Would you do sub-frame connectors on the Z?

[Bigtime53]

I look at other car sites and these keep coming up so I decided to go to their website. This looks pretty nice. They recommend the tunnel brace to go with the connectors. Would you put these on your car? Thoughts?

[Trackman]

Tunnel brace is a gimmick. Last thing you need to do is add weight to a heavy car.

[Shark72]

Interesting!
I would like to see comments as well.

[danvillekidd]

No. I would replace the subframe bushings instead. That's what i did on the SS i had and the rear end was much better (replaced most of the rear bushings). The brace is easier and cheaper, but also as stated, adds weight and more places to drag on speed bumbs and curbs. The ZL1 has better bushings and links so i would just start with the subframe bushings and see how it is then.

[ZL1-V]

To echo what danville kid wrote. I also changed the bushings in the rear cradle when I had the car lowered. The car felt much better when cornering hard, and accelerating after installing them.

[Bigtime53]

I have thought about doing what you have done. Are those bushings hard to install?

[Nickey31]

I added them because sub-frame connectors were required for an open road race I do twice a year. When I added the sub-frame connectors, I also added a full roll cage so I can't tell you if it is the roll cage or the sub-frame connectors that contribute most to the almost zero body roll I have today.

I know some racers say that the sub-frame connectors are just dead weight. But like I said, I added them to comply to some rules for one particular race.

I have also replaced my rear cradle connectors, all bushings, sway bars, along with 1.5" drop springs and they stiffened things up pretty well. When I bought this car, I very much enjoyed that it drove like a cadillac on the street and like a race car on the track. But after all the mods listed above, it no longer feels like a cadillac. So beware what you think you want. If you want a race car that carves corners, those things will get you there. But if you have a lot of fillings in your teeth, be ready to knock a few out. OK, maybe that's a bit of an exaggeration, but hopefully depicts a picture to give you an idea of how stiff the car becomes.

[Masterzl1]

you could add the convertible brace to the unibody frame under the car, the nuts are already there just need brace and bolts.

[ZL1-V]

Originally Posted by Bigtime53

I have thought about doing what you have done. Are those bushings hard to install?

I think there are several "how to" posts still here in the archives. It will take you several hours. The hard part was/is removing the stock bushings. Some use heat, but there are other ways of removing them. I used a reputable shop that had done them on other Camaro cars before mine were done. Front and rear were done, so I needed an 4 wheel alignment, so I chose them to do all the work.

[RankSS]

Originally Posted by ZL1-V

To echo what danville kid wrote. I also changed the bushings in the rear cradle when I had the car lowered. The car felt much better when cornering hard, and accelerating after installing them.

Hey is that the GRR in your signature photo?

[ZL1-V]

Originally Posted by RankSS

Hey is that the GRR in your signature photo?

Good catch! Yes it is, about 11 miles up the hill from my house. It's also used in the Amgen Tour of California. Here is one of my shots from the 2011 race!

[mmarx82]

I've done my full suspension, hotchkis subframe brace, pafdt springs, tie rods, trailing arms, sub frame bushings and sway bars. Only thing left stock was the MRC shocks. If I had to do it again it would only be the rear sway bar and the springs, that's it. The biggest waste of money was the subframe bushings and the hotchkis brace. So my advice is save your money and do something else with it like good sticky tires. Toyo R888's or Michelin PSS. (BFG Rivals suck on our cars)

GM did right in this area for this car, i wouldn't change much if I could do it again. I've done two seasons in autocross (the first mostly stock, the second not) and several HPDE events. Just don't want anyone else to waste their money on stuff that doesn't do much, so unless it's required to meet some regulations of whatever event your participating in then skip it.