tnitz8787

Not all spohn stuff is junk. Just their a-arms and k-members... That stuff was completely worthless compared to the UMI pieces.

b4ccamaro

My wonderful experience with Spohn was with a wonder bar that didnt fit, and the customer service was even worse than the product.

anesthes

iTrader: (12)

What about it didn't fit?

-- Joe

makingPAIN

I have a spohn wonder bar the non adjustable version and it slid right into place what didn't fit about it? I cant speak for any other parts I have umi and founders other stuff

ZZ42Fast

iTrader: (2)

Just to add some balance to this sullying of Spohn.

I have-

Spherical top mounts
Adjustable panhard bar
Steering kit

All of it has fitted well and is wearing very well too! Very happy so far, 2 years in.

DJP87Z28

QUOTE=ZZ42Fast;5754733]Just to add some balance to this sullying of Spohn.

I have-

Spherical top mounts
Adjustable panhard bar
Steering kit

All of it has fitted well and is wearing very well too! Very happy so far, 2 years in.[/QUOTE]

Also went with Spohn parts over the years with no PROBLEMS with fit or finish.
SFC's
Rear lower control arms
Panhard bar.
Steering Kit-zinc coated

TheScaryOne

iTrader: (3)

I've got Spohn's SFC's. Was planning on their rear adjustable LCA's, Panhard, and Trans Cross/Torque Arm, which I never hear complaints about.

Been hearing complaints about the A-arms and the K-member on here for years. Never seemed really worth it for a car that will never handle as well as a fourth gen with that big clumsy Macpherson strut.

Yea, that's why my buddy's 89 Fox body has factory true dual headers with a factory H-pipe. Or why my Mazda Miata has a factory tubular exhaust manifold, rather than the log the IROC has. The General cuts a lot of corners. Why do you think the 350TPI cars only got automatic trannies? And only thirdgens got Macpherson struts?

Alice89

iTrader: (6)

The complaints about the steering kit are valid.

From what I've heard their Wonder bar's have had interference issues with dual fan set ups.

Also here are the issues with the K member:
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/ltx-...-k-member.html

On the other hand I've used their LCA's & their Pan Hard bar on both my old 4th gen's and on my current 3rd gen. No complaints at all on them. Also I've heard nothing but good things about their sub-frame connectors.

Alice89

iTrader: (6)

This doesn't have anything to do with the spohn quality debate; but I've built two 4th gen Formula/Firebird's (one was a Firebird v6 for better weight distribution) and I have to say I kind of doubt this. The way my iroc-z build is shaping up I honestly think I'm going to be pulling higher G's than my 4th gen's did.

Our MacPherson set up has it's limitations and takes more time to set properly. Also the under-steer our cars suffer from is partially due to our Front-to-rear roll centers being jacked up from the factory. The front/rear RC's need to be adjusted appropriately; especially after lowering. A panhard rod adjuster can accomplish this. The under-steer feeling is exaggerated by poor factory spring rates & bad alignments.
I can tell you just switching from my factory springs to 900lb front/200 lb rear rates have given the car a more neutral balance. I just need to get the jegster panhard adjuster bracket installed so I can mess with my rear roll center. The rear RC is way too high...

BTW this is just a data point to consider and I'm not trying to de-rail this thread by going off-topic... I like both the cars and I kind of miss my old formula.

geoffz28

This

Horrible customer support. Bought their K member, had fitment issues with it. Took them days and much hassling to get back to me with any measurements and then they (Steve) pretty much gave me the "I don't care, figure it out for yourself" attitude. Not ever buying Spohn again.

gsmarcano

I like Moog, always been great, no issues, but then again my old Bomb does dirt roads too!

articwhiteZ

iTrader: (56)

Been there done that...know 100% how ya feel...me i just moved on to what i hope is better parts UMI.. and will not look back... yes you can polish a turd...just dont keep it...

PAFORM350

I emailed Spohn and told them I was thinking about buying some of their parts. I asked them if they knew about their rep on this forum. I figured they would at least answer the mail. Guess what? They didn't bother. Enough said!

articwhiteZ

iTrader: (56)

ya live or die by your rep on the net..
but when 90% of your part are good.. and look good. as most of theirs is and do.. it's just a hand full of parts made for out of Production cars that have been what 23 years out of production now... they dont give a shi#.

if they did the best we could hope for would be a update to there site. giving a heads up on the fitment of a few of their parts
wounder bar (dual fans)forget about it
A arms (wheel setback)...this is how steve like's it
K member.. (for stock steering) ya just need to hack out a bigger chunk of the main tube steve...so the tie rods can move up and down...lol

so us guys who buy the parts and install them. and run into this stuff we will give ya a heads up
after all if us guys are wrong..they would say something...Right?....HELLO?.".sounds of "crickets in the dark churping."

No Bull$hi$..just the Facts!
alot of there parts are ok...every thing under.. say $200...
it's just the parts over $200/$300 and up

Johngypsy

I know I'm a little late with this,
But I have a 90 Iroc z car,
Done a full suspension sys,

I have not installed yet but have in my garage all brand new,

Hoskins rear control arms
Sphons torque arm with Transmission loop,
Lowering springs new forgot the name but was 300,
New yellow koni sports front and rear,
36mm front sway bar, 26mm rear
Adj rear pan hard
Plus sooo much done already,

Was ordering from sphons the Front a-arms and the rear lowering kit relocation welded bracket, with the adj stuff for the front a-arms,
And the welded sub frame connectors to to finish this all at once,

So do Not order them? I want a very very tight suspension sys for turns and all around feel for a daily driver, not auto cross, just the feeling of a vette,

I will get the rear welded relocation for sure it's like 100 shipped

But A-arms tubulars?
Who do I go with?
And why?

Also what sub-frame is the best out there,
Thanks guys,
John

Alice89

iTrader: (6)

Their SFC's are good. But to many people have had issues with their A-arms.

Maybe you should look into UMI's A-arms...

Johngypsy

Thanks so much,
I will take a look at them today and if they are good? I will buy them all by Monday or Tuesday at the latest,

articwhiteZ

iTrader: (56)

my new UMI K Member will be delivered wed the 13th. nexed week.
im installing it and test fitting a 2nd set of sphone A arms with rod ends.
will see if there is any tire/wheel setback.. if there is i will be posting it. with full pic and info.

the last set of sphon a arms and K member i past on.. as there parts did not work right with my low mile GM camaro.

so i sold off the New sphon K member and A arms.
but im giving them a 2nd chance to prove their A arms are ok..

as we all know UMI has NO Problems with wheel setback..
and is sold as fitting any aftermarket A arms will fit..
so.. we will see if sphon can make a set of arms that fit right..

should have a full post this time nexed week if you can hold off that long you can see if even sphons parts should even be looked at...
and if they do then Fantastic! will post a full set of photos and all info.
this is the new A arms

this was the other new A arms
with new K Member
pics from a few weeks ago. all parts new going on a low mile (50.000) camaro

Johngypsy

Your parts look like my favorite steak dinner, lobster and a baked pototo,
Lol....

The only issues are this: I have a total different set up then what you have,
I have nothing like yours at all,

I have the transmission torque arm, stock spindles, koni struts, 1inch lowering springs, 36mm front sway bar, adj, front bar (89-92) plus every parts from the bushings to the gear box is all pretty much like new, with the same set up as part as you,

But no uni k-member, and no coils in struts type, as you have a more of a auto cross set up, which is so cool....but I would love to hear how it comes out....

But again just beautiful set up....

PS- wish I knew how to post up a pict to show you my set up also to see what I mean,,,,lol

articwhiteZ

iTrader: (56)

well it's more of a street car. that i drag race. (just a few weeks ago) pics
moving to the new shop&house.
and no i dont use a TQ arm for the rear. mine is Ladderbars.

all the removed bolts & parts that came off the car got a gold Zink finnish to never rust ever..so some stock parts only look aftermarket (spindles)

alot of test fitting and upgrading went into parts even after buying good parts..theres alway a maker doing better (more money) think i had 5 or 6 diff dampers at one time..with out ever installing even one of them..

boxes and boxes of ricky race parts filled my new shop.. even before 1 part is used...lol.. its all about speed and money spent.. (money pit)

back room of pic above
halon and NOS bottels with seats i did not use

still i want all my parts to be 100% to my liking

not this summer..4th in a row..couldbe nexed summer she will be back together...it's now a full resto under the car

from this 1993 pic to? (car just back from Lingenfelters)

to who knows what (just a few weeks ago in the new shop)

Johngypsy

Well sir,
I don't knowing you know. But u have literally every guys dream out there,
The garage is a beautiful palace, just so very awesome, clean, and with all those parts u have there is just nice to look at ,
Your z is also so clean,

If I had the choice of Kim cardashing or your garage? I'll choose your garage...but with her money though...lol...

Just to nice to see.
Please keep us posted with Picts of your build... As it looks like no expense will be spared on it, so yes tons of Picts on the beautiful z you have, u really need to call hot rod magazine and let them know what your doing, if you do what I think I know? You should get in there with little to no pressure, as the minds of readers for 3rd gens are back....

Good luck with it and again please keep us all posted
John
Iroc z parts and supplies
Houston tx

articwhiteZ

iTrader: (56)

wow..thank you..
and.. yes kim has a kickin fig!

the only resto part is repainting the SFC's under the car.. i had it locked away for over 10 years.. and the cheap black paint did not last.
see pic below..light rust on the steel subframe..

when i orderd the car back in 91/92 i told the dealer not to under coat the car...as i was going to send it off to have work done.
well to make me happy they filled the tank..and under coated the car...lol.. i asked them to remove the black crap... they could not...
so i told them i would like to order a replacment car....was a **** storm...lol. in the end i got a better deal on the car.. and it's still got the black stuff under it.

scandavid

I want to do the same thing with the moog but for some reason i cant find a kit and when i piece it all together through advanced auto its like 350 dollars without ball joints. Who did you go through to get your moog stuff that it is was half as much as the 300 dollar spohn kit? Thanks

92GTA

iTrader: (11)

I made the mistake of buying literally everything Spohn makes for a 3rdgen. I mistakenly thought it would mean that everything has been road tested together. NOPE.

My steering kit rubs my tubular k-member. My front wheels have been moved back so I can't even make a tight turn without my factory size tires rubbing the inner fender liner. A ball joint FAILED on me with only a couple thousand miles on it costing hundreds in damage when the front corner of my car slammed into the road. I had to mangle me lower fan mounts for the wonder bar. I could go on and on.

After spending thousands and thousands with them on parts, having them installed, no way it's cost effective to remove the parts and replace them, let alone ask for a refund. Then what, get KILLED on shipping. Yeah, never gonna happen.

Thankfully they don't make anything I don't already have so I never have to buy from them again

383RAT

I had a problem with the transmission crossmember. If it is the same one I got that relocates the torque arm to the crossmember. If you have the model years with fuel lines that go down the drivers side it will move the torque arm over just enough towards the transmission tunnel when the rear suspension hits a really hard bump the torque arm will move up just enough to sheer of the fuel rail clip. I fixed this issue on mine by milling a 1/4 inch aluminum spacer plate moving the torque arm back towards the center of the transmission tunnel.

rusty vango

aint it sad ? you buy his parts AND THEN you have to dink around with them to make them work like they should have done in the first place

KITT1983

iTrader: (3)

i had really no fitment issues with my UMI 700r4 relocation kit on my 83 ta