Torsion to coilover

[01DenaliHiker]

Anyone have any experience with these kits?

In the middle of a little surprise purchasing for my truck I came across a kit by Atomic Fab to convert the front to coilovers and lose the torsion bars.

I personally love the idea because I dislike torsion bars, of all makes, sizes, and shapes. Just want to know if it's even worth the money as far as ride goes, because it'll be my next project after I finish converting over to floor shift and finish fabbing up my center console if it's worth it.



https://atomicfabandperformance.com/product-category/cb/800-4wd/

 

[Massfloefi]

This is the next project on my 2005 Yukon Denali XL stock height. Most sources point to a yes on being worth it. Im doing it primarily for the comfort. Hitting potholes with torsion bars is miserable. A couple gents here have them and they will chime in. More installs over at PT.net but they tend to be based on pickups and not SUV's.

 

[bottomline2000]

Anyone have any experience with these kits?

In the middle of a little surprise purchasing for my truck I came across a kit by Atomic Fab to convert the front to coilovers and lose the torsion bars.

I personally love the idea because I dislike torsion bars, of all makes, sizes, and shapes. Just want to know if it's even worth the money as far as ride goes, because it'll be my next project after I finish converting over to floor shift and finish fabbing up my center console if it's worth it.



https://atomicfabandperformance.com/product-category/cb/800-4wd/

Please post your setup. The biggest question seems to be shock length and spring weight. No denying they ride better. Been playing around with the combination of DJM drop arms for more room for shocks. I just don't want to be chasing a setup.

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[Bombsquad85]

I'd love to do this

 

[randeez]

@Atomic not sure how active he is over here, but hell sell you just mounts or entire setup.

Theres not much chasing he has a pretty good idea of what's needed... if you go it on your own then plan on getting mounts, setting ride height, measuring shock length at: ride height, compressed, extended. And then spring rates

 

[Jeri99]

What's the ballpark range of how much this conversion would cost?

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[01DenaliHiker]

What's the ballpark range of how much this conversion would cost?

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https://atomicfabandperformance.com/product/99-06-torsion-bar-coilover-package/

Around $1000 if you're DIY savvy.

I still haven't been able to justify the purchase. My Denali enjoys breaking random small things constantly. So I'm on the fence with selling once I rebuild my front end. Kit seems top notch though, saw a guy here local with the kit done and was super envious. Turned out my Denali was much faster, at the cost of my front end though. Worth it.

 

[adriver]

I'm not sure how much atomic is on here, but he is pretty active on performancetrucks.net. You should at least be able to search over there (for pickups), and get some good reviews too.

 

[Jeri99]

Has anyone here experienced both a traditional lowered control arm/lowering spring set up vs this conversion?...just to get an idea how much of better of a ride the conversion is

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[adriver]

Has anyone here experienced both a traditional lowered control arm/lowering spring set up vs this conversion?...just to get an idea how much of better of a ride the conversion is

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If you're comparing coilovers to a lowering kit/setup, the difference is in the ability to fine tune the setup, and to change it whenever you want. Lowering control arms, knuckles, blocks, shocks, drop kits, ETC are stationary... You do it, you hope you get it right (for you), but you are going to have to buy new parts if its not what you want.

Coilovers are an adjustable suspension for height, which should be paired with the right shocks for an adjustable firmness.
Drop it down if you know you are going to go over the tail of the dragon over the weekend.
Raise it up for winter, or even if you just know the weather is going bad.
Raise it up if you are going to tow, (and hopefully) stiffen it up.
Drop it down if you know you're not hitting potholes anywhere along your commute.


Depending on the coilover shocks you get, (if you're going this far with it, don't cheap out now), the shocks should have compression and rebound adjustability. Do you want your ride floaty smooth. Do you want it stiff and tight?


If your SUV is, and is staying lets say a 2nd vehicle for towing, and you got lucky with the right setup that works great for you, OR
If you are keeping it as a off road capable vehicle because your commute is on and off road, and that's all you do.. Then you probably don't need to spend the money.

If you: do that occasional tow, road trip, weekend blast around, "wow, I never thought someone could auto-cross that thing", want to fine tune that drop for the car meet, then these would be great because they give you easy to achieve options, but let you go back to that perfect setup for most of the time.

 

[Jeri99]

Adriver you are a saint...thank you for your advice. Looks like coilovers are the wiser choice..

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[adriver]

Adriver you are a saint...thank you for your advice. Looks like coilovers are the wiser choice..

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They definitely are, (as with most things).. IF, they are in the budget.

 

[skyhighsami]

I can't give any input on going from torsion to coilovers but I did make the swap on a RCSB I am building. Drop spindles, Viking DA coilovers for the front, flip kit for the rear leaf springs, Caltracs, smooth body DA Vikings and the kit to relocate them behind the axle. EVERYONE I talked to before I ordered it thought it was the best money they had spent and guys are cutting 1.3 60' with the setup I just mentioned. My Silverado isn't being built to DD but as a weekend hellraiser and track toy. If I was to lower mine again I would do spindles DA coilovers, ditch the rear coils and bag the back with smooth bore DA shocks. On my Yukon I have spindles, adjusted keys, DJM rear hardware kit, 5305 coils, helper bags in the coils, Belltech shocks, and an adjustable panhard. I am very seriously considering getting larger front and rear sway bars as I do more research on them but if you are on the fence do it. I have yet to hear one person say one bad thing. And Richard aka Atomic is local to me and is as good as gold.

 

[hardluck13]

Atomic’s kit and customer service is by far the best in any business (especially customer service). Best change ever was ditching the the torsion bars and keys and went spindles with Coilovers. Think about new Tahoe suspension compared to torsion? What did GM do? Stick with clapped out torsion or go to a coilover set up? If you’re going to spend money on your suspension spend it on his kit. I went with his Viking spring and shock but I know some other guys have used other. No more bottoming out up front, drives and handles like a new car car (upgraded all bushings and sway bars too), fine tune front suspension, and stays in alignment.

 

[Jeri99]

Hardluck...thank you for the insight...I'm curious what setup did u have in the rear?

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[hardluck13]

Hardluck...thank you for the insight...I'm curious what setup did u have in the rear?

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Currently has Belltech springs and shocks but it’s getting free travel, with Tony’s 5-6” springs, DJM relocation and the Spohn adjustable panhard. Was waiting forever for the DJM kit but they just decided today to tell me they’re not gonna make it anymore (that’s why front was done before rear). Rear happens the 1st of July. Thing hardly gets driven has like 56k original miles. I keep it around cause it’s practically brand new with literally every option and I love NBS. I have my other new trucks, cars and old cars and motorcycles but like I said something about NBS I’ve always loved. Sorry, forgot I have sway bars for it too that have been sitting and go on when it goes into shop on the 1st.

 

[skyhighsami]

Atomic says ditching the torsion bars and going with coilovers drops some significant weight off the front. I have plenty of other stuff to do to my Yukon before going coilovers.

 

[skyhighsami]

I actually worked on ditching the torsion bars today and installing the Viking DA coilovers. I had spindles and turned down torsion bars before with Belltech 5305 springs in the back. I put some helper bags in the rear coils today, kept the spindles, and put together the Viking coilovers. I will report tomorrow how it rides but everyone is extremely happy with their purchase.

 

[Jeri99]

I can't wait to hear your impression...how much would it cost me to get your exact set up?...my suspension is bone stock right now

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[skyhighsami]

I got Belltech spindles, DJM rear hardware, adjustable panhard bar, Belltech 5305 coils, helper bags, Richard Wayne's Viking coilover setup. First go around I ordered Belltech Street shocks, I forget the exact name but they are silver. I almost hate to admit but I probably have close to 2k in my entire setup. If you don't get the Viking coilovers get Bilstein HD shocks. I had Belltech spindles, lowering torsion keys, DJM rear hardware kit, Belltech 5305 coils and helper bags on my wife's Yukon XL and I was satisfied with how it rode. I have always wanted to build a fullsize version of a Trailblazer SS so I probably over spent on the suspension, when I upgrade my Trailblazer SS and RCSB Silverado alot of the parts will be put on my Yukon. My original goal was to run what my Trailblazer ran when it was a full bolt on truck but everyone I have talked to about spec the parts for me seem to think it will be quicker.