Need some info over here

[V6viper]

1998 Camaro V6

Time to replace all 4 shocks and the 2 struts. What's the best bang for the buck?

I have the stock struts/shocks on there now. I want better handling without swaying back and forth.

Basically I need to know if it is better to get an average set of shocks/struts and a sway bar, or spend the extra money on better struts/shocks and not get a sway bar.

Thanks

[Tru2Chevy]

Firstly, you have 2 shocks (rear) and 2 struts(front).

Please tell us a bit more about your car and how you use it before asking for recommendations.

- Justin

[foff667]

spend the extra bucks on some decent shocks/struts.

[V6viper]

Originally posted by Tru2Chevy:
Firstly, you have 2 shocks (rear) and 2 struts(front).

Please tell us a bit more about your car and how you use it before asking for recommendations.

- Justin

In order to have a firstly, you must have a secondly . You crazy kids :rolleyes:

And telling me to give more info about my car doesn't help at all. Ask a specific question if you need to know more info and please don't bother making irrelevant comments. I would like to get some useful info here. So just chill out Justin. :D

Back to important matters.

Everyone is saying that when they went to Bilsteins, they will never go back to anything else. But they are a little too pricey, I want new shocks/struts in the $200-$250 range. Anyone have any info here?

[Vracer111]

Originally posted by V6viper:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by Tru2Chevy:
Firstly, you have 2 shocks (rear) and 2 struts(front).

Please tell us a bit more about your car and how you use it before asking for recommendations.

- Justin

In order to have a firstly, you must have a secondly . You crazy kids :rolleyes:

And telling me to give more info about my car doesn't help at all. Ask a specific question if you need to know more info and please don't bother making irrelevant comments. I would like to get some useful info here. So just chill out Justin. :D

Back to important matters.

Everyone is saying that when they went to Bilsteins, they will never go back to anything else. But they are a little too pricey, I want new shocks/struts in the $200-$250 range. Anyone have any info here? </font>[/QUOTE]Well if you are looking for good handling you have to be willing to pay for a real quality product, such as Bilstein. Plus with Bilstein, their dampers are designed to perform at 100% for the life of the damper, not degrade over time...and the life of Bilsteins is 100,000+ miles. Compare that to the other dampers which noticeably wear down in less than 50,000 miles and the stock Camaro dampers which are toast in about 20,000 miles. You will buy a minimum of two sets of other dampers before you replace a single set of bilsteins - so take your choice of 'cheaper' dampers, double the price, and then compare to the Bilstein HD's. Personally I think Bilstein HD's are the best non-adjustable damper you can get - they absolutely bring up the handling level tremendously in my Tacoma and have been performing like brand new for 3+ years of autocross. Only reason I don't have Bilstein's on the Camaro is because I wanted adjustability for setting the car to different track conditions and the Koni Sports have an excellent racing history and reputation.

Dampers should be the best you can afford followed by tires if you want the best handling for your vehicle. You will be wasting money otherwise (and eventually spending more money) by going with inferior products. Bang for the buck choice I'd definately say Bilstein HD's; they are only around $90 each for fronts and $75 each for rears ($330 total). Koni Sport single adjustables will cost around $780 total and the double adjustables around $1300.

I wouldn't bother with a swaybar if you are going to cheap out on the dampers. Great dampers all around will dramatically increase the handeling over the old stock "junk" ones. It will not help out with body roll as much as increasing the front swaybar, but will keep the tires off the fender and rear from bottoming out on bumps like the stock "junk" ones.

[V6viper]

Interesting, so you're saying it would be better just to get some Bilstein HDs and forget the sway bar?

All I do is make sharp turns and the car sways a little, I am not racing on a circuit or anything.

I don't mind replacing the shocks in 50K miles if I can get a tight suspension.

What do you think would give me better stability and handling?

Sway bar and decent shocks?
Bilstein HDs and no sway bar?

[V6Bob]

"All I do is make sharp turns and the car sways a little, I am not racing on a circuit or anything.

I don't mind replacing the shocks in 50K miles if I can get a tight suspension.

What do you think would give me better stability and handling?

Sway bar and decent shocks?
Bilstein HDs and no (new) sway bar?"

The latter. Much of the "sway" you feel is your old shocks. Bilsteins not only last longer, they work better.

[V6viper]

thanks for the info, guys, i am going with bilsteins for sure

i am also adding a new sway bar down the line

[kristen]

bilstein made my car nice and stiff! i love it