LS1TECH - Camaro and Firebird Forum Discussion

Chevrolet Camaro 2010-2015: Suspension Modifications

Knowing what you plan to do with your Camaro is a huge first step in deciding what you should change about your suspension before go out and spend a single dime.

By Jeffrey Smith - March 2, 2016

This article applies to the Chevrolet Camaro (2010-2015).

So you are interested in some kind of suspension upgrade or modification. That is a very tall and vague order because of the myriad of things you can do, which are all related to the type of driving you want to do. Are you looking for a sick street setup that helps your ride take the corners? Are you interested in getting into drag racing? Do you want to start taking your Camaro to the track and race it? The answers to these questions will determine what kind of setup you are looking for. A good middle ground to start with is getting a great setup for the streets. Most people want an awesome ride down the boulevard that feels great, is aggressive and turns heads. This is probably the most popular type of setup, and most of the work you can probably do on your own, saving a ton of money from taking it to a professional. The cost savings that you enjoy from doing the work yourself can be used to get those higher quality and top of the line items.

Suspension Modifications

Figure 1. Before and after aftermarket coils.

For the fifth gen Camaro, you have many choices in suspension modifications. To get the most versatility out of your ride that will work well with your car on both the streets and the track, consider upgrading your shocks, bushings and rear end components.

Shocks/Coilovers

GEN 5 CAMARO 2010-2015 SUSPENSION MODIFICATION UPGRADE HANDLING COIL OVERS STRUTS SHOCKS SPRINGS

DIY Cost – $1,000 and up

Professional Cost – $1,400 or more

Skill Level – Easy; no special tools or spring compression needed.

When it comes to suspension tuning and handling balance, it is always wiser to start with springs and shocks, and tune after the use of sway bars to fine tune the car's balance. That said, we will start with shocks. Shocks control the up and down motion of the springs. If your springs are too stiff, or the car is too heavy relative to the shock used, the car will be unnecessarily bouncy or harsh. A well-tuned set of dampers will have a large impact on ride quality and body movement.

For a more budget-oriented solution, consider some basic adjustable shocks paired with the stock springs a la Koni "Yellow" shocks. The Konis have rebound adjustment, which means you can control the rate of the suspension's "up" stroke. In layman's terms, crank up the "stiffness" of the shock for track work and dial it down for a cushy street ride.

If you have the means, upgrading to coilovers might be worth your while. Named coilovers, the coil spring literally sits over the strut. The coilover springs have a threaded perch, which means they can be wound up or down to control ride height. Additionally, higher-end coilovers will also offer shock tuning. This means that the springs and shocks can be perfectly matched to each other, offering superior ride and grip for the tires.

Suspension Bushings

GEN 5 CAMARO 2010-2015 SUSPENSION MODIFICATION UPGRADE HANDLING SUSPENSION BUSHINGS

DIY Cost – $100-$200

Professional Cost – $300 and up

Skill Level – Easy; no special tools required, but some muscle.

Remember what we said up there about starting with the basics and then fine tuning as necessary. The asterisk to that statement is chassis bushings. All throughout your Camaro's chassis are rubber bushings. Overly soft bushings allow excess movement before the bushings can move no further and cause binding. That means that there is a delay between inputs given to the chassis, and it reacting. Stiffer chassis bushings allow for better feel of what the tires are doing, and increase responsiveness. Bushings are generally inexpensive, but can be a bit of a pain to install.

View the diagram to see common upgrade points for the rear suspension bushings. The most common upgrades are rear subframe bushings, and control arm bushings (front and rear).

Anti-Roll/Sway Bars

GEN 5 CAMARO 2010-2015 SUSPENSION MODIFICATION UPGRADE HANDLING SWAY BAR

DIY Cost – $350 and up

Professional Cost – $500 or more

Skill Level – Easy; no special tools required.

At a modest price point, upgrading your sway bars is a great option to make a big impact on your car, but not on your wallet. The sway bar is designed to link your suspension with your frame, or car body. This controls the amount of lean or roll you feel when making hard turns, or going hot into the corners. When you add high performance or sporty sway bars, you will find that you go into the corners with little to no roll, keeping your car nice and flat, as well as much better balanced. Some kits come with adjustable end links so you can stiffen the ride up as much as you like. If you have a decent sized budget, installing upgraded or high performance coilovers, bushings and sway bars will turn your Camaro into the quintessential street rod of your dreams.

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