Zl1 suspension upgrade - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

manumathew · 05-04-2014, 02:53 AM

Has anyone upgraded the suspension system of zl1.
Saw new sway bar and spring upgrade by eibach.
Pls share your thoughts on this matter.

URBAN LEGEND · 05-04-2014, 10:46 AM

The car is a handling champ and a magazine darling in that regard. I would spend money elsewhere. Money on power comes to mind.

white1LE · 05-04-2014, 12:33 PM

The only thing I'm replacing are the trailing arms and tie rods from BMR. Doing so to eliminate any possible wheel hop when I do end up getting stickier tires.

2014CamaroZL1 · 05-04-2014, 05:20 PM

Upgrade for what purpose ?

Nor Cal ZL1 · 05-04-2014, 05:28 PM

Based on what I have looked at under my car.

There is about 1/2 of an inch available drop before the suspension geometry camber gains would be reversed. As the cars sits stock the control arm is higher at the body pick up point and lower at the ball joint end. This results is a negative camber gain as the suspension compresses, and a loss as the other wheel extends. During cornering this aids to gain the largest contact patch and traction.

If lowered too far the arch the lower control arm would reverse the geometry and the opposite of desired effect would pull the camber towards positive as it compresses, and more negative as extended.

jessrayo · 05-04-2014, 06:36 PM

The only suspension upgrades I have are the solid subframe mounts sold by ADM. I have never experienced any wheel hop of any kind and have a 1.4x second 60 ft time.

The solid bushings increase noise and vibration when crossing railroad tracks or other hard suspension hits but handling is improved on hard acceleration with no hop. If you race at all I recommend them if all your driving is on the street, stock will be fine.

Z/28Dan · 11-21-2014, 09:19 AM

Someone thought it needed upgrading:

http://www.superchevy.com/how-to/pro...tall-and-test/

boondocksaint · 11-21-2014, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZL1Dan

Someone thought it needed upgrading:

http://www.superchevy.com/how-to/pro...tall-and-test/

Someone selling the upgrade.

To clarify: I have no idea.

BaylorCamaro · 11-21-2014, 11:29 AM

What is your goal with the suspension? Drag racing? Road course racing?

I did the Detroit Speed front & rear sways and front & rear end links. I noticed a large change on the track and I can navigate S turns & chicane's quicker. The sways definitely help if road course racing.

Based on a picture that was taken of me last track day braking hard going into Turn #1 I think stiffer springs would definitely help, look at how much the nose is diving!

DrkPhx · 11-21-2014, 11:59 AM

I noticed understeer when pushing the car hard so I installed the adjustable pfadt rear bar with billet sway bar brackets with poly bushings (front and rear) which definitely tightened up the handling.

jessrayo · 11-21-2014, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boondocksaint

Someone selling the upgrade.

To clarify: I have no idea.

It is the BMR suspension kit.

http://www.bmrsuspension.com/?page=p...344&superpro=0

ZO6 Bryan · 11-21-2014, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nor Cal ZL1

Based on what I have looked at under my car.

There is about 1/2 of an inch available drop before the suspension geometry camber gains would be reversed. As the cars sits stock the control arm is higher at the body pick up point and lower at the ball joint end. This results is a negative camber gain as the suspension compresses, and a loss as the other wheel extends. During cornering this aids to gain the largest contact patch and traction.

If lowered too far the arch the lower control arm would reverse the geometry and the opposite of desired effect would pull the camber towards positive as it compresses, and more negative as extended.

Not necessarily. Because the upper A-arm is shorter and the radius it travels in is smaller. The upper arm will continue to pull the top ball joint in faster than the lower ball joint under compression. You have to look at "instantaneous center" which is found by extending a line through the upper control arm mounting point and ball joint and another line extending through the lower control arm mounting point and ball joint. And then see where those two lines intersect out in space. It is a pivot fulcrum that constantly moves as the suspension goes through it range. Hence "instantaneous center"

Nor Cal ZL1 · 11-21-2014, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZO6 Bryan

Not necessarily. Because the upper A-arm is shorter and the radius it travels in is smaller. The upper arm will continue to pull the top ball joint in faster than the lower ball joint under compression. You have to look at "instantaneous center" which is found by extending a line through the upper control arm mounting point and ball joint and another line extending through the lower control arm mounting point and ball joint. And then see where those two lines intersect out in space. It is a pivot fulcrum that constantly moves as the suspension goes through it range. Hence "instantaneous center"

True but the ZL1 has no upper control arm on the front. Strut only.

ZO6 Bryan · 11-21-2014, 02:32 PM

05-04-2014, 10:46 AM	#2
URBAN LEGEND Drives: 20 X3M CP & 19 ZL1 1LE A10 Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Brenham, TX Posts: 3,517	The car is a handling champ and a magazine darling in that regard. I would spend money elsewhere. Money on power comes to mind. __________________ 🔺22 RS E TRON GT 🔺21 Model S Plaid

05-04-2014, 12:33 PM	#3
white1LE Drives: 2013 Camaro ZL1 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Dubuque, IA Posts: 880	The only thing I'm replacing are the trailing arms and tie rods from BMR. Doing so to eliminate any possible wheel hop when I do end up getting stickier tires. __________________ 13 ZL1 A6 LSX 427 with AGP Twin Turbos, E85 and Flex Fuel. Built and tuned by ADM Performance 1000rwhp

05-04-2014, 06:36 PM	#6
jessrayo Speed Freak Drives: 2013 ZL1 Camaro, 2016 Camaro SS Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Ardmore, OK Posts: 2,637 View My Garage	The only suspension upgrades I have are the solid subframe mounts sold by ADM. I have never experienced any wheel hop of any kind and have a 1.4x second 60 ft time. The solid bushings increase noise and vibration when crossing railroad tracks or other hard suspension hits but handling is improved on hard acceleration with no hop. If you race at all I recommend them if all your driving is on the street, stock will be fine. __________________ 2016 SS -AGP twin Borg Warner 7163 EFR's, LT4 mechanical pump, LT4 injectors, Walbro 255 low side, Castrol SRF. 734whp/759 tq 2013 ZL1 -ADM - 427 LSX 6 bolt, O-ringed block built by LME. Twin PT6466 turbos. RPM custom manual trans, RPS Quad carbon clutch, 9" Hendrix rear diff & axles. ADM/squash fuel system, Ron Davis radiator, Spal fans, AGP air to air, turbo plumbing. LPE oil cooler, rear bushing upgrade, roll bar...etc. rwhp 1400+... 212.5mph, best Texas mile to date.

11-21-2014, 09:19 AM	#7
Z/28Dan Drives: 2023 1SS 1LE Vivid Orange Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Fredericksburg, VA Posts: 2,678 View My Garage	Someone thought it needed upgrading: http://www.superchevy.com/how-to/pro...tall-and-test/ __________________ There are only so many days in your lifetime. So get out and drive your Camaro... Dan

11-21-2014, 11:29 AM	#9
BaylorCamaro Track > 1/4 Mile Drives: 2016 C7 Z51 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: League City, TX Posts: 6,072 View My Garage	What is your goal with the suspension? Drag racing? Road course racing? I did the Detroit Speed front & rear sways and front & rear end links. I noticed a large change on the track and I can navigate S turns & chicane's quicker. The sways definitely help if road course racing. Based on a picture that was taken of me last track day braking hard going into Turn #1 I think stiffer springs would definitely help, look at how much the nose is diving! __________________ Automotive YouTube Channel / Texas World Speedway / MSR Houston

05-04-2014, 02:53 AM	#1
manumathew Drives: 2014 camaro zl1 Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: dubai Posts: 64	Zl1 suspension upgrade Has anyone upgraded the suspension system of zl1. Saw new sway bar and spring upgrade by eibach. Pls share your thoughts on this matter.

05-04-2014, 05:20 PM	#4
2014CamaroZL1 Drives: 2014 CRT ZL1 Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Central NJ Posts: 712	Upgrade for what purpose ?

05-04-2014, 05:28 PM	#5
Nor Cal ZL1 Drives: 2013 ZL1 M6 Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Nor Cal Posts: 1,825	Based on what I have looked at under my car. There is about 1/2 of an inch available drop before the suspension geometry camber gains would be reversed. As the cars sits stock the control arm is higher at the body pick up point and lower at the ball joint end. This results is a negative camber gain as the suspension compresses, and a loss as the other wheel extends. During cornering this aids to gain the largest contact patch and traction. If lowered too far the arch the lower control arm would reverse the geometry and the opposite of desired effect would pull the camber towards positive as it compresses, and more negative as extended.

11-21-2014, 11:59 AM	#10
DrkPhx Drives: 2013 Triple Black ZL1 / 2006 TB SS Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: MN Posts: 2,250	I noticed understeer when pushing the car hard so I installed the adjustable pfadt rear bar with billet sway bar brackets with poly bushings (front and rear) which definitely tightened up the handling.

11-21-2014, 02:32 PM	#14
ZO6 Bryan Drives: 02 Z06, 95 Trans Am, 2012 ZL1 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Southeast Posts: 1,838 View My Garage	__________________ Bryan 2018 ZL1 M6