Question for you autocrossers more or less..

[Nikos95]

I am looking at starting to replace my suspension pieces. I am interested in putting the eibach pro kit on the car, but not too sure if its really worth having to do all the other parts..What are you running, do factory springs work well with just bilstein shocks and simple others like sway bars? I want to maintain a very well handling car, and get it a little bit stiffer without hurting anything but ride quality. I am not going to be drag racing this car at all, just track and fun on the hiway and such. I do need to replace my springs and shocks though, they are getting a little too worn.

[Vracer111]

Re: Question for you autocrossers more or less..

My autocross camaro's setup is as follows:

Koni SA shocks all around
Stock springs
Hotchkis sport swaybar set
BMR upper panhard support rod
Spohn adjustable Panhard bar with spherical bearings
Spohn rear lower control arms with spherical bearings
Hawk HP+ brake pads front/HPS rear with stock replacement rotors
17x9.5 Z06 replica wheels with 275/40-17 Nitto NT-555RII tires

Here's some videos showing how she handles:

Autocrossing (only change from above setup is the stock rear control arms were still installed at this time)

On Track (Camera has excess movment because I couldn't find the securing strap normally used when recording)

The only thing I would change is not bothering with the Spohn rear lower control arms; the stock control arms work well enough and you don't have to take care of them like you do with spherical bearings. Springs don't really wear out, but if you want stiffer rates the eibach Pro kits are very good ones to go with. Antiroll bars will help out a lot with the Camaros handling, go big in the front (32-35mm) no matter if you upgrade springs or not and experiment with the rear size that fits your taste (19-22mm hollow bars are popular with F-body autocrossers, if you upgrade rear springs you wont need as large a rear antiroll bar as if you don't). Tires should be a focus too if you are interested in having a well handling car. Whatever wheel size you are running you need a good, properly sized performance tire to get the most out of your suspension. Lots of good high performance tires out there, some inexpensive and some expensive - just need to research and make an informed purchase for what you are looking for in a tire.

So basically the only things I would see as necessities are (in this order):

1. Good shocks
2. Good tires
3. Upgraded antiroll bars
4. better brake pads
5. stiffer and adjustable panhard rod

Upgrading to stiffer springs is fine... but stock springs and monster sized antiroll bars is my personal preference for the V6 Camaro.

[Nikos95]

Re: Question for you autocrossers more or less..

More info than I expected! Thank you too much. Now I can't wait to finish this thing off so I can get to building my new Firehawk. Just looking at the springs more or less I say its time for them to go :)