Street Grip review

[soupedupsupra]

I would be very interested in this kit, IF there were spring rates posted.

[hotrodneb]

The tag on the rear leafs said 175#, but they don't feel that heavy. I am certain they are progressive UP to 175. Hotchkis lists their rates at 150/180. I took the "overload" out of my Hotchkis to make them a 150 constant rate and they still didn't have the initial flex that the streetgrip does on the initial hit of a sharp bump. To me they feel more like a 125/150, with the 150 coming in fairly smooth and relatively quick. Stock rear spring rate is 115 constant.

Here is an experiment IF you want. The Hotchkis leafs are 3 springs, with the last spring being an overload that makes the higher rate. The final piece is a 6" piece that fills the cavity in a multi-leaf perch. I swapped the stack so it went, leaf-leaf-spacer-overload. This made the overload come in MUCH later IF at all. It improved my ride feel in the direction I wanted. THIS experiment told me that MY driving required a lower spring rate.

My requirements for my car lean more on the touring side of Pro-Touring. YES shock tuning has ALOT to do with ride quality. My limited personal experience has been that "like a house is built on a foundation", it starts with the correct springs for what you want.

[Josh@Ridetech]

Thanks for the good words. I'm glad that you're really liking the kit! Let me know if you need anything else!

[soupedupsupra]

Thanks, that sounds like exactly what I am looking for on rear springs. Any listing of minimum/maximum rate for the fronts?

[rohrt]

The tag on the rear leafs said 175#, but they don't feel that heavy. I am certain they are progressive UP to 175. Hotchkis lists their rates at 150/180. I took the "overload" out of my Hotchkis to make them a 150 constant rate and they still didn't have the initial flex that the streetgrip does on the initial hit of a sharp bump. To me they feel more like a 125/150, with the 150 coming in fairly smooth and relatively quick. Stock rear spring rate is 115 constant.

Here is an experiment IF you want. The Hotchkis leafs are 3 springs, with the last spring being an overload that makes the higher rate. The final piece is a 6" piece that fills the cavity in a multi-leaf perch. I swapped the stack so it went, leaf-leaf-spacer-overload. This made the overload come in MUCH later IF at all. It improved my ride feel in the direction I wanted. THIS experiment told me that MY driving required a lower spring rate.

My requirements for my car lean more on the touring side of Pro-Touring. YES shock tuning has ALOT to do with ride quality. My limited personal experience has been that "like a house is built on a foundation", it starts with the correct springs for what you want.

What was involved in swapping the leafs? Was it just a bolt in place? (As I was typing I remembered I had a picture)

Would also like to hear more on you impressions of the fiberglass leafs. Are you putting much power to the rear? Any wheel hop issues? I assume you put the rear swaybar?

[viperman]

Rather than all the BS...I would rather see a decent review on the street grip system. I am thinking of putting this on my BB vert, and could really use some opinions/reviews on how easy the install was, the value at the price point and the level of improvement achieved. At around $2-2500, there are a lot of options out there, but it really depends on what you doing with your car. Mine is street driven, period...SO this system looks like a good choice.

[hotrodneb]

"Viperman"-I can only offer opinions on how my butt feels driving my car now. I am certain there is someone out there who can offer a complete pic/pic and technical comparison. I like the car now, didn't before.

"rohrt"-- Since you provide pics of springs on the floor, you are MORE than capable of installing the streetgrip. Both springs simply replaced stock pieces with no modifications. (bolt in place) The rear kit came with all possible hardware for both mono and multi leaf perches. I suppose I should have taken pics but it was REALLY hot and I was in a hurry to see the improvement. Total rear swap took me about an hour. (clean car-nothing rusted) There is a vid somewhere of them installing it in a parking lot.

I only started this thread because I hated how my car rode. It handled like it was on rails. Just this week I sold off a high-mile 2002 Eldorado and replaced it with a 2006 Monte Carlo. The Cadillac felt mushy, the Monte solid. My Firebird now has a modern, solid feel that doesn't give me headaches driving through town. It also certainly is NO Cadillac.

[rohrt]

"Viperman"-I can only offer opinions on how my butt feels driving my car now. I am certain there is someone out there who can offer a complete pic/pic and technical comparison. I like the car now, didn't before.

"rohrt"-- Since you provide pics of springs on the floor, you are MORE than capable of installing the streetgrip. Both springs simply replaced stock pieces with no modifications. (bolt in place) The rear kit came with all possible hardware for both mono and multi leaf perches. I suppose I should have taken pics but it was REALLY hot and I was in a hurry to see the improvement. Total rear swap took me about an hour. (clean car-nothing rusted) There is a vid somewhere of them installing it in a parking lot.

I only started this thread because I hated how my car rode. It handled like it was on rails. Just this week I sold off a high-mile 2002 Eldorado and replaced it with a 2006 Monte Carlo. The Cadillac felt mushy, the Monte solid. My Firebird now has a modern, solid feel that doesn't give me headaches driving through town. It also certainly is NO Cadillac.

hotrodneb,

I would like to know how your ride height changed in comparison to the hotchkis springs?
What kind of power are you putting out to the rear leafs?
Are you using the ridetech sway bar?
Who's A-arms are you using?

Thanks

[hotrodneb]

1-I didn't actually measure ride height before/after but I believe the street grip rides about an inch higher than the 3" Hotchkis lowering leafs
2-Power is only a stock LS-1 You would have to contact RedeTech about max power suggestions
3-Rear sway bar is an Ebay cheapie, front is stock, and I like it
4-Control arms are cheap ebay Chinese tubular stock height knock-offs because I am a broke car guy. I have replaced all the ball joints with good ones.
The control arms have the reversible plugs for caster correction and tall upper ball joints in leu of tall spindles

[rohrt]

1-I didn't actually measure ride height before/after but I believe the street grip rides about an inch higher than the 3" Hotchkis lowering leafs
2-Power is only a stock LS-1 You would have to contact RedeTech about max power suggestions
3-Rear sway bar is an Ebay cheapie, front is stock, and I like it
4-Control arms are cheap ebay Chinese tubular stock height knock-offs because I am a broke car guy. I have replaced all the ball joints with good ones.
The control arms have the reversible plugs for caster correction and tall upper ball joints in leu of tall spindles

Great info.

I was just wondering about wheel hop do to leaf wrap and if it was an issue.

So it sounds like you just bought the front and rear springs from the streetgrip line. I was considering the same. I like my stance with the Hothkis springs, I think my fender to ground is around 25" if I remember correctly with a 25.5 inch tire. If you get a chance I would like to know what yours measures.

Thanks again.

[hotrodneb]

Yes just the springs, already had HQ shocks

Rear measures 28 and front 26 to ground with 245-45-17s. Josh should chime in here. I think there is an easy lowering method if you want lower.

[rohrt]

Pretty darn close to mine with the hotchkiss springs. Just ran out and looks like 27 in the back and 26 in the front with my 235-15 tires.

[kimosabi]

This kit looks awfully familiar to what I pieced together for my 70 Camaro. I agree, composite leafs are FANTASTIC compared to steel leafs. I got a set of 225lb ones and they are super responsive and highly tuneable with rebound adjustable shocks.

I wonder where ridetech gets their composite leafs from? I got mine from Hyperco.

[jknight16]

I have Hyperco leafs as well (225lbs) and can confirm they ride fantastic (I have Alston singles). The ridetech kit is nice because their shocks are great, bushings are an improvement over the rubber ones I have, and the spacers/hardware to install them on multi leaf pads are nice to have all gathered in a kit. I added a Fays2 watts link but that seems to just add unnecessary packaging issues if you're using them on a street car.

[kimosabi]

I watched the vids on the kit now and they say they are Hyperco leafs.

With a few twists I have this exact kit myself, only that I pieced it together from here and there. The shocks however I would like as mine are KONI Classics, adjustable but not on-car adjustable. Missus likes a smoother ride so if we went for a road trip together I'd have to remove the rear shocks and soften them up three turns.

About the watts link though, when is the limit to where a watts link should be installed to support the composite springs?

[jknight16]

Re: the watts link, I'm not sure but this style of leaf is used in dirt track cars with very large tires that put far more lateral loads than most PT cars will. I think it's probably overkill, but that's how some people roll. Install the streetgrip kit and you could always add a lateral locator if you found the need to adjust roll center. I suspect very few have that need.

[hotrodneb]

Looks to be so (hyperco)

Tag on springs that they either left on or forgot to remove says "lightflex 175#" a google search brings up--(look to be a match)

http://liteflexllc.com/products/hype...ngsprings.html

[bret]

Looks to be so (hyperco)

Tag on springs that they either left on or forgot to remove says "lightflex 175#" a google search brings up--(look to be a match)

http://liteflexllc.com/products/hype...ngsprings.html

Liteflex is the contracted manufacturer for Hyperco. Litelflex only does large quantity OEM type manufacturing, they have no ability [nor desire] to deal with the details of a retail sale [tech calls, price questions, fitment questions, etc.] They are the manufacturer for the Corvette composite leafs since 1982 as well as the composite leafs under the Mercedes Sprinter vans and a variety of other OEM applications.
Hyperco only has limited ability to handle retail sales as well...limited to the racing markets they are currently in...circle track, NASCAR, Indycar, etc. That is why we are handling these springs...and all the tech calls, pricing, packaging, development, fitments, etc. The Liteflex/Hyperco leafs have proven to be a really nice performer...when paired with the correct bushings and shock calibrations.

[Yater]

Hi,

What would be the recommended spring rate for these leafs in a 73 Firebird? 175? 200? 220?

I would combine them with Koni Classic Red shocks. Should the shocks be adjusted towards more rebound, less rebound, or just neutral?

The car would do 100% street & cruising with some spirited driving, but I would occasionally have people using the rear seats.

Thanks

[Yater]

Also, forgot to ask, anyone with a 2nd gen. had issues, or is there anything to watch for, with the proximity to the exhaust tips ?

And can the ridetech delrin bushings be fitted into a Hacerlo leaf? Do they fit then the stock shackles ?

Hope not to hijack the thread, good that we share the experiences...!