Suspension Upgrades - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

Mustb1422 · 02-05-2021, 03:36 PM

I just bought my 2011 2ss/rs back in December and I'm looking at suspension upgrades. I'm not looking to make a track monster just a really nice handling summer car. I already have a set of ZL1 rims in tires. Looking at the 1LE package from GM or the BMR handling package 2 with Bilstein B6's. Which will be my best choice for 99% street use and 1% track ( road course, autocross, drag racing )? I took the car out once and noticed the wheel hop is bad, so I'll have to cure that as well.

Pearlj10 · 02-05-2021, 08:38 PM

You’ll probably get a bit more bang for your buck going aftermarket. If I were you, I’d start with the wheel hop issue. Curing that with trailing arms, toe roads, and perhaps LCAs will go a long ways towards improving the cars handling. Take a look at the OEM z28 rear UCAs as well, along with the more common suspension items that are upgraded. As almost all mod folks say on here, the rear cradle bushings are the weak link and you should go for at least poly bushing inserts or full aluminum.

KillboyPowerhead · 02-05-2021, 08:55 PM

Not sure the cost difference between factory 1LE and some aftermarket kit (such as BMR + Bilstein) but if you can get the 1LE kit for moderately less I'd probably go that route - for 99% street use you'll be more than happy. You'll need the 2012 - 2015 rear lower control arms to use the 1LE rear sway bar (highly recommended - completely transforms the car). I'd also recommend the solid subframe bushings - the difference felt between the old and new style rear bars is about the same as going from factory subframe bushings to solid - huge difference.

Mustb1422 · 03-03-2021, 06:19 PM

Went with 1LE factory kit, Z28 control arms and solid cradle bushings. Waiting for everything to arrive and start the upgrades.

Ashen 6.2 · 03-03-2021, 08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mustb1422

Went with 1LE factory kit, Z28 control arms and solid cradle bushings. Waiting for everything to arrive and start the upgrades.

Nice!

BT24 · 03-07-2021, 01:02 PM

I am in need of OEM rear cradle bushings. For anyone replacing theirs, I'd like buy your old ones.

gtstorey · 03-08-2021, 09:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BT24

I am in need of OEM rear cradle bushings. For anyone replacing theirs, I'd like buy your old ones.

I'm not sure you will be able to re-use them. They aren't really meant to be a serviceable part. Taking them out usually messes them up. I do think I remember one of the race shop suppliers (maybe Lingenfelter) used to have a source for the oem bushings.

Pearlj10 · 03-08-2021, 10:13 AM

BT24: I do not see ORM bushings available from Lingenfelter or any other high end suppliers. GM never sold the bushings separate from the cradle. Whiteline has some poly replacement bushings, not just bushing inserts (https://www.suspension.com/w93193) and I’m guessing BMR and others do too. But for all of the work required, I’d go aluminum for better performance. Those should be more quiet than poly, too.

BT24 · 03-09-2021, 01:05 AM

When I was tracking my 2011 2SS M6, I installed the GM 1LE suspension kit and poly bushings from JDP. After a single track day at Autobahn in the SS, I bought a Z/28 and decided to return the SS to the soft stock ride so I removed the 1LE suspension kit but I had discarded the OEM bushings. When I removed my OEM bushings I heated the cradle and pushed them out the bottom and they were definitely re-usable. If anyone else used the same method I could maybe re-use theirs.

By the way, I have the 1LE suspension kit 23123397 if anyone is interested in that. And when I re-install the OEM bushings (if I can find some) I'll also have the hardly used poly bushings if anyone is interested in those. The kit plus the bushings make a tremendous difference.

olblue75 · 03-09-2021, 03:50 AM

So there’s a guy with a set of JPSS sway bars those are the holy grail of sway bars an if you team it a set of B6’s you’ll have a solid platform. Now if you wanna get spicy get a set solid bushings don’t screw around with poly true solids won’t affect the ride quantity or cause any noise and them get you a set of Z28 upper rear control arms bushings they are solids vs the voided ones in all the other models. An stick with the square tire setup 285’x4.

gunchamp · 03-17-2021, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BT24

I am in need of OEM rear cradle bushings. For anyone replacing theirs, I'd like buy your old ones.

They arent re-usable. You have to basically melt them out

gunchamp · 03-17-2021, 01:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mustb1422

Went with 1LE factory kit, Z28 control arms and solid cradle bushings. Waiting for everything to arrive and start the upgrades.

God bless you for whats coming your way lol. The rear cradle bushings were the worst thing I may have ever done to a car. I build motors, rear ends ect and it took me like 12 hrs total to do those rear cradle bushings. I have some pics and steps to take in changing these out in my build thread that will help if you have never done them before. A 2nd person would make things much easier!

02-05-2021, 03:36 PM	#1
Mustb1422 Drives: 2011 2SS/RS Join Date: Dec 2020 Location: Canada Posts: 2	Suspension Upgrades I just bought my 2011 2ss/rs back in December and I'm looking at suspension upgrades. I'm not looking to make a track monster just a really nice handling summer car. I already have a set of ZL1 rims in tires. Looking at the 1LE package from GM or the BMR handling package 2 with Bilstein B6's. Which will be my best choice for 99% street use and 1% track ( road course, autocross, drag racing )? I took the car out once and noticed the wheel hop is bad, so I'll have to cure that as well.

02-05-2021, 08:55 PM	#3
KillboyPowerhead Drives: 2015 Z/22 Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 988	Not sure the cost difference between factory 1LE and some aftermarket kit (such as BMR + Bilstein) but if you can get the 1LE kit for moderately less I'd probably go that route - for 99% street use you'll be more than happy. You'll need the 2012 - 2015 rear lower control arms to use the 1LE rear sway bar (highly recommended - completely transforms the car). I'd also recommend the solid subframe bushings - the difference felt between the old and new style rear bars is about the same as going from factory subframe bushings to solid - huge difference. __________________ Overkill/Self Tuned; Mace Camshafts; K&N Typhoon Cold Air Intake; Ported 80mm Throttle Body/Intake Manifolds/Manifold Spacer; Solo Performance High-Flow Cats, Cat-back Exhaust; Vitesse Motorsports Throttle Controller; Elite Engineering E2 Catch Can; BC Racing BR Coilovers; JPSS Delrin Radius Rod Bushing Inserts, Sway Bars; Pegasus Aluminum Rear Cradle Bushings, Camber/Caster Plates; Z/28 Toe Links, Trailing Arms, Upper Control Arm Bushings, Rear Shock Mounts

03-07-2021, 01:02 PM	#6
BT24 Drives: 2011 2SS/RS + 2015 Z/28 Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: St Louis Posts: 16	WTB 5th gen OEM rear cradle bushings I am in need of OEM rear cradle bushings. For anyone replacing theirs, I'd like buy your old ones.

03-09-2021, 03:50 AM	#10
olblue75 Drives: 2010 2SS/RS Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Clarksville Tennesse. Posts: 6,155	So there’s a guy with a set of JPSS sway bars those are the holy grail of sway bars an if you team it a set of B6’s you’ll have a solid platform. Now if you wanna get spicy get a set solid bushings don’t screw around with poly true solids won’t affect the ride quantity or cause any noise and them get you a set of Z28 upper rear control arms bushings they are solids vs the voided ones in all the other models. An stick with the square tire setup 285’x4. __________________ Orange Krush II 1LE Front sway bar, Splitter, shocks and struts, Z28 dual mode mufflers, Intake, UCA Bushings, and Toresen 3.91 Diff. 1 piece DSS Drive Shaft, ZL1/C7 Calipers, and 32mm JPSS Rear Bar. ASC race spec splitter and wicker. 6th Gen M017 Wheels. Stainless Works 1 7/8 LTs. DSE and PAFDT Suspension components.

02-05-2021, 08:38 PM	#2
Pearlj10 Drives: 2011 Camaro 2LT Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: Az Posts: 369	You’ll probably get a bit more bang for your buck going aftermarket. If I were you, I’d start with the wheel hop issue. Curing that with trailing arms, toe roads, and perhaps LCAs will go a long ways towards improving the cars handling. Take a look at the OEM z28 rear UCAs as well, along with the more common suspension items that are upgraded. As almost all mod folks say on here, the rear cradle bushings are the weak link and you should go for at least poly bushing inserts or full aluminum.

03-03-2021, 06:19 PM	#4
Mustb1422 Drives: 2011 2SS/RS Join Date: Dec 2020 Location: Canada Posts: 2	Went with 1LE factory kit, Z28 control arms and solid cradle bushings. Waiting for everything to arrive and start the upgrades.

03-08-2021, 10:13 AM	#8
Pearlj10 Drives: 2011 Camaro 2LT Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: Az Posts: 369	BT24: I do not see ORM bushings available from Lingenfelter or any other high end suppliers. GM never sold the bushings separate from the cradle. Whiteline has some poly replacement bushings, not just bushing inserts (https://www.suspension.com/w93193) and I’m guessing BMR and others do too. But for all of the work required, I’d go aluminum for better performance. Those should be more quiet than poly, too.

03-09-2021, 01:05 AM	#9
BT24 Drives: 2011 2SS/RS + 2015 Z/28 Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: St Louis Posts: 16	When I was tracking my 2011 2SS M6, I installed the GM 1LE suspension kit and poly bushings from JDP. After a single track day at Autobahn in the SS, I bought a Z/28 and decided to return the SS to the soft stock ride so I removed the 1LE suspension kit but I had discarded the OEM bushings. When I removed my OEM bushings I heated the cradle and pushed them out the bottom and they were definitely re-usable. If anyone else used the same method I could maybe re-use theirs. By the way, I have the 1LE suspension kit 23123397 if anyone is interested in that. And when I re-install the OEM bushings (if I can find some) I'll also have the hardly used poly bushings if anyone is interested in those. The kit plus the bushings make a tremendous difference.