suspension help!!

[SSmokin99]

Hey i have a 99 camaro ss...looking for some opinions on the best lowering springs to use...lookin to drop the car like 1-1 1/2"...also shocks? any ideaass?

[Tru2Chevy]

Are you dropping it just for looks, or are you after better handling in the twisties as well? Do you drag race the car often?

- Justin

[qwikz28]

stranoparts.com strano springs and koni 4/3 shocks. probably the best handling combination out right now.

[NightRydaSS]

so many options....

[wretched73]

Yea there really is, i'm a fan of eibach springs, got them on my '83 and love them

[procamaroz28]

try BMR they got bang for buck and i like there stuff on my car so far but i dont got springs

[NightRydaSS]

the springs from strano seem kickin; but, isn't 500lb compress rate a lil over kill? I mean i want a stiff ride and great handeling, but i also want my suspension to absorb some roads bumps. i don't want to feel like i have steel bars as shocks.

what is the difference between 325lbs springs and 500lbs springs (other then the compression rate)?

[qwikz28]

Originally Posted by NightRydaSS

the springs from strano seem kickin; but, isn't 500lb compress rate a lil over kill? I mean i want a stiff ride and great handeling, but i also want my suspension to absorb some roads bumps. i don't want to feel like i have steel bars as shocks.

what is the difference between 325lbs springs and 500lbs springs (other then the compression rate)?

cant tell you much but i have the strano springs and when they are damped with the konis, the ride isn't bad at all. much firmer than stock but no where near as harsh as stock. its a strange sensation but i love it.

[ar0ck]

Jakes car rode pretty smooth IMO. Hell of a lot smoother then when I was on the SLP Eihbachs & Bilstiens.

[qwikz28]

shocks are a bigger factor in handling and ride quality than springs. get good shocks before making any other executive decisions'

[NightRydaSS]

i have Bilstein shocks; any suggestions as to what springs?

[Tru2Chevy]

Originally Posted by NightRydaSS

i have Bilstein shocks; any suggestions as to what springs?

Which Bilsteins?

- Justin

[qwikz28]

Originally Posted by Tru2Chevy

Which Bilsteins?

- Justin

i think they only make HDs for our cars. if i were you, i would get them revalved to the specific springs you get. its the proper way to go about things and its best way to maximize handling and ride quality.

[1QWIKBIRD]

Originally Posted by qwikz28

stranoparts.com strano springs and koni 4/3 shocks. probably the best handling combination out right now.

Give a call to Sam Strano.....talk to the man. Check out his website. Pick up the last two or three copies of GM High tech Performance, the just did a three part deal on Sam's car and his parts onto a stock Z28.

Santa came early and left a set of his springs my back porch so I'll let you know how the ride height changes and the ride quality changes just after the new year.

Chris

[qwikz28]

Originally Posted by 1QWIKBIRD

Give a call to Sam Strano.....talk to the man. Check out his website. Pick up the last two or three copies of GM High tech Performance, the just did a three part deal on Sam's car and his parts onto a stock Z28.

Santa came early and left a set of his springs my back porch so I'll let you know how the ride height changes and the ride quality changes just after the new year.

Chris

something like this: (with a 12 bolt which makes the back end sit ~.5" higher)

[1QWIKBIRD]

Originally Posted by qwikz28

something like this: (with a 12 bolt which makes the back end sit ~.5" higher)

That's nice. I should be in the same boat then because I have a 12 bolt in the chicken also. Did you happen to measure the before and after? Just curious.

Chris

[qwikz28]

Originally Posted by 1QWIKBIRD

That's nice. I should be in the same boat then because I have a 12 bolt in the chicken also. Did you happen to measure the before and after? Just curious.

Chris

nope... probably wouldn't have helped though. my car sat really low in teh front for some odd reason. guess premature wear from bad driving. stance is nice now though although i would prefer it to be slightly lower in the rear, which is the fault of the 12 bolt. so far its the best mod i did to my car

[NightRydaSS]

Originally Posted by Tru2Chevy

Which Bilsteins?

- Justin

they're the same shocks that come with the SLP shock and spring package only w/o the springs. I would have bought the springs but: A) i wasn't sure of my desired ride height. B) I didn't have money for the adj panhard bar, lower control arms w/ relocation brackets.

Originally Posted by qwikz28

i think they only make HDs for our cars. if i were you, i would get them revalved to the specific springs you get. its the proper way to go about things and its best way to maximize handling and ride quality.

Yea i know, but, i bought the shocks on ebay brand new for $400. I'm not looking for "balls out" race ready competion handeling, I'll deal with however the ride comfort is with the shocks how they're valved from the factory (can't be real bad b/c they're the same ones the come with springs from SLP). I'm not spending the money for they to be revalved, or spend the money for new shocks as these aren't even a yr old yet.

With that being said; what kind of springs should i be lookig at? Like what kind of spring rate? I want stiffer then stock, but i also want to feel like i have shocks on the car. lol.

[qwikz28]

Originally Posted by NightRydaSS

they're the same shocks that come with the SLP shock and spring package only w/o the springs. I would have bought the springs but: A) i wasn't sure of my desired ride height. B) I didn't have money for the adj panhard bar, lower control arms w/ relocation brackets.



Yea i know, but, i bought the shocks on ebay brand new for $400. I'm not looking for "balls out" race ready competion handeling, I'll deal with however the ride comfort is with the shocks how they're valved from the factory (can't be real bad b/c they're the same ones the come with springs from SLP). I'm not spending the money for they to be revalved, or spend the money for new shocks as these aren't even a yr old yet.

With that being said; what kind of springs should i be lookig at? Like what kind of spring rate? I want stiffer then stock, but i also want to feel like i have shocks on the car. lol.

i would check out hotchkiss springs. from my understanding, they are the closest spring rates to the eibachs and i heard awesome reviews about them. for what its worth, i would own a set of those had the strano springs never come out. ride height is pretty nice too, only about a quarter inch or so higher than my setup right now. look into them, they are definitely what you're looking for. heres a pic of the ride height comparison:
your old slp setup:

and the hotchkiss:

[NightRydaSS]

perfect!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[ap2000z28]

Strano springs here with revalved bilsteins. These pics are right after the install, the height has since lowered over time.

[NightRydaSS]

what does it cost to get shocks revalved?

[ap2000z28]

I bought mine directly from Sam I believe I paid like 550 for the shocks.

[qwikz28]

i think its about 200 bucks for the revalve, don't quote me on that though

[ar0ck]

Be warned that Eibachs have rear sag issues.

Stock:


Eibach SLP Springs:


Hypercoil Springs:


I'll have to update with my coil-overs up front.