I'm thinking about this suspension setup for my 96 Z. I have Hooker LT's so ground clearance is an issue.

--LCA's
--Panhard Rod
--SFC's w/ driveshaft loop
--STB
--Larger front swaybar


I need advice on shocks and springs. I'm thinking of using the G2 springs because they seem to be the stiffest out there and don't have too much drop.

--Trax

 

I noticed this post sitting here with no replies.... the reason might be that it's hard to figure out what you're looking for. You speak of the car as a daily driver, yet you're contemplating putting the "stiffest possible" springs on it. When I think of a daily driver car, I think of moderation. I'd like it to handle a bit better than stock, but be soft enough not to beat me to death as I go over every little bump. So I think of parts that are not at the extreme ends of being either to soft (I'd buy a cadillac if I wanted one) or too stiff.

You and I of course could have a different definition of daily driver.

Dave

 

Well, the reason I mentioned the G2 springs is that they don't have a huge amount of drop to them. I just want to minimize bottoming out with the Hooker LT's.

As you can probably tell I'm not a whiz with suspension stuff I was more or less looking for responses like "I've got Hooker LT's and I use ___ springs and haven't had problems" or "Stay away from ___ shocks because I had 'em and they suck".

Basically, I want a little less body roll while not ruining my 1/4 mile times.

--Trax

 

Cool. So I'm with you on the LCA's, the Panhard bar, the SFC's and loop. Even the STB, though you may not notice a thing. I'd skip the swaybar, it'll be a negative for your 1/4-mile, and I doubt it'll help on the street. Put in some poly end links on your stock swaybars. For springs, I don't have longtubes but if I did I think I'd look at the 1LE springs, which are a bit stiffer than stock, but stock height. They'll firm up the handling, and keep you off the ground. Real stiff front springs are not good for drag racing at all, since they defeat the weight transfer.

Dave

 

Hmm, I might approach this differently. I'd keep your stock front springs and just upgrade your 4 shocks to something like Bilstein HDs. I'd then upgrade to 1LE sway bars front and rear. For drag racing I'd put V6 rear springs in your car.

Yes, a bigger front sway bar may slightly hurt you in the 1/4 mile, but the 1LE only weighs about 1 lb. more than a stock sway bar and will help significantly reduce your body roll, with minimal effect on your ride on the street. The bigger rear sway bar will help some with your weight transfer and the V6 rear springs will help you to squat a little more.

I'd also consider changing out your stock LCAs for one with a rod end/poly bushing combo. Pair that with some relocation brackets and put it one notch down for a good launch and I think you'd be surprised at the change. If you don't lower your rear end though, you might have to experiment to see if changing your rear LCA mounting point one notch lower hurts your handling. It's good to plant your rear tires for drag racing though.

 

Weight isn't why it hurts you in the 1/4, people unhook those things at the track remember

 

Agreed, just wanted to point out the weight. That's why I mentioned using a 1LE rear sway bar also, since many of the drag guys run a larger rear sway bar to help with traction anyway. If he's really a drag guy, all he has to do is loosen his front endlinks before he goes to the drag strip.

Throw an airbag in the rear and some Nittos for traction, and watch out!

 

Good input Mike. It would be interesting to drive cars with both of those setups and see how they really feel.

Dave

 

I understand that there's an advantage to using V6 front springs at the strip, in that they let the front rise a bit more. Up to the point where top end aero with the nose up a bit might start to hurt you, anyway. In daily use, those softer front springs might well be sufficient cause for swapping in a little more front bar to maintain the handling balance.

But I'm a little puzzled concerning how V6 rear springs would help your 1/4. With a TA suspension you lose anti-squat as the rear ride height drops. So it seems to me that if anything you'd want stiffer rear springs in order to keep as much rear ride height (and consequently as much anti-squat) as possible for as long as possible.

Norm

 

it you don't want any drop, just get some 1le springs...that's what i have waiting for installation...those combined with some bilstein HD's and stiffer swaybars should make one fine handling machine