I've got the front end of my 83 SC totally ripped apart for a rebuild. The springs I put in when I swapped in the V8 were 84 Z28 springs. Now I want the front end a little lower, but not radical. How much lower are Iroc springs? Are Eibachs or Hotchkis lowering springs even lower than Irocs?

 

Both sets of Eibach springs, and the Hotchkis set are lower. Here are the typical measurments from stock V8 cars.

Eibach ===
Prokit = 1.0" f/r
Sportline 1.5" f/r

Hotchkis ===
??? = 1.25 f/r
Can't remember the name of the hotchkis springs, but they only have one set.

 

Finally found a post that answered my own question. Iroc springs and regular spring are the same height. The 1/2" difference in the ride height must come from the wheels.

 

Are you talking about the RS springs when you say "regular" ? cause if so thats not so right. Cause the RS springs are alot higher and also at the same time alot weaker. Cause I had IROC rims on my car with the RS springs before and the wheel gap was alot bigger then a stock IROC/Z28.

Another option that you have for a drop is drop spindles. Which lower you car about 2" But they dont affect your suspension geometry. So your steering, and suspension curve and all that is left stock. Yet your center of gravity is lowered. Only problem is that no one makes them anymore. So your gonna have to try and find them used.

 

Does anyone know why IROCs are lower in the front than other camaros? I put IROC springs in the front of my Z28 and it actually raised the front end, they are stiffer (higher spring rate) and it really made a difference with all that weight in the front from the TPI engine. But i want the front to be a little lower now to make it look like an IROC, anyone know if thats because the spindles are different? Thanks

 

At this point I’m not sure that anyone will be able to give you an empirical answer… testing a set of 20y/o IROC springs vs a set of 20y/o RS springs will give you different results with each set, since they’ve all sagged, and most have sagged different amounts. I’ve seen quite a few, especially RS’s that have sagged different amounts side to side on the same car.

WRT to the actual ride height, the springs are what make the difference, and _all_ the later 3rd gens had a much lower ride high then the early ones. There is talk that the original, IROC and later Z28 springs sat 1” lower then the rest, but 1- I remember the original cars on the lots sitting the same, and 2- they used the same springs as the similar vintage formulas/TA’s, so they should sit the same as the IROCS, and I’ve never seen the same thing published about them.

Again, since all the springs are roughly 20 years old, I'm not sure that it matters at this point

 

The IROC springs are generally stiffer than the Z28 springs, thats why i changed my z28 springs for IROCs. Yes, they do sag because of the constant compression and decompression (its their job) and they tend to get weak and bouncy. I bought a new set of IROC springs from Oreillys for $45, and compared them to the springs i pulled out of the Z28, the Z28 springs are a little taller but they have a much faster spring rate, the IROC springs are shorter but they compress slower and not as much, hence the "stiffer" feel. My front end doesn't bobble up and down with those springs and the KYB G2 struts, its stifffffffff. On the highway its smoooooth, like butter. While all the other cars are bouncing up and down on the freeway at 70, mine is just flowing over the dips and hills on the road. Hope this helps, since i know the price of the Hotchkis and Eibachs are pricey, i went the autostore route and am quite happy. I have those IROC springs on there since 2000 i think, the rear ones are about to get traded in for some from advance auto parts....

 

Lucid, All 3rdgen spindles are exactly the same +or- very small manufacturing tolerances that is insignificant. There is no ride height difference between an IROC spindle or any other 3rd gen spindle.

The only difference in a factory spindle is a standard single piston mounting spindle and the 1LE mounting spindle. The 1LE spindle was in fact a standard spindle casting that was cut in the factory to accept the 1LE performance brake package. Any standard spindle on any 3rd gen can be easily cut and retapped to be made to fit the 1LE brakes.

The only spindle anywhere that would affect the ride height is the rare and discontinued Belltech aftermarket 2" drop spindle.

ps- try dropping over 200lbs off the nose of the car and adding another 100lbs+ higher rate than the IROC coils + Koni Yellows. Now thats stiff

 

RTFC thanks for the info, i got some spindles from the junkyard and i am going to attempt to do the C4 brake conversion. My question is, why are the IROCS 1/2" lower in the front than the Z28 cars? If you look at pictures of REAL IROCS, they are all lower in the front, even my fathers IROC is. I like the way mine handles now, but i think it would handle better if i could get it to sit lower in the front, its unbalanced now. I need to take a picture to show you what i mean, im going to pop some IROC springs in the rear and see if that balances the car, the rear springs are sagging and lopsided now.

 

Rideheight difference could be something as simple as a different shock or strut choice.

The same exact car will sit higher with Gas-A-Just KYB shock than it would with a standard oil controled shock that is non-pressurised with nitrogen. The gas charging pressure can be higher causing a strut to extended more a stagnant state thus lifting the ride height more than another brand of shock.

 

High pressure gas charged shocks or struts typically cause an f-body to sit about ˝” higher then low pressure on non gas charged struts… Ever notice how most 3rd gens with Koni yellows sit with their *** end up in the air? That’s why.