I just bought these springs, and a suspension techniques rear sway bar off of a friend. Know my question is I was told that you should put new (lowering) springs on with stock suspension. Because 1..your shocks are used a weakening and with the 1"+ drop the shock isn't "riding" in it normal position and will ware it out quicker (my car currently has 70,800 miles on it). 2..beings that your shocks are used and wore out, this will cause more weight on the springs and ware them out quicker. Is this true? Or deosn't it matter? My friend said it won't hurt anything just replacing the springs. Just curious. Also the springs have the number 3831..002 on them. Are these deffinatly the pro kit springs? I looked in Summit, and they have 3831..140?? Or are they the sport lines (I hope not)?
Also does anybody know the size of a Suspension Techniques rear sway bar? And is it any good?

Thanks for the replies!

------------------
'94 med. Quazar Blue, T-tops, m-6, 3.42 gears, random tech. 3" cat-back, airfoil, K&N CAI, Best 1/4 13.484 @101.2 mph. Best mph (1/4 13.628 @)103.34mph.

Mods since, Pro 5.0 short throw, 160 power stat, hpp3, motive 4.10, T/A rear end girdle cover.

276.3 rwhp
313 rwtq
Apperance: thick spoke c5 wheels wrapped w/nitto 555. flame ball shift ****, black camaro inlay
my website: http://bluebyu_94z28.tripod.com/home/

 

Why a rear sway bar, its a huge 25mm solid, that would be probably good for drag but not for road race, certainly if you left a stock bar in front! Theier front bar is a solid 35mm, also huge, noticeably heavy (30 some pounds).

The shocks as I recall have a life of 35k miles, they are not great shocks. I know Brent Franker said he had the Pro Kit and Decarbons and he seemed ok with that, this is argued again and again, frankly I wouldn't do it but I'm snooty and waited till I could get shocks to go with my chosen springs.

 

Thanks for the reply.

I got the rear sway bar because it was new/never used ($100), so I figured what the hell. So you wouldn't recamend putting on the rear sway? I would only be putting the rear for know, would it make my car handle worse? Same as the springs ($100), he had them but never used them. So I bought them along with g2 tubular lca ($75, he had them on the car) and a set of 94-95 slp 1 3/4" shorty headers with header rap on them and the y-pipe ($300, he had them on also).

Thanks

------------------
'94 med. Quazar Blue, T-tops, m-6, 3.42 gears, random tech. 3" cat-back, airfoil, K&N CAI, Best 1/4 13.484 @101.2 mph. Best mph (1/4 13.628 @)103.34mph.

Mods since, Pro 5.0 short throw, 160 power stat, hpp3, motive 4.10, T/A rear end girdle cover.

276.3 rwhp
313 rwtq
Apperance: thick spoke c5 wheels wrapped w/nitto 555. flame ball shift ****, black camaro inlay
my website: http://bluebyu_94z28.tripod.com/home/

 

He probably had it because most people don't use the rear bar, you can buy the front seperately new for about $135 or so I believe. I'd use the rear maybe for drag but not for handling, not without a huge front bar, and most people that use the huge bar setup have rather light springs.

 

Bluebyu,I believe it(about the shocks) I was told the same thing.I guess I'm snooty?B/C I also didnt want my pro-kit installed until I got new shocks,after receiving that info.Most expensive shocks I've ever bought,worth it!
Hey I dont know maybe they use different #s on boxes(maybe not)But on my box For the Eibach pro-kit numbers 3870.240 labeled on end of box also says Pro-kit.
They are black,I think the sport-line is red?
T.

------------------
_ _ ______________ _ _
Hella Clean Dark Green Metallic 98 3.8 L60E Coupe:Fast toys Ram Air,Holly filter,Whisper lid,Jet stage2 PCM,160 Thermo,Man.fan switch,Purple ice wetter,Eibach Pros,Koni adjustables,BMR sways,Prothane bushins,Transgo kit,Magnaflow cat-back.National Auto Sport ***. member/student.

 

A high pressure monotube shock adds about 40lbs of spring rate. The Decarbons are going to add a little less than that. So that is not a concern.
The Pro Kit springs have been changed. Like last year or the year before. I have seen red Pro kits. Thesed could have been the older ones. I dont think the Sportlines have changed so check to see if you have that part number.
Your stock shocks are not going to last long with the new springs at all. Plus you will definately lose performance.
Honestly in stock form a Koni SA shock would be your best bet as they are a Progressively valved shock that would match up to the springs best. Strano revalved Bilsteins would do the trick also.
Also the rear bar is HUGE!! I would cut your losses and sell it on E bay for what you can. I would NEVER run anything bigger than a 21mm bar on these cars.
I have a 35mm ST bar in front and a stock 19mm bar in back. Works great. I am even going to be working on a combo that would use a 17mm bar from a V6 car. A sway bar will try to lift the inside tire reducing forward bite/traction. Not good. There is a way it could be used and not reduce traction and possibly not be too big but it would involve some custom built brackets and welding etc. etc.
Good spring choice. Get a 35mm bar and good shocks. You wont be dissapointed. For street use the 21mm rear bar will make the car feel nice and flat and "tight". I just think it is too big for autocross.

 

I use the 21mm bar on the street, and ran my first autocross with it. I'm going to try the stock bar next event, the car was EXTREMELY loose, mostly from a throttle happy driver, but many have said that the fat rear bar doesn't help much.

 

Dave,

Are you going to the CCC event coming up? I drove up early for the last event, but it was pouring

If you want to go crazy I could try and give you a hand in switching the rear bar between heats. That would give you a good indication of whether it really is a throttle-happy driver (which you didn't seem to be) or an overly stiff rear (mine's too soft right now).

Dan

[EDIT] Logic should be my forte but is not...[/EDIT]

------------------
'97 Camaro Z28

[This message has been edited by lincmarkv (edited September 09, 2002).]

 

Your rear is too soft? What rate and bar are you using? I am at 500lbs in front with a 35mm bar and a 125 spring and stock rear bar. It is just right. Many time (almost always) a car that seems to push is because it is being over driven. Sam has said this about the 35mm bar for FS cars. If you overdrive it will push more. If you dont it will have more grip, turn in better and just be faster.

 

I should know better than posting a quick "rear is too soft" post here.

The car almost never pushes - as Dave saw (if he remembers) the only time it did was when I was a fool and overdrove the front tires.

It's actually more of a combination of feel, if anything, but I just haven't had the opportunity to really set the car up. Regardless, the feel is that the rear rolls significantly more than the front even with the SLP DD subframes. I have no lack of rear traction at the moment, so I figured stiffening might help the "feel" of the car, despite that the performance is quite fine.

Turning up the rebound helps the roll but hurts the actual traction. Hell, I might as well put a bigger sway bar back there - not like I've got an IRS or anything

But I'm not going to be doing anything anytime soon anyway, so the whole point is sort of moot.

Dan

[This message has been edited by lincmarkv (edited September 10, 2002).]