the more and more I read about springs...the worse my headache gets!!! I want to lower my so that my 02 ws6 doesnt look like a Z71 !!! I want a good spring that will help me loose MOST of the wheel gap so that my black ZR-1 wheels sit nice. I havent planned on replacing the shocks yet since I only have 27k on my car and I am kinda pressed for cash. I am not looking for a caddy-like ride but I would like something that wont rattle my teeth..any ideas??????

 

Read my sig. I, too, have black ZR1's and stock shocks (25k on the clock). My BMR's ride just as nice as stock, IMO. I may not be able to outhandle some Autocross guys but that is definitely not what a bought a TA for. I wanted just that: a drop to set the gap nicely... Job done.

 

Whole suspension works as a whole. If you reduce ride height, and hence suspension travel, you need stiffer springs to compensate. Stiffer springs tend to over power the stock shocks (which are cheap pieces of crap anyway) and cause the car to bounce more and ride a bit rougher. So you need better, stiffer shocks to control the stiffer springs.

Better shocks by themselves will make the ride so much smoother, like a cadillac. You will want a 500lb or so spring for the handling and to bring the ride quality back to around stock levels. With good shocks a spring package 87% stiffer up front and 50% stiffer in back will be fine for a daily driver.

I would save up at least $600 for suspension parts before buying anything. New shocks, like Bilsteins, will transform your cars feel.

Or you could trim about 1/2 a coil off the front springs while still on the car. 3/4" drop is about the limit for cut stock springs. It will ride a bit rougher do to hitting the bumpstops more often and with more force, but it is the cheapest way to go.

 

Some people are satisfied with their ride quality and just want a drop to get rid of their 4x4 package.

BMR 1 in. drop springs add spring rate marginally in proportion to their shorter size. For their shorter size, they retain near OEM quality... Even with stock shocks, specifically, good stock shocks. Now, of course, stock shocks seem to go bad for many at around 60k. With an aftermarket spring putting a more acute beating on a stock shock, this number is obviously reduced.

For this gentleman only looking for a drop to cover gap, he has 27k and his stock shocks will suffice and do the job just fine with a small drop/small increase in spring rate.

Granted, his stock shocks will begin to wear rapidly and may need replacing in the next year or two, no biggie. I have had BMR springs all around nearly a year now with stock shocks and I do not have any bounce whatsoever. Maybe by the end of this year I'll start looking for better ones... No hurry.

 

I've driven stock cars with 10K mile to 90K miles. The shocks never seem to change. They start out as crap and stay that way as far as I can tell. There's no such thing as good stock shock unless they are the Bilstein or Koni option.

Anyone satisfied with the stock ride quality just doesn't know any better. I'm not trying to make anyone mad, but that's my opinion on how bad the DeCarbons are.

 

What a shame, poor old me... I just don't know any better.

My car ('02 w/ 25k miles) has BMR's, stock shocks, and doesn't bounce... Want a ride? Well, you'd probably say it was a horrible stock ride anyway.

Not everyone is dissatisfied with the stock OEM ride quality, like you. If I recall, someone was inquiring on gap-covering strategies.

I'm so sorry stock ride quality disappoints you. You did the right thing with your suspension choices. Good Job. Anyway, ya got anything to contribute to this particular thread, which has nothing to do with changing the shocks? The dude said he was pressed for cash. I might be a little too.

If that (being pressed for cash) does not apply, I'm sure he would get some new shocks too. Hell, I want some too. Would you like to get me some shocks like the ones you have? I'll take them, that's for sure!

 

Don't forget, I suggested an almost no cost fix in my earlier post. Here it is again:

 

Well...

You have gotten two different responses, one from someone who has over 700 posts on this site AND who has knowledge from suspension, and one from a who really does know nothing regarding suspension with the exception of what he has had, and what he has now, so there you go.

If you want to be cheap and just lower the car, then go ahead and change the springs only, and your car will be lowered...

and KNOW that your ride quality will be lessened, bottom line. Lowering springs are justified by stiffening them, thereby causing more stiffness. Factory DeCarbons are somewhere in the same quality of Monroe's that you can get at PepBoys, SERIOUSLY!

If you want cheap, and want to look good, cut the springs, or get an aftermarket springs and keep the factory shocks.

Then you can get back to this thread and tell us how you feel about your ride quality. I'm not being a jerk here, but based on results from LOTS of f-body owners from this site AND ls1.com AND ls2.com, they are not happy...

Jason was just trying to steer you from possibly being very disappointed with regards to your ride quality, I would bet that bboyferal has limited experience with f-body aftermarket suspension mods and doesn't know any better.

If you want REAL cheap, cut off 1/2 a coil on the front springs, and at the top of the rear springs sits a big-*** donut-looking rubber thing that the top of the springs sits on, you can remove them and cut a piece of rubber hose and push it through the 1st coil of the top of your rear spring, you can lower your rear end about 3/4", maybe that will help?

Your ride-quality may be rough, but hey, it's cheap, and VERY do-able.


BTW, as mitchntx so aptly put it, BMR = Kmart.

If you are going to KEEP your car, then at least buy Eibach Prokits or Hotchkis springs, but they are DEFINITELY stiffer than factory, and the ride will be harsh if you keep factory shocks.

Eibach Sportlines will slam your car down almost 2 inches all four corners, they are quite a bit softer than the above Eibach or Hotchkis, but since they are so soft, you will be bottoming out QUITE often, your factory shocks are designed to work at the height your car is now, so lowering it with ANY aftermarket springs will lessen the effectiveness of how a shock operates, that is why most people complain of ride harshness when they lower their car and keep factory shocks.

Another option are the SLP/Eibach springs, they are softer then the Eibach Pros, but stiffer than the Sportlines, they will lower your car about an .75, maaaybe an inch, the ride won't be so harsh, and later on you can buy the SLP/Bilstein shocks that were valved for the SLP/Eibach springs, I have heard that this setup has produced wonderful results for lots of f-body owners.

Hope this helps.

 

This is really not that complicated. Sorry I don't have more time to slot more posts but this can be summed up:

Stock springs and stock shocks < Cut stock springs w/ stock shocks < BMR w/ stock shocks < Better aftermarket springs and better aftermarket shocks < Even better aft... you get the freakin' idea guys?

Jesus, okay: Ideally, I would love the most expensive springs and the most expensive shocks. However, I'd rather have the BMR's and stock shocks than cut stock springs AND keep these nasty stock shocks. BMR=Kmart? Well, my stock springs=flea market. I went one step up. I make an honest living. I play the lottery. I do what I can.

Don't fret, with some more expensive alternatives and the dismissal of my cheap suggestions, however, I'm sure the forum will be again cleansed. Forgive any ignorance... I'll tell everyone with BMR's from now on their **** is "K-Mart" now that I've learned the "truth." I'm sure they will think that is very nice of me.

BTW, I've started the "Help BMR owners get real suspension mods" fund. Every dollar you donate will help me get the more expensive springs you guys approve of that I've agreed are better. Please... Dig deep!

 

I was in the same position as Idzine when I got my car. I make very little money and couldn't afford to make a bad choice in getting rid of the wheel gaps. I did a lot of research and was seriously considering trimming my front springs like I suggested. Eventually I decided to get some really good components that are known to work well together as well as let me tweak the ride heights so I could get it just right. Well, it took me a solid year to save up the $1100 or so to get the main parts (shocks/springs). Every time I would save up some money it seemed like something would pop up and delay it that much longer. It was a painfully long wait.

Once I eventually got everything on I felt it was the best investment I had made. The car felt totally different and much better performance wise. Later on I added a 35mm sway bar which helped even more.

I know what it's like to not be able to afford stuff. I still have trouble when it come time to buy tires, but again, I always get some good ones because it is worth it. I've had cheap tires in the past and those things can kill you. So It's worth it to me to save and get quality things. You come out ahead in the long run.

As far as the posts, I don't really look at that stuff. My home base is LS1.com. I'm sure some folks thought I was a newbie when I started spending time here on LS1tech. So you can't really go by that.