Topic: Spring Rate Comparison GM Vs Aftermarket

[elff]

As long as you don't hammer it and don't haves long drive you could do that.  Worse case scenario would be uneven tire wear which you might be able to counter by rotting the tires more often.

[ihawk95]

That's been my favorite setting so far.

It is quite fun.  I'm glad you finally found a setting that you like.   

Yeah, it was freaking awesome in the twisties.  I did hit 2 of the bridge approaches in Canton Miller was referring to on the way back.  So Note to Self:  Do not drive in the left lane of I-77 North while going through Canton.  It think it was about the first one and it was especially brutal.  There was a second one on the far north side that was not much better but not nearly as hard.  Hit both of them going about 70 mph.

Other than the bridge approaches and some really messed up roads in Cleveland last night...it does pretty well with the small stuff at that setting.  Not anything you can do about a street that is almost all holes.  Found a few of those last night and I felt really bad for my poor passenger!

[Critterman]

Don't worry about them Hawk, they can get the fillings put back in at the Dentist.

[ihawk95]

Don't worry about them Hawk, they can get the fillings put back in at the Dentist.

Thank gawd I only have one to worry about!!!  It's the flying out of the seat stuff that gets a little crazy!

[dengel]

Thank gawd I only have one to worry about!!!  It's the flying out of the seat stuff that gets a little crazy!

Maybe you need to get a racing harness put in for those bumps to keep you in your seat!

[ihawk95]

Maybe you need to get a racing harness put in for those bumps to keep you in your seat!

Oh for sure!  Our roads suck!!  And I'm still surprised by it when I hit one too!  The best one was when I came over a hill and there was a nice dip right over the top on Saturday.  That one really bounced it and I went flying!  I went "WEEEEEEEE!!!!!" on the radio!  That one was kinda cool though!! 

[elff]

There has been some suspension talk recently, so I decided to give this thread a bump.
If anyone has any other brands they would like added to the section grid, please post up and I will update

 

[cdflint]

I've been thinking about mine lately as I drive. I love the stance but my B&G's at all the softest setting are very jarring on the road. Will a softer spring from another set  be a good idea to make the ride softer but then stiffen up in certain drive terrain?

[Gentleman Jack]

My favorite compromise has always been the gmpp springs on the stock shocks. 3/4" lower if I recall.

[Critterman]

My favorite compromise has always been the gmpp springs on the stock shocks. 3/4" lower if I recall.

That is what I finally ended up with.  Doesn't knock you fillings out and still corners flat

[Gentleman Jack]

Yup.
Add backbone, LV and probeam and its all good.

[elff]

I've been thinking about mine lately as I drive. I love the stance but my B&G's at all the softest setting are very jarring on the road. Will a softer spring from another set  be a good idea to make the ride softer but then stiffen up in certain drive terrain?

Yes a softer spring would definitely help.  The B&G's have the stiffest springs out of all the brands.  You can order a set of swift springs in any rate you want. 

My favorite compromise has always been the gmpp springs on the stock shocks. 3/4" lower if I recall.

Actually it was the ZOK springs.  You can't buy the GMPO ones separate from the shocks.  The FE3 shocks are just a little soft on the rebound.   I wish you could buy the GMPO revolved Bilstein shocks separately.  I've spoken to Bilstein reps directly and those were a limited batch specifically made for GM.  Problem is, no one seems to have the information on how they re-valved them. 

I started working on installing my BC's today.  I was feeling better, but apparently, a dislocated rib takes longer to heal than I have allowed.  I immediately felt it when I started to undo the 18MM nut on the Ball joint and decided it would be in my best interest to not continue and not be able to finish all 4 corners.  O well, still lots of warm weather driving available.  I'll get them installed at some point.

[cdflint]

Elff, I'm not sure how to look for just springs in this situation? Meaning what size of spring will work right. I would guess going ZOK compression but how were your Ellf BC's 5/6 work out? Maybe someone has straight LNF springs?

[roxer]

Elff, I'm not sure how to look for just springs in this situation? Meaning what size of spring will work right. I would guess going ZOK compression but how were your Ellf BC's 5/6 work out? Maybe someone has straight LNF springs?

Not sure what you are asking in that last sentence. I just took off the FE3 LNF stock springs on my Sky Redline and replaced them with ZOKs. Did the sway bars too. Nice .5" drop and drives great. I have the shocks/springs/sway bars from the changeout. The shocks came from my GXP which now has BC Racing Coilovers installed.

[elff]

Elff, I'm not sure how to look for just springs in this situation? Meaning what size of spring will work right. I would guess going ZOK compression but how were your Ellf BC's 5/6 work out? Maybe someone has straight LNF springs?

You would get on the phone with Swift[or a registered dealer]
They would ask you for some measurements on the springs that came with the B&G's
and once you provided that information, they could ship you springs that would be the correct diameter and length.

Not sure what you are asking in that last sentence. I just took off the FE3 LNF stock springs on my Sky Redline and replaced them with ZOKs. Did the sway bars too. Nice .5" drop and drives great. I have the shocks/springs/sway bars from the changeout. The shocks came from my GXP which now has BC Racing Coilovers installed.

You need to read his post before this one.
he doesn't have stock components, he has B&Gs

[cdflint]

It all makes sense in my head but I dont always write it out that way. Elff, how were your 5/6 BC's or is that what you are installing now?

[elff]

That is what I will be installing so unfortunately I don't have any feedback yet.
They are still sitting in the box.

[stungjoe]

I have the full ZOK setup on my GXP (sway bars front and rear, shocks and springs front and rear) also have the ZOK alignment.
I also have the ProBeam, BackBone and LVKFCB. The car is fine to drive on the street and road coarse.
I do not do Autox so have no idea how it would perform.

How much does this lower the front/rear? I have read so many threads but somewhere it said the LNF ZOK springs lowered the front about 3/4" and the rear about 1/2" Is this correct? I also read the GMPP springs would lower it around 3/8" all around. Can I run the GMPP springs on stock LNF FE3 shocks? Not looking to lower the ride that much just looking for a bit stiffer spring. Thx

[elff]

you can't  buy the GMPP springs without the GMPP shocks
but, they are basically the ZOK Springs, so you would just buy them and install them on the FE3 shocks.

What you have read is that ZOK springs does lower it just under 1" so what you posted is accurate. It really is not that significant but the ride will stiffen up.

I think it's what you are looking for.

[stungjoe]

you can't  buy the GMPP springs without the GMPP shocks
but, they are basically the ZOK Springs, so you would just buy them and install them on the FE3 shocks.

I priced the whole GMPP kit and it would be around the same price as the BC set. I just don't need/want the level of adjustability the BC's offer.  I'm just not sure I want to lower it as much as the LNF ZOK springs will either. I will have to find out more about these spring seats that were talked about. Something along the lines that they were needed to allow production flow on the assembly line (clearance issues). They were supposed to be taken out at the dealer...do you have any clue to what I'm referring?

EDIT: I did find the ZOK springs for $304 shipped

[DaveOC]

At least the GXPs with the Z0K package were shipped with 2 spring seats on each of the shocks to provide a bit more clearance for shipping.  There was no provision to pay the dealers to remove the springs and shocks to remove the extra spring seats.

I don't remember whether or not this also applied to the base model Z0Ks.

 

.

[stungjoe]

At least the GXPs with the Z0K package were shipped with 2 spring seats on each of the shocks to provide a bit more clearance for shipping.  There was no provision to pay the dealers to remove the springs and shocks to remove the extra spring seats.

I don't remember whether or not this also applied to the base model Z0Ks.

 

.

That's what I was talking about! I'm sure there's a part number but not likely to be available.
Hopefully the LNF ZOK springs won't lower it too much. I just know these stock FE3 springs squat too much and are a bit bouncy for my tastes. Thanks guys!

[elff]

They were shipped that way so they could get off the production  line.
They were always intended to remove the additional perch.

[Gentleman Jack]

My set up was the best compromise of ride and handling.
I just can't remember what it was.

[stungjoe]

They were shipped that way so they could get off the production  line.
They were always intended to remove the additional perch.

I wonder how many of those guys are still riding around with those things still installed? haha

My set up was the best compromise of ride and handling.
I just can't remember what it was.

I will search your posts to see if you ever said.