[tecmec]

Like others here on the forum, I was looking forward to dropping $1300 on the 1LE handling kit for my 2016 2SS, until it came out that they weren't going to support the MRC calibration for the 2016s. After waiting around for a bit, I figured that I'd have to start looking at alternatives. The DSC controller seemed like a nice idea, but I'd still have an itch to upgrade some of the physical suspension components. I decided to look into what it would cost to just buy the 1LE components individually.

It turns out that if you're not interested in the MRC calibration (or you're unable to use it anyway), you can get the 1LE components for way cheaper than the kit sells for. Cross-referencing the install instructions for the kit, I've come up with the following list:

PN              Desc                            Unit Price      Qty     Ext Price
84052981        Front stabilizer bar             $75.03         1        $75.03 
84186932        front springs                    $29.23         2        $58.46 
84103429        Strut Mount                      $59.32         2        $118.64 
23317368        front handling link (right)      $74.90         1        $74.90 
23317367        front handling link (left)       $74.90         1        $74.90 
84079567        rear springs                     $27.65         2        $55.30 
84026864        rear stabilizer bar              $89.49         1        $89.49 
11611268        bolt - front handling link       $2.77          2        $5.54 
11610908        bolt - rear lower suspension     $2.51          2        $5.02 
11609598        bolt - rear lower shock absorber $3.58          2        $7.16  
                                                                         $564.44

This is a savings of over $500 from the typical price of the kit. In other words, the MRC tune cost $500. But if you're not able to use the tune (because you have a 2016), or if you want to buy a DSC controller instead, this is a good way to save a lot of money.

Now, there are a few part numbers on that list that I'm not 100% sure of

1. The PN for the strut mount (84103429) might not be right. Some GM part sites list it as being for non mag-ride, but some also list this as the FE4 part for the ZL1. All I am confident in is that this isn't the SS mag-ride mount. The information I've seen seems to suggest that the FE4 and FE2 suspension share the same mount though?
2. The part number for the front springs (PN 84186932, spring code ABTJ) is what comes in the 1LE kit, and is supposedly good for the ZL1 as well. However, the ZL1 also seems to use PN 84312735, code AAV9 as well. I don't know what the difference between these springs is, and I really wish I had more insight into the GM spring codes.
3. The part number for the rear springs (84079567, code AA3M) is from a listing for a ZL1 and/or 1LE replacement part. Again, GM has so many different spring codes though, I can't say for sure that this is exactly what comes in the kit.
4. The 1LE kit components list includes "2x nut prevailing torque" (lock nuts), but the instructions never indicate which nuts these are. I included the one-use bolts above, but skipped the nut, since I wasn't sure which one it was.

If anyone has insight on the spring codes (or can provide the spring codes of their vehicle or their 1LE kit!), it would be greatly appreciated. Same for the strut mount; any insight is appreciated. Otherwise, I'll update this post if I learn anything further. Hopefully this is useful.

[vtirocz]

Good detective work.. I'm interested in this as well.

[LSmith353]

There are some control links for the rear as well that are part of the kit. I'll have to go look up the part numbers

[kaydoe]

So is your car MRC?

[tecmec]

Originally Posted by kaydoe

So is your car MRC?

Yes.

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[glenB]

Difference in ZL1 springs could be convertible Vs hardtop. You're lucky the choices are so narrow. Up to the late '70s a model could have 7 different springs based on options.

The strut mount for the ZL1 is probably the same as the 1LE since they are both listed as FE4 and the ZL1 1LE uses a completely different mount.

[tecmec]

Originally Posted by LSmith353

There are some control links for the rear as well that are part of the kit. I'll have to go look up the part numbers

I don't think there are. I believe the FE4 has a slightly different link in the rear, but it's not part of the 1LE Handling Kit.

Originally Posted by glenB

Difference in ZL1 springs could be convertible Vs hardtop. You're lucky the choices are so narrow. Up to the late '70s a model could have 7 different springs based on options.

The strut mount for the ZL1 is probably the same as the 1LE since they are both listed as FE4 and the ZL1 1LE uses a completely different mount.

Good point, but that's not he difference between those two. The ZL1 vert uses 84186926, code AA3N.

The 6th gen Camaro is actually pretty awful for spring codes as well, mostly on the rear end though. I feel like I have a reasonably good grasp on the front spring codes for our cars, but the rears are almost a complete mystery to me. According to all of the fitment info I can find online, the code of the springs that I found installed on my 2016 2SS Coupe with MRC should be for a 1/2LE or 1/2SS coupe w/o MRC. But here they are on my car for some reason (and with an RPO code to match).

The problem is that they have so many spring codes for the rear, and they use some mystery "computer selection" in the factory to pick which one they use. Even the ZL1 has AA0B, AA0C, AA3M, and AAZ9 (that I know of). According to the coding, the AA3M is the only one used on both the ZL1 and the 1SS with FE4 (which is a coupe), so that's why I chose it for the list above. The other three though are just coded for "ZL1", but with no additional info. One is probably for the 'vert, but what about the others? Why would there need to be more spring rates for the ZL1 (non-1LE)?

This is why I'd really like ZL1 people to start posting their RPO stockers here . We can translate from the codes starting in 8 and 9 (eg 8AT and 9AT) to spring codes. With enough different samples, we might be able to figure out which codes go with which exact option combinations.

[tecmec]

Originally Posted by glenB

The strut mount for the ZL1 is probably the same as the 1LE since they are both listed as FE4 and the ZL1 1LE uses a completely different mount.

Forgot to reply to this part in my previous post.

The confusion with the strut mount is not whether or not the SS 1LE and ZL1 share the same part (I believe they do, for the same reason as you), but whether it's possible that the FE2 and FE4 share the same part (which seems unlikely). The problem is that the part that I posted up top is listed as a fitment for both the LT and the ZL1.

Ideally someone who bought the packaged handling kit could just tell us what the part number they received was.

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[LSmith353]

I don't think there are. I believe the FE4 has a slightly different link in the rear, but it's not part of the 1LE Handling Kit.

My bad, you are correct. The rear trailing arms on the FE4 suspended cars are different than the FE3 cars but are NOT part of the 1LE kit.

[Norm Peterson]

Originally Posted by tecmec

The problem is that they have so many spring codes for the rear, and they use some mystery "computer selection" in the factory to pick which one they use. Even the ZL1 has AA0B, AA0C, AA3M, and AAZ9 (that I know of). According to the coding, the AA3M is the only one used on both the ZL1 and the 1SS with FE4 (which is a coupe), so that's why I chose it for the list above. The other three though are just coded for "ZL1", but with no additional info. One is probably for the 'vert, but what about the others? Why would there need to be more spring rates for the ZL1 (non-1LE)?

The rates could actually be the same but the free length longer to accommodate different option content (different curb weights or different weight distributions). AT vs MT might make for enough weight difference.


Norm

[tecmec]

Originally Posted by Norm Peterson

The rates could actually be the same but the free length longer to accommodate different option content (different curb weights or different weight distributions). AT vs MT might make for enough weight difference.


Norm

Ah, that's probably exactly what it is, the transmissions. I forgot about that variation. Coupe/convertible, AT/MT explains the four rear spring options I've found for the ZL1.

Assuming that that's the case, I think the parts I specified in my original post should be for the manual transmission, as they were both listed as fitments for the SS 1LE as well (which is MT only, I believe).

Now you have me wondering if the people who are seeing slight ride height drops after installing the 1LE Handing Kit have all have AT cars...

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[LSmith353]

Now you have me wondering if the people who are seeing slight ride height drops after installing the 1LE Handing Kit have all have AT cars...

I would think the lower spring rate of the 1LE springs would account for the minimal difference in ride height. A softer spring will have more initial "sag" for the same weight car, even though the length of the spring is the same. My guess would also be that the reason for the different strut mount is to compensate for the lighter spring and give more initial pre-load to adjust the ride height back up. I could be way off in my assumptions but based on my old dirt bike days, if you go with a lighter spring, you had to adjust pre-load on the spring to keep the damper in the proper spot of initial travel with just the weight of the bike (no rider). I can't see how this would be any different. But, I've been wrong before.....

I'm running the FE4 sway bars, control links and rear trailing arms on my car without the FE4 springs. Like you, I bought it piece by piece and saved some money. I was waiting on the 1LE calibration to come to fruition before I swapped springs. Guess that will never happen.....

[EMTNLSS]

I'm mostly interested in the handling links. Would it be better to buy these or just buy the BMR Spherical Bearing's and replace the bushings on my current ones? Pricing is pretty similar for both.

[kaydoe]

tecmec
Thank you for all the research you did. I have a 2ss 17 vert and GM will not do the tune for it. I think I will use your parts list but change to zl1 auto vert rear springs does this sound right? should I change to the zl1 rear sway bar too?