im looking not to lower my car but stiffen up the ride, i have 101,000 miles , i have a set of the 575$ bilstein shocks, but no springs...will i notice huge difference just with shock change? are stock springs about as good as im gonna get without lowerin

 

The 1LE parts are a great upgrade that maintains stock ride height. I am using them and like them a lot.

Rich Krause

 

Like Rich said 1LE springs are good, other manufactures like Hotchkins only claim a 1/4 or 1/2" drop.

I think SLP also offers some low drop springs.

 

I wanted to go with some 1LE springs myself, but I've read here a few guys saying that they actually raised their car a little bit.

I don't want to lower my car and I definetely want some better springs, so I think I'll go with the 1LE ones regardless. How much did they run you guys?
Thanks.

 

The 1LE springs are the same size and height but are stiffer. That will change the ride height a bit, possibly even raising it a small amount.

I could be wrong here (probably 93-97 numbers):
1LE front = 360#
1LE rear = 130-180#
Z28 front = 292#
Z28 rear = 112#

 

Couldn't it be that the suspension didnt settle yet when they came to that conclusion? I know when taking hte car off jackstands it takes a little while for the suspension to settle back, wouldn't it be the same with new springs/shocks?

 

I think that the 1LE parts are designed to give a stock ride height. IOW, the rate is higher, but the spring a little bit shorter so that the compressed height is the same. Anytime you replace old springs with new, even when they are "identical", the new springs will be taller. Springs take a "set" (unscientific term) after they go through the first few thousand cycles. That's why valve springs will lose ~10% of their seat pressure after use. Once this initial loss occurs, the seat pressure stays the same until the springs near failure. Same with suspension AFAIK.

Sorry, couldn't find the invoice for the 1LE parts.

Rich Krause

 

I don't know anything about the 1LE springs but the Hotchkis springs definitely lower the car more than 1/4" or 1/2", I would say that is more like 1 1/2.

 

do they still sell 1le susp parts? how can you tell if u ahve 1le stock? did it come stock?

 

I'm not 100% sure but this is what I know about the 1LE option.

The car has to be ordered with this option. The sticker that shows all the codes will have "1LE" on there somewhere if the car came that way from GM.

It'll have the springs, Koni shocks instead of the Decarbons, alum. driveshaft, the Goodyear GSC tires (ZR rated) with the 155mph speedo and the car won't have AC in it. It also will only come with manual windows and dr locks (no power stuff here) and I believe no cruise and just a basic radio and speaker setup (nothing fancy and no radio controls on the wheel also I believe). It may also only be avail with a M6 (no auto) and will have 3:42 rear gear with limited slip, it may also have a different posi unit (Auburn ?) than the regular V8 cars.

Feel free to correct me if I missed something or something's wrong.

I believe the later models (95-97?) you could get a 1LE with air.