Tobias05

OK guys, here's my story.

I'm heading home this veteran's day weekend on a 96 to pick up my camaro and drive her back to NC. I got the idea that since I'm away, i might as well buy some shocks/springs since mine were still all stock and well worn.

I ordered intrax springs and gr2 shocks/struts and asked my rents to drop my car off at the local shop to have them installed, seeing i'm not home and i don't have the time...anyways the mechanic gets the gr2's on, but only the back springs? He then questions why I've even bought these new parts because he can't see the difference, and he says the old parts he took off are "ok". My camaro has always rode soft and would ride bumps like my girls buick 88.

Basically, am i going to be disappointed w/ my intrax/gr2 combo? i have spohn sfcs and poly endlinks, soon to buy a strut tower brace and wonder bar.

why would the mech' question my parts? and come on, its not all that hard to do the front springs, looks like i'll have to finish it myself there...

is my new combo going to be better than the stock/worn out crap he just took off? will i notice a differance after i install the remaining front two springs?

venting,
Tobias

Holio

Don't know anything about the intrax, I'll assume there lowering springs. Regardless, one thing I've learned from this board and experience, the best thing you can do for ride and handling is get the best shocks/struts and tires you can afford. GR2s are no better than stock, probably worse because they wear out quickly. People will say they are good for the price. I'd say they are bad because of the price.

Boosted

I'm gunna agree with Holio, one of my friends bought GR2s for his 3000GT. Sadly after a summer of driving their already about to go. Kind of proves the phrase "you get what you paid for" especially whenever it comes to suspension. I've got a friend with a 240 and spent like $3k on a coil over setup for drifting. Well he wrecked his car pretty badly (bad enough that everything on the body/frame was unsalvagable and actually just sheared the shock tower off) but his coilovers amazingly made it through the wreck and appear to be in almost perfect shape.

Tobias05

In a perfect world I would have purchased the pro-kit and blistiens, but, like many, I'm on a budget, as you stated my friend

...I'm a little fed up that the mech couldn't get the front springs replaced... doesn't seem much to it... remove wheel, unbolt endlinks and shock, lower a-arm, compress spring...

I'm not expected to take turns like a Porche, but i'd like to tighten things up and smooth out the ride...anythings better than worn out junk...

Should I have waited to buy the pricier parts? Will I be disappointed w/ my suspension so far?

-Intrax springs
-gr2 shocks/struts
-spohn sfc's
-poly endlinks
-kumho ecsta 711's

thanks again,
Tobias

chevymec

iTrader: (5)

Maybe the spring rate is different. They may look the same but compress different.

Oh by the way, noticed your down the road from me

Tobias05

good to go, I hope to make it out to the track here in Jacksonville once I get back south... Add some gears/posi and i should see mid 13's w/ my HO

...so the gr2's aren't much better than stock. I can live w/ that for now...

Any info on the springs? Who's running intrax springs and can throw in a good word about them?

chevymec

iTrader: (5)

dont know any info on the springs . Yeah the track just switched over to sundays for now.

iansane

iTrader: (1)

You have to do the fronts? Why did he not put the front springs in? He had the struts off so why not slap the new springs in?

Tobias05

dunno...maybe he didn't have a spring compressor or something. Maybe there was some logical explanation I'm unaware of...

maybe he just didn't want to do the fronts...hmm.

Tobias

blyth18md

you dont need a compressor to do the fronts.

87CIZ

iTrader: (8)

You do need a compressor to do the fronts Unless you get like a 2 inch drop spring. I'm a fan of the GR-2's personally. The ride very stiff on my stock springed Iroc. Me and my buddy both have had good luck with the struts/shocks. I replaced my original ones with whatever brand autozone carries. the most expensive ones they had at that. And I was not happy at all with those so i took them back and ordered my GR-2's all the way around. Of course they aren't as great as bilstein's or koni but for my budget they did damn good.

blyth18md

no you do not need a compressor. not at all. I put eibach springs on my car without a compressor. just a jack, a chain for saftey and a few sockets.

CrazyHawaiian

If the old stuff was worn then you'll definately notice a difference, even if the GR2's are of the same quality as the OEM pieces they are replacing. I've never used the GR2's so I dont have an opinion on them. But I do know the Tokiko HP's were a good budget setup for me on multiple cars, they worked great with both stock springs and the Eibach pro-kit springs (stock to 1" drop). You can get the entire set on e-bay for $200 from time to time, rear shocks for $25 each what a steal.

He was retarded for not doing the springs if he did the struts.

bingo

iTrader: (2)

I agree with the others. You do not need a compressor for intrax springs. I had them in my car for two years. I used a pry bar to put my front ones in. I was really surprised how easy it was. Now factory springs, those are a different story.