Concerns with lowering your car... - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

Kendall421 · 07-20-2014, 09:52 AM

I know some here have lowered their Camaro's, so wondering if you had the car all re-aligned. With independent front and rear suspension, making ride height changes will affect caster/camber/and toe on both front and back. Could cause ill handling and faster tire wear.

JantzenOKC · 07-20-2014, 10:14 AM

Yes you have to align the car it will all be way off. I have PFADT 1.25" springs and my rear camber is maxed out at -0.8 degrees.. bad toe will eat up tires FAST so get an alignment

Destructo09 · 07-20-2014, 10:43 AM

You will need the car aligned for sure. Camber and toe are the only things really affected, but with a 1-1.25" drop they will come back into alignment fine.

As long as the alignment is good you won't have any issues with tire wear unless you specifically want to run high negative camber.

AG1LE · 07-20-2014, 10:56 AM

Had mine aligned using pfadt street performance specs

Kendall421 · 07-20-2014, 11:07 AM

Glad I am getting "yes" responses. I am a chassis specialist and setup many race chassis in my day. I work a lot with caster/camber/toe/bump steer as well as roll center and moment center. Ride height is critical to all of this being right. GM engineers design all the suspension parts lengths, mounting points and static angles to work together. So changing ride height will throw all this off. Making sure it is all re-Aligned properly is critical in my view.

Also, those getting coil overs need to understand all this as well as chassis rake, tilt, and wedge.

Just worry that many just lower the car and drive it without understanding everything! Glad to see most are not doing that. I don't plan to lower mine, but if I decide to track it, will likely do coil overs. Ran coil overs on my dirt Late Model and understand how to tune the chassis with them.

Good discussion guys!

Nor Cal ZL1 · 07-23-2014, 12:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kendall421

Glad I am getting "yes" responses. I am a chassis specialist and setup many race chassis in my day. I work a lot with caster/camber/toe/bump steer as well as roll center and moment center. Ride height is critical to all of this being right. GM engineers design all the suspension parts lengths, mounting points and static angles to work together. So changing ride height will throw all this off. Making sure it is all re-Aligned properly is critical in my view.

Also, those getting coil overs need to understand all this as well as chassis rake, tilt, and wedge.

Just worry that many just lower the car and drive it without understanding everything! Glad to see most are not doing that. I don't plan to lower mine, but if I decide to track it, will likely do coil overs. Ran coil overs on my dirt Late Model and understand how to tune the chassis with them.

Good discussion guys!

Late Model very cool. I am assuming a non symmetrical set up. When I set up for a particular track and have a car with the adjustments I almost always go that route depending on the quantity of turns in each direction.

SS PANTHER · 07-23-2014, 06:48 AM

Lowered 1" with competition adjustable sways front and rear and other supporting suspension mods. Aligned with a semi aggresive street alignment. Timing the bushings is also imperative when lowering the car. Car rides nice and handles great. Could not live with the car at stock height.

Denis · 07-23-2014, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AG1LE

Had mine aligned using pfadt street performance specs

im going to do this next time. last time i got aligned it was to OE specs.

Dexman1349 · 07-23-2014, 09:57 AM

I've had mine aligned twice. First time was after installing sway bars, radius arm bushing inserts and rear toe rods and I went with OE specs. Second time was after rear UCA bushings, trailing arms, springs, & subframe bushings and I went with a custom more aggressive setup recommended by JusticePete.

BAD DAB · 07-23-2014, 07:09 PM

With a 1.25 drop are there any issues with steep driveways or speed bumps.

AG1LE · 07-23-2014, 09:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jus1dab

With a 1.25 drop are there any issues with steep driveways or speed bumps.

Never had an issue with speed bumps, but a steep driveway could be challenging depending on the angle at turn-in.

SSeric · 07-24-2014, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jus1dab

With a 1.25 drop are there any issues with steep driveways or speed bumps.

My uber steep driveway is the primary reason I don't have a vette lol.

I set my coilovers at about 1.25" drop...at that height it's all about entry angles and speed. Takes a little time to get used to it but it's not bad. Just go slow so the body/suspension stays neutral and go up at an angle.

hammdo · 07-24-2014, 04:28 PM

I need to find a good place in DFW to re-align mine after I do the FE4 and BMR sways, trailing arms, and springs -- anyone know a good alignment place?

SSeric · 07-24-2014, 06:35 PM

Funny you asked...I just had a great experience getting an alignment today in Lewisville at a place called Fifth Gear Automotive. They were recommended to me by a guy who had his vette dialed in. They do corner balancing, performance alignments, etc.

The guy i worked with also works at Motorsport Ranch so he had a good understanding of suspension setups & asked me all the right questions. They had no prob doing the alignment and got it dead on with the specs I requested. 972.317.4005. Ask for Nate & let him know Eric with the silver camaro sent ya over there.

07-20-2014, 09:52 AM	#1
Kendall421 Drives: 1969 Z28, 1982 Z28, 2014 SS/RS/1LE Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Michigan Posts: 886	Concerns with lowering your car... I know some here have lowered their Camaro's, so wondering if you had the car all re-aligned. With independent front and rear suspension, making ride height changes will affect caster/camber/and toe on both front and back. Could cause ill handling and faster tire wear.

07-20-2014, 10:43 AM	#3
Destructo09 Drives: 2010 CGM Camaro 2SS/LS3 Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Raleigh-Durham Posts: 1,409	You will need the car aligned for sure. Camber and toe are the only things really affected, but with a 1-1.25" drop they will come back into alignment fine. As long as the alignment is good you won't have any issues with tire wear unless you specifically want to run high negative camber. __________________ 2010 2SS BMR 1" Springs Koni Orange struts/shocks 1LE rear sway bar SRP Racing Pedals Hurst Billet short shifter Square tire/wheel setup Elite Engineering Catch Can Stainless Power longtubes/highflow cats K&N Typhoon CAI RPM Motorsports of Garner, NC dyno tune (421 RWHP)

07-23-2014, 09:57 AM	#9
Dexman1349 2010 2SS/RS M6 Drives: 2010 2SS/RS M6 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Auckland, NZ Posts: 1,482	I've had mine aligned twice. First time was after installing sway bars, radius arm bushing inserts and rear toe rods and I went with OE specs. Second time was after rear UCA bushings, trailing arms, springs, & subframe bushings and I went with a custom more aggressive setup recommended by JusticePete. __________________ 2/7/2014: 419 hp, 419 tq Cosmetic: ZL1 front w/mailslot, painted stripes, powdercoated SS rims, tow hook, and full chrome delete Suspension: Pfadt subframe bushings, Pfadt rear UCA bushings, Z28 Upper control arms, Spohn trailing arms with BMR trailing arm & differential bushings, ZL1 Toe Rods and springs, Prothane radius arm inserts & steering rack bushing, Pfadt Sport front sway, FE4 conversion w/ DS rear sway, Pfadt strut brace Drivetrain: RMCR tune, CAI intake, Kooks headers, hi-flo cats & exhaust, VMAX TB, ZL1 fuel pump, LSR Tri-Ax shifter Bumblebee Racecar Build

07-23-2014, 07:09 PM	#10
BAD DAB Drives: 2010 Camaro 2SS/RS Black & Silver Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Richmond, VA Posts: 8,228 View My Garage	With a 1.25 drop are there any issues with steep driveways or speed bumps. __________________ STAINLESS WORKS HEADERS-TUNED BY JANNETTY RACING-C.A.I. INTAKE-TAYLOR 409 WIRES-SOLO AXLE BACK EXHAUST-ELITE CATCH CAN

07-24-2014, 06:35 PM	#14
SSeric Drives: '10 Camaro 2SS/RS LS3 Join Date: May 2012 Location: Mckinney, TX Posts: 418 View My Garage	Funny you asked...I just had a great experience getting an alignment today in Lewisville at a place called Fifth Gear Automotive. They were recommended to me by a guy who had his vette dialed in. They do corner balancing, performance alignments, etc. The guy i worked with also works at Motorsport Ranch so he had a good understanding of suspension setups & asked me all the right questions. They had no prob doing the alignment and got it dead on with the specs I requested. 972.317.4005. Ask for Nate & let him know Eric with the silver camaro sent ya over there. __________________ 2010 Camaro 2SS/RS \| RotoFab CAI \| ARH 1 7/8" LT Headers w/ HFC \| SW Retro Exhaust \| ZL1 Shifter \| Ridetech Coilovers \| FE4 conversion \| UMI toe rods & trailing arms \| Prothane Subframe & UCA bushings \| Detroit Speed sways \| Forgestar F14 wheels \| ZR1 Blue Calipers \| Tuned by ADM Performance SSeric's Build Thread

07-20-2014, 10:14 AM	#2
JantzenOKC Drives: '13 2LT/RS Twin Turbo Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Edmond, Oklahoma Posts: 3,073	Yes you have to align the car it will all be way off. I have PFADT 1.25" springs and my rear camber is maxed out at -0.8 degrees.. bad toe will eat up tires FAST so get an alignment

07-20-2014, 10:56 AM	#4
AG1LE Drives: '14 1LE Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: NJ Posts: 2,435	Had mine aligned using pfadt street performance specs

07-20-2014, 11:07 AM	#5
Kendall421 Drives: 1969 Z28, 1982 Z28, 2014 SS/RS/1LE Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Michigan Posts: 886	Glad I am getting "yes" responses. I am a chassis specialist and setup many race chassis in my day. I work a lot with caster/camber/toe/bump steer as well as roll center and moment center. Ride height is critical to all of this being right. GM engineers design all the suspension parts lengths, mounting points and static angles to work together. So changing ride height will throw all this off. Making sure it is all re-Aligned properly is critical in my view. Also, those getting coil overs need to understand all this as well as chassis rake, tilt, and wedge. Just worry that many just lower the car and drive it without understanding everything! Glad to see most are not doing that. I don't plan to lower mine, but if I decide to track it, will likely do coil overs. Ran coil overs on my dirt Late Model and understand how to tune the chassis with them. Good discussion guys!

07-23-2014, 06:48 AM	#7
SS PANTHER Drives: 2013 SS Supercharged Convertible Join Date: May 2013 Location: SoCal Posts: 2,714	Lowered 1" with competition adjustable sways front and rear and other supporting suspension mods. Aligned with a semi aggresive street alignment. Timing the bushings is also imperative when lowering the car. Car rides nice and handles great. Could not live with the car at stock height.

07-24-2014, 04:28 PM	#13
hammdo 'It's an experiment' Drives: [COTW 2/09/15] '11 GPI LSA SC Z/LE Join Date: May 2014 Location: Dallas TX Posts: 8,694 View My Garage	I need to find a good place in DFW to re-align mine after I do the FE4 and BMR sways, trailing arms, and springs -- anyone know a good alignment place?