Needed: SLP suspension expert

**hitempguy** · 06-06-2009, 05:26 PM

Hey guys, my "02 Camaro has the SLP "Bilstein Ultra Performance Suspension" option. For some reason, I have a 4X4 lift kit action going on in the front end. (at least that's what it looks like from a distance)

The fender lip distance from the ground is 27" on the front and 26" on the back. The car has 30k on it and it looks like it hasnt been touched by anyone.
Any ideas why the height difference.....?

**karpetcm** · 06-06-2009, 06:10 PM

Mine does that too and im pretty much sure its the factory equiped bilstein shocks. From what ive seen its normal but the aftermarket Bilstein shocks dont do that at all so i dont know. How do you check and see if its factory equiped or aftermarket, if it has numbers on the shock were do you go to online to check and see which it is.

**BMJ99Z28** · 06-07-2009, 04:14 PM

heater hose mod?

**karpetcm** · 06-07-2009, 04:36 PM

can you do the heater hose mod to the front as well ?, mine i think would need about 1/2 inch to be lower to look just right.

**hitempguy** · 06-07-2009, 06:34 PM

i checked the p/n"s and I have BE5-2406-M1 front and BE5-2407-M1 rears
Springs are, well they are blue.
I haven't found post for the hose mod......, I'm not sure if the wall thickness of the hose would be enough to set things level

**Sam Strano** · 06-08-2009, 01:39 PM

That's just the way a lot of SLP spring sets are... Nothing on the height has anything to do with the shocks, nothing.

**hitempguy** · 06-08-2009, 07:18 PM

Does anyone know what the fender height should be for this SLP "Bilstein Ultra Performance Suspension" option? Is my front end high or my rear low?

**Sam Strano** · 06-09-2009, 08:24 AM

That would depend on how you look at it. The front is high, or the rear is low. Your front is about stock height, and the rear is lower than most lowering spring sets. So--both if you want the real answer.

**swisscheese** · 06-19-2009, 06:31 AM

weren't there different SLP-springs with different ride heights?

**NoRegretSS** · 06-19-2009, 07:12 AM

SHOCKS HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH RIDE HEIGHTH!!!!!!!
Perhaps it is design tolerances but the SLP springs are wierd for consistent ride heighth.
To the top of the wheel well mine were 3/4" diff from rear L to R and 1/2" diff F to B.
Not sure how they would respond to Bilstein shocks but you may want to consider Strano's springs @ $225 for 4 corners. Now 26 1/4" ground to wheel well TDC all 4 corners.
Over the winter I ditched the SLP set up and went with Strano's suggested Koni's and Strano springs. Here again the Koni shocks have NO bareing on the ride heighth.
Give Sam Strano a call, he is a great resource and all of his spot on advice only costs a few $ more than low I net pricing. Beauty is when u spend money with him there is no guess work, no surprises and u spend $ once then get it right.
Ths car is dialed.

**NoRegretSS** · 06-19-2009, 07:26 AM

Oh 1 other thing.....
Let me know if u want any gently used SLP or QA1 suspension components. All 6K or less miles.
I have QA1 adj Fr & Rr shocks (+extra springs), Bilstein shocks, Eibach blue springs.

**zmg00camaross** · 06-19-2009, 08:10 AM

I didn't know slp
Had experts on anything

**hitempguy** · 06-21-2009, 07:23 AM

Does anyone know what the SLP Ultra Suspension Package had for spring rate? I looked on the spring rate sticky and got
Level I Front 223-448
Rear 97-136
Level II Front 300-450
Rear 115-185

I phoned SLP and asked what the spring rate was for this option and the "expert" said that he didn't know what the rate was and that most Camaros sit low in the rear....

**9T8W66** · 06-21-2009, 10:33 AM

Originally Posted by hitempguy

Does anyone know what the SLP Ultra Suspension Package had for spring rate? I looked on the spring rate sticky and got
Level I Front 223-448
Rear 97-136
Level II Front 300-450
Rear 115-185

I phoned SLP and asked what the spring rate was for this option and the "expert" said that he didn't know what the rate was and that most Camaros sit low in the rear....

Those are correct, the reason behind the dual numbers is because the springs are progressive

Like NoRegretSS stated earlier there are far better setups out there.

**hitempguy** · 06-23-2009, 09:15 PM

So which would I have? Is the SLP Ultra the Level 1 or Level 2?

**hitempguy** · 06-23-2009, 09:20 PM

Also the SLP guy mentioned that swaybar links or something may have been tightened down while the car was jacked up and wheels hanging in the air on the front

**9T8W66** · 06-24-2009, 06:41 AM

Originally Posted by hitempguy

Also the SLP guy mentioned that swaybar links or something may have been tightened down while the car was jacked up and wheels hanging in the air on the front

Very possible but endlinks are only supposed to be tightened untill the bushings just start to buldge.

Also IIRC level II comes with Bilstiens level I does not.

**hitempguy** · 06-24-2009, 06:50 PM

Thanks 9T8W66, That will give me a spring rate base to start asking questions about.
The rear springs feel very soft and bottoms over small bumps...
Time for some phone calls

**Sam Strano** · 06-25-2009, 08:48 AM

That's more a damper issue than a spring issue. The rear springs are soft, because you don't want them all that stiff on a solid axle car where the springs are so far outboard and sit vertically. You don't have a huge motion ratio to require heavy rate springs.

**Blue28** · 06-26-2009, 11:24 AM

It really sound like you have the Bilstein BTS kit (BTS-7501) on your car.
FYI,Lowers 35mm front and 30mm rear.

The only problem is that your ride height doesn't look like it's lowered anywhere near 35mm up front.

Can you find any pt# on the springs?