Need oppinions for Suspension Upgrades...

[Need4Camaro]

I have a 2002 Pontiac Firebird W68. It has ground effects and the fronts scrape pretty easily even on my stock suspension. I hear that going to LS1 front spring will actually LIFT my car.

I want to know if I got a LOWERING Kit for an LS1 car, can I in turn get the same ride height as I currently do but a stiffer spring? I'm asking cuzz I'm going to be putting a V8 in it and while its all apart I wanna upgrade the suspension...If I get a V8, I don't want my car to sag...

If I got a LS1 Spring, with the V8, will it ride at stock height? I don't really have much taste to lower it much more than it already is... MAYBE the rear can come down alittle bit but I'll be scraping all the time if it was any lower...

Also will I be able to make my car handle at night stock height with better shocks / swaybars?

I also wanted to know, do Springs ever wear out and should they be replaced after awhile? Maybe I should replace mine?

[skimphish]

Re: Need oppinions for Suspension Upgrades...

I got Strano's 1.2" lowering kit for my car and the front is even with the rear on my V6. His springs arent really specified for a V8 or a V6. I really think the only springs that will give you lift are the stock V8 springs, and in all honesty they probably wont lift you considerably. So really I think if you are going to put a V8 in the car you might as well just get stock replacement springs for a V8.

Im not sure what "handle at night stock height with better shocks / swaybars" means... But if you are going to be replace the springs go ahead and replace the shocks and if you want upgrade the sway bars. For shocks either Bilstiens or Koni's, but Koni's are damn expensive and also lower the ride height.

And yes, springs wear out. There is no "you have x many miles on your car, you need to replace the springs," but I have read that pretty much our springs dont last long at all. My 97 has 80k on the clock, and I just updated pretty much the whole suspension. I did Strano 1.2" lowering springs, Bilstien shock, UMI lower control arms, and a 32mm front sway bar. Ill be getting a new panhard bar and subframe connectors here soon.

I hope this answered your question, it was kinda hard to understand what exactly you were looking for. In short, if you are going to put a v8 in it, put v8 springs in it. The v8 springs may lift the front of the car up 1/2" when it has a v6 in it.

[Need4Camaro]

Re: Need oppinions for Suspension Upgrades...

I got Strano's 1.2" lowering kit for my car and the front is even with the rear on my V6. His springs arent really specified for a V8 or a V6. I really think the only springs that will give you lift are the stock V8 springs, and in all honesty they probably wont lift you considerably. So really I think if you are going to put a V8 in the car you might as well just get stock replacement springs for a V8.

Im not sure what "handle at night stock height with better shocks / swaybars" means... But if you are going to be replace the springs go ahead and replace the shocks and if you want upgrade the sway bars. For shocks either Bilstiens or Koni's, but Koni's are damn expensive and also lower the ride height.

And yes, springs wear out. There is no "you have x many miles on your car, you need to replace the springs," but I have read that pretty much our springs dont last long at all. My 97 has 80k on the clock, and I just updated pretty much the whole suspension. I did Strano 1.2" lowering springs, Bilstien shock, UMI lower control arms, and a 32mm front sway bar. Ill be getting a new panhard bar and subframe connectors here soon.

I hope this answered your question, it was kinda hard to understand what exactly you were looking for. In short, if you are going to put a v8 in it, put v8 springs in it. The v8 springs may lift the front of the car up 1/2" when it has a v6 in it.

lol ooops, I made a typo...

I meant "Handle right at the stock height"

Basically I'm looking for a spring that will be stiffer and support the V8 weight but I don't really want to bring my ground effects much closer to the ground, they scrape pretty bad as is...

[pace2006]

Re: Need oppinions for Suspension Upgrades...

Since you're planning on swapping in a V8, look into picking up some lower mileage LS1 front springs. They will make the front end sit a bit higher if you install them with the V6 still in the car, but will level out with the added weight of the aluminum/iron LSx. That way you don't lose precious ground clearance on the front end with those ground effects. Or, once you've completed the swap you could even look at getting some stiffer 1LE springs. They'll give you better handling without sacrificing ride height.

If you swap the V8 and keep the V6 springs, the front will sit lower than it currently does and handling will suffer, as well as your ground effects. Stock rear springs don't matter between LS1 and 98-02 V6 since they have the same rates. If you want to lower the rear a little, you could look into doing the heater hose mod for about 1/2" drop.

And yes, springs can "wear out" after time and use. It all depends on how the car was driven or suspension maintained when it comes to how soon they start sagging.

Now, more importantly... what shocks are you planning on using with these springs? Assuming your thinking about how worn these springs are, then most likely those stock shocks are probably pretty worn. Also, what sway bars are you looking at using?

[ssms5411]

Re: Need oppinions for Suspension Upgrades...

Mines higher than stock using QA-1 adj. height shocks /300lb springs for the front, and QA-1 shocks and 1LE springs in the rear(they also have a complete shock/spring set for the rear for ride height( for the rear Qa-1's you have to make the lower mounting hole bigger which isn't too hard, I also have ground effects too (front is molded on) so I wanted it to be higher, plus for the under tub. K turbo setup I will one day put on. For handling their outstanding since their also adj. , for more handling SFC's , STB , and sways 32mm/19mm would be great , I run a 32mm hollow and a 21mm 1LE rear which to my taste is outstanding. Also I have BMR chromoly LCS'a, panhardrod, LCA relocation brackets and a UMI tunnel mount TQ arm(TQ arm is mainly for straight line and traction) it will solve any traction issues, I run my pinion angle at -2 degrees and it will dead hook eveytime.