The Camaro has been under a cover for a long time but I've recently completed some things to get it back on the road. Here are some pics of the rear suspension upgrade that I recently completed.

First was new Energy Suspension poly bushings for the sway bar and new end links. The original 23 mm sway bar was black powder coated and now looks great. Bilstein B8 shocks replaced Gabriel junk. I chose the Bilsteins because the car has a Rancho suspension lowering kit that I installed back in the day and these shocks make up for the shorter (red) springs. The car sits over an inch lower in the rear and nearly an inch lower in the front.

I cleaned up the u-bolts on the bench grinder, painted them silver and clear coated. All nuts and bolts were torqued.

A UMI Performance on-car adjustable panhard bar #2029R was installed. I plumbed the rear axle for centering and it was nearly an inch too far out on the drivers side. All centered now waiting for some new rims.

The axle will be removed next spring for a new gear so don't worry too much what that looks like. Also on the yet to-do list is a new poly bushing for the torque arm and a wonder bar for the front, which I have to tackle.

Here's what it looked like before.

 

Here are the cleaned up u-bolts and more after shots.

 

looks good! just a little curious about the straps to the lcas...lowered and trying to prevent the springs from coming un-seated or what?

 

A sway bar won't have its strength affected by the heat from the powder coating curing process?

 

The Rancho springs are shorter than stock so the red straps are there to prevent the axle from fully extending keeping the springs securely in place. It's been a long time since I've had the springs out so I don't remember if just removing the strap allows the spring to come out or if I have to unbolt the shock, too. When I put the new in-tank electric fuel pump in a few years ago, we had to lower the axle and one of the guys didn't know the rear springs can simply fall out when you do that. It came as a surprise to him nonetheless. The straps btw came with the Rancho lowering kit. The kit came with front and rear springs, front struts, straps, bump stops, and necessary hardware.

As for the powder coat process on the sway bar, I can't say for sure. I had one guy tell me that powder coating retains heat in metal when under stress. I can tell you that I was in the shop where I had the powder coat done and they had just about anything you can imagine there to be powder coated. I'm not worried about it.

 

powder coat typically cures around 375 degrees. I wouldn't think that would be hot enough to have negative effects on the metal for a sway bar. Keep in mind this isn't scientific evidence or anything...

 

The difference in the look of the sway bar from a rusted cruddy looking thing to a smooth and shiny piece of art is worth the $30.00.

 

All high end suspension parts such as BMR and Hotchkins are all powder coated so I would think it would be fine.

 

Here is the Rancho suspension lowering kit I installed back in 1989 on the '86. All total it cost $404.00 and it is all still on the car. Even though up in years, the system has little mileage on it.

 

How long are those limiting straps? I've often thought about getting/making(nobody appears to currently make any) me some.

 

From bolt to bolt is about 14 inches. The strap is just over 12 inches. Hard to get a good measurement 'cuz the wheels are on.

 

Thanks for getting that. It is getting old trying to get my springs to stay aligned when the chassis is up & setting the car back down on the ground.

 

Wow thanks for asking that question because I didn't even think of checking spring alignment during the rear end surgery. I need to get back under there and look at that. Thanks!

 

typically powdercoating is done around 400*, that's enough to affect aluminum but not steel...

 

To update this thread, I replaced a couple things on the front end now, too. I installed Spohn sway bar end links and sway bar poly bushings. I sprayed the bushing brackets silver to give them some life. I also replaced the original rear end panhard bar nuts and bolts with new ones by Spohn, also.

Out with the old and in with the new.



Spohn front sway bar 34 mm poly busings



New Spohn front sway bar end-links.