I thought it best to just leave them out. I may or may not ever install the sleeves...the mods I've done so far (the rest of the stop the hop kit) have made such a huge diff that I don't think the sleeves are necessary at this point.
The G-trac Kbrace's front arms are 1/2" too short. No amount of bending or finagling worked to get it installed. Doesn't matter where I start, front or rear it's a no-go. Stuff happens and Steeda is awesome so I'm not worried about it. I already have the FP strut tower and K-brace installed, so how much the Gtrac is needed is debatable. I want it, of course.
By the way, regarding the bushing supports, particularly the rear, lower, 2-part brace: The first one took me an HOUR to get that first half in. Then I remembered reading about "Channel locks" aka slip joint pliers. 60 seconds later and it was in. That was a FML Moment of epic proportion. I didn't know whether to laugh my ass off or smash something to pieces. The second lower rear brace was installed in about 3 minutes. Not kidding. I was so happy/pissed. LMAO!
I'll get to the sways...soon-ish. The car feels SO different now that I'm not completely Jonesing about the sways. I am Jonesing for the Brembo/PowerStop upgrade though. A little nervous about it since the brakes are the single most important thing on the whole car. But so far, so good in my modding efforts. I'm getting a 4-wheel alignment tomorrow. Very curious how "off" everything is b/c the car doesn't pull to one side, drives totally straight, etc. Of course, getting it aligned is a must-do, regardless of how it feels/looks.
A few pics to share my happiness!
What I like best is how planted the car feels now, particularly when hitting a bump mid-corner. Stock, the rear would scoot around and I had a few unsettling occurrences where I got on the power mid-corner and hit bumps and the rear slid out. That is now gone. I haven't had the opportunity yet to really get on it on a winding road, but it certainly feels 100% better than stock. Oh, and I can no longer feel every 1/16" diameter pebble I run over, either. Better ride quality AND better handling...what a HUGE WIN. Very, very happy with my Steeda upgrades!!
Major mods installed so far:
Steeda Progressive Sport Springs F/R
Steeda Pro-action non-adj dampers F/R
Steeda Front Camber Plates
Steeda Bump stop kit
Steeda Billet Rear Shock Mounts
Steeda Billet Vertical Links
Steeda Adjustable Toe Links
Steeda Sub Frame Bushing Supports
Steeda Rear Sub Frame Braces
FP Power Pack2
FP High-flow air filter (Airaid filter)
FP Strut tower and K-brace
FP by Borla Touring cat-back exhaust
Steeda and other mods purchased but not installed yet...most should be done in a few weeks:
Steeda F/R Swaybars (I know the front is going to be a PITA so I put it off)
Steeda Billet Swaybar mounts F/R (see above :( )
Steeda G-trac KBrace (Does not fit...seriously. Front arms are 1/2" too short...already emailed Rod)
Steeda Subframe Alignment Kit (Couldn't get a single bolt in...my subframe is way off/didn't want to mess with in my garage)
Brembo 6-pot calipers
PowerStop rotors F/R
PowerStop Z26 pads F/R
G2 caliper paint (black) for rear caliper
Steeda braided steel brake lines F/R
Front rear lower control arm from PP S550 (beefier than the stock GT...not in a hurry for this)
Of course, when doing the subframe braces that's the ideal time to do the alignment kit as well, but as mentioned above, after sliding the sleeves in, I could not get a single bolt to even start threading. My subframe is way off and I didn't want to mess with dropping the entire subframe in my garage. I don't have any car-savvy buddies that I could call for help either. So I thought it best to just leave them out. I may or may not ever install the sleeves...the mods I've done so far (the rest of the stop the hop kit) have made such a huge diff that I don't think the sleeves are necessary at this point.
The G-trac Kbrace's front arms are 1/2" too short. No amount of bending or finagling worked to get it installed. Doesn't matter where I start, front or rear it's a no-go. Stuff happens and Steeda is awesome so I'm not worried about it. I already have the FP strut tower and K-brace installed, so how much the Gtrac is needed is debatable. I want it, of course.
By the way, regarding the bushing supports, particularly the rear, lower, 2-part brace: The first one took me an HOUR to get that first half in. Then I remembered reading about "Channel locks" aka slip joint pliers. 60 seconds later and it was in. That was a FML Moment of epic proportion. I didn't know whether to laugh my ass off or smash something to pieces. The second lower rear brace was installed in about 3 minutes. Not kidding. I was so happy/pissed. LMAO!
I'll get to the sways...soon-ish. The car feels SO different now that I'm not completely Jonesing about the sways. I am Jonesing for the Brembo/PowerStop upgrade though. A little nervous about it since the brakes are the single most important thing on the whole car. But so far, so good in my modding efforts. I'm getting a 4-wheel alignment tomorrow. Very curious how "off" everything is b/c the car doesn't pull to one side, drives totally straight, etc. Of course, getting it aligned is a must-do, regardless of how it feels/looks.
A few pics to share my happiness!
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