Rear-End Makeover questions

Darkwriter77

Resident Ranting Negative Nancy
5 Year Member
Jul 1, 2005
314
281
134
Apache Junction, AZ
After a rather humiliating set of times last Friday at the track (a best of 15.0 @ 93 mph and a 60' of 2.2), plus the fact that my rear end has been making a weird popping in-out noise under hard throttle for quite some time - either my torque boxes are ruined, and/or the control arm bushings are shot - I'm pretty much forced to start renovating the rear end.

The goal is to throw together a rear-end setup that will work with my wheelspin-happy 4.10's and, at the most, drag radials (sticking with street radials for awhile), and not kill my cornering abilities. Right now, the only non-stock rear suspension details I have (aside from gears) are Eibach Drag springs, with an utterly useless airbag that has long ago split and holds no air, and Tokico shocks/Koni struts.

So far, my only setup idea consists of a set of UPR upper/lower torque box reinforcements and their basic upper/lower non-adjustable control arms, although I have also been giving serious thought to buying my buddy's old SSM lift bars ... but I dunno how they'll affect handling.

I know that TB plates are a must no matter what I do, but I'm not so sure as far as my control arm needs go. Searching for two hours had me going in every other direction as far as what brands are best and such. Everyone raves about these Maximum Motorsports LCA's, but they're a bit pricey for what they are and I haven't heard diddly one way or the other about the UPR LCA's ... and if the MM units are really THAT MUCH better than anything else out there. And would I really need to spring for adjustable control arms (upper or lower), or would non-adjustables probably be just fine?

One last detail: lift bars VS lower control arms? Are lift bars more grippy at the cost of handling, or is there really no major difference between the two for a below-300hp car?
 
I have lakewood's traction action setup. uppers and lowers non adjustable. I have 3.73's. I have crappy kyb struts and shocks and ford motorsport C springs i believe. There progressive basically road raxcing springs. I believe 650lb they were. I have no air bag. I have banged off a 1.6 sixty foot. I am happy with the suspension for now. I will probably upgrade to strange 10 way adjustable struts and shocks and some kinda drag race coil. Oh yah i had the sway bars on when i did that time aswell.