Hey all. Finished converting my car to OEM 5-leafs (from monos), CE Slide-A-Link bars, solid bushings in the springs, poly in the frame rails, 1.5" lowering blocks, KYB shocks on all four corners, and stock springs (for now) up front.

The ride quality is terrible. I can feel every slight irregularity in the road. If I ran over a pebble I would probably notice! It's like riding in a paint can shaker. The road quality in Pennsylvania is horrible - that's not helping. On the few smooth roads we have, the car is ok.

What I really want is something tighter than stock but not a race car ride. I knew the aluminum bushings would probably be more than I wanted but they were required by the traction bars.

What would you guys suggest as a good compromise? I have Hotchkiss springs ready to go in the front. I was thinking maybe I would get the Hotchkiss rear springs, ditch the Slide-A-Links, and stick with Poly bushings. What do you guys think?

Chad

Dump the shocks........until they are up to 'running' temperature, they will ride like pogo-sticks. Hence the reason I never recommend them except for the 'thrifty' custom with a well stated warning on the ride quality.

Originally posted by chicane67:
Dump the shocks........until they are up to 'running' temperature, they will ride like pogo-sticks. Hence the reason I never recommend them except for the 'thrifty' custom with a well stated warning on the ride quality. ok what do you reccomend for an inexpensive shock

I think the Monroe 'Sensa Trak' is still available for the 1st Gen platform. :D

Chicane67,

Not sure exactly what you mean by running temp.

Where do you have the Slide-a-links set? How much free play do they have at static ride height?

I've never driven a car with 5 leafs so I can't judge how stiff they are supposed to be. I do know that the Hotchkis 3 leafs are pretty firm. I also know that though the KYB shocks are a good value for the performance, they can be overly stiff (in fact they are on the front of my car and I plan to be rid of them very soon).

I would suggest ditching the KYB's and installing a softer shock as a first measure. If still too stiff then you might want to consider swapping out springs. Traction devices can also add a measure of stiffness to the rear. I don't really need any traction aid with the Hotchkis springs, but I'm not drag racing!

Scott (w/69), passenger's side has 1/4" gap, driver's side has a little more gap to help keep the right rear from kicking out. Pretty sure it's not the bars. It bounces under all conditions.


Scott (w/68), I didn't think the KYB's would be so stiff. I want it firmer than stock but this is seriously overboard.

Anybody using the Sensa Traks that Chicane suggested? How about the Edelbrock shocks?

Thanks everyone.
Chad

Wow, I have the KYB's on all four corners and don't think they are all that harsh.

Of course I ain't driving a Caddy.......

What is the spring rate on those 5 leaf'ers?

Cfunk, I am in the same boat, I have Eibach springs up front, Hotchkis 1.5" lowering leafs in the rear, and KYB shocks all around and am very happy with the ride. I just put all new Dunlop tires on and that made a world of difference...

CFunk,

Don't know the spring rate on the 5-leaf. I just know they're stock replacements. As for tires I have Firehawk 235/60 on the rear and 205/70 on the fronts. Both are 14" rims.

Chad

I learned this years ago when I first installed my homemade "slapper-bars" on my car.

If they are set tight, my car rode like a wagon b/c they were sooo tight the springs didn't work, period!!

I backed off my snubber bolts until she only slapped when I wanted it to AND it improved alot!!

That and tire pressure helped ride quality a bunch.. pdq67

Spring rate is right about 135#'s for a stockleaf, either 4 or 5. The Hotchkis spring are still pretty light at 175#'s.....

The Edlebrock are very much like Bilsteins (its a copy of the design with the rebound valving basically taken out), and they cost even more than a Bilstein as well?....... So far I'm not a big fan.

What solid bushings are you using? And to re-question the slide-a-links being set at?

I used KYB's in the past with close to stock spring rates and it was great, because it made up for not enough spring rate. But I have found, or in my opinion, they get to be a little too stiff for above stock spring rates.......

Maybe this is from the type of solid bushings and/or slide-a-link adjustment?

Duplicate post

[ 08-01-2003, 07:23 AM: Message edited by: Granny's 69 ]

Spongbob,

Sorry to hear that you are disappointed with the ride quality on your new rear suspension. When I start working on the rear suspension soon, I will go with the Vettebrakes 3 leafs & the poly graphite spring bushings. I'm still undecided about shocks, but I have narrowed it down to either Bilsteins or Monroe Sensa-trac's (depending on the budget at the time).

I think I would try a different shock first like what was suggested and if that wasn't enough to tame it down, I think I would replace the Alum. bushings with Poly or Rubber.

Let us know what happens,

Mark P.

PDQ - The bars are set for street as CE suggests. I will take your suggestion and open up the gap some more.

Chicane - Using CE's solid aluminum bushings. ES poly in the frame rails. Bars are set to 1/4" gap at ride height on the passenger's side, a bit wider on the driver's side.

I'm going to go over everything again and make sure everything is adjusted properly. I'm hoping I don't have to change shocks.

Thanks guys,
Chad

Hey Mark, I am using the KYB's with the VB 3 leaf and the ride is fine. Not to harsh or soft. The VB spring rate is 130#

Thanks for the info. on the VB 3 leafs and the KYB shocks together.

I haven't totally ruled out KYB's, but I have a friend who works part-time at Autozone that can possibly get me some Bilstein's using his employee discount. :D


Thanks,
Mark P.

Mark,

I now have the Hotchkis springs with Bilstein's. Awesome set-up. I would defintaley go with the Bilstein's if you can get them at a discount.

Murph

Mark,

Can that offer be extended to "friends"? ;)

Hey all. Went through and checked everything and I think I found the problem. Not enough shock travel!

When I put them in I had the rear suspension compressed. That didn't allow me to see that at full extension I was 1/2" short of the upper mount.

Does anyone know the thread size for the top of the KYB so I can pick up some shock extenders?

Thanks for all the help everyone!

Chad

Spongebob,

I hear ya about the roads around here!!

I have a set of Edelbrock Performer IAS on my car. It sounds like we might be close to each other so if you need to we could swap shocks and you can see how the Edelbrocks feel.

Mike

Originally posted by Spongebob:
Hey all. Went through and checked everything and I think I found the problem. Not enough shock travel!

When I put them in I had the rear suspension compressed. That didn't allow me to see that at full extension I was 1/2" short of the upper mount.

Does anyone know the thread size for the top of the KYB so I can pick up some shock extenders?

Thanks for all the help everyone!

Chad That's not your problem and is normal on the Camaros I've played with!! From full extension without the shocks mounted I have to jack up the rear end about 1/2" before the fully extended shocks will fit and bolt up.

I think your solid bushing in the springs are what is causing the harshness. The other thing that may be a contributing factor is the lowering blocks and slide-a-link. The axle housing being dropped below the spring may be messing with the geometry of the slide-a-link itself in relation to the spring.

If I were trouble shooting for you I'd loose the solid spring bushings and the lowering block before making a decision on replacing the shocks.

Chicane is right! David Pozzi says the solid front spring eye bushings are way too harsh if I recall right...

If you are running them AND not S/F aluminum bushings...pdq67

Dennis, just when I thought I had it figured out!!!... graemlins/clonk.gif

Ok, so I'm back to my original plan of having the multi-perches welded in and the springs de-arched. That get's rid of the lowering blocks and corrects the geometry of the bars.

I'll see if that works. If not, I ditch the bars and pop for a set of Hotchkiss springs and use poly bushings. THEN, if it still shakes my teeth out, go to a softer shock.

Sound like a reasonable plan?

Mike, you're not very far from me at all. I'm just down 22 from you in Monroeville. Any cruises coming up that you know of? Maybe we can hook up.

Chad

Chad - I really think it's the solid bushings but if you want to prove out the lowering blocks just remove them and bolt the rear end back up and go for a ride. The back of the car may be a bit high but at least you'll know if it was the geometry of the traction bars causing the problem.

Spongebob,

I used to live there in Monroeville, University Park to be exact. Right up behind Jaden's. There's a car cruise every thursday at the Lamplighter on 22 in Delmont. I haven't been able to make it due to the weather and work. There's also a cruise down between PNC Park and Heinz Field this weekend. I'm not sure if I'll make that one or not. That should be a good one to go to. Aug 17th there's one at the Syria Mosque in Harmarville. It starts at noon. E-mail me and I'll try to hook up with you.
graemlins/beers.gif

How about just loosening up the Slide-a-links? It only takes a minute, tops. If they are set too tight, it rides very harsh, no give in the rear suspension. Believe me, I know.

Dennis, can't lose the solid bushings without losing the bars (according to CE anyway). I'd hate to do that unless it's absolutely necessary. I do have a set of Energy Suspension polys here if I need them.

In the mean time, I'll try opening up the gap on the bars. Weather has been unpredicable the last few days so I haven't had it on the road.


Mike,
Before Jaden's closed the restraunt part of the business, they used to have some decent cruises. Despite the fact that they only cater now, I thought they would still have shows since the owner is a pretty big gear head. I haven't seen anything going on, though.

I might try and make the Syria Mosque event. I'll drop you an email after I see what the wife has planned. Lamplighter is out for me this Thursday. It's supposed to rain - again. Hey, you're not driving a red 69 Z28 with black stripes are you?

Chad

Why not use Global West's bushings to loosen thimgs up a little....? They geometrically act like a solid but are much smoother than the CE bushings.

Chicane67, I hadn't thought about that. Do they make a Del-A-Lum bushing for the front spring eye?

Yes, but your gonna have to buy the whole kit, unless you can talk Doug out of just the front.

I can't wait to install mine ( once I get those killer 260 # springs )!