K-Member / Rack & Pinion Steering Suggestions
Hey if people want to run modified MII suspension that's their business. But that's what it is, it's not a "contemporary system", it's just MII suspension that's been modified by an aftermarket company to fit an A-body. Just because you didn't personally modify or bolt on each individual part does not mean that they aren't modifications. And Bill at RMS and Denny at HDK are great guys and provide great service, no argument there.
My issue was with your description of the upgraded torsion bar suspension, not your experience with the RMS. You claim all these "modifications" are necessary, like it's somehow more difficult or less tested to upgrade the torsion bar suspension, somehow "experimental". It's not. There are great companies with long, proven track records that provide the upgraded aftermarket parts for the torsion bar system. And unlike even 10 years ago, there are now many choices for aftermarket upgrades for the torsion bar system that all come from great companies. There are proven examples of Hotchkis' system on the road, I posted one above. And IMHO their system leaves a few things out.
Does an RMS AlterKation work great? They do! But it's just modified MII suspension. It's not magic, and it's not somehow better or "more modern" to run updated and heavily modified MII suspension than it is to run updated/modified A-body suspension. Both have pros and cons, like any suspension system.
As far as people with coil over conversions complaining, no, you don't see it much. But almost all of them are basing their opinions on going from worn out original suspension to an AlterK or HDK or whatever. Most of them are not comparing an AlterK to a fully rebuilt and updated torsion bar system, literally the only factory suspension parts on my car are the spindles. If someone installed a factory MII out of a junk yard on their A-body without replacing anything I don't think you'd hear such great reviews.
But if you compare this
to this
You don't get the night and day improvements that everyone with an RMS or HDK claims. I would wager most people riding in a car with these set ups, back to back, wouldn't notice any difference at all as long as the cars were set up with similar wheel rates.
Hey if people want to run modified MII suspension that's their business. But that's what it is, it's not a "contemporary system", it's just MII suspension that's been modified by an aftermarket company to fit an A-body. Just because you didn't personally modify or bolt on each individual part does not mean that they aren't modifications. And Bill at RMS and Denny at HDK are great guys and provide great service, no argument there.
My issue was with your description of the upgraded torsion bar suspension, not your experience with the RMS. You claim all these "modifications" are necessary, like it's somehow more difficult or less tested to upgrade the torsion bar suspension, somehow "experimental". It's not. There are great companies with long, proven track records that provide the upgraded aftermarket parts for the torsion bar system. And unlike even 10 years ago, there are now many choices for aftermarket upgrades for the torsion bar system that all come from great companies. There are proven examples of Hotchkis' system on the road, I posted one above. And IMHO their system leaves a few things out.
Does an RMS AlterKation work great? They do! But it's just modified MII suspension. It's not magic, and it's not somehow better or "more modern" to run updated and heavily modified MII suspension than it is to run updated/modified A-body suspension. Both have pros and cons, like any suspension system.
As far as people with coil over conversions complaining, no, you don't see it much. But almost all of them are basing their opinions on going from worn out original suspension to an AlterK or HDK or whatever. Most of them are not comparing an AlterK to a fully rebuilt and updated torsion bar system, literally the only factory suspension parts on my car are the spindles. If someone installed a factory MII out of a junk yard on their A-body without replacing anything I don't think you'd hear such great reviews.
But if you compare this
to this
You don't get the night and day improvements that everyone with an RMS or HDK claims. I would wager most people riding in a car with these set ups, back to back, wouldn't notice any difference at all as long as the cars were set up with similar wheel rates.
