The suspension on my car is completely stock, and the panhard bar was damaged by the previous owner (curb surfing maybe?), so the car doesn't handle as well as I'd like it to.

I was thinking of replacing the panhard bar, front sway bar, and rear sway bar with the 1LE equivilent and also installing SLP bolt in SFCs.

I figure for a daily driver, which I will never lower, this would be a good (read: proven) combo to install.

Anyone have a 1LE? What do you think of the handling?
Anyone have the SLP bolt in SFCs installed? Thoughts on them?

Thanks for any input,
Thomas.

 

The 1LE bars will decrease sway and SFCs will help keep the body from twisting.

 

I think that this would be better asked in the Autocross and Road Racing forum. Those guys are the suspension and handling gurus.

 

If you get SFC's make sure you get the weld in type.

 

LOL! Thanks for the input Shoebox ..... I guess what I was really asking, is the SLP and 1LE stuff worth the $$ against other typical aftermarket companies like BMR, Hotchkins, or any of the several companies who make these parts.

Why do you say the weld in type? I thought the bolt ins would be sturdy enough for what I am using the car for (daily driver); and I'd be able to remove them if I wanted to (if I bought a newer Fbody) Do people have problems with bolt in SFCs ..... do they loosten over time?

Thomas.

 

Bolt-on SFCs would be ideal if you are mostly drive on the street. If you plan on taking on autocrossing or drag racing often, then go with the weld-on type.
Also, the best things you can do to your car to improve handling will be a decent set of shocks (Bilsteins for example), springs (1LEs are nice, but they RAISE the car, I have 'em on mine) and a 32mm front swaybar. Wouldn't hurt to replace that crappy panhard bar either. Good luck.

 

Heh, I guess my response was a little generic.

I think the 1LE sway bars are a good value and work well. I would get the BMR or Spohn panhard/LCAs if you want. Bolt in SFCs may be ok as long as you keep an eye on them, so no bolts come loose or holes wallow out.

 

Thanks for the input guys, I appreciate it.

That's interesting that the 1LE springs will raise the car. I guess they're probably a little stiffer than the standard Camaro though .... Oh well, I've already replaced the shocks and struts with SLP take-offs, so I should be ok in that dept for a while. I plan to eventually do the springs and shocks -- but swaybars, panhard, and SFCs are first in line .

The hole wallowing and lostening is exactly what I'm worried about. I figure SLP probably has more experience designing stuff for our cars than anyone, which is why I'm willing to shell out $250 - $300 for SFCs on a daily driver; I just wanna be sure it's worth it before I do

Thomas.

 

how about a strut tower brace
looks cool and i heard it really stiffens up the front end
on one of our advertisers, they had an slp one for like 99$- not too shabby

 

You should check out BMR for the price their stuff is great. They also have many diff choices of each product. For example a strut tower brace can range from around 89 to 159dollars. Check out the Group purchase page and see if LS1speed is still got there sale goin on. The strut tower brace was going for 79dollars if i remember correctly. Anyway im pretty much a BMR fan and wouldnt think of getting anything else.
Peace
omar

 

You will want a stiffer front sway bar than the 1LE. The autocross guys like the 35mm Suspension Techniques bar but get at least a 32 mm bar.

 

over in road racing section, they have a post almost like this, some of the guys who go autoxing have a list of what the best mods to do and in what order.. helped me out

 

Since he said it was a daily driver (nothing mentioned about competition), seems the 1LE stuff would be a good combo. The front 1LE bar is 32mm.

 

I wasn't aware that the 1LE bar was that big but i would guess that since it's a hollow bar it probably is less effective than a similarly sized aftermarket solid bar.

 

90% of any cylinder shaped object's strength is in the outer 10% (if not less) so i doubt it makes that big of a difference