Suspension Q & A - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

SixCyl · 10-02-2012, 11:16 AM

So I was going to just a start a post about a couple questions that I have concerning suspension mods but I feel that instead of having a bunch of threads to look for, maybe we can have a mini wiki thread dedicated to answering general questions about suspension mods for non technical people such as myself.

Rules to the thread:

Ask questions, get your answers.

Anyway, first questions.

I was surprised by how relatively cheap sway bars are and was looking into the hotchkins F/R bars. However, I noticed they don't come with end links and I see a lot of posts saying that as long as you're replacing the bars may as well do the end links too. I don't race, my car is my daily. I would maybe one day like to take my car to a drag strip but there aren't any nearby. I am also considering just getting a rear bar only as I have seen that rear only vs RF is a better/best situation.

My question then is, what do the end links provide that the oem ones do not? And, for daily do I really need to do R/F or will I feel a big enough difference with just rear?

nak3dsnake · 10-02-2012, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SixCyl

So I was going to just a start a post about a couple questions that I have concerning suspension mods but I feel that instead of having a bunch of threads to look for, maybe we can have a mini wiki thread dedicated to answering general questions about suspension mods for non technical people such as myself.

Rules to the thread:

Ask questions, get your answers.

Anyway, first questions.

I was surprised by how relatively cheap sway bars are and was looking into the hotchkins F/R bars. However, I noticed they don't come with end links and I see a lot of posts saying that as long as you're replacing the bars may as well do the end links too. I don't race, my car is my daily. I would maybe one day like to take my car to a drag strip but there aren't any nearby. I am also considering just getting a rear bar only as I have seen that rear only vs RF is a better/best situation.

My question then is, what do the end links provide that the oem ones do not? And, for daily do I really need to do R/F or will I feel a big enough difference with just rear?

The major problem with the OEM end links on the 2010-11 cars is that they are only designed to handle the stock bars. They just aren't very robust. Many people early on with daily drivers have bent an OEM link hitting bumps on the road with bigger bars.

The Stig · 10-02-2012, 11:49 AM

The rear makes the biggest difference, but it doesn't hurt to do the front as well. That and it's cheaper to buy them both then buy them separately.

The OEM end links are pretty shoddy. A number of people have found that using the OEM end links with an aftermarket (stiffer) away bar causes the end link to tear out of the bracket.

SixCyl · 10-02-2012, 11:52 AM

Well...that answers my questions. Sway bars and end links for Christmas!

SixCyl · 10-02-2012, 12:30 PM

How do I request for this to become a sticky thread?

JusticePete · 10-02-2012, 12:36 PM

If your thread is going to become a sticky more people will have to contribute a lot more information. A great deal of what you're looking for is already available on C5, but lost in the thousands of technical threads. We have a book about the 5th Gen here on C5. This is the index. I hope you find it useful.

Pedders 2010 Chevrolet Camaro Suspension Evaluation

Foundational 5th Gen Required Upgrades

Lowering Coils and Coilovers

Trouble Free, OEM Quiet V6 Lowering

Sway Bars

Suspension Bushes

ZL1 / CTS-V Brake Upgrade for the SS

Wheels and Tires

Bush Timing, Alignment and Torque Specs

Pedders USA Camaro 2.0

Lingenfelter L/28 Tech

5th Gen Wheel Hop and Drag Race Setup

Thermal Management

Running Changes Made to the 5th Gen by Chevrolet

Public Track Test #1

Public Track Test #2 Camaro vs. Mustang Supercar Shootout

SixCyl · 10-02-2012, 01:20 PM

Right, that's why I'm hoping this thread catches on and can become a general Q&A for suspension. We'll see how it goes. Thanks for the book!

SixCyl · 10-02-2012, 04:35 PM

So after reading a bit of the book from above I feel like I learned some stuff, I also have more questions now lol.

Before I start with sway bars should I start at the foundation with bushings? If so which bushings should I go with? It seems that there are a dozen or so different bushings and hundreds of different places to tweak the suspension and while all would be beneficial I'm sure, which are the recommended ones for just a more responsive, better handling daily driver? Also, living in FL I do not want to sacrifice anything that would affect grip (i.e. I wouldn't set my front sway bar to softest and my rear to hardest because of the rain).

lscamaro · 10-02-2012, 05:06 PM

Since your a v6, I'd look into the Pedders Street 1 Package. That's for the subframe bushing inserts. You shouldn't need to do very many other bushings in a daily. It's for the v8 big power guys that other bushing replacements will make sense

SixCyl · 10-02-2012, 06:28 PM

Ok, I checked out the pedders street 1 kit and am leaning to it. But to leave doubts aside, is there any reason to choose the street 1 kit over the BMR street kit (BK20)? They both have the same inserts for the rear, the BMR has differential bushings for wheel hop but not front end inserts like pedders, while pedders has no dif bushings. Pros and cons people? i hope one day I know enough to help someone else out in this, lol.

The Stig · 10-02-2012, 06:35 PM

Differential bushings won't really help with wheel hop, they are more to prevent the diff from moving around while under heavy load. It's the same concept as replacing your OEM engine mounts with solid ones.

SixCyl · 10-02-2012, 06:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stieger

Differential bushings won't really help with wheel hop, they are more to prevent the diff from moving around while under heavy load. It's the same concept as replacing your OEM engine mounts with solid ones.

My mistake, that's just what I've been reading around some threads. Ok, and minimizing the movement will allow for consistent transfer of power to the wheels but will also increase cabin noise?

The Stig · 10-02-2012, 06:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SixCyl

My mistake, that's just what I've been reading around some threads. Ok, and minimizing the movement will allow for consistent transfer of power to the wheels but will also increase cabin noise?

I didn't really notice any increased noise after I had mine installed

SixCyl · 10-02-2012, 07:14 PM

Alright, cool. Looks like going with the BMR BK020 package seems pretty comparable to the pedders street 1 package at a lower price. Are there any advantages over having dif bushings compared to the radius bushings or vice versa?

10-02-2012, 11:49 AM	#3
The Stig knows 2 facts about ducks Drives: ...and they're both wrong Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The HMS Invincible Posts: 25,072 View My Garage	The rear makes the biggest difference, but it doesn't hurt to do the front as well. That and it's cheaper to buy them both then buy them separately. The OEM end links are pretty shoddy. A number of people have found that using the OEM end links with an aftermarket (stiffer) away bar causes the end link to tear out of the bracket. __________________

10-02-2012, 11:52 AM	#4
SixCyl Drives: 2010 Camaro CGM V6 Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Florida Posts: 694 View My Garage	Well...that answers my questions. Sway bars and end links for Christmas! __________________ El gato. Mods: Eagle eye headlights, 18" Axis Sport graphite, Roto-Fab cold air intake, Vmax ported TB, 3/8" Vmax Black-Ice, RX single valve catch can, RX breather, Pedders inserts, Trifecta tune, BBK LTH 304 SS. art/ärt/Noun. Definition: 5th generation Camaro.

10-02-2012, 12:30 PM	#5
SixCyl Drives: 2010 Camaro CGM V6 Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Florida Posts: 694 View My Garage	How do I request for this to become a sticky thread? __________________ El gato. Mods: Eagle eye headlights, 18" Axis Sport graphite, Roto-Fab cold air intake, Vmax ported TB, 3/8" Vmax Black-Ice, RX single valve catch can, RX breather, Pedders inserts, Trifecta tune, BBK LTH 304 SS. art/ärt/Noun. Definition: 5th generation Camaro.

10-02-2012, 01:20 PM	#7
SixCyl Drives: 2010 Camaro CGM V6 Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Florida Posts: 694 View My Garage	Right, that's why I'm hoping this thread catches on and can become a general Q&A for suspension. We'll see how it goes. Thanks for the book! __________________ El gato. Mods: Eagle eye headlights, 18" Axis Sport graphite, Roto-Fab cold air intake, Vmax ported TB, 3/8" Vmax Black-Ice, RX single valve catch can, RX breather, Pedders inserts, Trifecta tune, BBK LTH 304 SS. art/ärt/Noun. Definition: 5th generation Camaro.

10-02-2012, 04:35 PM	#8
SixCyl Drives: 2010 Camaro CGM V6 Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Florida Posts: 694 View My Garage	So after reading a bit of the book from above I feel like I learned some stuff, I also have more questions now lol. Before I start with sway bars should I start at the foundation with bushings? If so which bushings should I go with? It seems that there are a dozen or so different bushings and hundreds of different places to tweak the suspension and while all would be beneficial I'm sure, which are the recommended ones for just a more responsive, better handling daily driver? Also, living in FL I do not want to sacrifice anything that would affect grip (i.e. I wouldn't set my front sway bar to softest and my rear to hardest because of the rain). __________________ El gato. Mods: Eagle eye headlights, 18" Axis Sport graphite, Roto-Fab cold air intake, Vmax ported TB, 3/8" Vmax Black-Ice, RX single valve catch can, RX breather, Pedders inserts, Trifecta tune, BBK LTH 304 SS. art/ärt/Noun. Definition: 5th generation Camaro.

10-02-2012, 11:16 AM	#1
SixCyl Drives: 2010 Camaro CGM V6 Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Florida Posts: 694 View My Garage	Suspension Q & A So I was going to just a start a post about a couple questions that I have concerning suspension mods but I feel that instead of having a bunch of threads to look for, maybe we can have a mini wiki thread dedicated to answering general questions about suspension mods for non technical people such as myself. Rules to the thread: Ask questions, get your answers. Anyway, first questions. I was surprised by how relatively cheap sway bars are and was looking into the hotchkins F/R bars. However, I noticed they don't come with end links and I see a lot of posts saying that as long as you're replacing the bars may as well do the end links too. I don't race, my car is my daily. I would maybe one day like to take my car to a drag strip but there aren't any nearby. I am also considering just getting a rear bar only as I have seen that rear only vs RF is a better/best situation. My question then is, what do the end links provide that the oem ones do not? And, for daily do I really need to do R/F or will I feel a big enough difference with just rear? __________________ El gato. Mods: Eagle eye headlights, 18" Axis Sport graphite, Roto-Fab cold air intake, Vmax ported TB, 3/8" Vmax Black-Ice, RX single valve catch can, RX breather, Pedders inserts, Trifecta tune, BBK LTH 304 SS. art/ärt/Noun. Definition: 5th generation Camaro.

10-02-2012, 12:36 PM	#6
JusticePete Drives: Camaro Justice Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Virginia Posts: 20,174	If your thread is going to become a sticky more people will have to contribute a lot more information. A great deal of what you're looking for is already available on C5, but lost in the thousands of technical threads. We have a book about the 5th Gen here on C5. This is the index. I hope you find it useful. Pedders 2010 Chevrolet Camaro Suspension Evaluation Foundational 5th Gen Required Upgrades Lowering Coils and Coilovers Trouble Free, OEM Quiet V6 Lowering Sway Bars Suspension Bushes ZL1 / CTS-V Brake Upgrade for the SS Wheels and Tires Bush Timing, Alignment and Torque Specs Pedders USA Camaro 2.0 Lingenfelter L/28 Tech 5th Gen Wheel Hop and Drag Race Setup Thermal Management Running Changes Made to the 5th Gen by Chevrolet Public Track Test #1 Public Track Test #2 Camaro vs. Mustang Supercar Shootout

10-02-2012, 05:06 PM	#9
lscamaro Drives: 2011 CGM Camaro LS A6 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 10,305	Since your a v6, I'd look into the Pedders Street 1 Package. That's for the subframe bushing inserts. You shouldn't need to do very many other bushings in a daily. It's for the v8 big power guys that other bushing replacements will make sense __________________ Click Picture for Build Thread

10-02-2012, 06:28 PM	#10
SixCyl Drives: 2010 Camaro CGM V6 Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Florida Posts: 694 View My Garage	Ok, I checked out the pedders street 1 kit and am leaning to it. But to leave doubts aside, is there any reason to choose the street 1 kit over the BMR street kit (BK20)? They both have the same inserts for the rear, the BMR has differential bushings for wheel hop but not front end inserts like pedders, while pedders has no dif bushings. Pros and cons people? i hope one day I know enough to help someone else out in this, lol. __________________ El gato. Mods: Eagle eye headlights, 18" Axis Sport graphite, Roto-Fab cold air intake, Vmax ported TB, 3/8" Vmax Black-Ice, RX single valve catch can, RX breather, Pedders inserts, Trifecta tune, BBK LTH 304 SS. art/ärt/Noun. Definition: 5th generation Camaro.

10-02-2012, 06:35 PM	#11
The Stig knows 2 facts about ducks Drives: ...and they're both wrong Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The HMS Invincible Posts: 25,072 View My Garage	Differential bushings won't really help with wheel hop, they are more to prevent the diff from moving around while under heavy load. It's the same concept as replacing your OEM engine mounts with solid ones. __________________

10-02-2012, 07:14 PM	#14
SixCyl Drives: 2010 Camaro CGM V6 Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Florida Posts: 694 View My Garage	Alright, cool. Looks like going with the BMR BK020 package seems pretty comparable to the pedders street 1 package at a lower price. Are there any advantages over having dif bushings compared to the radius bushings or vice versa? __________________ El gato. Mods: Eagle eye headlights, 18" Axis Sport graphite, Roto-Fab cold air intake, Vmax ported TB, 3/8" Vmax Black-Ice, RX single valve catch can, RX breather, Pedders inserts, Trifecta tune, BBK LTH 304 SS. art/ärt/Noun. Definition: 5th generation Camaro.