thinking bout installing springs my self - Page 4 - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

jeffny09 · 11-19-2009, 01:04 PM

im lost lol
what do i need to do once i install these springs

axis · 11-19-2009, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aaron Pfadt

Pete is right on with this. I'll try to make it a little clearer. What he is saying is that all of the rubber joints in your Camaro suspension have a 'happy position' where the rubber is not pulling the control arm up or down. There are a bunch of those joints in both the front and rear. The bolt that holds each control arm to the chassis locks the bushing into a position. Those bolts should be tightened down when the car is sitting at ride height, so that the 'happy position' is at ride height. If you do not reset these bushings after you install your lowering springs, the 'happy position' is still set for the stock ride height. The rubber will creep over time and they will eventually find a new happy position, but it is best to reset these when you install the new springs.

To do this practically, you need to have the car setting on the ground and then loosen each suspension bolt where there is a rubber bushing. Bounce the car or roll it a little, and then re-tighten the bolts. As Pete suggested, you can just have your alignment guy do this for you because he is under the car on the alignment rack already.

-Aaron

That makes more sense. I think Pete need to use the "dumbdown" dictionary for the rest of us.

jeffny09 · 11-19-2009, 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aaron Pfadt

Pete is right on with this. I'll try to make it a little clearer. What he is saying is that all of the rubber joints in your Camaro suspension have a 'happy position' where the rubber is not pulling the control arm up or down. There are a bunch of those joints in both the front and rear. The bolt that holds each control arm to the chassis locks the bushing into a position. Those bolts should be tightened down when the car is sitting at ride height, so that the 'happy position' is at ride height. If you do not reset these bushings after you install your lowering springs, the 'happy position' is still set for the stock ride height. The rubber will creep over time and they will eventually find a new happy position, but it is best to reset these when you install the new springs.

To do this practically, you need to have the car setting on the ground and then loosen each suspension bolt where there is a rubber bushing. Bounce the car or roll it a little, and then re-tighten the bolts. As Pete suggested, you can just have your alignment guy do this for you because he is under the car on the alignment rack already.

-Aaron

so are you talking about algnment or is this something different?

hey billy you understand this? cuz im not quite sure i know what bolts we would have to loosen?

Aaron Pfadt · 11-19-2009, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeffny09

so are you talking about algnment or is this something different?

hey billy you understand this? cuz im not quite sure i know what bolts we would have to loosen?

The Camaro has 2 control arms on each side in the front and 4 on each side in the rear. Just look at which ones have a rubber bushings on them. The bolts are obvious and you just need to loosen them and re-torque with the car on the ground. Not a big deal at all and it will make sense when you look under your car.

-Aaron

eynigush · 11-19-2009, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aaron Pfadt

The Camaro has 2 control arms on each side in the front and 4 on each side in the rear. Just look at which ones have a rubber bushings on them. The bolts are obvious and you just need to loosen them and re-torque with the car on the ground. Not a big deal at all and it will make sense when you look under your car.

-Aaron

Is there a torque ratio for the bushings? Thanks, Eddie.

Aaron Pfadt · 11-19-2009, 03:12 PM

Rubber bushings to loosen and re-tighten.

Front Suspension

Rear Suspension

I do not know the torque specs off the top of my head. You should consult a manual for that.

-Aaron

jeffny09 · 11-19-2009, 03:47 PM

thanks for the pics aaron
the torq specifications shold be in the owners manual? hmm
i take a look but havnt seen anything like that
but i appriciate all your help

BLACK10 · 11-19-2009, 05:05 PM

guys, this is rediculas!

this is turning into a pissing contest between companies trying to one up each other. HE IS NOT ROAD RACING THE CAR, JUST WANTS IT TO LOOK BETTER.

JEFFNY09, just lower your car and get it aligned, but if you want to start unbolting all those that were pointed out , then thats up to you.

but he said it here..... "The rubber will creep over time and they will eventually find a new happy position"

jeffny09 · 11-19-2009, 05:16 PM

haha ok
thanls black
thanks everyone for the help
yall are great!!

mike25 · 11-19-2009, 06:04 PM

i agree on the semi pissing match- anyways just lower it...it isnt hard. if you use a manual spring compressor(these cars have struts?) be careful as they are dangerous. good luck

jeffny09 · 11-19-2009, 06:06 PM

ummm y r they dangerous?

JDP Motorsports · 11-19-2009, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BLACK10

but he said it here..... "The rubber will creep over time and they will eventually find a new happy position"

The bonded rubber will potentially fail being at maximum tension all the time as Pete was saying and that is part of the problem. The factory torques those bolts down pretty tight......

The secondary issue is ride quality. With the C-Arm bushings twisting in either direction past neutral it will increase the amount of force required to compress the suspension. It also increases rebound to a certain extent. This is of course until the bushing(s) fail....... Then you get poly! We will have the Energy Suspension C-Arm bushings including the sub-frame mounts when they are released.

Showing Energy Kit installed at SEMA.

(BTW those caliper covers are offically nomonated for worst product at the 2009 SEMA Show.) Just saying........

This is all relatively easy to do and you guys will get them installed!! Have fun and take your time!

Aaron Pfadt · 11-19-2009, 06:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeffny09

the torq specifications shold be in the owners manual? hmm

Nope, only in the Service Manual. You can look up a torque spec for that size of bolt - Most are M12, M14 or M16 in the appropriate grade (8.8, 10.9, etc...) on the internet if you do not have a GM Service Manual. That will get you close enough.

Quote:

guys, this is rediculas!

this is turning into a pissing contest between companies trying to one up each other

Really... I was actually just trying to be helpful for some guys with actual questions about installing Pfadt products.

Is the loosening of the suspension pivots overkill? Maybe, but it is not a bad idea and it does not take much work. I actually do it on the cars we lower, especially when developing the drop spring kits. That way I have an accurate measurement of the drop right away rather than driving the car for a couple of weeks until the rubber creeps and it settles.

-Aaron

jeffny09 · 11-19-2009, 06:39 PM

ok so i loose those bolts roll the car then tighten them correct?
i think i got all this down pact

11-19-2009, 01:04 PM	#43
jeffny09 Drives: 2010 camaro Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: new york Posts: 5,618	im lost lol what do i need to do once i install these springs __________________ top 10 reason why real men drive stick. 10. A manual transmission is the ultimate in control 9. You can use automotive jargon and not sound like a total tool 8. You can't spell "manual" without "man" 7. Manual transmissions prove you can do more than one thing at a time 6. You can't drift in an auto 5. You can't pull fancy moves in an automatic 4. You get better fuel economy with a stick 3. You’ll never look like a chump if you can drive stick 2. Manual transmission cars are faster 1. Women like a guy who is good with his hands.

11-19-2009, 03:12 PM	#48
Aaron Pfadt Pfadt Race Engineering Drives: 7.0 Liters of Fury Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Salt Lake City Posts: 112	Diagrams Rubber bushings to loosen and re-tighten. Front Suspension Rear Suspension I do not know the torque specs off the top of my head. You should consult a manual for that. -Aaron __________________ Aaron Pfadt - Owner - Pfadt Race Engineering 888-972-2464 www.pfadtracing.com aaron@pfadtracing.com *Vette Garage TV Films 3 Episodes of Pfadt Racing - Watch the Show and Get to Know Us!*

11-19-2009, 03:47 PM	#49
jeffny09 Drives: 2010 camaro Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: new york Posts: 5,618	thanks for the pics aaron the torq specifications shold be in the owners manual? hmm i take a look but havnt seen anything like that but i appriciate all your help __________________ top 10 reason why real men drive stick. 10. A manual transmission is the ultimate in control 9. You can use automotive jargon and not sound like a total tool 8. You can't spell "manual" without "man" 7. Manual transmissions prove you can do more than one thing at a time 6. You can't drift in an auto 5. You can't pull fancy moves in an automatic 4. You get better fuel economy with a stick 3. You’ll never look like a chump if you can drive stick 2. Manual transmission cars are faster 1. Women like a guy who is good with his hands.

11-19-2009, 05:16 PM	#51
jeffny09 Drives: 2010 camaro Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: new york Posts: 5,618	haha ok thanls black thanks everyone for the help yall are great!! __________________ top 10 reason why real men drive stick. 10. A manual transmission is the ultimate in control 9. You can use automotive jargon and not sound like a total tool 8. You can't spell "manual" without "man" 7. Manual transmissions prove you can do more than one thing at a time 6. You can't drift in an auto 5. You can't pull fancy moves in an automatic 4. You get better fuel economy with a stick 3. You’ll never look like a chump if you can drive stick 2. Manual transmission cars are faster 1. Women like a guy who is good with his hands.

11-19-2009, 06:04 PM	#52
mike25 Drives: 2012 Camaro 2SS/RS Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Dubba V Posts: 2,869	i agree on the semi pissing match- anyways just lower it...it isnt hard. if you use a manual spring compressor(these cars have struts?) be careful as they are dangerous. good luck __________________ 2LT/RS M6 CGM VIN#53104 SOLD 2012 Black 2SS/RS w/ Hurst- Mods: Corsa catback, SSE, Vararam

11-19-2009, 05:05 PM	#50
BLACK10 Drives: 2010 CAMARO. 10.04@133mph, 1.4 60' Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Lafayette, Louisiana Posts: 4,585	guys, this is rediculas! this is turning into a pissing contest between companies trying to one up each other. HE IS NOT ROAD RACING THE CAR, JUST WANTS IT TO LOOK BETTER. JEFFNY09, just lower your car and get it aligned, but if you want to start unbolting all those that were pointed out , then thats up to you. but he said it here..... "The rubber will creep over time and they will eventually find a new happy position"

11-19-2009, 06:06 PM	#53
jeffny09 Drives: 2010 camaro Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: new york Posts: 5,618	ummm y r they dangerous? __________________ top 10 reason why real men drive stick. 10. A manual transmission is the ultimate in control 9. You can use automotive jargon and not sound like a total tool 8. You can't spell "manual" without "man" 7. Manual transmissions prove you can do more than one thing at a time 6. You can't drift in an auto 5. You can't pull fancy moves in an automatic 4. You get better fuel economy with a stick 3. You’ll never look like a chump if you can drive stick 2. Manual transmission cars are faster 1. Women like a guy who is good with his hands.

11-19-2009, 06:39 PM	#56
jeffny09 Drives: 2010 camaro Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: new york Posts: 5,618	ok so i loose those bolts roll the car then tighten them correct? i think i got all this down pact __________________ top 10 reason why real men drive stick. 10. A manual transmission is the ultimate in control 9. You can use automotive jargon and not sound like a total tool 8. You can't spell "manual" without "man" 7. Manual transmissions prove you can do more than one thing at a time 6. You can't drift in an auto 5. You can't pull fancy moves in an automatic 4. You get better fuel economy with a stick 3. You’ll never look like a chump if you can drive stick 2. Manual transmission cars are faster 1. Women like a guy who is good with his hands.

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