Am I on the right track?

[DAS BOOT]

Alright I have a 2k v6, with 65k, original suspension.


alright about a week ago at an autocross, toped off in 2nd at around 50-60ish. then came up on a turn, I braked hard, not a stab on the brakes that would lead to lockup but I eased into them, the nose dives, and I obviously shifted weight forward, but the rear I assume locked up or something, and started hopping.

Feels just like bad wheel hop on a launch. But I am under hard braking. Either way its pretty violent, so much so, it broke the upper bolt on my torque arm clamshell at the autocross.


I have since fixed that but still felt it last night under some similar conditions testing things out on the street.



SO whats up? Is my suspension too soft and I am getting too much weight transfer? Do I need at least new shocks? Possible new shock/spring combo.(car is stock at the moment).

[Vracer111]

Re: Am I on the right track?

That is pretty much how an F-body reacts under hard braking on autocross courses in certain situations where the rear end locks up first, even with a good suspension setup. Best thing to do first would be get better shocks (I garantee with 65k miles on them the stock shocks are DEAD and useless) to help control the rear axle then better pads up front to take on more of the braking duty so they will lock up before the rears do.

[DAS BOOT]

Re: Am I on the right track?

That is pretty much how an F-body reacts under hard braking on autocross courses in certain situations where the rear end locks up first, even with a good suspension setup. Best thing to do first would be get better shocks (I garantee with 65k miles on them the stock shocks are DEAD and useless) to help control the rear axle then better pads up front to take on more of the braking duty so they will lock up before the rears do.

I know the shocks is part of it, I know the rear will lock up, I don't mind so much, its part of the nature of the f-body but what kills me is the wheel hop, its violent as hell, I can control the car still but I broke something at the autocross, and see breaking something again. Which sucks when you are some 60-70 miles from home at an autocross LOL

I don't think brakes will really help, I am pulsing the ABS, on the fronts, so my brakes are already exceding my tires grip.

[Vracer111]

Re: Am I on the right track?

Oh wait...what tires are you running, the stock Goodyears? That would be THE major problem right there! I was assuming you had good, sticky, autocross tires on... "stock" tires are not good to run if you want to minimize axle hop! You should get some sticky tires on your F-body!

So my revised suggestion would be:
1. New better shocks
2. New better tires
3. Then better front brake rotors

I have only felt the ABS briefly come on once in my Camaro under extreme braking along with rear axle hop (offcamber turn with gravel). It has yet to do it again - I run 275/40-17 Nitto NT-555RII all around with Hawk HP+ pads front and HPS pads rear and locking the brakes is very hard to do! It will slow down nearly instantaneously though! Easing hard onto the brakes works well to slow down the car...

[V6Bob]

Re: Am I on the right track?

Oh wait...what tires are you running, the stock Goodyears? That would be THE major problem right there! I was assuming you had good, sticky, autocross tires on... "stock" tires are not good to run if you want to minimize axle hop! You should get some sticky tires on your F-body!

So my revised suggestion would be:
1. New better shocks
2. New better tires
3. Then better front brake rotors

I have only felt the ABS briefly come on once in my Camaro under extreme braking along with rear axle hop (offcamber turn with gravel). It has yet to do it again - I run 275/40-17 Nitto NT-555RII all around with Hawk HP+ pads front and HPS pads rear and locking the brakes is very hard to do! It will slow down nearly instantaneously though! Easing hard onto the brakes works well to slow down the car...

Excellent advice.

[DAS BOOT]

Re: Am I on the right track?

yep stockers I used to run 275s, but they died sold those wheels and moved to a set of stock style(yokohamas) on 16x8s.

bah oh well guess I will stick to the conclusion that this car is a POS, and focus on getting a project car, since I cannot run this in a stock class.

[Vracer111]

Re: Am I on the right track?

The 4th Generation Camaro is a pretty good GS car when set up right. Big anti-roll bar up front, good shocks (Koni SA or even DA), and DOT race rubber would work great for it.

A completely stock 4th gen does kind of suck to autocross. I ran the first event with the Camaro completely stock. The Goodyears were rubbing on the rear fender lips because of the blown junk shocks Camaro come with. Just changing out to Koni Sports was a major improvement, no more tire rubbing and better control. Come to think of it, the big nose dives you mention would be mainly from the stock junk shocks. Koni SA would really help out with controlling the weight transfer front-to-rear and get rid of excess body movement (Here is a video link showing my cars movement on stock springs with Koni SA's - Note: the car is lightened nearly 200lbs, has the Hotchkis Sport ARB set, and is running on 275/40-17 Nitto NT-555RII's all around.) Getting a second set of 16x8 alloys with Yokohama ES-100s helped out with handling even further. The brakes are what is really amazing with the 98+ F-body....great pads with stock rotors and stick tires = eyeballs coming out of sockets as you come to a halt!

Are you in the Denver area? Reason I'm asking is that (as of now unless something changes) I've registered for the October 7th event since I'll be in the area. If you want to ride along I wouldn't mind it - though it wouldn't be the Camaro I'm bringing. It's a little quicker and more fun though! :)

P.S. Should I be concerned about driving in snow in October in central/northwest Colorado? I don't have snow tires just high performance Hankook R-S2 Z212's on this daily driver.

[DAS BOOT]

Re: Am I on the right track?

Nope nowhere near colorodo actually just a fake location :)


I do not run SCCA, I run a seperate club... their stock class, you have to remain 100% stock/stock replacement to be stock. I was planning to stay stock, and run the stock class, I did pretty well, only down by a 1 second from winning my class. And it was my first autocross in about a year, with my car setup as is.

I only got 2 runs vs. everyone elses 4.


but oh well looks like I will focus on just getting another car to race.

[V6Bob]

Re: Am I on the right track?

Are you in the Denver area? Reason I'm asking is that (as of now unless something changes) I've registered for the October 7th event since I'll be in the area.
P.S. Should I be concerned about driving in snow in October in central/northwest Colorado? I don't have snow tires just high performance Hankook R-S2 Z212's on this daily driver.

Denver/east of Denver, it would be weird to have enough snow to stick on the road in October. West of Denver, it depends on the altitude and time of day. Sticking snow during the daytime is not likely, but possible.