Lowering springs/sway bars and warranty?

[JProberts]

Please forgive me and point me in the right direction if this has been asked...

How does adding lowering springs or sway bars affect the OEM warranty?

What part of the warranty if any would be voided, the suspension only?

Does GM offer any type of lowering package/sway bars? Could they be affiliated with a particular aftermarket provider?

What type of warranty normally comes with lowering kits?

Thanks

[Wilburbeest]

I would say the dealer you bought the car from would be the best source for this information. Don't just talk to some BS salesman though, talk to the service manager.

[Apex Motorsports]

Obviously, GM won't cover the springs and sways but other than that they would have to prove the suspension mods caused whatever issue you were trying to have repaired. There isn't much that that could be.

[JProberts]

I'm going to check with the dealer I go to when I get my oil changed and see if they offer some type of lowering kit and say bars or if they are associated with a manufacurer and how this mod would affect my warranty.

I know my dealer has told me that they are associated with SLP for the maggie and would honor my warranty if SLP did my maggie install so maybe they have this type of relationship with a suspension manufacturer.

Thanks

[black01_ws6]

I would go to 2 or 3 dealerships- or call. some dealerships are more forgiving than others. I would ask some of the GM people in your area.

[Info@PeddersUSA.com]

The Magnesson Moss Act is very specific on this issue. You can do anything you want on your Camaro without it voiding warranty. Now if something you put on caused the warranty complaint, then that would not be covered. Foir example, if you put on a gear shifter, and that gear shifter casues a rattle, then that would not be covered.

There is a post here where someone put on some drop springs, and did a couple of passes down the track. He then complained of a pwertrain vibration. Now with all the testings that Pedders has done, we know 100% that a drop up to 2 inches will not create any powertrain vibrations. One dealership, and I assume they have no experience with mods, did not want to look at it until the coils were put back to OE because they thought there could be a relationship. But you put in drop coils and sway bars and you have a tranny, engine concern, etc, legally they cannot deny you. Now if you put in a supercharger and your tranny goes out, they can find out the hp of the supercharger and compare it to the max hp the tranny is worth and make a direct link. GMPP in fact does this automatically and will no longer cover the powertrain, but will continue to cover other components.

mike
dms

[JProberts]

Originally Posted by dms

The Magnesson Moss Act is very specific on this issue. You can do anything you want on your Camaro without it voiding warranty. Now if something you put on caused the warranty complaint, then that would not be covered. Foir example, if you put on a gear shifter, and that gear shifter casues a rattle, then that would not be covered.

There is a post here where someone put on some drop springs, and did a couple of passes down the track. He then complained of a pwertrain vibration. Now with all the testings that Pedders has done, we know 100% that a drop up to 2 inches will not create any powertrain vibrations. One dealership, and I assume they have no experience with mods, did not want to look at it until the coils were put back to OE because they thought there could be a relationship. But you put in drop coils and sway bars and you have a tranny, engine concern, etc, legally they cannot deny you. Now if you put in a supercharger and your tranny goes out, they can find out the hp of the supercharger and compare it to the max hp the tranny is worth and make a direct link. GMPP in fact does this automatically and will no longer cover the powertrain, but will continue to cover other components.

mike
dms

Thanks for the info mike.

[JusticePete]

While Mike's information is accurate it is not complete. The dealer you work with has a lot of influence on what impact your modifications will have with warranty. Way back when when Mike was a Dealer I blew out a tranny seal in my highly modified SEMA GTO. The leak sprayed a light mist of oil on the exhaust and had me smoking like a bandit going through the mountains. I pulled into Mike's shop and left the GTO. Mike had a GM rep in a day or too later. He showed the rep my car. Told him all about the mods and the way I drive, but wanted him to see the usual failure. The GM rep approved a warranty repair telling Mike it should not have failed so GM would cover it!!!!!

I know I was not expecting warranty coverage. I doubt Mike was. The point is a Dealer can help you or hurt you with warranty, especially when you are in a gray area. Say you installed lowering coils and your radius arm ball joint fails at 15K. Is it the lowering coils or was it a bad part? That is a very fair question. My answer would be it was a bad part, but that doesn't make me right. The good news is that the areas of warranty your lowering coils and sway bars might impact are relatively inexpensive. If you get left holding the bag, right or wrong it shouldn't be for anything that would break the bank.

Under the Magnuson moss Act in theory GM has to prove your mod caused the problem. Because of their resources you might have an uphill battle with a ball joint. If your air conditioning stops working GM would have a real stretch trying to convolute lowering coils or sway bars into an AC failure. There are gray areas in most all warranty terms and conditions. We just want you to be fully aware of your rights and possible problems you may face. With your GM Dealer on your side, your position will most certainly be stronger.

[JProberts]

Originally Posted by JusticePete

While Mike's information is accurate it is not complete. The dealer you work with has a lot of influence on what impact your modifications will have with warranty. Way back when when Mike was a Dealer I blew out a tranny seal in my highly modified SEMA GTO. The leak sprayed a light mist of oil on the exhaust and had me smoking like a bandit going through the mountains. I pulled into Mike's shop and left the GTO. Mike had a GM rep in a day or too later. He showed the rep my car. Told him all about the mods and the way I drive, but wanted him to see the usual failure. The GM rep approved a warranty repair telling Mike it should not have failed so GM would cover it!!!!!

I know I was not expecting warranty coverage. I doubt Mike was. The point is a Dealer can help you or hurt you with warranty, especially when you are in a gray area. Say you installed lowering coils and your radius arm ball joint fails at 15K. Is it the lowering coils or was it a bad part? That is a very fair question. My answer would be it was a bad part, but that doesn't make me right. The good news is that the areas of warranty your lowering coils and sway bars might impact are relatively inexpensive. If you get left holding the bag, right or wrong it shouldn't be for anything that would break the bank.

Under the Magnuson moss Act in theory GM has to prove your mod caused the problem. Because of their resources you might have an uphill battle with a ball joint. If your air conditioning stops working GM would have a real stretch trying to convolute lowering coils or sway bars into an AC failure. There are gray areas in most all warranty terms and conditions. We just want you to be fully aware of your rights and possible problems you may face. With your GM Dealer on your side, your position will most certainly be stronger.

Thanks for the feedback, really appreciate it. So I can feel safe since this isn't a major mod and would like to have my dealership do the install but just not sure if they would be my best choice.

Would I be better off going to a shop that specializes in suspension or performance work rather than going to a dealership?

I'm thinking the dealership becasue if they are friendly about putting them on than they may be more willing to work with me down the road in the event of an issue with these parts?

What do you think?

Thanks

[JusticePete]

Originally Posted by JProberts

Thanks for the feedback, really appreciate it. So I can feel safe since this isn't a major mod and would like to have my dealership do the install but just not sure if they would be my best choice.

Would I be better off going to a shop that specializes in suspension or performance work rather than going to a dealership?

I'm thinking the dealership becasue if they are friendly about putting them on than they may be more willing to work with me down the road in the event of an issue with these parts?

What do you think?

Thanks

I like how you are thinking. If your dealership would like some technical advice on how to do the lowering job tell them to call my office and ask for tech support 248.522.8021

[JProberts]

Originally Posted by JusticePete

I like how you are thinking. If your dealership would like some technical advice on how to do the lowering job tell them to call my office and ask for tech support 248.522.8021

Thanks, I will do that when the time comes.

I was just checking out your Sway bar and end link 48hrs sale. Do you also sell just lowering springs for the 2SS or just the coilovers?

[JusticePete]

Originally Posted by JProberts

Thanks, I will do that when the time comes.

I was just checking out your Sway bar and end link 48hrs sale. Do you also sell just lowering springs for the 2SS or just the coilovers?

Yes we do. You can find our store on our main website www.PeddersUSA.com or click on the link in the 48 hour sway bar sale thread.

[JProberts]

Originally Posted by JusticePete

Yes we do. You can find our store on our main website www.PeddersUSA.com or click on the link in the 48 hour sway bar sale thread.

Ok I see those now. Here's the thing, I found some lowering springs by a different company at a very good price and have already placed an order. My question is should I have any concerns using those springs with your sway bars and end link set-up?

My assumption is that the springs themselves should not adversly affect the handling and ride that the sways will deliver, thinking/hoping that the springs are the simplest part of the suspension set-up and should work well whatever sways and endlinks I add.

What is your opinion on using different lowering springs with your sways and end links? Will having the Pedders sways and end links make up for having lowering springs may be of a lesser quality...if that makes since?

Really don't think I am going to cancel that order at this point but want to know if its really worth taking avantage of your 48hr sale to work with these springs or if its a waste if I do not have the Pedders lowering springs?

Thanks again for all the info.

[JusticePete]

Originally Posted by JProberts

Ok I see those now. Here's the thing, I found some lowering springs by a different company at a very good price and have already placed an order. My question is should I have any concerns using those springs with your sway bars and end link set-up?

My assumption is that the springs themselves should not adversely affect the handling and ride that the sways will deliver, thinking/hoping that the springs are the simplest part of the suspension set-up and should work well whatever sways and endlinks I add.

What is your opinion on using different lowering springs with your sways and end links? Will having the Pedders sways and end links make up for having lowering springs may be of a lesser quality...if that makes since?

Really don't think I am going to cancel that order at this point but want to know if its really worth taking advantage of your 48hr sale to work with these springs or if its a waste if I do not have the Pedders lowering springs?

Thanks again for all the info.

There are a number of quality companies that make lowering coils for the 5th Gen Camaro. They will all be compatible with our bars.

That said, if you go through the forum you will see that the members have posted a range of reviews on all of them including Pedders. All companies have good reviews and reviews that list different problems. You can discard most of them as all reputable companies stand behind the product.

Pedders coils are different in a couple fo key areas.

1. Pedders has the tightest specification for variation on height at +/- 1mm. The industry acceptable range is +/- 15mm. 15mm is 5/8s of an inch. EVERY Pedders coil is measured at the factory and verified to be within +/- 1mm at loaded height before being placed in a Pedders box. Other companies that sell coils sell similar sets of coils under different names such as a 'Race Matched' set. To my knowledge, Pedders has the most stringent standards for loaded height.

2. Quality control is another area where Pedders stands out. We don't check 1 out of 1,000 coils or 1 out of a hundred coils or 1 out of 10 coils. We check every single coil. That is unheard of.

3. Our special alloy motorsport coils are cold wound. You will find that most motorsport coils are cold wound. Most aftermarket lowering coils are also cold wound. Pedders lowering coils are hot wound. We have found over the years that hot winding larger diameter wire used for lowering coils provides longer life in use. The coils retain their height longer and deliver consistent performance year to year.

4. Every single coil we make is fully scragged. That means it is fully compressed to permanently set the ride height by compressing the coil completely.

We are not perfect. We have our issues with manufacturing just like every other company. Because we are Pedders, when anything goes wrong we all get a bit excited. We expect to be perfect. Our customers expect us to be perfect. We do our best to deliver on these expectations. Here is a link to the Pedders coil plant at out Head Office in AU that shows every step in the process.

Pedders Spring Plant Video

Once again, there are a number of quality lowering coils available for the 5th Gen. We believe our coils are the best solution as should every manufacturer. Our bars and endlinks will work with Pedders or Brand-X. We appreciate you choosing Pedders Sway bars for your Camaro and Thank You for you business.

Welcome to the Pedders Nation!