Difference between Steeda and Griggs?

usmcpony

Member
Joined
Dec 17, 2007
Posts
433
Reaction score
3
I want a car with outstanding handling for any car. Able to compete with Porsche, Ferrari or any other supercar. I read a few articles from Steeda claiming the Q500 has a 1.2G skid pad with street tires and 1 article from Steeda claiming 1.3 G. I have heard nothing but good things about Griggs and the fact that they have recorded a 1.5g in competition is incredible. They also claim a 250+lb weigh loss with their kit. The only down fall is the Griggs kit costs $15K. Im not sure how much the Steeda Q500 or 650 kit costs. Does Steeda's parts reduce weight? I want the best bang for the buck and still be able to compete with the best. If anyone recommends another suspension kit please feel free. I already have Steeda light weight radiator support, Steeda LCA and UCA, and Steeda adj. panhard bar. Thanks for the help.

Steeda:
http://www.steeda.com/new_vehicles/Q500/

Griggs:
http://www.gr40.com/
 

Rangersfan

Senior Member
Joined
Aug 10, 2007
Posts
903
Reaction score
8
Location
Atlanta
I can tell you that the GR40 and ours represent 2 different approaches to suspensions for the Mustangs. A lot of it depends on budgets and exactly what you are looking to do with your car as far as racing and what classes you're planning to do, or if it's just going to be a street car. Personally, I think some of the Griggs stuff is overkill for a basic street car. The S197 suspension can be turned into a competition killer for a lot less money than you think. I watched them do it all day yesterday at the Koni Challenge in Homestead.

I know that Griggs uses our X2 balljoints in their suspensions:thumb:
 

Vapour Trails

The Renaissance Man
Joined
Sep 17, 2008
Posts
2,773
Reaction score
41
Location
Winnipeg, MB, Canada
If you already have the control arms taken care of I would just suggest a set of steeda springs and koni or tokico dampers. You don't need to go broke to make the car handle.

FWIW, lateral Gs has as much to do with tires as anything else. Lateral Gs are not exactly a measure of handling, but rather grip.
 

jymontoya

Member
Joined
Apr 17, 2008
Posts
380
Reaction score
0
Location
Bend, OR
This has been something I've been debating about as well.

Now that Griggs is offering their items separately, I've been considering a 'hybrid' solution.

Their rear coilovers and applicable brace and control arms allow for maximum lowering and suspension travel by moving the springs to a true coilover on the damper. The mounting point on the axle needs to be reinforced with their braces, but this means you can run it low without the typical bottoming out of a 1.5"-2" drop.

This combined with Steeda's upper link, and koni's up front with GC conversions, I think sounds like a winner for a lot less cost?
 

Rangersfan

Senior Member
Joined
Aug 10, 2007
Posts
903
Reaction score
8
Location
Atlanta
You could add our Watts link also, but I honestly don't think you need to go through a whole rear coil-over conversion. From what I've been hearing from Customers, Griggs is weird when you want to order stuff separate sometimes.
 

Rodeoflyer

Member
Joined
May 20, 2007
Posts
59
Reaction score
0
You could add our Watts link also, but I honestly don't think you need to go through a whole rear coil-over conversion. From what I've been hearing from Customers, Griggs is weird when you want to order stuff separate sometimes.

The Roush "Trak Pak" shown above is made for Roush by KW. I had the KW V3 kit on my car and it worked well.

If the Koni Challenge cars had the choice in the ruleset, I gauruntee they would go with Griggs' SLA over a Steeda setup. A few Steeda parts are used by the cars, simply because they are their only options. Hmmm.... Steeda is headquartered in Florida. Grand Am is headquartered in Florida....

Having said that, the Koni Challenge cars are proof that it doesn't take much to get these cars to put the hurt on Posches and BMWs. Griggs is a ton of money and a ton of work for a street car. Steeda's claim regarding championships is due more to rulesets in sanctioning bodies than better performance. If all things were otherwise equal, the Griggs setup will outperform the Steeda setup. You can't argue with geometry and physics.

As far as rear coilover conversion, either way has it's plus and minuses. With "true" coilovers, ride height adjustments are easy, but spring changes require a little more work. Conversely, factory location springs are quicker to change, but when you need to adjust ride height you have to get further back in there. Food for thought.

Just about everybody in the market uses gimmicks and misleading information to sell their product. You need to look at what you are getting for your dollar and then decide what works best for you.

In reality, the S197 design isn't bad at all. For most street cars, it's a matter of stiffening things up, making them adjustable, and adding some decent shocks. The other side of the coin is that if you intend to compete in a given series you'd better consult the rulebook before you make wholesale changes to the car.

All of the various manufacturers have their place. The first thing you need to do is truly decide what you want from the car, how you intend to use it, and how much you want to spend.
 

Rangersfan

Senior Member
Joined
Aug 10, 2007
Posts
903
Reaction score
8
Location
Atlanta
The Roush "Trak Pak" shown above is made for Roush by KW. I had the KW V3 kit on my car and it worked well.

If the Koni Challenge cars had the choice in the ruleset, I gauruntee they would go with Griggs' SLA over a Steeda setup. A few Steeda parts are used by the cars, simply because they are their only options. Hmmm.... Steeda is headquartered in Florida. Grand Am is headquartered in Florida....

Having said that, the Koni Challenge cars are proof that it doesn't take much to get these cars to put the hurt on Posches and BMWs. Griggs is a ton of money and a ton of work for a street car. Steeda's claim regarding championships is due more to rulesets in sanctioning bodies than better performance. If all things were otherwise equal, the Griggs setup will outperform the Steeda setup. You can't argue with geometry and physics.

As far as rear coilover conversion, either way has it's plus and minuses. With "true" coilovers, ride height adjustments are easy, but spring changes require a little more work. Conversely, factory location springs are quicker to change, but when you need to adjust ride height you have to get further back in there. Food for thought.

Just about everybody in the market uses gimmicks and misleading information to sell their product. You need to look at what you are getting for your dollar and then decide what works best for you.

In reality, the S197 design isn't bad at all. For most street cars, it's a matter of stiffening things up, making them adjustable, and adding some decent shocks. The other side of the coin is that if you intend to compete in a given series you'd better consult the rulebook before you make wholesale changes to the car.

All of the various manufacturers have their place. The first thing you need to do is truly decide what you want from the car, how you intend to use it, and how much you want to spend.

I'll agree with some of your points, but not all. First off the Koni cars run our wing and panhard bar, and that's nothing to do with where our location is. Secondly, we don't use gimmicks or sneaky claims to win customers, our products are proven winners, as well as other people's.

Like I said before, the Grigg's GR cars and the Steeda Q's are 2 different approaches, but the "Standard" versions are very close in setups, and I would say they would be a tight fight. The options that they make available are a little above and beyond what we offer normally, as our Q cars tend to lean more to a street car that you can hit the track with.
 

usmcpony

Member
Joined
Dec 17, 2007
Posts
433
Reaction score
3
Here is another alternative and proven setup that works. Even the British show "Top Gear" (the American car haters) had great things to say about the Roush Trak Pak when they tested it.


http://store.roushperformance.com/detail.aspx?ID=1070

I saw that on BBC. I believe that was the Stage 3 not the track pak. The trak pak should handle better but from what I read in MM&FF the trak pak is a pretty rough ride. I will consider this and if all else fails I will get these springs. Thanks for the help.
 

usmcpony

Member
Joined
Dec 17, 2007
Posts
433
Reaction score
3
The Roush "Trak Pak" shown above is made for Roush by KW. I had the KW V3 kit on my car and it worked well.

If the Koni Challenge cars had the choice in the ruleset, I gauruntee they would go with Griggs' SLA over a Steeda setup. A few Steeda parts are used by the cars, simply because they are their only options. Hmmm.... Steeda is headquartered in Florida. Grand Am is headquartered in Florida....

Having said that, the Koni Challenge cars are proof that it doesn't take much to get these cars to put the hurt on Posches and BMWs. Griggs is a ton of money and a ton of work for a street car. Steeda's claim regarding championships is due more to rulesets in sanctioning bodies than better performance. If all things were otherwise equal, the Griggs setup will outperform the Steeda setup. You can't argue with geometry and physics.

As far as rear coilover conversion, either way has it's plus and minuses. With "true" coilovers, ride height adjustments are easy, but spring changes require a little more work. Conversely, factory location springs are quicker to change, but when you need to adjust ride height you have to get further back in there. Food for thought.

Just about everybody in the market uses gimmicks and misleading information to sell their product. You need to look at what you are getting for your dollar and then decide what works best for you.

In reality, the S197 design isn't bad at all. For most street cars, it's a matter of stiffening things up, making them adjustable, and adding some decent shocks. The other side of the coin is that if you intend to compete in a given series you'd better consult the rulebook before you make wholesale changes to the car.

All of the various manufacturers have their place. The first thing you need to do is truly decide what you want from the car, how you intend to use it, and how much you want to spend.

My car is basically a show/weekend driver. It will see some track time but very little. My uncle has a Porsche 911 Turbo and I love the handling. I want something simular with my Mustang. I agree the Griggs kit is pretty expensive and is probly overkill. I was trying to kill two birds with one stone. Weight reduction and handling at the same time. If I can hang with BMW's and Porsche with the Steeda kit I will get it. What tires do you guys recommend for the street? Is there another set up you recommend?Thanks for your help everyone. All of your input helped me allot.
 

usmcpony

Member
Joined
Dec 17, 2007
Posts
433
Reaction score
3
I'll agree with some of your points, but not all. First off the Koni cars run our wing and panhard bar, and that's nothing to do with where our location is. Secondly, we don't use gimmicks or sneaky claims to win customers, our products are proven winners, as well as other people's.

Like I said before, the Grigg's GR cars and the Steeda Q's are 2 different approaches, but the "Standard" versions are very close in setups, and I would say they would be a tight fight. The options that they make available are a little above and beyond what we offer normally, as our Q cars tend to lean more to a street car that you can hit the track with.


What deal can you get me? I already have UCA, LCA, Panhard bar, radiator support all from Steeda. Could I get the same package as the Q cars with the items above deleted from the package? Do I need everything in the package? Do you have military discounts? I will call Griggs after you give me est. to compare pricing and make my decision.
 

Rangersfan

Senior Member
Joined
Aug 10, 2007
Posts
903
Reaction score
8
Location
Atlanta
What deal can you get me? I already have UCA, LCA, Panhard bar, radiator support all from Steeda. Could I get the same package as the Q cars with the items above deleted from the package? Do I need everything in the package? Do you have military discounts? I will call Griggs after you give me est. to compare pricing and make my decision.

That's a lot of questions! We can do whatever package you want and leave out what you already have on the car. We set up the Q cars according to a standard list, but we do optional items too depending on the customer's wants.

PM me with a list of what you'd like to do, and I'll work with you. We'll come up with something that Griggs can't touch, and have you running down BMW's in no time.:beer:
 

DusterRT

Defected to Deutsche
Joined
Dec 9, 2008
Posts
1,707
Reaction score
32
Location
Seattle, the Sunshine City
My car is basically a show/weekend driver. It will see some track time but very little. My uncle has a Porsche 911 Turbo and I love the handling. I want something simular with my Mustang.


IMO it doesn't sound like you need a $15,000 suspension..but it'd probably get you points at shows. For pure function you'd probably be fine with a more basic suspension setup (at a fraction of the cost) and some sticky tires. Closing the gap between our cars and the exotics from that point likely means losing a ton of streetability and dropping a metric ton of cash on parts and tuning..

Side note..anyone else in favor of moving this to the Corner Carver section?
 

Latest posts

Support us!

Support Us - Become A Supporting Member Today!

Click Here For Details

Back
Top