Which suspension kit 1LE or Z28?

[PowerDad]

This is my first post, the Powerdad moniker was given to me by my 5-year-old son 16 years ago. Now that I have purchased a 2010 SS, it almost fits.
I want to improve handling of my stock Camaro SS, starting with upgrading the rear cradle bushings. My ultimate goal is to upgrade the entire suspension to either a Z28 or 1LE class system for street and possibly autocross track use.
There are many aftermarket solutions available. I checked with the dealership and Z28 cradle bushings are only available with a full cradle w/bushings purchase of $550.00. What is strange is the SS cradle w/bushings is $850.00 (Mystic CT). Doesn’t make sense to me or the salesman at the dealership.
The Z28 kit has upgraded bushings on the supplied parts, however the rear lower control arm and cradle bushing are left stock?? What aftermarket bushings would complement the bushings in the Z28 kit best for these locations? Does anyone have a set of stock FE4 rear lower control arms?
How does the 1LE and Z28 upgrades perform on the street? My wife’s little 5’1” body is sitting in the back seat so any feedback on back seat comfort is welcome.

[USAFS197]

Personally, this is how I see it: zero (street/daily) to intermediate competition, 1LE suspension + BMR bushings.

If you're going to see a higher level of competition or plan on serious track time, I'd invest in Z/28 suspension or an entire aftermarket setup.

[christianchevell]

Wow, you may just want to talk to Phastek about their BMR products, or better yet BMR.... And yes I have stock fe4 trailing arms and toes, they are on the floor of my storage shed...LOL Back seat comfort is limited so a pillow is nice as with most sports cars the back seats are mostly a after thought.... and bolstering is not very prevalent in the back. You talk aftermarket then quote stock parts, some stock parts are great some can be beat hands down by real aftermarket. Some people swap in whole zl1 rear ends, some want stiff uncomfortable with stiff struts , some want a combination, some want to be able to tune the rear.... Its more in what you want. The combinations are a lot. You know the location of the sway bar changed from early Camaros and suspension changed some there, learn some more over time before jumping in too heavy.

[FunkedOut]

I just got finished with this analysis myself. I went with a Z/28 and aftermarket package. I have a 2010 as well so I can tell you the difference is huge!

First, look at the 1LE package...
same toelinks as the ZL1 and Z/28; monoballs on both ends.
28mm rear / 27mm front sway bars (solid), compared to the 23mm/24mm hollow you have now.
stiffer valving on the shocks/struts, monotube shocks and improved shock mount.
same springs you have now.

Now, look at the Z/28 package...
same toelinks as the 1LE package; monoballs on both ends.
trailing arms have stiffer rubber bushings on the inner end. you'll have to do something about the bushing on the knuckle to get ride of that compliance. Z/28 knuckles can be had, but I chose to use poly bushings in this position.
the upper control arms are the same as yours, save the large bushing which can be purchased separately.
sway bars are 25mm/26mm sold.
endlinks/drop links are the same as the 1LE and 2013+ SS.
front lower control arms have stiffer rubber bushings.
radius arms have stiffer bushing inserts. for less than the price of the arms, you can purchase JPSS inserts that at least as good.
now struts/shocks are where the big money is.
spring are very stiff (relatively speaking).

as far as packaging goes, the springs, shocks/struts and sway bars must work together as a system. upgraded bushings/bearings simply remove compliance to hold alignment as desired when loaded.

i ultimately decided on all of the Z/28 bushings everywhere, except for the JPSS inserts on the radius arms and JDP on the rear knuckle at the trailing arm.
i also installed pfadt solid aluminum cradle bushings because i got a smoking deal on them during black friday. i can tell you that bumps are not any harsher than before, you just become aware of what the road is like between bumps where you were numb before. wifey should be fine.
while i was getting all the bushing, i replaced the steering rack bushing for a few bucks with a BMR piece.

i had previously installed pfadt drop springs and really liked what they did for the track but made me want less roll still at the track. i still have my original shocks/struts which are a bit soft but not horrible for now. I do have to address those soon; i'm at 40k miles.

both 1LE and Z/28 packs are designed around square tire setups.
i have not drive a 1LE or Z/28, but everyone that has written about it here says understeer is still present. my staggered tire setup has loads of understeer. i did buy a set of 20x9's to try and address that, but my rambling is about the sway bars. the sway bars will help move the balance of the handling front or rear.
i went with the JPSS sway bars (27mm/32mm solid) for maximum understeer delete. I'm hoping they don't make me tail happy. haven't been to the track yet so I can't comment.

right now, my car is in the soft springs, heavy bar camp.
the Z/28 set up is in the heavy spring, soft bar camp.

i'm not sure if i will get 1LE shocks/struts and call it good or move on to some coilovers. my point is, for the Z/28 shocks/strut money, you have options.

Everything I mentioned above fits inside $1600. I did all the labor myself.
I'd skip the Z/28 cradle and spend that money on the aluminum bushings; they're not bad for noise or comfort. You can hear more noise, but it doesn't bother.

sorry for the book i just wrote, but i wish someone had written all this out for me a few months ago.

...and yes, i installed the stock FE4 rear lower control arms and drop links/endlinks. if they fail me, i'll go further. FE4 lca's are $37 a piece.

[Demon War Horse]

Also look at JusticePete. He has a Z28 light suspension setup.

[Spec]

BMR bushings FTW!

The only thing I would add to my suspension would possibly be just some 1LE shocks. I love how this ride performs now, and when these shocks finally go south - I will get them 1LE's...

Shot of the front end bushings, for your viewing pleasure. This stuff is great!

[JCunningham]

See my sig BMR get solid cradle bushings.

[JDP Sales]

PM Sent

All the best,


Jared Royce
888.308.6007

[PowerDad]

Thanks for all the info. I will take your advice and drive her for a while. It is amazing that I have the option to bolt a $75K Camaro suspension under my $21K ride. It all comes down to how much those unique damper/springs on the Z28 package add to the equation.