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95Z28
Junior Forum User
Joined: Wed Sep 08, 2010 6:52 pm Posts: 46
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Suspension upgrade - 1995 Camaro
First question is if it is worth going with aftermarket lowering springs. Am I going to be going through tie rods and ball joints being lowered? The springs I was going to go with are the Strano springs from Sam in the US. About 1.2" lowered
What are my plans for the car over the winter? Maybe lowering springs, but definitely new shocks/struts, new lower control arms, maybe upper control arms, rear lower control arms, panhard bar, and hollow sway bars from Sam Strano. My front sway bar has developed a crack.
Depending on what I do I was also thinking of getting the torque arm that relocates onto its own mount away from the transmission tail shaft of my T56.
I've read a lot and heard a lot. Just need to ease my mind a bit here.
_________________ 1995 Chevrolet Camaro Z28
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Fri Oct 19, 2012 10:22 pm |
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flame
CCFBG Club Member
Joined: Fri Mar 03, 2006 8:52 pm Posts: 1164 Location: Drayton
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Re: Suspension upgrade - 1995 Camaro
Lowering springs are not going to make your ball joints and tie rods fail. If you are doing these upgrades so that you can drive the shit out of it then yeah you may wear out the parts. The torque arm off the trans is a lot easier on the trans mount.
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Fri Oct 19, 2012 11:10 pm |
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6speedIROC
Senior Forum User
Joined: Mon Feb 01, 2010 12:26 pm Posts: 220 Location: Ottawa
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Re: Suspension upgrade - 1995 Camaro
The LS1 cars have a transmission mount with a built in tavel limiter so they don't tear apart.
I have my torque arm on the Xmember and am going back to the LS1 mount and arm on the trans to try and reduce road noise..
_________________86 IROC LQ4/T56/3.50 8.8 (next step..TC76) Build thread: http://ls1tech.com/forums/conversions-hybrids/1819001-1986-iroc-turbo-lq4-t56-build-ac.htmlFormerly 95 LT1 [LE2.2]/T56/4.11 9 Bolt..12.6@114MPH
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Sun Oct 21, 2012 12:00 pm |
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Vetty
Operations Team
Joined: Tue May 03, 2005 5:27 pm Posts: 3072 Location: Oshawa
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Re: Suspension upgrade - 1995 Camaro
Ive been in a few cars with the strano springs/koni shocks and they match each other very well. You just have to keep in mind if you add long tube headers ground clearance is going to be an issue.
_________________ 1969 Firebird Sprint OHC 6 - 250ci/M5 1995 Trans Am - Blue Green Chameleon - 350ci/A4 1994 Fire-Am - Polo Green - 355ci/M6 380rwhp: SOLD
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Sun Oct 21, 2012 4:41 pm |
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95Z28
Junior Forum User
Joined: Wed Sep 08, 2010 6:52 pm Posts: 46
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Re: Suspension upgrade - 1995 Camaro
No long tubes for me at all. If anything I will get MAC mids myself.
So taking the arm of the trans incorporates more road noise?
_________________ 1995 Chevrolet Camaro Z28
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Wed Oct 24, 2012 9:28 am |
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6speedIROC
Senior Forum User
Joined: Mon Feb 01, 2010 12:26 pm Posts: 220 Location: Ottawa
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Re: Suspension upgrade - 1995 Camaro
If its on the trans it adds another layer of isolation to the chassis..through the engine and trans mounts. I'm going away from this and the urethane control and panhard to get the car quieter on the hwy..guess I'm getting old!! This is my torque arm: http://www.thirdgen.org/techboard/third ... e-arm.html
_________________86 IROC LQ4/T56/3.50 8.8 (next step..TC76) Build thread: http://ls1tech.com/forums/conversions-hybrids/1819001-1986-iroc-turbo-lq4-t56-build-ac.htmlFormerly 95 LT1 [LE2.2]/T56/4.11 9 Bolt..12.6@114MPH
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Wed Oct 24, 2012 10:40 am |
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95Z28
Junior Forum User
Joined: Wed Sep 08, 2010 6:52 pm Posts: 46
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Re: Suspension upgrade - 1995 Camaro
Thanks for the explanation .
_________________ 1995 Chevrolet Camaro Z28
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Thu Oct 25, 2012 9:01 pm |
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Vetty
Operations Team
Joined: Tue May 03, 2005 5:27 pm Posts: 3072 Location: Oshawa
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Re: Suspension upgrade - 1995 Camaro
Id start adding things as you go until your satisfied with the ride your after. Start with a set of matched springs and shocks, then swaybays, lca's, phb, tq arm, etc. No sence in wasting a tone of cash on some unneeded parts seeing as the motor isnt going to be very modded.
_________________ 1969 Firebird Sprint OHC 6 - 250ci/M5 1995 Trans Am - Blue Green Chameleon - 350ci/A4 1994 Fire-Am - Polo Green - 355ci/M6 380rwhp: SOLD
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Fri Oct 26, 2012 4:36 pm |
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flame
CCFBG Club Member
Joined: Fri Mar 03, 2006 8:52 pm Posts: 1164 Location: Drayton
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Re: Suspension upgrade - 1995 Camaro
Don't use rod ends if you want it quiet poly is fine
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Fri Oct 26, 2012 8:13 pm |
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95Z28
Junior Forum User
Joined: Wed Sep 08, 2010 6:52 pm Posts: 46
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Re: Suspension upgrade - 1995 Camaro
Well looks like I'll go Koni and Stranos after Sam made a few comments on ls1tech. I've got the original Decarbons still on the car. That's a done deal for sure.
My swaybar is starting to crack on the passenger side and both my lower control arm bushings are falling out now hence getting a few parts and might as well go aftermarket.
Anybody who is lowered, how much were the settings off from original in terms of caster, camber, and toe?
I've read a lot about poly, rod-ends, and roto-joints and still am very confused. Noise doesn't bother me as much but I would like a good quality ride.
_________________ 1995 Chevrolet Camaro Z28
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Fri Oct 26, 2012 9:13 pm |
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Vetty
Operations Team
Joined: Tue May 03, 2005 5:27 pm Posts: 3072 Location: Oshawa
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Re: Suspension upgrade - 1995 Camaro
Ive got poly/rod ended UMI lca and phb and i can attest they are bit noisy. If i were to do it all over again id buy the Founders Performance poly/poly setup. Cheap and durable enough for what most of us need at a fraction of the cost. Be sure to get the LCA relocation brackets its a must on lowered cars. They made the most noticable difference on my car even at a somewhat stock height
_________________ 1969 Firebird Sprint OHC 6 - 250ci/M5 1995 Trans Am - Blue Green Chameleon - 350ci/A4 1994 Fire-Am - Polo Green - 355ci/M6 380rwhp: SOLD
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Fri Oct 26, 2012 9:39 pm |
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flame
CCFBG Club Member
Joined: Fri Mar 03, 2006 8:52 pm Posts: 1164 Location: Drayton
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Re: Suspension upgrade - 1995 Camaro
If you are replacing 17 year old stock springs then your ride height is likely not going to change much because your stockers will have sagged a fair bit. The lower control arm mounting points are slotted to adjust the caster/camber so regardless you will need to have it aligned anyway. Rod ends allow no binding during rotation allowing the suspension to travel smoothly. The downside is noise is transmitted through them. Poly bushings tighten things up but bind more and don't allow a smooth travel. Roto joints are fairly new and are said to be the best option on a street car due to smooth travel and less noise than rod ends.
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Sat Oct 27, 2012 2:04 pm |
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95Z28
Junior Forum User
Joined: Wed Sep 08, 2010 6:52 pm Posts: 46
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Re: Suspension upgrade - 1995 Camaro
I know I'll need an alignment so don't worry, it will get done after everything is done this winter . So I can safely get non-adjustable front lower and upper control arms because they have some movement for caster/camber adjustments from the factory anyways in the slots. Is the binding that noticeable? Every car comes with rubber bushings and I know poly is stiffer than stock rubber. How big of a difference would that be?
_________________ 1995 Chevrolet Camaro Z28
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Sat Oct 27, 2012 8:31 pm |
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flame
CCFBG Club Member
Joined: Fri Mar 03, 2006 8:52 pm Posts: 1164 Location: Drayton
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Re: Suspension upgrade - 1995 Camaro
Poly works fine for me. If you autox or road race you may find the difference.
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Sat Oct 27, 2012 9:16 pm |
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