Street Grip review

[hotrodneb]

I've NOT seen anyone's comments yet on the ridetech Street Grip that was released. I removed Hotchkis 3" lowering leafs and 500# rate front coils today and installed Street Grip front/rear. I previously enjoyed the "track cornering feel", but the car BEAT me up going through town, and was too stiff for my liking at highway speeds. I did NOT enjoy driving my car. Enter Street Grip.

PERFECT, exactly what I was working for. After a short 5 mile test drive, I believe I will like it. The first part of a sharp bump is softened, but quick enough you can feel the firmness come in. I would compare the ride feel to that of a Mercedes. A Cadillac is too soft, and you don't know if a road is even there. In a BMW, you feel the road, but often too much. With the Street Grip I felt in control, but did NOT have to experience EVERY bump anymore.




WELL DONE ridetech!!!!!

PS...Schwartz was GREAT to deal with too

[CampbellshotrodsAZ]

It's definitely a great system, I saw it in action when ridetech swapped the system into a red 68 Chevelle convertible at the Scottsdale Goodguy's. There was a several second difference in the autocross, and the car just looked so much flatter in the turns. I'd definitely consider it on any more basic cars I might do in the future (I have their full system for my 71 Firebird).

[Larry Callahan]

Great news. I am installing a streetgrip system in my '55 Bel Air next weekend. I can't want to drive it afterwards.

[F-Body International]

What shocks were used with the TVS kit? What shocks are being used with the streetgrip?

Shock tuning is of the biggest factors that effects ride quality on the street with aftermarket suspension. Having double adjustable shocks on a TVS or streetgrip kit would allow tuning either of those suspension kits for optimum ride quality.

Look at ViKing shocks for example. They don't even make non-adjustable or even single adjustable shocks. They only sell double adjustable shocks. Their latest has been electronically adjustable and 4 way adjustable shocks.

Most users of these non-adjustable kits, however, can make these kinds of reviews because either company has their kits tuned one way. The TVS kit could've probably performed just as great if double adjustable shocks were installed and tuned for the car.

[hotrodneb]

F-body--

I had HQs on the prior setup. My main issue was spring rates being too high. I even hated taking bumps with NO shocks installed. The suspension absorbed none of the bump. You cannot set an adjustable shock low enough IF the spring isn't even flexible enough to move the distance required to absorb the impact. I agree shock tuning is important, but there is no way to tune down spring rate.

High spring rates are GREAT for the track, I LOVED taking street corners at over 40mp. It was everything in between that I didn't like, and that NO shock can fix.

[ace_xp2]

It seems counter intuitive, but it's been observed that under damped springs often feel more rough than aforesaid springs with the correct damping.

That isn't to say that a solid bar in place of springs would ride right with better dampers, but rather that there is often a lot of misattribution to spring rates that would actually be fine (or at least much better) with the correct damping.

[F-Body International]

It seems counter intuitive, but it's been observed that under damped springs often feel more rough than aforesaid springs with the correct damping.

That isn't to say that a solid bar in place of springs would ride right with better dampers, but rather that there is often a lot of misattribution to spring rates that would actually be fine (or at least much better) with the correct damping.

Here's another question I have. Did you try installing a spherical bearing in the front spring eye on the TVS leaf? Installing this would've freed up motion/bind by letting the front of the leaf spring pivot on a bearing rather than a bushing.



Ace xp2 has a point that correct damping is key for any spring to work to it's fullest potential.

Since we're mainly talking about leaf spring suspension on this thread, I'll mention Dave at Pro-Touring F-Body. He often, especially on this forum, doesn't get enough credit on the performance suspension scene. He would be one of the first to tell you that you can comfortably run high leaf rate springs on the street if you have fully adjustable shocks. Many of his customers are running his competition (high rate) springs on the street and they also have fully adjustable shocks.

According to the website, the HQ are only rebound adjustable. Correct me if I'm wrong but there is not separate rebound and compression adjustments for those shocks. They aren't able to tune like a fully adjustable shock.
Front 67-69 HQ (Handling Quality) shocks...
http://www.ridetech.com/store/1967-6...ies-clone.html
Rear 67-69 HQ (Handling Quality) shocks...
http://www.ridetech.com/store/1967-6...hq-series.html



Sorry that I'm questioning facts in this review rather than jumping to brand conclusions. There's a lot more to it for me than simply StreetGrip is better than TVS after 5 miles of driving.

[hotrodneb]

Here's a simple answer-----

I changed NOTHING BUT the springs (already had HQs on) and NOW I like the ride!!!!!! I HATED the ride before----PERIOD

Jeez-----the only reason for the post was to comment on how I like the Streep Grip. I don't need a hassle about all that I SHOULD have done OR did wrong. I F'n tried everything I could. And YES....it is "rebound" that is my main objection. The spring rate was SO stiff that the rebound could NOT be adjusted to my liking. I am looking for a SPECIFIC ride. To compare to OEM rides, no Cadillac, no BMW, but something close to a Mercedes ride. ( I drive ALOT of cars)

AND-----I didn't say ANYTHING was "better" than anything else. The Hotchkis stuff is excellent for what it is designed for. I NOW own a suspension designed for what I want out of MY car.

Thank you

PS--(F-body) The rear leafs are listed in the classifieds

[F-Body International]

Sorry to aggravate you with my questions hotrodneb. You're right, you don't say "better" but you surely make it out to be in the nature of your comments. I, however, think you might be confused by rebound vs compression tuning on shocks.

Have you upgraded the control arms on your car? Tubular control arms with low friction ball joints and greaseable pivot points free up front suspension articulation. This hasn't been mentioned on this thread but would play a major role in suspension feel with either the TVS or streetgrip kits.

I have the TVS springs so I don't need to buy yours. I'm actually going to switch to higher rate leaf springs from Pro-Touring F-Body. I have various reasons for that but I'm not trying to make this thread about me and what I'm doing.

PS hotrodeb - I have driven a lot of cars too. I've driven vehicles for a shop that serviced 10+ dealerships, worked as a mechanic at a luxury sports car dealership and have even worked at a restoration that specializes in vintage Italian cars. Your general point of Mercedes vs BMW vs Cadillac is kind of bogus if you ask me. All those companies make 2 door sports cars but also SUV's. Of course a Cadillac Escalade ESV will ride much different than a BMW M3.

[hotrodneb]

To answer your questions......yes, YES, and F'n yes

I don't need your suggestions/questions on how to "fix" my prior system
---AGAIN....it was a good system just NOT designed for what I WANT out of MY car ( I have made that perfectly clear 3 times now)

Get off my thread and go start your own

[F-Body International]

To answer your questions......yes, YES, and F'n yes

I don't need your suggestions/questions on how to "fix" my prior system
---AGAIN....it was a good system just NOT designed for what I WANT out of MY car ( I have made that perfectly clear 3 times now)

Get off my thread and go start your own

This is a tech forum where people discuss subjects but it's a shame you obviously don't want to have anything to do with that. Sorry for trying to look at this thread more in depth and I will get off your thread now.

For anyone else looking at this thread, please don't use this as an example to base proper judgement on an aftermarket suspension kit for street use. There is no proper analysis here. The first post doesn't even say what car these kits are installed on. Spring "rate" does have a factor in the overall equation but there are plenty of other things you can address to free up suspension articulation.

[Peter Mc Mahon]

Fbody, the thread is entitled street grip review. I'm pretty sure that he just gave us his personal review of it. I wouldn't have read it if I didn't want to.

[ccmc]

I like subjective views of products. Thank you. I too have the TVS system and think it's a bit too harsh. On smooth roads it's great. On typical California rough ass roads it's a bit too stiff. I actually got closer to what I like ditching the IAS shocks I had and switching to Gabriel gas shocks.
I still have too much bump steer and am considering the true turn system.

FYI, i don't race, i drive my LS1 1969 Camaro daily. I live under 1800 rpms and put 15k miles per year on the car.

Another suggestion, get newer car seats! My bmw m3 seats made a world of difference driving 600 miles in one day!

[analyte]

For anyone else looking at this thread, please don't use this as an example to base proper judgement on an aftermarket suspension kit for street use. There is no proper analysis here. The first post doesn't even say what car these kits are installed on. Spring "rate" does have a factor in the overall equation but there are plenty of other things you can address to free up suspension articulation.

My first thought is WTH???

Dude, he offered a general review on how his car responded for others to consider. What's with the third degree?? Hotchkis or someone else paying you to come on here and push product? It seems your posts have a constant theme...

Why don't you stop the hard sell when it's not wanted.

[ace_xp2]

Heh, looking through his posts that's probably the case.

Without knowing the actual rates and figures of both sets of shocks and springs it's hard to say what's going on in either case. Which is often the problem with just buying kits from any company, be they Hotchkis, ridetech or a China-by-night, without all the data on the table you're often just clutching at straws about how the system is working. And while changing to a new one may bring what you're seeking, it may not necessarily be for the reasons you may be thinking.

I really wish more companies posted complete information on the whole system, though they likely figure once you know enough to understand the data you'll probably just build your own.

[F-Body International]

I just want to be clear to you guys...I am not being paid by anyone! I'm sure those of you who may be thinking that have been looking at my most recent post history in the "for sale" section. Yes, I have written commercial-like posts in the "for sale" section recently but I mainly do this to minimize questions relating to what I am selling. If you guys have sold used parts on here, then you know people often ask things like, "what's the part number?" or "does it fit my car?"

Did you guy see my sway bar comparison thread in the suspension section recently? I wrote this for everyone on the forum to see a fair and unbiased test. This even highlights the pros/cons between all the brands mentioned in this thread. I want to emphasize that I wrote this in the most unbiased way I possibly could!
https://www.pro-touring.com/threads/...ar-comparisons

Again, I am sorry for being a fire-starter on this thread. I said I would get off but I can't let it go by without it being known that I am not being paid by anyone to push products. Everything I do is self funded and I do my own work at home. When I sell parts I'm not using, it's to fund the next project on getting my car together. Cars and going fast are my hobby like many others on this forum. I haven't been up to par lately with posting my own tech threads or updating my build thread but after this I am now motivated to prove I am unbiased. Please stop the accusations!

[Jk918]

How do the leaf springs mount with a multi spring rear? As I believe they are mono style ?

[hotrodneb]

The kit came with provisions to mount to either mono or leaf perches, and hardware. There were correct spacer blocks included for both. They also came with new speed nuts and bolts for the front spring mounts. I bought the delron shackles too, worth the extra little coin. Full instructions too in the box.

[Smittys]

Well I have drove the ridetech 70 Camaro for about 4500 miles and I think it's great. I drove it on the cars and cones trip and the entire Power Tour. The autocross results were pretty impressive also.

[rohrt]

I like subjective views of products. Thank you. I too have the TVS system and think it's a bit too harsh. On smooth roads it's great. On typical California rough ass roads it's a bit too stiff. I actually got closer to what I like ditching the IAS shocks I had and switching to Gabriel gas shocks.
I still have too much bump steer and am considering the true turn system.

FYI, i don't race, i drive my LS1 1969 Camaro daily. I live under 1800 rpms and put 15k miles per year on the car.

Another suggestion, get newer car seats! My bmw m3 seats made a world of difference driving 600 miles in one day!

I have the TVS front and rear springs with there latest 1.5 shocks. I have the guldstrand mod, stock arms with graphite bushings and huge Espo swaybar. Pretty much feel the same. Rides great on smooth road, and can corner great but not many smooth roads in my state. I have slowly been de-tuning the car to make it a more pleasant driver. I'm getting old and the ride is just a bit too harsh for my liking.

Its very jarring hitting bumps in the road. It doesn't really absorb the bumps as much as it rides up on them. I read about the hotchkiss front A-arms in another post. I would like to stick with the same brand instead of mixing parts but it comes down to a grand for new A-arms or put a grand in another direction? I was considering just changing the front springs with the ridetech dual rate ones. I'm still don't know about the fiberglass read leafs behind my 455.

I appreciate the review and the other comments on the Hotchkis stuff.