RebelExtrm02

iTrader: (3)

I'm trying to help a friend figure out why his car didn't drop as much as other cars with similar mods. He recently replaced several suspension components on his stock 1999 Camaro SS with 39K miles. He installed BMR lowering springs, Koni STR.T shocks, Moog Upper shock mounts and isolators, Moog spring seats, Energy Suspension polyurethane sway bar bushings and end links, and Founders Performance adjustable rear lower control arms.

The car sits a decent amount higher in the front than other cars running similar mods, including my 2000 WS6 that has all the above with the exception of having koni sport shocks and rubber end links. I attached pictures to this post of his car post install after it had been driven around for about a hundred miles (including speed bumps and Florida roads).

The rear control arms were tightened up with the suspension loaded. The poly bushings were greased. The poly end links were only tightened until pressure started being put on the poly but not enough to deform it. The front springs* were replaced by a new set BMR sent to rule that out (thanks BMR for being super cool about that). The front shock assembly was put together in the order specified by ROLEXrifleman's thread, with the top nut torqued while the springs were fully compressed. All remaining mounting nuts and bolts were torqued to factory specs.

Is there anything we missed or is this just a situation of every car being a little different and it needs to be lived with?

BrittleSpeed

iTrader: (1)

Seems like a spring issue to me. Yours looks to sit pretty low though too.

RebelExtrm02

iTrader: (3)

I edited my post. I meant to say that BMR replaced the springs. That didn't help any. That was our initial concern too. My car looks lower in my sig than it is. I attached a picture of where mine sits when the wheels are straight.

BrittleSpeed

iTrader: (1)

Wow, I'm stumped on that. I know new springs will settle some, but I don't foresee them settling that much. I'm obviously ruling out improper install, as I hope you guys did everything correctly.

farmington

iTrader: (14)

just put BMR springs on my car this past weekend. Got 1.75" drop in front and 1.25 drop in rear.

RebelExtrm02

iTrader: (3)

I'm open to any suggestions of things that could have been done wrong that would cause a car not to settle all the way down. The install was re-done 3 times to check and re-check everything but you never know.

JD_AMG

Do you happen to have the factory shocks that were replaced laying around anywhere still? If so can you compare the mounting perch height with that of the Koni STR.T that you have on there? If the mounting perch is off for some reason that will effect height.
Were the swaybars installed with the suspension loaded or hanging?

1997trans-am

iTrader: (2)

Here is my situation
I just installed the exact same springs and shocks as you last week.

BEFORE:
The guy who owned the car before me had stock decarbon shocks on eibach sportline springs. Not only did it ride like ****, but the previous owner must have thought he was trying out for the Fast and the Furious, because he had -1.9 degrees of camber on the front. It also had 3 degrees of caster.

From ground the fender lip, it measured exactly 25 inches in the front. (thats REALLY low)

AFTER:
After installing the BMR springs and str.t shocks, I had just under 26 inches . (gained about an inch)

Today, I went to get an alignment and the shop and they put in 0 degrees of camber (I'll probably go back and ask for -0.4 of camber) Caster is now 5 degrees.

The car looks higher after the alignment. (?) I just measured it and I get 26.25 inches of height in the front.

bad_408_vert

iTrader: (6)

Our convertibles are a tad heavier than TTop and hardtop cars

klinznilk

iTrader: (8)

Mine settled more after about a "week" of sitting in garage. Between initial install and weight on it it went to about .25" lower.

Currently my front is around 25 7/8" and rear is 26 1/8"

chrysler kid

iTrader: (14)

300 miles for the suspension to settle. Double check the part numbers on the front springs to make sure you didn't order the lt1 front springs

00_MMM_Z28

iTrader: (9)

Hey guys, I'm the friend with the issues. Over 300 miles and 3 weeks on the suspension setup, part numbers triple checked by BMR and myself, swaybars tightened with suspension hanging. I'm currently around the 26 3/4" mark in the rear and 27" up front on stock 17's with stock sized tires (275 40 17). Car has also been aligned after the install. I have the stock suspension stuff boxed up and will measure the heights of the mounting perches when I have some free time.

jaxcam02

iTrader: (1)

I would check and see if someone just cut a coil out of the stock front springs. I have the exact same set up now that I changed from the previous owners eibach sportlines matched with stock decarbons and stock everything.

00_MMM_Z28

iTrader: (9)

My stock ride height was right at the 27" mark as well... But why would someone cutting a coil from my stock spring matter now that I have all new suspension and haven't noticed a drop?

jaxcam02

iTrader: (1)

I honestly don't know why anyone in their right mind would cut the OEM coil on the front of the car but it could explain why you don't notice a drop with the BMR springs if the OEM coil was cut to drop the car before hand. Know what I mean? just something to think about.

BrittleSpeed

iTrader: (1)

You can notice in the picture that the car really doesn't sit any lower then stock

blackandgold

iTrader: (2)

The car doesn't look low enough in the picture, I'm very interested to see what the issue is, although I don't have any advice...

JD_AMG

Swaybars need to be tighted with the suspension loaded, not hanging.
Do you have any weight reduction in the front (even like moving the battery to the rear), or weight added to the rear (subs for example)?

00_MMM_Z28

iTrader: (9)

Ok, I'll try and get the car on a lift and loosen the swaybars and re-tighten it with it loaded. And no, no weight reduction or subs or battery relocation.

therealcreeper

iTrader: (37)

Does the lower isolator seat fully in the lower perch? Is the spring too fat for the lower perch that the bottom half coil is sitting on "top" of the outer flange?