My SpeedTech Experience [Archive]

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Sheck44

11-03-2013, 03:44 AM

So first off, I live in Toronto Canada, so shipping to here is unbelievably expensive, so I have larger items shipped to a buddy of mine's shop a couple of hours away in Buffalo. The importance of this comes later ...

So I am working on a 69' Camaro and wanted a rear suspension that would very well suited for the street, and possibly some autocross, the other important items was full and easy adjust-ability and didn't want to break the bank either so after MUCH research (and discussions over the phone) I decided to go with the SpeedTech Torque arm setup.

When I spoke to Spedtech initially they had mentioned that they had a special on DA Viking shocks that would be included, and at the time when I mentioned that I would be purchasing the setup from Jegs (free shipping etc.) they had mentioned at the time that all of their torque arm suspensions were now being shipped with the DA Viking shocks and I said great !! and proceeded to call and confirm with the Jegs ordering dept, and of course they said 'yup' included ...

So about a week later off I go to Buffalo, pick up my stuff and drive all the way home with a huge smile on my face, though I forgot to mention that when I got to the shop I immediately saw that the larger/HEAVY box had been beat to crap, but I paid no attention and taped it all back up, no problem ... right ... NOT

When I got home and unpacked, I immediately noticed both trailing arms had severe scrapes on the powder coating and on one, the bushing was severely damage. Next of course I open up one of the shocks and voila, single adjustable QA1's

So I started making calls, and this where I came to realize a couple of things. One, SpeedTech does not ship their torque arm rear suspension to Jegs with ANY shocks, Jegs adds these into the kit from their own supply to keep the cost down, and most importantly two ... that BOTH SpeedTech and Jegs have TOP NOTCH customer service. Since I purchased these items from Jegs, everything fell onto their shoulders, and at first I though oh great, big chain like Jegs won't care about little old me... well was I wrong.

Within one week, they had shipped to my door a new trailing arm from the Speedtech office, and upgraded me to the DA QA1's for pennies, and this is where I was sooo impressed, they paid all my shipping costs to send the items back, and they paid all the shipping costs and duty to ship the items right to my door here in Canada.

Now, onto the installation... Roger at Speedtech was awesome, I thought after bugging him with all the calls and questions he would finally tell me to bugger off, but he was amazing.

As a novice builder my ONLY complaint are the instructions, I wish they had much more detailed, step by step pictures of an actual install. There are a couple of pics but so much is left out and if your not a professional mechanic the terminology can get a little confusing. That said I got it done, and it took me about 2 days to complete, and here are some pics ...

Got the rear end 2 feet off the ground (using the lift in my garage to install)

http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii200/SCOBRA48/WAAAY%20OTT/IMG_0575_zps131c5bea.jpg (http://s264.photobucket.com/user/SCOBRA48/media/WAAAY%20OTT/IMG_0575_zps131c5bea.jpg.html)

Installed shocks and panhard bar

http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii200/SCOBRA48/WAAAY%20OTT/IMG_0581_zpscbc582e9.jpg (http://s264.photobucket.com/user/SCOBRA48/media/WAAAY%20OTT/IMG_0581_zpscbc582e9.jpg.html)

installed trailing arms

http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii200/SCOBRA48/WAAAY%20OTT/IMG_0584_zpsd9898926.jpg (http://s264.photobucket.com/user/SCOBRA48/media/WAAAY%20OTT/IMG_0584_zpsd9898926.jpg.html)

Got the torque arm positioned and ready

http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii200/SCOBRA48/WAAAY%20OTT/IMG_0587_zps4c5e9cdb.jpg (http://s264.photobucket.com/user/SCOBRA48/media/WAAAY%20OTT/IMG_0587_zps4c5e9cdb.jpg.html)

Lowered the car into position and bolted everything together

http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii200/SCOBRA48/WAAAY%20OTT/IMG_0591_zps1db105c2.jpg (http://s264.photobucket.com/user/SCOBRA48/media/WAAAY%20OTT/IMG_0591_zps1db105c2.jpg.html)

Absolutely top quality stuff

http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii200/SCOBRA48/WAAAY%20OTT/IMG_0594_zpsb116eeb6.jpg (http://s264.photobucket.com/user/SCOBRA48/media/WAAAY%20OTT/IMG_0594_zpsb116eeb6.jpg.html)

I was looking for a suspension with the adjustability to give me the perfect stance that I wanted, and I got it ... Could even go lower if you wanted, these are Rushforth 19's (thanks Jason !!)

http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii200/SCOBRA48/WAAAY%20OTT/IMG_0576_zps4f2000af.jpg (http://s264.photobucket.com/user/SCOBRA48/media/WAAAY%20OTT/IMG_0576_zps4f2000af.jpg.html)

So to the novice builders out there that are contemplating a rear suspension, do not be intimidated with this setup because it requires some welding. Take the rear end to a shop and have it done properly, and get a buddy to help weld in the X member, other than that this system is soooo easy to install, and the results are amazing

BIG thanks to SpeedTech and Jegs

Sincerely
Steve from Toronto

WSSix

11-03-2013, 05:44 AM

Glad you had positive experiences with both companies. I'm tired of reading nothing but bad news so this was a welcome relief. Car looks great too. Now when can we get a driving impression report ? :D

Sheck44

11-03-2013, 06:28 AM

Trey, ya I was very surprised, I thought for sure that I was going to have to brunt the costs for the issues. As for a test drive, well may be a bit difficult right at this moment ... car is going in for paint (blue) in a few weeks, and I'll get her back in the spring.

http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii200/SCOBRA48/WAAAY%20OTT/front_zpsead57ab1.jpg (http://s264.photobucket.com/user/SCOBRA48/media/WAAAY%20OTT/front_zpsead57ab1.jpg.html)

v8s only

11-03-2013, 05:40 PM

I have the same setup for 3 years now speed tech is top notch in customer service.

Ben@SpeedTech

11-04-2013, 08:31 AM

Man, sorry to hear it was all such a mess in the first place but glad to hear it all worked out. Thanks for the compliments. As one of the newer folks in the Speedtech family one of the reasons I packed up and moved 2500 miles to work here was how genuine everybody is. Speedtech's goal really is to see to it that you, the end customers, have a positive experience with both customer service and the products themselves. Looks like it's working that way for you. Glad Jegs came through and we could be there to back 'em up.

As far as the installation, glad it went well for ya. Just wait till you drive it, the best is yet to come. And remember, once you get it rolling if you need help with dialing anything in just give Roger or our tech dept. a call.

On the instructions, thanks for the feedback. We agree, they're a bit outdated and have been discussing for a few weeks the need to get them up to date. I've started going back and am updating each set of instructions with better (and more) photos and clarifying/ simplifying some text as well. As they get wrapped up they will start circulating with the parts.

That is a good lookin' build so far. What are plans for the drive train? Are you going with the same shade of blue that's underneath? 'Cruiser looks real good too. ;)

Sheck44

11-05-2013, 02:39 AM

Thanks Ben, everyone makes mistakes and again it was handled brilliantly by both parties.

As for the instructions and I can tell you that pictures are worth a 1000 words, and I hate to say it but Chassisworks has done a great job with their instructions (take note ... ;) And oh ya, I cannot wait to try this car in the spring, it kills me to have to go into the next six months of winter waiting for spring to experience not just the suspension, but the new 496BBC that Chris Straub has assisted me in putting together, and Jason Rushforth is doing up some designs for stripes to lay on the new color choice ... French racing blue

Ya, thats my 66' TLC that I have completely restored, SLOWEST and most fun vehicle I've owned ... :thumbsup:

http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii200/SCOBRA48/WAAAY%20OTT/FrenchRacingBlueOldschool_zpsc04333cf.jpg (http://s264.photobucket.com/user/SCOBRA48/media/WAAAY%20OTT/FrenchRacingBlueOldschool_zpsc04333cf.jpg.html)

waynieZ

11-05-2013, 02:24 PM

Glad to see they both stepped up. I was going to ask about the Land Cruiser too, it looks nice.

Sheck44

11-06-2013, 03:03 AM

Blake Foster

11-07-2013, 08:09 AM

So what is your FAVORITE color????

Sheck44

11-08-2013, 03:29 AM

Hmmmmmmmm, Blake let me think about that one .... :lol:

streetbird

12-13-2013, 07:51 AM

CarlC

12-13-2013, 08:18 AM

Here you go guys, when I just finished her 2 years ago ...

http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii200/SCOBRA48/BIG%20Blue/NewGlass2.jpg (http://s264.photobucket.com/user/SCOBRA48/media/BIG%20Blue/NewGlass2.jpg.html)

Wow, what a great LC. It must be fun. I've been working with ICON on some fueling projects and drool over their work on these. It' a whole 'nother world.....

mdprovee

12-13-2013, 08:27 AM

Steve, what wheels are you running...the more I look at them the more I like them.

hud697

12-14-2013, 10:47 PM

Im in the same situation as you, Im from Canada to.
I have a good shop here that order me what I want for a decent price but im now figuring what suspension I want in my car.
But the shop dont know speedtech. They sell DSE but ST is cheaper and need less work.
Now with your posive experience, and all the other I readed, I think I will go with ST too.
This is nice to heard that ST have a nice customer service.
I'll contact the shop after christmas to order mine.

Thx to share your experience

Costumer service is top notch, I had a question on mine today about the pan hard bar. Called and talked to Roger, he got me lined up and headed in the right direction. I had called them a few times before I actually bought my kit and they were always willing to answer any question I had

Sheck44

12-15-2013, 04:16 AM

Steve, what wheels are you running...the more I look at them the more I like them.

Hey Mike

I got these set of Livewire's right from Jason at Rushforth.
I'm running 19's in the rear, and 18's up front. Ya, and in person their even nicer ... You know that feeling when your sittin on the fence trying to make the right decision, Well these came in, and every time I look at them I'm like "thank god I made the right decision"

Steve

Sheck44

12-15-2013, 04:19 AM

Wow, what a great LC. It must be fun. I've been working with ICON on some fueling projects and drool over their work on these. It' a whole 'nother world.....

Carl, oh aint that the truth ...
ICON is the Ringbrothers of Landcruisers ... absolutely outstanding craftsmanship

mdprovee

12-23-2013, 11:48 AM

Hey Mike

I got these set of Livewire's right from Jason at Rushforth.
I'm running 19's in the rear, and 18's up front. Ya, and in person their even nicer ... You know that feeling when your sittin on the fence trying to make the right decision, Well these came in, and every time I look at them I'm like "thank god I made the right decision"

Steve

Thanks Steve

Leadfoot1

01-07-2014, 04:13 PM

Im in the same situation as you, Im from Canada to.
I have a good shop here that order me what I want for a decent price but im now figuring what suspension I want in my car.
But the shop dont know speedtech. They sell DSE but ST is cheaper and need less work.
Now with your posive experience, and all the other I readed, I think I will go with ST too.
This is nice to heard that ST have a nice customer service.
I'll contact the shop after christmas to order mine.

Thx to share your experience

Hey Louis,

Remember, if you need parts shipped here, i know a way to save the customs and some of the taxes and you only need to pick up the parts across the Lacolle border (like an hour from here). Let me know if you need to know details.

Wow!! I was looking at the first pics and was like...WTF!!! What s the prob with this guy, is he color blind or what??? I was seeing the nice orange paint and the bottom...they didnt add up... Lol!!! Then i read the text. Whew!!!!

Gonna be nice!

Lead.

P.s. ; Go Canucks!!! (We are starting to be a bunch on here.... 'Das good!!)