Front Suspension 101

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Dec 1, 2010 | 04:38 PM

#51

my-roc

Junior Member

Joined: Jan 2007

Posts: 84

Likes: 0

From: Tempe, Az.

Car: 1987 Camaro IROC Z-28

Engine: 305 T.P.I.

Transmission: 700 R4

Re: Front Suspension 101

where do you live at? do you have any pics of the bottom of your car? take it to network alignment in mesa on main st. have a free suspension and alignment inspection done and ask to take pics while it is up on the lift. take alot from all different angles. post them here so we can see what is different or wrong. i just replaced all of my front suspension and steering components. i got lots of pics to compare yours to if needed.
Aaron

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boogie123

Is there anything that can cause one side to sit higher than the other? Maybe a bent piece?

My car seems to squat in the back-driver side and the front-pass side has way to much gap between the fender and tire. I replaced the rear shocks and springs last week and it made no difference. It really seems like somethings got the front passenger side cocked up. I'm really hoping this isn't frame issue.

Dec 1, 2010 | 11:43 PM

#52

Boogie123

Member

Joined: Jun 2006

Posts: 367

Likes: 0

From: Louisiana

Car: 88 Camaro

Engine: 350

Transmission: Th350

Axle/Gears: 3.73's

Re: Front Suspension 101

Quote:

Originally Posted by my-roc

I'm in the-middle-of-nowhere Louisiana. There's only a few shops around and none have anything like that. I've compared the two sides and I don't see anything out of the ordinary. At the moment, my car has no sway bars. I wouldn't see how that could effect it but is it possible?

Dec 2, 2010 | 12:17 AM

#53

my-roc

Junior Member

Joined: Jan 2007

Posts: 84

Likes: 0

From: Tempe, Az.

Car: 1987 Camaro IROC Z-28

Engine: 305 T.P.I.

Transmission: 700 R4

Re: Front Suspension 101

being i don't know what you know or how much. i have pretty much replaced every part i can on my car. not much of "mods", but lots of upgrades. i recomend that ya get all the parts on it that are spose to be on it. one thing can affect the other. read up on the purpose of the sway bar and what it does. get both sway bars on it with good new bushings. also sway bar links. look up the process at autozone.com.

Dec 2, 2010 | 09:55 AM

#54

Boogie123

Member

Joined: Jun 2006

Posts: 367

Likes: 0

From: Louisiana

Car: 88 Camaro

Engine: 350

Transmission: Th350

Axle/Gears: 3.73's

Re: Front Suspension 101

Sway bars are going on very soon. I have a rear and front sway bar I just need the links for the front. Should have them on by this weekend.

Jan 27, 2011 | 07:07 PM

#55

jjjosh

Junior Member

Joined: Apr 2009

Posts: 19

Likes: 0

From: reidsville nc

Car: 92 B4C/91 Z28

Engine: 5.0/5.7

Transmission: 5 SPD/700R4

Axle/Gears: 3.42/3.23

Re: Front Suspension 101

91 and 92 camaro ,, one is v6 and other v8,,,,,want to know is there any difference in the a arms,,k member,,,spindles................

Jan 27, 2011 | 07:18 PM

#56

itsMikey

Supreme Member

Joined: Apr 2009

Posts: 2,852

Likes: 2

From: Scottsdale, AZ

Car: 89 GTA/93 S13/91 Si

Engine: 5.7 350 TPI

Transmission: 700R4

Axle/Gears: 3.23

Re: Front Suspension 101

nothing at all

Feb 9, 2011 | 04:00 PM

#57

jguignard1981

Junior Member

Joined: Dec 2008

Posts: 2

Likes: 0

Re: Front Suspension 101

hey guys hopping some one can help me out have the same issue with two different cars one is an 87 firebird with rebuild suspension and the other is a 91 camaro with rebuild suspension. the issue is like this when making a right turn there is no problem but when making a left turn the cars do a rocking motion and feel like the wheels are rubbing. but when i look the tires have about 2 inch clearance. both have had an alignment and still have this issue. any one have any ideas.

Apr 17, 2011 | 08:36 PM

#58

rickddjr1965

Junior Member

Joined: Apr 2011

Posts: 1

Likes: 0

From: Hutchinson ks

Car: 1985 Pontiac Firebird T/A

Engine: 1979 small block 350

Transmission: 350 turbo

Re: Front Suspension 101

does any-1 know why when I drive and turn right . I hear a loud Clunk noise on my right side? All replys would be great ..

Jun 2, 2012 | 01:49 PM

#59

grego93536

Junior Member

Joined: Feb 2011

Posts: 13

Likes: 0

Car: 91 rs3.1, 87 iroc 305 6 speed

Re: Front Suspension 101

Quick question: are iroc control arms and spindles the same as a standard car. I have a bent rf and need to know how specific I need to be in my search. Thanks for any help. Greg.

Jun 2, 2012 | 04:10 PM

#60

my-roc

Junior Member

Joined: Jan 2007

Posts: 84

Likes: 0

From: Tempe, Az.

Car: 1987 Camaro IROC Z-28

Engine: 305 T.P.I.

Transmission: 700 R4

Re: Front Suspension 101

Quote:

Originally Posted by grego93536

Quick question: are iroc control arms and spindles the same as a standard car. I have a bent rf and need to know how specific I need to be in my search. Thanks for any help. Greg.

"Standard car" doesn't express what your thinking.You mean a v6 campared to a v8? Call Autozone or any parts store.Aways get a 2nd and 3rd opinion.Ya never know if the person is giving you what you actually need. Tell them what ya have,they will tell you what you need. Since ya don't know, don't be lazy, look it up. There is so much data on this site and you can do an internet search for parts.You'll get better info that is more complete.The spindles should be the same,but you always must be specific with every part ya get.Lots of homework for ya in the future if you want to own a 3rd gen. I would guess that ya don't know even if your spindle is bad. It is a solid piece of metal.They don't go bad.Good luck.

Jul 28, 2012 | 11:08 PM

#61

waltersb

Member

Joined: Dec 2001

Posts: 471

Likes: 0

From: Burnaby, BC, Canada

Car: 1989 Camaro Iroc-Z

Engine: 305 TPI (LB9)

Transmission: Auto 4

Re: Front Suspension 101

They do when you hit a curb

Had to replace the A-Arm, spindle and rim once.

Jul 29, 2012 | 12:44 AM

#62

my-roc

Junior Member

Joined: Jan 2007

Posts: 84

Likes: 0

From: Tempe, Az.

Car: 1987 Camaro IROC Z-28

Engine: 305 T.P.I.

Transmission: 700 R4

Re: Front Suspension 101

going bad and breaking them are not the same.

Jan 11, 2013 | 10:29 AM

#63

jmccaughin

Junior Member

Joined: Jul 2010

Posts: 3

Likes: 0

From: California

Car: 84 Camaro Z28

Engine: 350 4bbl

Transmission: 700r4

Axle/Gears: 3.23

Re: Front Suspension 101

Just a question, is the complete front end kit from hotchkis a good investment?

May 5, 2013 | 06:07 PM

#64

tbpeters90

Junior Member

Joined: Jan 2013

Posts: 18

Likes: 0

From: Ft worth Tx

Car: 91 Rs/87 Sierra

Engine: 305 tbi/350 tbi

Re: Front Suspension 101

is there anyway you could pm me a copy of the color pic?

May 6, 2013 | 12:44 PM

#65

16KSTARR

Junior Member

Joined: Apr 2013

Posts: 2

Likes: 0

From: NEW MEXICO

Car: 1991 camaro RS

Engine: LO3 V8 5.0 (305)

Transmission: M5,A4

Axle/Gears: N/A

Re: Front Suspension 101

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaysE

1: ball joints - connects control arms to spindles

2: center link - connects inner tie rods to idler and pitman arms

3: control arms (A-arms) - supports springs, houses endlinks, ball joints, and control arm bushings

4: control arm bushings - connects control arms to frame

5: endlinks - connects control arms to sway bar

6: idler arm - connects center link to frame

7: pitman arm - connects center link to steering box

8: spindles - connects control arms to wheels and struts

9: sway bar - controls body sway

10: sway bar bushings - connects sway bar to frame

11: tie rods, outer - controls alignment and steering, connects to spindles. Outer tie rods have the grease fitting on the bottom of the pivot.

12: tie rods, inner - controls alignment and steering, connects to center link. Inner tie rods have the grease fitting on the side of the pivot.

13: tie rod sleeves - adjusts alignment, connects inner and outer tie rods

hey guys i need some help i recently replaced my lower ball joints, bushings, sway bar ect. well last night i was driving and the ball joint literally striped out i know its hard to believe but it did, but anyways now i need to replace the whole control arm and since i live in no were New Mexico there's no one around so if anyone can give me a good website were i can order new control arms that would be great thanks (1991 RS)

Jan 3, 2014 | 01:33 PM

#66

manolis1969

Member

Joined: Jun 2001

Posts: 397

Likes: 11

From: new york , n.y. , USA

Car: klowny1969 <-youtube 4 3rd gen vids

Engine: subscribe to klowny1969 on youtube!

Transmission: subscribe to my channel on youtube

Re: Front Suspension 101

^Video on how to replace a lower balljoint..hope this helps ..also please subscribe to my channel for free for tons of thirdgen vids

Jan 3, 2014 | 01:34 PM

#67

manolis1969

Member

Joined: Jun 2001

Posts: 397

Likes: 11

From: new york , n.y. , USA

Car: klowny1969 <-youtube 4 3rd gen vids

Engine: subscribe to klowny1969 on youtube!

Transmission: subscribe to my channel on youtube

Re: Front Suspension 101

^Video on how to replace a lower balljoint..hope this helps ..also please subscribe to my channel for free for tons of thirdgen vids

Jan 19, 2014 | 09:11 PM

#68

JTV

Junior Member

Joined: Jun 2013

Posts: 27

Likes: 0

From: dirty south

Car: 1987 Pontiac Firebird

Engine: stock LG4 305 ccc

Transmission: r700

Axle/Gears: 2.73 (turd)

Re: Front Suspension 101

I know this is an old thread but It is great. Does anyone have a link or where I can get some info like this on rear suspension? Thanks.

Nov 8, 2021 | 05:26 PM

#69

jroc_84

Junior Member

Joined: Nov 2021

Posts: 1

Likes: 0

Re: Front Suspension 101

How much should all this cost including parts and labor , I got a 84 and got a quote for $800 for whole front end

Sep 28, 2022 | 10:07 AM

#70

mikey0oo

Junior Member

Joined: Sep 2022

Posts: 3

Likes: 0

Re: Front Suspension 101

I have a 92 Camaro bbc the front end sags oil pan and headers are close to ground want to raise front end up what springs do I need?

Sep 28, 2022 | 12:23 PM

#71

91banditt2

Supreme Member

iTrader: (1)

Joined: Dec 2000

Posts: 2,341

Likes: 151

From: Cincinnati,Ohio

Car: 1991 BandittII Firebird

Engine: 5.7 HSR

Transmission: 700R4

Axle/Gears: 3.27 9 bolt

Re: Front Suspension 101

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikey0oo

I have a 92 Camaro bbc the front end sags oil pan and headers are close to ground want to raise front end up what springs do I need?

Could go with front Weight Jacks and 800-100lb springs, with weight jacks you can adjust height to where you want it.

Sep 29, 2022 | 12:08 PM

#72

mikey0oo

Junior Member

Joined: Sep 2022

Posts: 3

Likes: 0

Re: Front Suspension 101

Thank you for the information I went with the moog 5662 coil springs

Jan 31, 2024 | 10:18 AM

#73

881SA

Member

Joined: Jan 2009

Posts: 167

Likes: 29

From: CoCo County

Car: 1988 Camaro Z28

Engine: 5.7 / L98

Transmission: 700R4

Axle/Gears: 3.27 BW

Re: Front Suspension 101

Quote:

Originally Posted by graebz28

I read in "How to Make Your Car Handle" that the spacer length is determined by keeping the sway bar parallel to the ground at ride height.

After waiting three months for the black Prothane's kits I changed out my original urethane bushings yesterday. Interestingly enough my stock spacers on both the front and rears were .875" longer than what was provided by Prothane. As well my original rods were 13mm metric, smaller than the 3/8" Prothane rods and mine are stamped hardened steel. I thought about reusing the original rods, but the bushings were too big. I stuck with the original spacers to keep the ride height the same.