DSE vs Ridetech vs Chassis works

[firebirdzig]

I have decided I want to go the 4-link route on my '68 firebird that will be used for around town driving and the occasional trip to tahoe or San Francisco. It has an LS2/t56 and DSE Stage 3 speed kit up front and 9 inch rear. I was wondering what the pros and cons and peoples opinions on DSE, Ridetech and chassis works rear 4-links. I'm not sure on bags or coils in the rear because I like the idea of being able to adjust the rear stance to account for passengers/luggage but don't know how well it work with front coils and if it's worth the money. Any thoughts or opinions on the brands, parts and price are all appreciated! Thanks in advance!

[TheJDMan]

I have the Chassiworks G-Link system which was recommended to me by a now former PT vendor from FL. I have not been unhappy with the suspension but it took me a while and shorter springs to get the stance down where I wanted. The Ridetech 4-link looks very similar to the G-Link but has one extra cross member in the saddle which is never a bad thing. The DSE system is nice but does require more cutting and welding to install than the other two systems. I don't think there is any wrong choice between those three it just depends on which one you feel fits your situation best.

[cpd004]

I can't comment on any of the others, but am a newbie to Ridetech. The adjustability is great. A downside is that the adjustment knob for the rear shocks are at the top of the shock body. On my low 2nd gen, jacking it up is the only way to make adjustments. The ride and handling is great.

[Josh@Ridetech]

A downside is that the adjustment knob for the rear shocks are at the top of the shock body. On my low 2nd gen, jacking it up is the only way to make adjustments. The ride and handling is great.

Which shocks are you using? If you're running the coilovers, they can be ran inverted, so the knob is on the bottom.

[cpd004]

I am running the single adjustable coilovers and tried that. Didn't work. The body of the shock interferes with the upper bracket. It's not possible to even get the bolt in through the top when flipped because the body and angle don't allow the coilovers to go high enough for the holes to line up. If you have another solution, I'm all for it as this way is kind of a pain.

[Carl @ Chassisworks]

FirebirdZig, It sounds like you're probably in our neck of the woods. We manufacture the complete system at our Sacramento, CA factory. If you give me a call I'll be happy to go over the details with you. If you want to come by, let me know ahead of time and I'll make sure that I can make the time to give you a tour. Put some parts in your hands that are fresh out of the CNC, welding fixture, or off the laser bed.

The g-Bar and g-Link are both available with either coilover shocks or air-spring shocks. There are a LOT of available options so that either system can be configured to fit your needs. You can read more about it in the guide below.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/02/BG_400_278x360-1.jpg (http://www.cachassisworks.com/Attachments/Catalogs/BG_400.pdf)


I have the Chassiworks G-Link system which was recommended to me by a now former PT vendor from FL. I have not been unhappy with the suspension but it took me a while and shorter springs to get the stance down where I wanted. The Ridetech 4-link looks very similar to the G-Link but has one extra cross member in the saddle which is never a bad thing. The DSE system is nice but does require more cutting and welding to install than the other two systems. I don't think there is any wrong choice between those three it just depends on which one you feel fits your situation best.

Hey Steve, we actually beg to differ about more crossmembers always being good. There is a reason that the g-Bar and g-Link have one crossmember which bolts in instead of two that are welded. In our experience these car never measure the same distance between the rails -especially after 40 years of being driven by nuts like us. The primary function of the single crossmember is to support the car and keep the shocks from going through the floor. By putting only one crossmember in there the installation is easier and it keeps down the weight. The upper control arm is mounted to the frame rail which provides a stable mounting point for the upper arm.

The DSE system does sit lower than the g-Link and, as you mention, this is because there is substantial modification required to the floor. We figure that if you're going to cut up the car, you might as well put in a new rear frame like our #7154 as well.