Change the shocks or not? - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

MTSCustoms · 07-29-2019, 01:32 PM

I have a 2014 1le with 25k miles. I dont daily it, and I would like to be able to track it once or twice a year.

I already ordered the z28 trailing arms and RUCA mounts, and I am ordering the pedders front radius arm inserts, and aFe solid cradle mounts. Also going to have the aggressive street alignment done.

The bilsteins are back in stock, and theres also a couple sets of z28 shocks/springs on ebay for similar pricing.

What's the best option? Bilstein shocks/hotchkis springs, bilstein/stock springs, z28 shocks/springs, or stock 1le?

1 Long onE · 07-29-2019, 05:25 PM

I would not recommend the stock springs in any setup as this is the exact springs that come in a regular ss. The stock shocks in the 1le are good. You can get away with putting linear lowering 1 to 1.25in lowering springs on the stock shocks and that would be a cost effective option.

If you want the best you have to pay, all depends on how much you are willing to spend. I'm sure the other members on here can give you an idea of what is best for track use.

I changed my springs to 1.25 in lowering pfadt progressive springs(sold under AFE power now) as I daily my 1le and it dramatically improved my ride quality, so I can't give advice on the track setup but definitely don't keep the standard springs.

Matty Ice · 08-06-2019, 02:23 AM

Z28 set up if you want the stock ride height. Bilsteins with DSE springs if you want to lower it.

cdb95z28 · 08-06-2019, 09:55 AM

I am on the DSE springs/DSE anti-roll bars (Speed Kit 1)and Z/28 DSSV dampers and it's great. I track the car and drive it whenever the weather is good. The DSE springs are not as stiff as the Z springs so it rides better, but the Z dampers are stiff but not bad. I am running the DSE anti-roll bars full stiff at the front and I go back and forth on the rear either the middle hole or full stiff depending on how worn the front or rear tires are.

terry_b · 08-10-2019, 08:03 AM

I don't track my car (maybe someday) but I daily the hell out of it. I ended up going with the Pedders coilovers and I couldn't be happier. Everyone raves about the bilsteins, and I would really like to see what the z28 shocks are like... but I imagine they're very stiff.

I ran into some difficulty getting my Pedders dialed in at first. I was hoping to soften up the ride a bit as potholes are awful and the roads are pretty rough in MA. I actually found that trying to soften the damping on the Pedders was making the ride quality worse as it was very bouncy and unsettled. I ended up cranking the damping up to Pedders recommended settings and found that the ride quality - while ver firm - was much improved.

As a daily driver, I love the Pedders. Damping adjustment, ride height adjustment, and I could trade out the springs if I wanted to soften the ride.

07-29-2019, 01:32 PM	#1
MTSCustoms Drives: 2014 1SS 1LE 2012 FFR GTM Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Nashua, NH Posts: 37	Change the shocks or not? I have a 2014 1le with 25k miles. I dont daily it, and I would like to be able to track it once or twice a year. I already ordered the z28 trailing arms and RUCA mounts, and I am ordering the pedders front radius arm inserts, and aFe solid cradle mounts. Also going to have the aggressive street alignment done. The bilsteins are back in stock, and theres also a couple sets of z28 shocks/springs on ebay for similar pricing. What's the best option? Bilstein shocks/hotchkis springs, bilstein/stock springs, z28 shocks/springs, or stock 1le?

07-29-2019, 05:25 PM	#2
1 Long onE Drives: White 1le 2SS RS NPP Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Dallas TX Posts: 66	I would not recommend the stock springs in any setup as this is the exact springs that come in a regular ss. The stock shocks in the 1le are good. You can get away with putting linear lowering 1 to 1.25in lowering springs on the stock shocks and that would be a cost effective option. If you want the best you have to pay, all depends on how much you are willing to spend. I'm sure the other members on here can give you an idea of what is best for track use. I changed my springs to 1.25 in lowering pfadt progressive springs(sold under AFE power now) as I daily my 1le and it dramatically improved my ride quality, so I can't give advice on the track setup but definitely don't keep the standard springs. Last edited by 1 Long onE; 07-29-2019 at 05:57 PM.

08-06-2019, 09:55 AM	#4
cdb95z28 Drives: 2022 1SS 1LE A10 BCD WCT+PDR Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Johnstown, PA Posts: 3,749	I am on the DSE springs/DSE anti-roll bars (Speed Kit 1)and Z/28 DSSV dampers and it's great. I track the car and drive it whenever the weather is good. The DSE springs are not as stiff as the Z springs so it rides better, but the Z dampers are stiff but not bad. I am running the DSE anti-roll bars full stiff at the front and I go back and forth on the rear either the middle hole or full stiff depending on how worn the front or rear tires are. __________________ 2022 1SS 1LE A10 BCD WCT+PDR2014 1SS 1LE NPP RECARO SIM-SOLD1995 Z28 M6 GSC PGM-SOLD1975 NOVA COUPE 300HP 350 TH350 FLASH RED-SOLD "KEEP THE FAITH"-Fbodfather

08-10-2019, 08:03 AM	#5
terry_b Drives: 2014 2SS/RS 1LE Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Hudson, MA Posts: 1,390 View My Garage	I don't track my car (maybe someday) but I daily the hell out of it. I ended up going with the Pedders coilovers and I couldn't be happier. Everyone raves about the bilsteins, and I would really like to see what the z28 shocks are like... but I imagine they're very stiff. I ran into some difficulty getting my Pedders dialed in at first. I was hoping to soften up the ride a bit as potholes are awful and the roads are pretty rough in MA. I actually found that trying to soften the damping on the Pedders was making the ride quality worse as it was very bouncy and unsettled. I ended up cranking the damping up to Pedders recommended settings and found that the ride quality - while ver firm - was much improved. As a daily driver, I love the Pedders. Damping adjustment, ride height adjustment, and I could trade out the springs if I wanted to soften the ride. __________________ 2014 2SS/RS 1LE

08-06-2019, 02:23 AM	#3
Matty Ice Drives: 2015 SS/RS 1LE Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Milwaukee, WI Posts: 537	Z28 set up if you want the stock ride height. Bilsteins with DSE springs if you want to lower it.