IT LIVES! My Z/LE ZL1 + 1LE + 2SS = Z/LE ;o) LSA SC [COTW 2/09/15]

[hammdo]

I don’t think it will and, don’t believe the spherical is that much of a benefit in the rear arm. I’ve researched several places and for the 5th gen, most felt that arm/bushing was fine. If I were able to do the 6th gen arm, I may have upgraded. Articulation is important and at least the sphericals I just installed will allow that.

-Don

[olblue75]

Hate to bones you again but where did you get 6th Gen arms for 62 dollars? RockAuto shows them at 71 an 76.

[hammdo]

$62 was for the zl1 1le but, I don’t know if they are serviceable (replaceable) but, they might be. Have to ck with BMR if those sphericals can be used in those...

84051643
84051644
(FEA)

https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/...trol+arm,10401

https://www.bmrsuspension.com/?page=...686&superpro=0

-Don

[olblue75]

They have gone up and thanks Don!!!

[hammdo]

NP, you know how GM is, if they find we're doing stuff, it goes UP!
DynoSteve got me a great deal on the BMR's BTW...

Got my alignment done!

So, camber is set a bit conservative this time (since I'm recovering and really not able to drive it hard -- yet).

-0.5° Camber front,
-0.8° Camber Rear

1/32" Toe in (front and rear)

Caster was:

5.7°

Now:

8.2°!

Now that is what I'm talking about!

Car drove fantastic with the update alignment and until I'm ready to race, I'm going to keep it there for now.

Still, gained 2.5° of caster with the 6th Gen radius arms and BMR sphericals!

NOT BAD AT ALL ;o)

-Don

[AG1LE]

Just curious, looking at the car from the side is it visibly noticeable that the wheels are closer to the front of the wheel well?

[hammdo]

Yep, its noticeable (at least to me) but, the tires do not touch (at least these don't anyway ;o).

I'd say you'd notice it 'if' you were aware but just 'glancing' You'd have to be looking. Its about 1/2" closer to the front...

I've been driving it quite a bit just to see how 'day to day' driving goes. Like I said, Geoff (h018871) has had them on a year and has been racing with them -- and he likes the setup...

-Don

[hammdo]

Well took it out for a ‘really’ good test, and the alignment is spot on. Car is very stable and return to center is awesome.

Bump steer appears to be excellent as I noticed no ‘jumping or wandering’ with bumps, dips, or sudden ‘changes’. Car is running excellent and the transmission is just ‘crisp’ — loving the shifting!

So, next on the list is the wing then, a full correction/detailing again. I’m looking to get the Pro Customs headlight covers (1 like what I have, 1 clear) so I can drive with the colored ones in daytime and clear at night. I’m getting ‘old’ so need all the light I can get at night and still protect the headlights ;o)

-Don

[hammdo]

Another nighttime run — solid as a rock, steady on bumps, no noises or clunks! I’ll take it out again tomorrow and maybe Thursday but, really like how it’s handling...

-Don

[pat_t]

Originally Posted by hammdo

None so far. Did several u-turns, right/left turns. Highway speed drives.

If you go with the BMRs, just get the SS radius rods, otherwise, the SS 1LE rods have a good bushing. Can’t say about the ZL1 1LE version. They’re cheaper but, don’t know if the bushings come out as easy.

I get my alignment on Monday so I’ll have more info. Right now, I like these!

Loosing ~10 lbs is not bad either: ;o)

-Don

Don - interested in this. What did the shorter radius arm do to the alignment out of interest?
i.e throwout Camber/Caster/Toe? how much and in what directions?
(I see your results above, but I don't know what numbers you were running before the change)

Definitely on-board for the unspring weight savings. If I'm reading correctly, I could just re-use my current Z/28 bushes?

I have the Moreno Gen2 camber plates currently set for a mix of camber and caster (about 6.5deg caster currently).

[hammdo]

Caster move was the big gain (2.5°!). I was at -1.0° Camber, 1/16" total toe in, 5.7° caster before the Radius arm change (street settings).

Racing — as much camber as I could get (-2.2° front) when I had the Morenos with the 5th gen arms - caster was stock 5.7°.

If you make no other adjustments, toe and camber does change a bit. I didn’t get the before spec but, can ask 5th Gear for it.

I still have a lot of room for camber — May see just how much when I play with it.

If you used the 6th gen SS 1LE arms, THOSE have a great bushing. 5th gen bushings in the radius arm I believe won’t work (thus the 6061 aluminum spacers).

I really like the sphericals I installed in the radius arms and how tight the front feels. The 2.5° caster gain is ‘epic’ ;o) - the return to center is solid and quick.

I’ve not had a chance to look at the ZL1 1LE arms to see what the difference is but, they sure look like the plain SS version.

This post shows just how close to the JPSS inserts (aluminum vs Z/28s delrin) the SS version is:

https://www.camaro5.com/forums/showp...postcount=2420

My guess is you could use the Moreno’s just for camber and this radius rod upgrade for caster — and get the best of both worlds.

Note: bump steer will very likely need to be addressed — which I had the kit already and was able to correct that.

-Don

[cdb95z28]

How far from stock do you have your bump steer kit set to? Good to hear that you don’t have any additional bump steer. Adding caster helps the dynamic camber requirements without needing additional static camber.

[pat_t]

Originally Posted by hammdo

Caster move was the big gain (2.5°!). I was at -0.1° Camber, 1/16" total toe in, 5.7° caster before the Radius arm change (street settings).

Racing — as much camber as I could get (-2.2° front) when I had the Morenos with the 5th gen arms - caster was stock 5.7°.

If you make no other adjustments, toe and camber does change a bit. I didn’t get the before spec but, can ask 5th Gear for it.

I still have a lot of room for camber — May see just how much when I play with it.

If you used the 6th gen SS 1LE arms, THOSE have a great bushing. 5th gen bushings in the radius arm I believe won’t work (thus the 6061 aluminum spacers).

I really like the sphericals I installed in the radius arms and how tight the front feels. The 2.5° caster gain is ‘epic’ ;o) - the return to center is solid and quick.

I’ve not had a chance to look at the ZL1 1LE arms to see what the difference is but, they sure look like the plain SS version.

This post show just how close to the JPSS inserts (aluminum vs Z/28s delrin) the SS version is:

https://www.camaro5.com/forums/showp...postcount=2420

My guess is you could use the Moreno’s just for camber and this radius rod upgrade for caster — and get the best of both worlds.

Note: bump steer will very likely need to be addressed — which I had the kit already and was able to correct that.

-Don

Many thanks for the detailed reply!

I forgot to mention - I've also enlarged the mount holes on my DSSV struts a little to allow me more camber adjustability and also a few mm of front ride height adjustment.

I think I could get about 3deg of front camber and 7deg caster with my current setup. Maybe I'll try maxing it out later in the season to see how it drives.

[hammdo]

Ah, yea. You’d be better using the SS 1LE arms and just drill out like Geoff did:

https://www.camaro5.com/forums/showp...&postcount=141

He was my guinea pig ;o)...

Edit: strut or radius was opened up?

If you did not modify the radius rod point, then what I did will work for you...

-Don