Sway Bars

Suspension, brake, and hydraulic/electric steering discussion.
Navy Lifer
Administration Staff
Posts: 1724
Joined: Tue Mar 19, 2013 6:30 pm
Location: Canton GA

Springs - update for OE SS springs & sway bar changes

Post by Navy Lifer »

From several posts in New Caprice and SS Forum

2014 SS OE chassis springs
F - 92290030
R - 92290028
http://www.ssforums.com/forum/594489-post42.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

2015 SS OE spring
R - 92261935
http://www.ssforums.com/forum/602946-post60.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The rear SS spring for 2014 is 60N/mm rate and the 2015 is 55N/mm.

Both front springs (2014 & 2015) are the same rate.

If the 2015 SS front spring PN is important, I'll find it, but the above statement (from an "inside" Detroit source) indicates the fronts are going to be almost identical - 2014 vs 2015.

What is interesting is the numbers you'll find in the spring data provided by Eibach (below) which compare their lowering springs to OE SS (I am assuming 2014) springs does appear to correlate fairly accurately as far as the OE rear springs (reported as 58 N/mm) vs the number I was provided (60 N/mm) in the above quote.

My decision is to use the 2015 rear springs, with slightly lower rate, because I intend to also use the 2015 SS rear sway bar. There's more to it than just adding the bar, but that's a subject for another thread.

http://eibach.com/m-america/en/eibach-n ... up-pro-kit" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The other thing you have to look at is that comparing a PPV to an SS, the numbers Eibach publishes in their data is a comparison of OE & Eibach SS springs.

The better thing to do is measure the PPV and compare the SS & PPV wheel center to fender distances to get an idea of how much the OE SS springs "should" change the ride height. It would be helpful to do this on several PPV's to see if there is much variation, or to at least come up with an average. One thing to remember is the PPV does weigh a little more than the SS, so I would expect the same springs from an SS would result in slightly more reduction in ride height on PPV than what the SS measures.

I addressed the measurement process I used in an earlier post (July 23, 2013) - it does differ slightly from the method Eibach used.
viewtopic.php?f=18&t=84#p1688" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I also posted this on SS Forum after I had a chance to measure an SS:
http://www.ssforums.com/forum/wheels-ti ... ement.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The number I got for stock (front) springs was 15.46875" (based on wheel center vs wheel lip calculation), which compares quite closely with the 15.4" OE number in the Eibach data. The measurements were taken quickly, so my front & rear numbers may not be as accurate as they would have given more time or measuring method validation (all wheel positions & several vehicles).
CrashTestDummy
Posts: 2300
Joined: Sat Feb 07, 2015 2:31 pm
Location: Pearland, Texas

Re: Sway Bars

Post by CrashTestDummy »

Okay, so I now have the rear BMR bar (thank you so very much, Bill!) to install. Which front BMR bar goes with it? G8, SS, Camaro, GTO? Thanks.
Gene Beaird,
Pearland, Texas
2012 Caprice 9C1
1992 B4C 1LE Camaro
2018 Tahoe PPV (her car)
1995 DGGM Impala SS
1985 Firebird - 310 LS1 C Prepared autocross car.
1980 Bluebird Wanderlodge
And some others
Do YOU have my SPID?
CrashTestDummy
Posts: 2300
Joined: Sat Feb 07, 2015 2:31 pm
Location: Pearland, Texas

Re: Sway Bars

Post by CrashTestDummy »

I got shop time last weekend, and got the rear sway bar installed. I was kind of annoyed that the end links don't have any real 'flats' to put a wrench on so you can tighten the adjuster nuts. After putting my corrosion coating on the end links, and getting them up into place, all I could get on them was slip-joint pliers to hold the ends more-or-less still so I could tighten the nuts. That resulted in tooth marks on the end links and all that careful coating is now scraped away!! :cry: Shame on BMR for NOT finding a set of end links that one could use a regular wrench on.

I haven't had an opportunity to drive it yet, as I had other projects out in the shop, and one of those projects is in the way of easily-extracting the car from the shop. Maybe this coming weekend.

And again, I'll ask, does anyone know what FRONT sway bar will work? Do I order their G8 bar, or SS? Thanks.
Gene Beaird,
Pearland, Texas
2012 Caprice 9C1
1992 B4C 1LE Camaro
2018 Tahoe PPV (her car)
1995 DGGM Impala SS
1985 Firebird - 310 LS1 C Prepared autocross car.
1980 Bluebird Wanderlodge
And some others
Do YOU have my SPID?
Navy Lifer
Administration Staff
Posts: 1724
Joined: Tue Mar 19, 2013 6:30 pm
Location: Canton GA

Re: Sway Bars

Post by Navy Lifer »

Gene, Maurice (Pursuit) has already installed the SS (26mm) front bar, and it does fit--by all means, use it (it's also standard on 2014 PPV).

If it's like mine, it comes with the cushions and clamps, so wait to see what you get before ordering those parts separately....maybe Maurice can confirm this.

Stock 11-13 PPV front bar is 24mm, which is already larger than G8 bar, I'm pretty sure.
Pursuit
Administration Staff
Posts: 969
Joined: Tue Apr 23, 2013 3:39 pm
Location: Omaha, NE area

Re: Sway Bars

Post by Pursuit »

When ordered my new sway bar, it did come with the bushings and clamps already installed. But, beware, I did take the bushings and clamps off before threading the new bar back into the front end. It was a bear of a time to put them back on once the bar was located.

Maurice
Maurice Sheil

mhsheil@gmail.com

2011 Caprice Phantom Black 9C3
2012 Impala 9C1
1995 9C1 Caprice
1996 GMC Sierra C1500
1996 Chevrolet K2500 Extended Cab, long box, 454, 91,000 rust free miles
1974 SJ Grand Prix 455 well optioned with factory moon roof
CrashTestDummy
Posts: 2300
Joined: Sat Feb 07, 2015 2:31 pm
Location: Pearland, Texas

Re: Sway Bars

Post by CrashTestDummy »

Thank you for the update. Yes, Maurice, I saw your install notes, and am dreading this work on our car. :shock:

It looks like the BMR Front G8 bar is hollow and 29mm. Is the SS bar hollow, or solid? Additionally, it's now $299. What is the price for the SS bar? Thanks.
Gene Beaird,
Pearland, Texas
2012 Caprice 9C1
1992 B4C 1LE Camaro
2018 Tahoe PPV (her car)
1995 DGGM Impala SS
1985 Firebird - 310 LS1 C Prepared autocross car.
1980 Bluebird Wanderlodge
And some others
Do YOU have my SPID?
CrashTestDummy
Posts: 2300
Joined: Sat Feb 07, 2015 2:31 pm
Location: Pearland, Texas

Re: Sway Bars

Post by CrashTestDummy »

Oh yeah, I discovered that it looks like the right rear strut is leaking. Is that covered under warranty, or do I just go ahead an start looking for coil-overs. ;)
Gene Beaird,
Pearland, Texas
2012 Caprice 9C1
1992 B4C 1LE Camaro
2018 Tahoe PPV (her car)
1995 DGGM Impala SS
1985 Firebird - 310 LS1 C Prepared autocross car.
1980 Bluebird Wanderlodge
And some others
Do YOU have my SPID?
Pursuit
Administration Staff
Posts: 969
Joined: Tue Apr 23, 2013 3:39 pm
Location: Omaha, NE area

Re: Sway Bars

Post by Pursuit »

The cost (for me) was $82 for the front SS sway bar.

Maurice
Maurice Sheil

mhsheil@gmail.com

2011 Caprice Phantom Black 9C3
2012 Impala 9C1
1995 9C1 Caprice
1996 GMC Sierra C1500
1996 Chevrolet K2500 Extended Cab, long box, 454, 91,000 rust free miles
1974 SJ Grand Prix 455 well optioned with factory moon roof
CrashTestDummy
Posts: 2300
Joined: Sat Feb 07, 2015 2:31 pm
Location: Pearland, Texas

Re: Sway Bars

Post by CrashTestDummy »

That's a GM price?
Gene Beaird,
Pearland, Texas
2012 Caprice 9C1
1992 B4C 1LE Camaro
2018 Tahoe PPV (her car)
1995 DGGM Impala SS
1985 Firebird - 310 LS1 C Prepared autocross car.
1980 Bluebird Wanderlodge
And some others
Do YOU have my SPID?
Pursuit
Administration Staff
Posts: 969
Joined: Tue Apr 23, 2013 3:39 pm
Location: Omaha, NE area

Re: Sway Bars

Post by Pursuit »

Yes, sir! Front and rear SS springs are really inexpensive also! $40-$60 apiece...

Maurice
Maurice Sheil

mhsheil@gmail.com

2011 Caprice Phantom Black 9C3
2012 Impala 9C1
1995 9C1 Caprice
1996 GMC Sierra C1500
1996 Chevrolet K2500 Extended Cab, long box, 454, 91,000 rust free miles
1974 SJ Grand Prix 455 well optioned with factory moon roof
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