Suspension for verts
 

Been wanting to do some suspension on my 2017 ss vert... what options do I have for sway bars and what not? TIA

I went with GM's Lowering Suspension Upgrade for convertibles (Part #: 84203551).

But, this kit does not include upgraded sway bars. I still have my stock sway bars in place.

The kit lowers the car about 3/4".

I was looking into that kit as well. Where did you buy it?

Did the ride height come out as advertised?

The kit came from GM Parts Direct. Cost with shipping was a little over $1,200.

Yes, ride height was pretty close. Advertised to lower about 20mm.

I am not really wanting to lower mine at all just wanting better handling for it is all... do they make a higher weight of spring in stock size?

OEM ZL1 (FE4) Vert Swaybars. The FE4 ZL1 Convertible swaybars fit and are "beefier" than stock SS vert bars. Not sure rates or any measurements. I also have BMR lowering springs. I'm sure they (BMR) can direct you to what you're trying to accomplish. I don't remember but the ZL1 stock springs most likely are also a different rate/weight than the SS without lowering. Call BMR or Phastek, or maybe even WildHammer and discuss what you're looking for...

Thanks!

I've done all of these to my '18 ZL1 Vert. Pretty much the only thing you can't upgrade is the rear sway bar because it's a different shape than the coupes due to our lack of eLSD.

Frank at BMR is knowledgeable and happy to help. BMR came out with performance springs that don't lower the car after I bought my springs.

BMR Performance Springs - lowered car approximately 0.75" front and 1" rear
BMR Front Sway Bar
BMR Upper Control Arms
BMR Lower Control Arms
BMR Trailing Arms
BMR Toe Rods
BMR Front Cradle Braces
BMR Cradle Bushing Lockout Kit
BMR Differential Bushing Lockout Kit
Vorshlag Camber Adjustment Plates

Thank you all for the great info! It is greatly appreciated!🤘🤘🤘

lowering kit from GM
 

Hi KLG & XLII,

What ride difference did you feel with 84203551 lowering kit?

Anyone else lower theirs with the GM lowering suspension?

I'm considering because it looks great - but not wanting to sacrifice the ride.

The GM lowering kit does result in a little stiffer ride. For me, it is just fine, but it is noticeable, at least at first, especially on a rough road.

Granted it is a convertible so not a track car, but the handling is better too, even without upgrading the anti-sway bars. To me, the car now feels more secure/planted on the twisty roads in the local mountains, (and it was already pretty good with the stock suspension).

And it lowered the car just the right amount with making it too difficult to navigate speed-bumps and inclines.

Thanks KLG!

Then you want to change shocks/struts to achieve a different dampening rate. Stiffer springs will just make it ride like crap without balancing the package. Of course this is just my experience from how motorcycle suspension works. Springs are what you use to achieve a certain ride height for a certain weight, after that dampening will work in conjunction with the sway bars to control body roll and bumps.

I totally agree. I actually got a chance to ride with the GM engineer at the Milford Proving Grounds when he was developing the lowering kit. Originally it was springs only - trying to match the aftermarket offerings. When we took it out on the test track though, it would go into these weird bouncing/oscillations at certain points in the track. So he specced out some matching dampeners, and at the same spot on the track the ride smoothed right out. It was night and day difference in ride quality.

You could try just using a shorter spring with the same rate, but then you are going to have issues with wheel travel (going to constantly bottom out your suspension). There just isn't a lot of wheel travel on a Camaro to start with, so as you lower it, you have to increase the spring rate to keep it from sitting on the jounce bumpers all the time. So the better handling is just a side benefit!

-Geoff