Installing my Bilsteins and Hotchkis tomorrow... *UPDATED W/ PICS*

[RancidCamaro]

Tomorrow morning my friend and I will be installing my bilstein HDs and Hotchkis springs... I'll be sure to post lots of pictures and detailed information about the install - wish me luck! (Pictures further down...)

[ March 17, 2004, 06:47 PM: Message edited by: RancidCamaro ]

[RancidCamaro]

They're all in! It lowered the car and leveled it off so the front is even with the back now! I like it a LOT! I'll post pics as soon as possible..

It took a lot longer than I thought. We worked at it from about 12:30 in the afternoon until about 7:00. Six and a half friggin hours! It was worth it though.

[John_D.]

Cool! [img]smile.gif[/img]

Yeah, it's a real chore doing the front shocks, with having to get that rusted nut off the top of them.

[RancidCamaro]

Originally posted by John_D.:
Cool! [img]smile.gif[/img]

Yeah, it's a real chore doing the front shocks, with having to get that rusted nut off the top of them.

I had heard about people having problems with that rusted nut, but I never figured it would've been that bad! The first one we managed to get undone just fine with a little elbow grease, but the second one we had to take a hacksaw to. :mad:

[redbird00]

i've got bilsteins and the slp eibach springs goin on soon, i wanna see some pics, and how much lower are the hotchkis springs, the slp eibachs are 3/4"-1" lower...

merlin

[RancidCamaro]

Originally posted by redbird00:
i've got bilsteins and the slp eibach springs goin on soon, i wanna see some pics, and how much lower are the hotchkis springs, the slp eibachs are 3/4"-1" lower...

merlin

The Hotchkis lower it an inch. It looks VERY nice without going too low. It's still very driveable, I'll have some pictures on Saturday, Windows 98 doesn't seem to have an interface for this card reader from the digital camera...

[RancidCamaro]

Well, nevermind what I just said. I found some drivers for the card reader, and here are the pictures:
http://66.176.212.137/tom/temp/sideview.jpg
http://66.176.212.137/tom/temp/reardriverangle.jpg

Compare it to when it wasn't lowered...

http://66.176.212.137/tom/camaro/camaroweb1.jpg

[tbird31]

Do you feel a big improvement in handleing and overall feel? I have almost decided to get Eibach springs and Koni shocks, but if I find something that doesn't go too low and is more affordable then Eibach and Koni's I would love it.

[RancidCamaro]

Originally posted by tbird31:
Do you feel a big improvement in handleing and overall feel? I have almost decided to get Eibach springs and Koni shocks, but if I find something that doesn't go too low and is more affordable then Eibach and Koni's I would love it.

The handling is MUCH better, the ride is extremely stiff but I still don't have to slow down excessively or go angled over speed bumps.

The entire package deal cost about 550 dollars after shipping charges. I got the shocks from bimmerparts.com and the springs from tbyrne while they had a sale going on.

[Max2k1Camaro]

Looks great! Love those wheels!

[black98V6]

man that is a sharp looking car!! [img]graemlins/rock.gif[/img]

[wantmorepower]

very nice. WTG

[MrCoffee]

Rancid, how hard was it to do? did you have to get an alignment afterwords? Is there a site with instructions or did you know what you were doing?

[Mike Bobo]

Sweet, Looks a lot better! Love the rims too.

Mr.Coffee...maybe this can help, it helped me!
http://www.houston-f-body.org/tech/shocks/index.htm

[RancidCamaro]

Originally posted by MrCoffee:
Rancid, how hard was it to do? did you have to get an alignment afterwords? Is there a site with instructions or did you know what you were doing?

Thanks for all of the compliments!

I really thought I would need an alignment afterwards, but I haven't gotten one and it's still driving straight. I still plan on getting an alignment the moment I have a little money (spent all of my money on the shocks and springs!).

That site that is posted just above this one is the one I used as a guideline, however the install didn't quite go exactly as listed on that page. I needed the help of three of my friends at the points where I was compressing the fronts springs to get the old ones off of the shock assembly and put the new ones on. The fronts REALLY ARE A PAIN IN THE ***! However, to do the entire rear took maybe an hour. I didn't have my camera with me at the time we were installing it, but it generally went as posted on that link. One word of advice though - watch out for the first time you hit the brakes after reinstalling the brake booster! It takes a couple of pumps to rebuild the pressure.