What next?
Thread Starter
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Joined: Jul 2012
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What next?
Hi, Im ordering the vb&p anti sway bars tonight for my 96 corvette, and was wondering if there is any other suspension upgrade I could do while the sway bars were off, im not looking to do coil overs just yet, I want a stiffer ride with out having to spend 2grand , while all my friends are throwin money into there cars to try and go faster in a straight line, I want to go faster through turns(way more fun), any ideas would be much appreciated, Thanks
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 15,344
Likes: 4,009
From: Texas
Hi, Im ordering the vb&p anti sway bars tonight for my 96 corvette, and was wondering if there is any other suspension upgrade I could do while the sway bars were off, im not looking to do coil overs just yet, I want a stiffer ride with out having to spend 2grand , while all my friends are throwin money into there cars to try and go faster in a straight line, I want to go faster through turns(way more fun), any ideas would be much appreciated, Thanks
It's like everything else...how much money do you want to spend?
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 13,974
Likes: 710
From: WI
I really liked adding bigger bars to my car. VBP had a great sale awhile back and I got them there too. They sent poly mounting bushings with them. The fronts are offset, installed to the rear on mine so the bar clears the fan housing. The rears I pushed as far forward as possible, so the end links are as vertical as I could make them.
The rear mounts bolted together and the bar rotated pretty well. The front was way to tight. I needed to put a large washer between the bushing clam shell to make the bar rotate without extreme force. If the sway bar cannot rotate freely it will make the ride much more harsh.
I also slotted each bushing and added zerks so they could be lubed. I found that the lube, even the thick bushing lube, didn't last that long.
Also while at this project I added ball joints for end links instead of bushings. I found poly on the end links especially in the rear to be poor. They would take a dent and get sloppy. Be sure to set the heim link to neutral tension with the car at ride height.
Other mods, I highly recommend Z51 springs from Ralph (Indianavette). At only $100 a piece they are great cost effectiveness. Then lower the car. Your year would need updated shock valving. The ones on mine are doing alright (Z52 '88).
The rear mounts bolted together and the bar rotated pretty well. The front was way to tight. I needed to put a large washer between the bushing clam shell to make the bar rotate without extreme force. If the sway bar cannot rotate freely it will make the ride much more harsh.
I also slotted each bushing and added zerks so they could be lubed. I found that the lube, even the thick bushing lube, didn't last that long.
Also while at this project I added ball joints for end links instead of bushings. I found poly on the end links especially in the rear to be poor. They would take a dent and get sloppy. Be sure to set the heim link to neutral tension with the car at ride height.
Other mods, I highly recommend Z51 springs from Ralph (Indianavette). At only $100 a piece they are great cost effectiveness. Then lower the car. Your year would need updated shock valving. The ones on mine are doing alright (Z52 '88).
Thread Starter
Navigator
Joined: Jul 2012
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I have fresh tires, only about 50 miles on them, im running wheels from a 2004 z06, and i just had it aligned when i replaced all of the tie rods, the shocks are also fairly new, and im looking to spend about $500
Thread Starter
Navigator
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
I really liked adding bigger bars to my car. VBP had a great sale awhile back and I got them there too. They sent poly mounting bushings with them. The fronts are offset, installed to the rear on mine so the bar clears the fan housing. The rears I pushed as far forward as possible, so the end links are as vertical as I could make them.
The rear mounts bolted together and the bar rotated pretty well. The front was way to tight. I needed to put a large washer between the bushing clam shell to make the bar rotate without extreme force. If the sway bar cannot rotate freely it will make the ride much more harsh.
I also slotted each bushing and added zerks so they could be lubed. I found that the lube, even the thick bushing lube, didn't last that long.
Also while at this project I added ball joints for end links instead of bushings. I found poly on the end links especially in the rear to be poor. They would take a dent and get sloppy. Be sure to set the heim link to neutral tension with the car at ride height.
Other mods, I highly recommend Z51 springs from Ralph (Indianavette). At only $100 a piece they are great cost effectiveness. Then lower the car. Your year would need updated shock valving. The ones on mine are doing alright (Z52 '88).
The rear mounts bolted together and the bar rotated pretty well. The front was way to tight. I needed to put a large washer between the bushing clam shell to make the bar rotate without extreme force. If the sway bar cannot rotate freely it will make the ride much more harsh.
I also slotted each bushing and added zerks so they could be lubed. I found that the lube, even the thick bushing lube, didn't last that long.
Also while at this project I added ball joints for end links instead of bushings. I found poly on the end links especially in the rear to be poor. They would take a dent and get sloppy. Be sure to set the heim link to neutral tension with the car at ride height.
Other mods, I highly recommend Z51 springs from Ralph (Indianavette). At only $100 a piece they are great cost effectiveness. Then lower the car. Your year would need updated shock valving. The ones on mine are doing alright (Z52 '88).
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 13,974
Likes: 710
From: WI
To change the valving in the shocks send them back to Bilstein. They can convert them to coil overs too. By springs I meant the leaf springs yes.
Getting more camber really helps the car turn!
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 15,344
Likes: 4,009
From: Texas
Global West stuff...
