Quest for a better ride!
Quest for a better ride! I have been recently getting big into the pro touring scene with my 1988 Iroc-z camaro. Last winter, I went through every bit of suspension on the car to make the car handle like its on rails. I have achieved that, and my mind is blown everytime I drive it at how well it handles, BUT the ride is extremely rough when just cruising around town (im 27, so thats saying a lot) and on the highway. My goal now is to have a car that i can drive everyday without getting beat up. Also, this car is driven A LOT. Its not just a weekend car, so loosing a little bit of handling for more comfort is ok with me.
My setup:
32psi Falken 912 tires
34mm front/24mm rear sway bars with poly bushings and end links front and rear
stock lower control arm with global west del a lum bushings
Eibach pro kit springs: 714 lb/in linear front 1 inch lower/109/177 lb/in progressive rear 1 inch lower (stock isolators front and back)
Tokico Illumina 5-way adjustable shocks (Set on 1)
UMI subframe connectors (weld in)
UMI tubular rear control arms with poly bushings
UMI rear re location brackets
UMI adjustable panhard bar with poly bushings
Any help at all would be appreciated
My setup:
32psi Falken 912 tires
34mm front/24mm rear sway bars with poly bushings and end links front and rear
stock lower control arm with global west del a lum bushings
Eibach pro kit springs: 714 lb/in linear front 1 inch lower/109/177 lb/in progressive rear 1 inch lower (stock isolators front and back)
Tokico Illumina 5-way adjustable shocks (Set on 1)
UMI subframe connectors (weld in)
UMI tubular rear control arms with poly bushings
UMI rear re location brackets
UMI adjustable panhard bar with poly bushings
Any help at all would be appreciated
Hotchkis 1" lowering springs(pt#1903) have lower spring rates, front(600 lbs./in) and rear(100/140 lbs./in.) . BTW you can buy just the front or rear Hotchkis springs. There's also Vogtland lowering springs #959212 that lower 1.2", but I can't find any spring rate specs for them. I've came away with a better impression of Vogtland lowering springs than any Eibach springs I've ever had over the yrs..
So I see that your Tokico Illumina struts/shocks adjust both rebound and compression dampening at the same time, I believe that a set Koni SA sport struts/shocks(rebound adjustment only) will work better for you. IMO, you don't need much compression dampening at all, you mostly need rebound control, which the Koni's offer.
So I see that your Tokico Illumina struts/shocks adjust both rebound and compression dampening at the same time, I believe that a set Koni SA sport struts/shocks(rebound adjustment only) will work better for you. IMO, you don't need much compression dampening at all, you mostly need rebound control, which the Koni's offer.
Last edited by 99Bluz28; Apr 15, 2013 at 12:50 AM.
So where did you get this spring rate info...?
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I tried doing a google, and I seem to find a lot of answers on 600 linear... but you know what they say about what you hear over the internet. That's obviously only the front.. no idea on the rear.
Stupid Hotchkis website I couldn't find the rates... they just say it will stiffen up the ride. Why is it so hard to post the damn springrates for a lot of companies?
Stupid Hotchkis website I couldn't find the rates... they just say it will stiffen up the ride. Why is it so hard to post the damn springrates for a lot of companies?
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Verdad Gallardo Maybe should have specified, this setup is on my 3rd gen camaro, not 4th gen.
http://www.hotchkis.net/8292_gm_fbod...l_springs.html
It looks like
600 linear front
100-140 progressive rear
Here is for a 4th gen.
http://www.hotchkis.net/982002_gm_fb...l_springs.html
How the hell is a 4th gen spring rate so much less than my 3rd gen and the 4th gens weigh more.
http://www.hotchkis.net/8292_gm_fbod...l_springs.html
It looks like
600 linear front
100-140 progressive rear
Here is for a 4th gen.
http://www.hotchkis.net/982002_gm_fb...l_springs.html
How the hell is a 4th gen spring rate so much less than my 3rd gen and the 4th gens weigh more.
Would a taller spring with a 7xx spring rate, be a nicer feel on the road than a 7xx spring rate lowering spring?
How does spring height play into road feel?
Does you car already have after-market caster/camber plates and shorter front bumpstops? If not I'd do these first.
As already stated the caster/camber plates will allow more compression travel in front struts, an the shorter Bumpstops a little more spring/strut compression.
As already stated the caster/camber plates will allow more compression travel in front struts, an the shorter Bumpstops a little more spring/strut compression.
With respect to the OP's set-up, depending on how smooth the roads are where you live, I would say the del-a-lum LCA bushings are big contributors to your harsh ride. Those bushings have next to zero deflection. I think a better description would be bearings, rather than bushings.
Ahhhhh, I'd turn the shocks UP some. They can't handle those springs on 1, and that rides worse than more appropriate damping. Illumina's ain't great, and lowering springs aren't the way to get the best ride. But what you are doing is the equal to running trashed shocks on stock springs, the one can't control the other.
__________________
www.stranoparts.com --814-849-3450
Results matter. Talk is cheap. We are miles beyond the success anyone else has had with the 4th gens, and C5, C6, C7 Corvettes,
10 SCCA Solo National Championships, 2008 Driver of they Year, 2012 Driver of Eminence
13 SCCA Pro Solo Nationals Championships
2023 UMI King of the Mountain Champion
www.stranoparts.com --814-849-3450
Results matter. Talk is cheap. We are miles beyond the success anyone else has had with the 4th gens, and C5, C6, C7 Corvettes,
10 SCCA Solo National Championships, 2008 Driver of they Year, 2012 Driver of Eminence
13 SCCA Pro Solo Nationals Championships
2023 UMI King of the Mountain Champion
Does you car already have after-market caster/camber plates and shorter front bumpstops? If not I'd do these first.
As already stated the caster/camber plates will allow more compression travel in front struts, an the shorter Bumpstops a little more spring/strut compression.
As already stated the caster/camber plates will allow more compression travel in front struts, an the shorter Bumpstops a little more spring/strut compression.
Ahhhhh, I'd turn the shocks UP some. They can't handle those springs on 1, and that rides worse than more appropriate damping. Illumina's ain't great, and lowering springs aren't the way to get the best ride. But what you are doing is the equal to running trashed shocks on stock springs, the one can't control the other.
I'd run stock springs, Koni's, LCA's that are not poly, probably skip brackets too. I'd run a 35 solid or 36 hollow front bar a 22mm rear. If it's a street car the camber plates weren't needed anyway.
A number of the things you have, and that I would have skipped, have a detrimental effect on ride.
A number of the things you have, and that I would have skipped, have a detrimental effect on ride.
__________________
www.stranoparts.com --814-849-3450
Results matter. Talk is cheap. We are miles beyond the success anyone else has had with the 4th gens, and C5, C6, C7 Corvettes,
10 SCCA Solo National Championships, 2008 Driver of they Year, 2012 Driver of Eminence
13 SCCA Pro Solo Nationals Championships
2023 UMI King of the Mountain Champion
www.stranoparts.com --814-849-3450
Results matter. Talk is cheap. We are miles beyond the success anyone else has had with the 4th gens, and C5, C6, C7 Corvettes,
10 SCCA Solo National Championships, 2008 Driver of they Year, 2012 Driver of Eminence
13 SCCA Pro Solo Nationals Championships
2023 UMI King of the Mountain Champion
I'd run stock springs, Koni's, LCA's that are not poly, probably skip brackets too. I'd run a 35 solid or 36 hollow front bar a 22mm rear. If it's a street car the camber plates weren't needed anyway.
A number of the things you have, and that I would have skipped, have a detrimental effect on ride.
A number of the things you have, and that I would have skipped, have a detrimental effect on ride.
Thanks. What should I get rid of?
The spring rate of stock replacement iroc springs are 706 which is close to what I have on the pro kit springs now. Will that extra length of spring even though its at 700's spring rate and konis make the car handle decent and be close to stock feel when on the street?
The springs aren't helping the ride. The all poly LCA's aren't helping the ride. the 24mm bar isn't helping the ride (but less than the other things). The Tokico's set so soft with those springs isn't helping the ride.
Lowering springs are stiffer, period.. stiffer means stiffer.
The only way you can make stiffer springs "ride" better is the best shock you can run.
Lowering springs are stiffer, period.. stiffer means stiffer.
The only way you can make stiffer springs "ride" better is the best shock you can run.
__________________
www.stranoparts.com --814-849-3450
Results matter. Talk is cheap. We are miles beyond the success anyone else has had with the 4th gens, and C5, C6, C7 Corvettes,
10 SCCA Solo National Championships, 2008 Driver of they Year, 2012 Driver of Eminence
13 SCCA Pro Solo Nationals Championships
2023 UMI King of the Mountain Champion
www.stranoparts.com --814-849-3450
Results matter. Talk is cheap. We are miles beyond the success anyone else has had with the 4th gens, and C5, C6, C7 Corvettes,
10 SCCA Solo National Championships, 2008 Driver of they Year, 2012 Driver of Eminence
13 SCCA Pro Solo Nationals Championships
2023 UMI King of the Mountain Champion
