So I have a completely stock 92 V6 RS and I've decided to start modifying it. I want to start with the suspension and am thinking sway bars are the way to go. My car has a lot of roll around turns and I want to tighten it up. Does anyone have Hotchkis 37.00mm/front and a 25.00/rear set up in a v6? Anyone have an idea for a better set up than this?

 

I'm guessing you mean the 36mm hollow bar that they offer (1 7/16").

The biggest package for third gens was a 36 front and a 24 rear, alot of people on here run that set up and the cars handle well.

Instead of dropping 300-700 dollars on a hotchkis kit though you can get the exact same size bars for less 175 dollars TOTAL on ebay or from Top Down Solutions.

This link is helpful: https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/hist...-diameter.html

 

Thanks! the ones I'm thinking of using are these... http://www.summitracing.com/parts/hs...t/model/camaro
I couldn't find them on ebay. I'm a novice at this stuff so I want a kit that includes all of the parts I need.

 

Gotcha, I guess if you want the whole kit in one box then that's one option you have.

Here are links to each of those components from TDS (not trying to sing their praises, they just have good prices/parts so yeah)

The total price for all of this only comes to $316, a quick way to save $250 bucks lol.

(4) of these: http://www.top-downsolutions.com/cha...e-End-Link-Kit

(1) of these: http://www.top-downsolutions.com/cha...-rear-sway-bar

(1) of these: http://www.top-downsolutions.com/cha...product_id=207

(1) of these: http://www.top-downsolutions.com/cha...amaro-or-fireb

(1) of these: http://www.top-downsolutions.com/cha...aro-or-firebir


That gives you everything in the summit kit that you were going to buy, of equal or better quality, for almost half the price. If you choose to do it, ultimately it is your car and your $$. just offering a little help

 

Never mind.

 

Before you start working on modifications, have your front end checked forworn out parts. Considering the car is 22 years old, if they haven't been replaced already your sway bar end links, control arm bushings, ball joints and other suspension components are probably dry rotted or worn out. Just getting the car back to as delivered performance will probably be a big improvement. You won't see the full benefits of any new modifications if the rest of your suspension is oatmeal.

 

Good point. Thanks! Surprisingly everything seems to be in pretty good shape. The car only has 78k miles. It sat in a garage for a very long time.

 

In that case, I'd suggest:

Buy this front: http://www.ebay.com/itm/82-92-Camaro-Firebird-36-mm-Hollow-Front-Sway-Bar-/161224092864?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item2589b46cc0&vxp=mtr#ht_469wt_916
These bushings or similar: http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Raybestos-Sway-Bar-Bushing-36mm-550-1151-/360858660916?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&fits=Model%3ACamaro&hash=item5404da3034&vxp=mtr#ht_2119wt_916
A Wonderbar (steering box brace): http://www.ebay.com/itm/1982-1992-Iroc-z28-Camaro-Iroc-z28-wonderbar-wonder-bar-brace-sway-bar-/291062557701?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&fits=Model%3ACamaro&hash=item43c4ae2c05&vxp=mtr#ht_60wt_916
and find a 24mm rear sway bar and bushings (check back on Ebay). Don't install the 36mm front until you have the 24mm rear to go with it or you could destabilize the handling of your car and make a dangerous situation in turns.

 

I'm using the same setup on mine and it handles great and will save a bunch of money compared to the aftermarket. For rear suspension components check out Founders Performance:
http://www.foundersperformance.com/c...ro-F%252dBody/

 

Don't get hung up on brands. If you research you'll see that Hotchkis doesn't give the performance you should expect for the price. Best example i can give is compare their spring rates to ANY other company, even stock. There are lots of other brands with equal or better products for considerably less money. Hellwig (sway bars), UMI, Founders, Spohn, BMR, J&M products/hotpart.com, Global West, Ground Control, Eibach, and several others I'm forgetting. Good luck!!!

 

Hotchkis is one of the original companies making aftermarket performance suspension components for ThirdGens, even before Spohn, UMI, BMR, Global West, Founders Performance and others were in business. Although they are one of the few that offers a comprehensive set of matched components, from what I can tell they really haven't changed their products since they were initially designed roughly 15 years ago. Decide what you want your car to do, do your research and find the components that will best fit your performance needs.

 

Mine sat in a garage for 15 years. Only 38k on the car. After driving it for a few weeks, basically every rubber bushing on the car disintegrated!

 

Except for Global West, you are correct on Hotchkis being around longer. BTW, Hotchkis had their 3rdgen stuff out in the early 90's - 92 or 93 I believe.

I'm not a fan of their products or pricing, but they do supply good quality items. I consider them the Borla of the suspension world - pretty high prices, quality components, huge marketing budget to get out in consumer's faces, but not necessarily the best performing.

 

Is it really a bad idea to drive the car with a 36mm front bar and the stock rear bar? I swapped out the front one this weekend but didn't have time to switch out the back. I should be able to commute to work and back without it being dangerous right? Its just normal driving situations for a week or so.

 

You will be fine. Sway bars are not a "required" part of the suspension.

 

Agreed.

 

Does your v6 even have a rear sway bar? I don't think most did.

 

GM biased cars to understeer from the factory, so that the car would plow forward instead of allowing the back end to swing out. I'm thinking that having a the 36mm bar in front would make it tend understeer more than what you may have had. (I didn't see any mention of the size of bars that you started out with.) Tires and weather can affect that as well.

Click here for: Understeer

Click here for: Oversteer

It's good to understand how it will affect things in case you encounter an emergency situation say on wet roads for example.

http://mgaguru.com/mgtech/suspensn/fs101a.htm
Edit: Glad you went with the 36mm you should be happy with it.