Would you run budget suspension parts in your Camaro? (Speed Engineering) - Page 2 - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

gtstorey · 07-01-2023, 02:33 PM

I guess I’m the odd man out. I would give them a try if a needed suspension parts. Never really heard anything bad about Speed Engineering stuff. Buy them, inspect the welds and if they look good, run them.

1JEWLDSSRS · 07-01-2023, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joekono

Thanks 1JEWLDSSRS, you trained your student well.

Hehe, yes sir! You are welcome! Can't wait to see your Katzkins when you get it done. She's gonna be "over the top" then!!

1JEWLDSSRS · 07-01-2023, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aqua Blue RS/SS

Hey Joe I’ll trade you

I’m slowly gathering parts for an LSA swap with cam and supporting minds… should be in the neighborhood of 10K when it’s all said and done.
I’m in the camp of you get what you pay for as well, headers are one thing suspension parts are another.

Should be darn close. One of my Camaro froends did a Whipple 2.9 upgrade with all the supporting mods, cam, heads, LT's, TB, off road mids, CAI, injectors, fuel pump, shop install and a custom dyno tune and it ran him 10k..

Blue 13 · 07-01-2023, 04:19 PM

$10k? I wish. I’m well over $55k in mods with under the hood alone close to $40k.

FasNuf · 07-01-2023, 06:47 PM

I have Speed Engineering headers, but they won't put me in a ditch if they break. Quality parts only for suspension and that includes hardware.

Fanch1LE · 07-01-2023, 07:47 PM

FasNuf beat me to it. Was gonna say, as he did, that I am part of the unpopular crowd running SE headers. 7 years now and been very happy with them, but I don't think I'd run their suspension components at that price point. That being said, maybe consider some UMI Performance parts as another option. I cannot vouch for them but do your research.

Also, I think you'll be fine with "non-adjustable" parts everywhere except the toe rods.

olblue75 · 07-01-2023, 09:18 PM

I’m running all the DSE rear suspension parts in my 10 SS and I’m very satisfied.

InFiD3ViL · 07-02-2023, 12:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FasNuf

I have Speed Engineering headers, but they won't put me in a ditch if they break. Quality parts only for suspension and that includes hardware.

That is exactly what I was waiting to hear and makes perfect sense.

I knew before I even posted this what most of you guys would say, and that is because I am also in that camp. I have 2 other cars, but this is my only 'baby', and I have yet to 'cheap out' and install anything I considered less than top tier. So starting with suspension parts probably wouldn't be the best decision...not going to lie though, the pricing is attractive - but wat what cost? I am genuinely curious to see if anyone has any experience with these that could offer any input on them.

The biggest turn off for me is the overall lack of specifications. They look like quality parts and the welds look nice - but the savings have to come from somewhere, right? Almost certainly 100% Chinesium.

Thanks guys, I appreciate the feedback!

CamaroCracka · 07-02-2023, 06:56 AM

Pretty sure the savings is in the Chinesium. I have their headers on my truck and they work great, but they certainly weren't of the quality of the Stainless Works units on the vert. If I were just starting to mod, I might give them a shot, especially if there was a good return policy. I'm done with suspension mods, but still curious. Of course, you might only see a difference over the long haul. I always take reviews posted by people who just installed something with a grain of salt.

acutron42 · 07-02-2023, 07:14 AM

InFiD3ViL,

I think you nailed it with " but the savings have to come from somewhere, right?" Being in the manufacturing business for 30 years I have seen all sorts of crazy stuff. In a competitive market if company "A" is considerably cheaper than company "B" something is wrong. The few ways to save are cheap materials, labor, & speeding up processes (welding) & lack of quality control just to name a few.

I am not saying these are bad pieces or not to buy them, but in a word, cheap is just that...cheap.

el ess A · 07-02-2023, 08:20 AM

How many money trees have you planted? If not enough, get your shovel and seeds, Johnny Appleseed. This is another of those "How fast do you want to spend" ordeals. If you want to push it in the corners, try to get known quality components.

My dad always used to tell me to "always buy the best---that you can afford--- and you'll never regret your purchase." And he was right. Sometimes the best regardless of $$ is out of reach without putting a second mortgage on the house. It may not be for some. And that's fine. If you can only afford to buy SE stuff, then you have to make that decision. If buying the stuff right now isn't a concern, I'd personally save up a bit more money and get some better stuff, but that's just me. A header crack on a cheap pair of headers can be annoying, but a control arm break would be far worse, IMO.

Also, being in the manufacturing business for a long time, it can also go both ways. You ALWAYS...always will have someone on the top teir and someone on the bottom teir with their pricing for the same/similar parts. And myriad of price points in-between.

Costs do not automatically make something high- or low-quality. This all depends on a number of factors outside the $$ themselves. If company A uses slave labor, or pay minimum wage to their welders who are just as good as company B's, savings can add up to a competitive advantage without suffering quality.

But those are outliers. Quality built-in costs money. Period. If 14 different engineers have to sign off on the design and construction of the components from company C compared to just one in company D, you still aren't guaranteed that company C's product is any better than company D's. But generally speaking, when 28 eyeballs are looking at something with scrutiny, that's going to cost more per unit, and the general consensus is no corners would be missed where if company D's lone engineer has a bad day signing off on the specs...well, you get the point.

That said, while I chose to remain stock for our 5th gens, I've used BMR stuff all over on my 2002 Camaro SS and I was totally satisfied with their performance, looks, and durability. And most of all, price point. They weren't cheap, but they also didn't break the bank.

Steamjet · 07-05-2023, 12:41 PM

I have a set of front and rear BMR Sway bars for your car. Never out of the box! $300 if you want them. Contact me @ 954-632-4573 and I'll send pics of the box, or look for my thread on here that has them in it!

Great upgrade for half the price!

1JEWLDSSRS · 07-05-2023, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steamjet

I have a set of front and rear BMR Sway bars for your car. Never out of the box! $300 if you want them. Contact me @ 954-632-4573 and I'll send pics of the box, or look for my thread on here that has them in it!

Great upgrade for half the price!

You could have posted a link to your thread so he could find them easier, instead of hunting for it! Just sayin.

gtstorey · 07-05-2023, 08:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1JEWLDSSRS

You could have posted a link to your thread so he could find them easier, instead of hunting for it! Just sayin.

Click on the user name and see their other post. He only has 2 so not much of a list. Of course I probably wouldn’t deal with someone who’s first post was a for sale unless I met in person.

07-01-2023, 04:19 PM	#18
Blue 13 3P171 USAF Combat Arms Drives: 2013 SS/RS Join Date: Jul 2021 Location: Olmsted AFB Posts: 416	$10k? I wish. I’m well over $55k in mods with under the hood alone close to $40k. __________________ 416ci LS3/Vortech V7/Built 6L80 996.6 RWHP 794.9 RWTQ

07-01-2023, 09:18 PM	#21
olblue75 Drives: 2010 2SS/RS Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Clarksville Tennesse. Posts: 6,165	I’m running all the DSE rear suspension parts in my 10 SS and I’m very satisfied. __________________ Orange Krush II 1LE Front sway bar, Splitter, shocks and struts, Z28 dual mode mufflers, Intake, UCA Bushings, and Toresen 3.91 Diff. 1 piece DSS Drive Shaft, ZL1/C7 Calipers, and 32mm JPSS Rear Bar. ASC race spec splitter and wicker. 6th Gen M017 Wheels. Stainless Works 1 7/8 LTs. DSE and PAFDT Suspension components.

07-02-2023, 06:56 AM	#23
CamaroCracka Drives: 2010 Turbo LS3 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Palm Bay, FL Posts: 3,053	Pretty sure the savings is in the Chinesium. I have their headers on my truck and they work great, but they certainly weren't of the quality of the Stainless Works units on the vert. If I were just starting to mod, I might give them a shot, especially if there was a good return policy. I'm done with suspension mods, but still curious. Of course, you might only see a difference over the long haul. I always take reviews posted by people who just installed something with a grain of salt. __________________ 2010 SS - Kind of an On3 kit, CTR 78/80, CompCam 239/251 620/632 122+4, E85, Z28 suspension and ZL1 diff with Outlaw axles. Gen6 ZL1 brakes. 2011 Vert - 416/w 230/236 .612/.602 115lsa, 1LE suspension w/32mm rear bar. Z28 diff. Gen6 ZL1 brakes.

07-02-2023, 07:14 AM	#24
acutron42 Drives: 2013 Camaro 2SS AGM Join Date: Apr 2020 Location: WNY Posts: 965	InFiD3ViL, I think you nailed it with " but the savings have to come from somewhere, right?" Being in the manufacturing business for 30 years I have seen all sorts of crazy stuff. In a competitive market if company "A" is considerably cheaper than company "B" something is wrong. The few ways to save are cheap materials, labor, & speeding up processes (welding) & lack of quality control just to name a few. I am not saying these are bad pieces or not to buy them, but in a word, cheap is just that...cheap. __________________ 2013 2SS GPI built & tuned 415, spec'd by Andrew Cammer. GPI ported intake/tb/heads, Tooley springs, CHE trunnions, Callies rotating assembly, Diamond pistons, GPI SS3 VVT, ATI 10% ud damper, Circle D 3800, Kooks ceramic coated lt's with green cats, Mishimoto rad & oil cooler, Derale trans cooler, Holley efi rails. DSS driveshaft, trutrac with 3.91's, G-Force renegades, Hendrix solid cradle bushings Bmr: poly diff bushings, Strange adjustable coilovers, sub frame connectors, ZL1 npps, controlled with a vac pump & mac boost control solenoid.

07-02-2023, 08:20 AM	#25
el ess A Older Than Dirt Drives: 2010 & 2013 Camaros Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Aiken, SC Posts: 4,686	How many money trees have you planted? If not enough, get your shovel and seeds, Johnny Appleseed. This is another of those "How fast do you want to spend" ordeals. If you want to push it in the corners, try to get known quality components. My dad always used to tell me to "always buy the best---that you can afford--- and you'll never regret your purchase." And he was right. Sometimes the best regardless of $$ is out of reach without putting a second mortgage on the house. It may not be for some. And that's fine. If you can only afford to buy SE stuff, then you have to make that decision. If buying the stuff right now isn't a concern, I'd personally save up a bit more money and get some better stuff, but that's just me. A header crack on a cheap pair of headers can be annoying, but a control arm break would be far worse, IMO. Also, being in the manufacturing business for a long time, it can also go both ways. You ALWAYS...always will have someone on the top teir and someone on the bottom teir with their pricing for the same/similar parts. And myriad of price points in-between. Costs do not automatically make something high- or low-quality. This all depends on a number of factors outside the $$ themselves. If company A uses slave labor, or pay minimum wage to their welders who are just as good as company B's, savings can add up to a competitive advantage without suffering quality. But those are outliers. Quality built-in costs money. Period. If 14 different engineers have to sign off on the design and construction of the components from company C compared to just one in company D, you still aren't guaranteed that company C's product is any better than company D's. But generally speaking, when 28 eyeballs are looking at something with scrutiny, that's going to cost more per unit, and the general consensus is no corners would be missed where if company D's lone engineer has a bad day signing off on the specs...well, you get the point. That said, while I chose to remain stock for our 5th gens, I've used BMR stuff all over on my 2002 Camaro SS and I was totally satisfied with their performance, looks, and durability. And most of all, price point. They weren't cheap, but they also didn't break the bank. __________________ 2010 2SS TE, 1 of 822/2013 Camaro ZL1 vert, 1 of 54

07-01-2023, 02:33 PM	#15
gtstorey Drives: 2010 Camaro SS2,L99, LSA SC Join Date: Aug 2017 Location: Huntsville, AL Posts: 2,469	I guess I’m the odd man out. I would give them a try if a needed suspension parts. Never really heard anything bad about Speed Engineering stuff. Buy them, inspect the welds and if they look good, run them.

07-01-2023, 06:47 PM	#19
FasNuf Drives: 2014 Camaro ZL1 Join Date: Jul 2019 Location: Oregon Posts: 1,703 View My Garage	I have Speed Engineering headers, but they won't put me in a ditch if they break. Quality parts only for suspension and that includes hardware.

07-01-2023, 07:47 PM	#20
Fanch1LE Drives: 2015 1SS 1LE Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Texas Posts: 167	FasNuf beat me to it. Was gonna say, as he did, that I am part of the unpopular crowd running SE headers. 7 years now and been very happy with them, but I don't think I'd run their suspension components at that price point. That being said, maybe consider some UMI Performance parts as another option. I cannot vouch for them but do your research. Also, I think you'll be fine with "non-adjustable" parts everywhere except the toe rods.

07-05-2023, 12:41 PM	#26
Steamjet Drives: 2015 SS Join Date: Apr 2023 Location: Ft Lauderdale FL Posts: 4	Sway Bars I have a set of front and rear BMR Sway bars for your car. Never out of the box! $300 if you want them. Contact me @ 954-632-4573 and I'll send pics of the box, or look for my thread on here that has them in it! Great upgrade for half the price!