ok so i have a 91 rs with the 3.1L and i am going to replace my shocks/struts and i was thinkin about getting a lowering kit from summit (this one http://store.summitracing.com/partde...5&autoview=sku)

and i was wondering, since i have a v6 and this kit says for v8's will this kit lower the car at all?

i want to eventually get bigger rims, so will a lowering kit affect anything that will make it so i cant get bigger wheels, or anything like that.

and will lowering affect the performance of the carlike turning or acceleration oranything?

and i am sure some of you have lowered your cars, have you had any problems with curbs speedbumbs pot holes or anything like that?

sorry for so many questions, i am 17 and i am getting to know a lot more about camaros but i am a newbie when it comes to suspension

 

I'm curious to find out what you guys think about the Summit stuff too. I did a search and found a couple of people who installed them about a year or so ago. How are they holding up?

 

the kit may cause the ride height to be uneven because of the lesser front end weight, not way to know for sure without installing it, if its off you can trim the springs. This will change the spring rates a bit though.

the kit will not effect the car if you get bigger wheels so long as the correct diameter tires, backspacing/offset are used. Many people here have lowered cars and larger wheels, myself included.

The springs will not affect acceleration by any noticeable means. The lower center of gravity can help handling a bit.

again, its a mild drop, you shouldn't have issues with speed bumps ect, just take them slow.


The car would need to be aligned after the springs are installed, and new shocks are recommended.

 

You need the correct sprigs for your ride...

Before sprigs, look at after market rear lower control arms, panhard bar, torque arm busings, etc... Get adjustable ones (bars) if you want to lower your ride in the future... These will improve the handling and traction of the car compared to it's worn out stock stuff... a little bit at a time, my car handles amazing now compared to when it was stock...

Raf

 

ok so i went on summit and found some lower control arms for 105$ and the brand was lakewood, are they any good? and edelbrock panhard bars for $112 and torqu arm bushings for $12 each, so i think i am probably not going to lower it and just do the things you recommended for better handling and such. but i can only get one of these parts right now, so should i get the control arms first with the torque arm bushings or the panhard bars and the torque are bushings?so if i have stock springs from '91 should they be replaced? or will they be ok fro awhile longer?

 

Want to address handling first? Replace the OE sway bars, rubber sway bar bushings, and end links. If you cannot afford to upgrade the sway bars, at least replace the rubber bushings and end links with new poly urethane parts.

Next, replace and upgrage the struts and shocks. Keep lowering in mind when selecting these parts.

When you get the above addressed then purchase your lowering springs, control arms, poly torque arm bushing or new adjustable arm, adjustable panhard rod, and sub frame connectors.

 

forget edelbrock suspension parts torque arms ect. Check UMI, Spohn, or BMR for aftermarket parts.

 

Lower Control Arms do not "lower" a car. The term "lowe" is only a description. Like older arms, on the front, who have an Upper Control Arm & a Lower Control Arm.

As to how the rear control arm got Lower in it's name, who knows? I guess it should be Rear Control Arm, as there is only 1 (per side) & the Torque Arm.

BUT...As many have found out, sometimes "lowering" springs end up RAISING their car....Due to their 20 years old springs having sagged.

What is your ground to fender lip/wheel arch measurement? Mine is like 26"/27", and believed to be good springs, not sagged any.

 

end links are like 15 bucks from the spohn website and polyurethane bushings for the front sway bar are about the same but what size do i need? they have 30mm to 36mm

 

You have to check which torque arm bushing to get...
The sway bar end link bushings are cheap, the sway bar ones are a little more but it all helps too... I bought my rear lower control arms off Ebay... but again, if you want to lower in the future, get adjustable ones & adjustable panhard too... I have done tons to mine, but still not finished, just get started and do a bit at a time...

Raf

 

well i know my shocks and struts are shot, cause my friend has the same car and mine sits like an inch or two lower, could that also be bad springs? cause if the springs are the same age would that mean its just the shocks/struts

 

After many years of use and abuse, the springs begin to sag and you end up with the lowered look for free! Seriously, sounds like it's probably time for new springs, struts and shocks anyway?

 

ok so for now i think ill just get new shocks/struts, and springs, so can some one point me in the right direction for lowering springs for a v6, and if i get lowering springs is it required that i get a new panhard bar and the other bars and bushings etc, cause if i do need all those ill just find some OEM springs and keep it at regular height

 

http://www.stranoparts.com/ Check out this site. They sell pretty much everything. Email them your questions for springs, shocks, etc.

Also check out UMI and Sphon products on their sites.

Be prepared, as a whole, this stuff aint cheap.

If you lower your car, you "should" install an adjustable pan hard rod to keep the rear end centered.