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  • Will Bilstein's make my ride more smooth?

    On my 01 camaro I have monroe sensatrack struts, and monroe shocks in the back. The springs are Eibac sportline lowering springs and I have 17's in the front and 18's in the rear with low profile tires. The ride is so harsh, you can feel every bump on the road, and it gets really emberrassing. Any thoughts to help improve the ride quality (besides switching back to stock) would be apperciated.
    Thanks!
    Michael
    Go Fast or Dont Go

  • #2
    Re: Will Bilstein's make my ride more smooth?

    bilsteins are more designed for performance than the stockers so therefore, they are probably harsher
    Monroe is what they sell at Oreillys and other auto shops
    2k2 camaro, K&N, SLP whisper lid, Konis, AEM, HP Tuners, Angel eyes/Halos, CF SS ram air hood, 4.10s, Zexel Torsen, UMI SFCs, CrossFire, BFGs, Gatorback, Catco, Flows, and TLC! DONT feed the Trolls!

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    • #3
      Re: Will Bilstein's make my ride more smooth?

      no, they will not improve ride quality.. personally, i dont care bout ride since i drive a performance car... they arent designed with ride as a primary concern. with the rims and tires you have on, you pretty much will have a rough ride no matter the shock.. there is just no give to those tires... you can try different shocks, and some of them might help.. but I believe its just one of those things that you're going to have to deal with if you dont want to switch rims...
      Phill<br /><br />95 camaro... need money for turbo project... <br />94 S10 Blazer - winter beater - infinity system to be installed soon<br /><br />\"The man who says it cant be done should not interrupt the man doing it...\"

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      • #4
        Re: Will Bilstein's make my ride more smooth?

        it will be a very stiff ride. that is what i have and it's very hard
        WAWA-A-HOLIC

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        • #5
          Re: Will Bilstein's make my ride more smooth?

          Originally posted by Mikey
          On my 01 camaro I have monroe sensatrack struts, and monroe shocks in the back. The springs are Eibac sportline lowering springs and I have 17's in the front and 18's in the rear with low profile tires. The ride is so harsh, you can feel every bump on the road, and it gets really emberrassing. Any thoughts to help improve the ride quality (besides switching back to stock) would be apperciated.
          Thanks!
          Michael
          The springs are most of the problem. If you want to keep those springs your ride is never going to be good.

          Bilsteins will help a little. Their "damping curve", how they react to bigger or smaller bumps, is better than cheaper shocks. If you are set on keeping those springs, they'll help enough to notice, but they won't fix your problem.

          Which is the springs.
          2000 Firebird convert, chameleon/tan, M5, Y87, TCS, BMR tower brace and panhard, KBDD sfcs, 245/50-16 GSCs

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          • #6
            Re: Will Bilstein's make my ride more smooth?

            Originally posted by V6Bob
            The springs are most of the problem. If you want to keep those springs your ride is never going to be good.

            Bilsteins will help a little. Their "damping curve", how they react to bigger or smaller bumps, is better than cheaper shocks. If you are set on keeping those springs, they'll help enough to notice, but they won't fix your problem.

            Which is the springs.
            ... which brings us to our next topic: "How much are you going to sell BobDoLe those springs for?"

            or even better...

            "I heard you want to trade your sportline springs for Bob DoLe's stock 2001 convertible springs."

            I work in Pleasanton.

            **EDiT**
            Nevermind, I just realized that your springs are not intended for use with my convertible.
            Last edited by BobDoLe; 10-03-2006, 11:06 PM.

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            • #7
              Re: Will Bilstein's make my ride more smooth?

              I just upgraded from 16x8's with 245-50 tires to 18x9.5/18x10.5 with 275-35/295-35 tires. I have the stock springs and shocks on my car, and the ride is a lot harsher than before, but it also handles alot better thaan before. If you want a better ride quality, you need quality shocks. BMW's have a smooth ride with 18's by using Koni shocks. You get some adj. Koni's and you'll be able to tune for ride comfort or handling. Also, any suspension pieces u buy aftermarket will reduce ride quality due to less flex and give. The only stuff that will improve the ride quality will be anything you do to stiffen the chassis. STB, SFC's, roll cage, seam welding, ect. will help due to less movement of the chassis when you go over the bumps in the road, they don't translate through the car as easily.
              2001 Arctic White Firebird<br />More mods than I\'m allowed to list!

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              • #8
                Re: Will Bilstein's make my ride more smooth?

                Thanks for all the help everyone. I guess my best bet would be to get some bigger tires when mine wear out. Sounds like the $350 for shocks wont make to much of a difference. I have already redone all the bushings with polygraphite ones and am soon putting on my lca relocate brakets. I know that wont help the ride much, but I will just have to live with the fact that it isnt a cadillac :-)
                Go Fast or Dont Go

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                • #9
                  Re: Will Bilstein's make my ride more smooth?

                  yeah... you'll get used to it like the rest of us. If you put in the poly bushings, itll definitely make the ride more rough. will help with handling though...

                  and in all honesty, i wouldn't change the springs to help. Sure, they might help a little, but your tires (in particular the lack of sidewall) that is the real problem. Your tires absorb a lot of the little bumps and imperfections in the road, before your suspension even has the chance to move. Putting on lower profile tires (which you have if you are runnin 17" and 18" rims) eliminates a lot of the helpful ride characteristics that you would normall have through your tires.
                  Phill<br /><br />95 camaro... need money for turbo project... <br />94 S10 Blazer - winter beater - infinity system to be installed soon<br /><br />\"The man who says it cant be done should not interrupt the man doing it...\"

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                  • #10
                    Re: Will Bilstein's make my ride more smooth?

                    Originally posted by Mikey
                    I have already redone all the bushings with polygraphite ones
                    If you put them in your lcas, that's part of your problem.

                    The lcas _have_ to twist a bit when the car rolls. If they can't (like poly bushings) they bind up. Screws up both your ride and your handling.

                    Rubber is actually the hot setup for lcas. At the very least, on one end.
                    2000 Firebird convert, chameleon/tan, M5, Y87, TCS, BMR tower brace and panhard, KBDD sfcs, 245/50-16 GSCs

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                    • #11
                      Re: Will Bilstein's make my ride more smooth?

                      I heard KONIs were harsher
                      Thats why this guy sold his KONIs on Ebay to me
                      I think they are only single adjustables
                      I've had them for like a year and not put them on

                      Its not polygraphite, I believe its polyurethane
                      2k2 camaro, K&N, SLP whisper lid, Konis, AEM, HP Tuners, Angel eyes/Halos, CF SS ram air hood, 4.10s, Zexel Torsen, UMI SFCs, CrossFire, BFGs, Gatorback, Catco, Flows, and TLC! DONT feed the Trolls!

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                      • #12
                        Re: Will Bilstein's make my ride more smooth?

                        Originally posted by slow6
                        Its not polygraphite, I believe its polyurethane
                        Polygraphite is somebodies trade name for polyurethane bushings prelubricated with graphite stuff.

                        Have no idea how well it works.
                        2000 Firebird convert, chameleon/tan, M5, Y87, TCS, BMR tower brace and panhard, KBDD sfcs, 245/50-16 GSCs

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                        • #13
                          Re: Will Bilstein's make my ride more smooth?

                          I have SLP revaled Bilsteins on my rear hat I put on myself a few days ago and they did stiffen up the ride and I like the way it feels. They arent too harsh at least I dont think on hitting bumps or going across train tracks. I will be puting on the front SLP revalved Bilstein struts probably tomorrow. I will then see the full benefit or con of the install. Im also looking at getting a set of BMR springs for a 1in drop.
                          01\'Y87 Firebird:Gt1 cam,Vig.3000 stall
                          AR stage 3 heads/intakes to be installed
                          www.cardomain.com/id/firehawknwv
                          www.vaperz.com
                          PEWTER MAFIA/ Kristen's "PEWTER MAFIA KING"

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                          • #14
                            Re: Will Bilstein's make my ride more smooth?

                            They are polygraphite bushings. In short terms they are polyurethane with graphite molded in so you don't have to keep lubing them up. Ii have not installed the ones for the LCA's yet. I've had this setup for over a year now and I'm not getting use to it, just getting a headache :-( I just drive it occasionally though, but its embarrassing when Im taking friends for rides. http://www.p-s-t.com/polybu1.html
                            Go Fast or Dont Go

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