I bought an 88 IROC with 92,000 miles a couple weeks ago. The car is stock and has the 16" wheels/susp package and disc/drum brakes.

1st question: What brand pads and shoes do you recommend for an 88 IROC? I want the car to stop better than original, but don't want excessive rotor/drum wear.

The suspension has a nice firm feel to it with the exception that when driving down a road with some bumps in it, the car gets a sort of dipping/porpoise motion in front and will at times drag the air dam that is under the car. I'm sure its time to replace the struts and maybe even the shocks.

2nd question: What struts and shocks have you used on your IROC and were you happy with your choice? I don't want the suspension to be much stiffer than it already is.

3rd question: How much do you think it will hurt the future value of the car if I were to add sub frame connectors?
The car at present, is original and near show condition. A solid 3 before any detailing.

Thanks in advance for your help.
Ken

 

Hurt value by adding SFC's? That is a new one on me, they are one of the most beneficial upgrades you can do, especially when it comes to preventing body cracks. For Shocks/struts, Bilsteins are usually the best standard ones, they came stock on the 1LE cars and last damn near forever. You can also get a set of Koni adjustables for around the same price, it could be nice to adjust the shock charactersists, keep it stiff for the street, and adjust them for racing use. I don't know too much abotu the pads thoug, but if I were you, I'd try a set of Wilwood Polymatrix pads.

 

Really depends on what you want to do with the car. For the street, I'd go with a type of ceramic pad to control the dust. I'm running EBC Greenstuff pads and I do like them, but they dust a bit much for me.

I installed KYBs and I love them. Together with the Eibach springs, I have a nice FIRM ride that's not too harsh, but I think this will give you a harder ride than what you are looking for.

Sounds like a great find. '88s in GREAT shape are hard to find. HOWEVER, my car has 60K on it and the insurance value I pay premiums on is a whopping $500. These cars are known for being cheap so I'd just do with it what you want. If it's not a 1LE or a collector's car, it won't hold value worth a damn.

Ed

 

Ken, I guess you forgot to ask the brake questions. I highly recommend the 1LE system (I have iton my Iroc), or any of the C4, C5, or other brake upgrades out there. I have the C4s on my '91 RS and it stops like a dream, equal to my Iroc. I will be trying out the LS1 upgrade soon, when the RS gets out of the paint shop.


Ed

 

I have no doubt as to the merrits of SFC's. I already have them for my project car. I just hate to make changes to the car that will be hard to return back to stock.

What kind of ride did the Bilsteins give you on your IROC?

Thank you for your input and help.
Ken

 

(The car won't be driven a lot so I don't mind the dust. How are they for rotor wear?)

(I've used KYB's before on other cars with gimp low performance springs and they did make a big difference. The factory IROC springs are fairly stiff in comparison and I think that you may be right about them being harder than what I'm looking for.

How stiff are the Eibach springs compared to IROC springs?)


Are they saying that your car will only be worth $500 if it is stolen? I paid $1500 and the DMV made me sign papers stating that $1500 is all I REALLY paid for it. They said the fair market value was a little over $4000.

I'm building a 68 Fastback (soon to be former 6 cyl car) right now to be my play car so I can afford to keep the IROC close to stock. The IROC handling in stock form is impressive to say the least.

Thank you for all of your input.
Ken

 

At present time the car stops pretty good but the pads are nearing the end of their life and the shoes also have seen better days, so right now I'm just looking for better than stock compound for the pads and shoes.

If my calipers start to go bad, I will check into switching over to the 1LE system.

What is the going price for a 1LE system?

Thanks for your input.
Ken

 

I thought Bilstein shocks were stock on IROCs. My '88 is not real low mile but it is in pretty good original shape . It has Bilstein shocks still, don't know about the struts.

 

I think that the back has Delco-Bilstein's, but I don't know if they are any different than regular Bilstein's.

As for the front struts, I have no idea what came stock or if they are any different than what came on any other Camaro.

 

My '88 came with Bilsteins. I will eventually go back to them when I get the car redone. Both Koni and Bilstein are rebuildable also. I should have kept mine I guess...

THe EBCs are a good pad. I haven't taken them off since I installed them last year so I can't give you a rotor report. THe springs are indeed stiffer than the stock springs (BZW/NNL) but I love the ride, and it corners like mad.

I don't know what I'd get if it was stolen, but I will be looking into a "cash value" plan..so if I insure it for $6K and it gets totalled, I get $6K.

Spohn is the only guy I know of who offers a complete 1LE system now that GM doesn't have all the parts anymore. Here's the link. He can get you all or some of it:

http://www.spohn.net/category.cfm?categoryid=1093


Ed

 

Thank you for your help.

Ken