I've got a stock 3.1 Camaro RS, with a couple of kids in the back and a toolbox, this thing bottoms out. We're talking about maybe 175lbs here. What I need to find out is what were the original rear spring rates? And if anyone out there has any input to correct this problem, remember I am not building a road racer or drag car here or lowering or raising it, just trying to make the car more driveable in different road situations.

 

If your car bottoms out with just that, I'd bet that your shocks are worn out. That little amount of weight wouldn't make a car bottom out, unless the springs were really worn & the car sitting real low, sitting still.

Does it "bounce" over bumps, when the car is unloaded?

 

Auto zone sells new springs and shocks...

 

Its not that bouncy, I was looking to replace the springs, I think they are shot and wanted to maybe go a little stiffer on the spring rate with new shocks, any suggestions?

 

stock rear springs are #107 so every 214 pounds wil drop the rear another inch, when my car was stock i couldn't go over speed bumps if there was more than 1 passenger because the chasis would drag over the bumps, sounds like you need stiffer springs and new shocks maybe eibach pro kit and some decent shocks like KYB/tockico.

 

I have a set of full set of springs, shocks and struts from Auto Zone on my 92 RS. The only thing that will drag on a speed bump and it's just a little bit when both of my brothers and me are in the car is my cat. That's with all 3 of us weighing 290# 385# and 220#. The only reason my cat drags then is because it does not tuck under the car like it's supposed too. I get good handling and a ride as comfortable as these cars get.

Here are the parts I have.

Struts:
http://www.autozone.com/autozone/cat...&parentId=46-0

Front Springs:
http://www.autozone.com/autozone/cat...&parentId=46-0

Shocks:
http://www.autozone.com/autozone/cat...&parentId=46-0

Rear Springs:
http://www.autozone.com/autozone/cat...&parentId=46-0

 

Thanks, I think I'll take this route.

 

Spend the extra money and buy KYBs. Those Gabriel shocks and struts suck.

I put new Gabriel struts on and in a month they were bouncing again. I took them back and got my money back and bought the KYBs.

Look for GR2 for the front and get the Monotube Gas-Adjust for the rear. If you want stiffer springs, get stock IROC springs.

If you dont believe me, take that Gabriel shock and turn it upside down and push it into the concrete. It will be wimpy as hell. Take a Gas-Ajust and try to compress it, it will more difficult to compress.

Rockauto has them for a touch over $50 each for the struts $36 each for the shocks.

 

I just pulled a set of Gabriels off my car that was on it for 10 years. I have never had any problems with them and I use them on all of my street cars.

 

V6 springs are really soft compared to V8 springs. They're still stiff enough the car won't really bounce when the shocks and struts are worn out. The car will just start driving worse and you'll bottom out the back end all the time. Cheapo Monroes or Gabriels will stop the bottoming, they just won't last forever.

 

Springs would be the last thing I would replace. For one reason these car never were heavy haulers and never in most cases seen extreme use. A good set of Struts & shocks should do the trick. I keep reading posts that my springs need replacing & it is BS in most cases. Same with lowing a Camaro/Firebird like that inch is going to make a difference on these low cars now.

 

I'm not sure how I managed to reply without saying springs in these cars hardly ever need to be replaced.

 

Another thing you can do which has not been mentions ALONG WITH NEW REAR SHOCKS is to trim down the rear bump stops. They are massively intrusive and abruptly stop the axcle travel harshly.

Along time ago I had the same problem _I had good shocks and springs- trust me on that (I know a little poop about suspensions) but on larger bumps with my kid in the back (and luggage that seems to travel everywhere with a kid) the car would sometimes hit the rear bumpstos and just jarr the hell out of you....WHAM..ouch.

I pulled of the rear bump stops and thinned the rubber shaping of them to a narower more pointy shape so they contact less abruptly and more progressively.

I later removed them entirely for some shaft style progressive Koni Bumpstops on the shock shaft itself, but this takes some extensive suspension travel data and setup to make work properly- in other words, unless you know what you are doing, I would not recommend this typope nor do I recommend the removal of the factory bumps

Dean