springs: Hotchkis, global west, or...

[WS6]

ok time to start pricing what i need and want for the TA. I know Hotchkis makes good stuff, but their front springs drop the car 2" from stock. I want to run solid body bushings which lower the car 1/2" over stock. so that would be a 2-1/2" drop over stock if i went with hotchkis springs. thats a problem. so global west has 1 in drop springs, i just dont know if they are any good. I also dont know if there are others out there for my 79. so any sources for springs would be great. any input on the rear springs as well would be nice. the one thing i did like about Hotchkis is they have shocks made by bilstein that are supposed to match their springs, but they are non adjustable. i was thinking of running Koni SA shocks all around.

also im just looking for a good street suspension that will be a little tighter than stock, nothing harsh. besides fatter sway bars are on my list too. those will handle cornering duties well im sure.

[Conekiller13]

I would look to Global West for Your needs. My experiance with Hotchkiss compenets has been that they seem more into marketing than engineering. GW will get You the springs that fit Your needs and not make fit Your needs to their springs. Tech support is excellent as well.

[wrcamaro]

hotchkis front springs dropped my 68 camaro way lower than two inches measuring between the fender lip and tire. I had to put a spacer in.

[Stu Seitz]

Just call GW don't even bother trying to nagivate there web page it's horrible.

[WS6]

haha ok ill give GW a call. i dont mind their website really. i just cruise on past all that 70's psychodelic writing crap and on to the section thats easy to read.

what about vette brakes? anyone used them before. they do fbody stuff as well.

[SHANE 73Z]

Trey,

I agree with what everyone else has said. Vette Brakes has stock stuff and then they have their fiberglass rear springs and transverse spring kit for the front. The front kit requires major mods to the subframe and the rear springs dont hold up to big power.

The Camaro guys over at NAstyZ28.com always find that the Hotchkis stuff doesnt give much drop, most people end up cutting half a coil off. Alot of people complain the rear springs kill the ride too.

Personally, because of my swaybar selection and the roadways of western PA, I will be running a Moog replacement spring in the #450 range along with a rear spring in the #175 range.

I dont know what the spring rates are for the GW stuff, but they do have a nice range to choose from.

Take care,
Shane

[WS6]

thanks shane. looks like i may need to hop on over to nasty. never been there.