7 Mods to Make the 4th Generation Camaro/Firebird Handle Better
The 4th generation Camaro/Firebird has plenty of power, but chassis, brakes, and tire technology has come a long way since the 1990s. Luckily, upgrading all that is easy and not super expensive. These 5 mods will transform your F-Body's handling.
1. Lowering Springs
Lowering your Camaro's center of gravity will improve your handling and lessen the body roll in corners, but you have to do it the right way. The cheap and dirty way to do it is by cutting the springs, which gets the job done and increases the spring rate slightly, but is not the best way. Companies such as BMR Suspension offer stiffer, shorter springs with rates tuned to make these cars handle better, and there are even coil over kits out there for the ultimate in adjustability. Many forum members swear by the spring rates Sam Strano used in these cars to win several SCCA championships.
2. Performance Shocks
When you are going fast and cornering hard, you want your tires to maintain contact with the road, even when it gets rough, or in quick left-right-left transitions. Stock shocks, or even brand name replacements, are mostly made to provide a comfortable ride. Performance parts from Koni, Bilstein or Tokico typically have larger volumes of oil inside so they don't heat up as fast, plus offer more damping for better handling at the expense of the ride. The ultimate is a set of adjustable coil overs from UMI, KW or others which allow you to dial in both damping and ride height. If you do any digging, you'll find multiple threads suggesting performance packages featuring Koni Sport Shocks from BRM suspension, which also work really well with the Strano spring rates.
3. Sway Bar
If you don't know, sway bars connect the left and right side of the car to stiffen it and reduce roll in corners. It's important to balance the front and rear sway bar sizes in order to get a neutral handling car, but the factory tunes these for safety and favors understeer. A thicker front bar will actually increase understeer, but lessen body roll, and are often seen in sizes from 1 1/4" to 1 7/16" in diameter, and solid or tubular for lower weight. Stock rear bars (on performance cars) are 3/4" and the aftermarket sells them in 7/8"-1" and often with several holes to fine tune the stiffness. Check out various sway bar options HERE.
4. Panhard Bar
One of the flimsiest factory suspension parts on the F-body is the stamped steel panhard bar responsible for locating the rear differential and keeping it centered. Start cornering hard in the car, and you can get all sorts of binding and flexing as the tires fight to keep all that weight from moving sideways. On top of that, the factory part isn't adjustable and lowering the car automatically means the rear is no longer centered. There are many different kits available with tubular bars, most with adjustments, and even relocation kits to help level the bar out and optimize it for ride height. Check out all the different options just from BRM Suspension.
5. Performance Bump Stops
If you're taking track-days seriously, this is a small modification that could make a big difference. After all these years the factory bump stocks are likely falling apart or rock hard. Replacing them with new, stiffer ones that allow full travel with your lower ride height will protect your new shocks and improve your ride at the limit. Rumor has it generic Jeep part numbers bolt right up, so this is a cheap upgrade.
6. Performance Tire
Replacing your stock, all-season tires with performance tires can make a huge difference. Most people don't think the tires can change your handling that much, however, stick tires can offer tremendous traction, and stiffer sidewalls, for a huge difference. Having performance tires along with the rest of the suspension modifications will make your fourth generation F-body a rear corner carver, but just tires alone will amplify just how worn out everything else is.
7. Motor and Transmission Mounts
This one won't transform your handling, but with the newest of the 4th generation F-bodies now 15 years old, this is definitely going to be an improvement. The rear suspension of the Firebird/Camaro features a torque arm which pivots at the back of the transmission, so if the motor and transmission move around the rear end does too. Stiffer poly or solid aluminum motor mounts will also allow you to put more torque to the ground, with only a minor increase in vibration. Many forum members, however, have found the stock rubber transmission mount is better as the stiffer one can be felt at all times while driving.
For more help with mods and maintenance use the how to section of LS1Tech.com