RideTech StreetGrip debuts at SEMA!

[bret]

OK boys and girls…here is what ridetech has been working on for the last couple of years. It will officially debut at SEMA next week in Las Vegas. We have 5 applications already done and will be shipping on January 5 [or before]. I’ve been driving our 72 Chevelle outfitted with the StreetGrip system since May. It has become my favorite car. It rides better than any car we have on the property, [including our 09 Cadillac CTSV]. We recently took it to an SCCA autocross event in Bowling Green, Ky. Considering this Chevelle has OEM seats, OEM steering box, drum brakes, 15” white letter tires, a 290hp crate engine and an automatic…it was a rockstar! This is the kind of car and suspension you want to drive across the country.

Here is some general info: http://www.ridetech.com/info/streetgrip/

Here are some videos about the StreetGrip program: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kKOA0K6H15s#t=61

Here are pictures of three of the StreetGrip cars that we’ve been working with so far…I’ll be putting up info on ride heights and tire sizes shortly.

We will be in SEMA booth # 22587 [down the steps from the Ford booth]. We will have ALL the StreetGrip components there for your fondling pleasure!

[hotrodalex]

Cool!

Will the leaf springs be available on their own?

[rohrt]

I really like what I see.

[carguy502]

X2 on the Leaf Springs being available solo!

[oldtinsmith]

G.M. G-body?

Doug

[David Pozzi]

This is great! I think the Camaro streetgrip package is a really great idea. The Chevelles ride better to start with and don't seem to suffer as much as the Camaros do when performance/handling springs are installed. A street tuned bolt on Camaro package is just what a lot of guys need. I would still like to see positive caster increased, even more than increasing negative camber gain with the tall ball joints.

I could not play all the videos on my ipad. Some would not select. It would be great if the video links were repeated outside the video.

[bret]

The composite leafs will be available independently of the complete systems. All the components will be available separately as they are all compatible with other oem components.
G body is on the next wave of application development due for release 3.1.16.

[hifi875]

looks great. and a good idea to boot!

[oldtinsmith]

G body is on the next wave of application development due for release 3.1.16.[/QUOTE]

Cool! Just in time for my 70th birthday!!!

Doug

[j-rho]

Composite leafs don't eliminate spring wrap.

The problem I had with composite leafs is any leaf needs to be near-flat (and pass through flat in their travels) at the rear of a Camaro for a nice lowered ride height. First gen at least. The composite technology is laid-up expecting certain surfaces be in tension or compression - they didn't like reversing those forces as they passed through flat. Not a problem if the car is going to be kept high or spacer blocks (with their attendant ills) are ok.

I've got 3-4 sets of composites against the wall at home from Hyperco, Flex-A-Form, and others...went back to steel

[Nicks67GTO]

First let me say that I'm very happy with my smooth body HQ shocks on my GTO. I'm sure this new package will be great.

A couple of questions...

-Will there be an A arm/spindle/RCA package that will eventually go with this as an upgrade?

-What does a progressive rate spring get you, as opposed to a linear rate performance spring?

[rohrt]

Can we assume the springs are lowering springs. The cars pictured above all look to be 1.5 to 2" lowered.

[nokones]

"White Letter Tires" Now, those were the days when we use to run G-60-15 Polyglass GT tires with White Letter on the rear of your ride, and of course with Cragar S/S wheels.

[bret]

Composite leafs don't eliminate spring wrap.

The problem I had with composite leafs is any leaf needs to be near-flat (and pass through flat in their travels) at the rear of a Camaro for a nice lowered ride height. First gen at least. The composite technology is laid-up expecting certain surfaces be in tension or compression - they didn't like reversing those forces as they passed through flat. Not a problem if the car is going to be kept high or spacer blocks (with their attendant ills) are ok.

I've got 3-4 sets of composites against the wall at home from Hyperco, Flex-A-Form, and others...went back to steel

We have found that "spring wrap" is typically a function of shock's rebound control. Our first attempt with the composite leaf was with too high of spring rate, coupled with a shock that did not have enough rebound force available. the result was not only a poor ride quality, but spring wrap as well. We then lowered the spring rate [to gain ride quality] and adjusted the rebound range...that resulted in a great ride quality, much improved handling performance, and no spring wrap. We had this same experience with steel spring as well so the spring wrap issue would seem to follow spring rate and the lack of rebound control, no matter the material of the spring.

[bret]

First let me say that I'm very happy with my smooth body HQ shocks on my GTO. I'm sure this new package will be great.

A couple of questions...

-Will there be an A arm/spindle/RCA package that will eventually go with this as an upgrade?

-What does a progressive rate spring get you, as opposed to a linear rate performance spring?

The A arm / spindle upgrade package that you refer to is already in place: http://www.ridetech.com/store/tru-turn/
We have NOT validated the Tru Turn system with the OEM control arms. We feel that most people who want this level of performance will also want / need a tubular control arm and a coilover shock to compliment it.

The progressive rate springs allow the vehicle to absorb the small imperfections on the street with the softer initial spring rate. As the vehicle encounters a cornering situation [or a larger pothole] the suspension travels beyond that softer rate and into the firmer rate to absorb the bump / prevent vehicle roll.
The reason you do not see progressive rate springs on competition oriented cars is that they typically do not consider ride quality as a performance criteria. In addition, a [successful] progressive rate spring must be tuned per application. "Guessing" [which is how many people select springs] will result in poor performance for both ride quality and handling performance. You will see progressive rate springs on many OEM cars [civilian and performance cars] because they truly are the best of both worlds...IF properly calibrated. The OEM companies have the resources to go through this calibration procedure. You DON'T see them in many aftermarket applications because of the time consuming calibration process.

[bret]

Can we assume the springs are lowering springs. The cars pictured above all look to be 1.5 to 2" lowered.

The short answer is, yes, the vehicles will sit lower than stock.

We do not quote "drop" dimensions because 40-50 years removed from these cars being new, there is no accurate OEM ride height dimension. We will publish full side shots of these cars with wheel/tire sizes and fender lip height dimensions as soon as we can get all the info together in readable form. I think that will eliminate a lot of the "middle man" information and answer the real question for everyone.

[Nicks67GTO]

Bret one more question. Are your delrin lined swaybar bushings going to be available individually? That seems like it would be a nice upgrade for any system.

[hotrodneb]

I removed my own comment here (edit)

[bret]

Bret one more question. Are your delrin lined swaybar bushings going to be available individually? That seems like it would be a nice upgrade for any system.

The Delrin swaybar bushings come with the complete system, and will be included with the streetgrip front swaybar. It is truly amazing the difference that Delrin bushing makes on the ride quality and handling properties of these cars. We did a back to back comparison between poly and Delrin...just that one change was stunning.

For any of you coming to SEMA, we have a display set up that offers a direct comparison between the Delrin control arm and swaybar bushings and the oem rubber and poly bushings. Feel it firsthand for yourself.

[rohrt]

Bret,

Isn't delrin a hard plastic? I was wondering about A-body rear control arm articulation and binding issues.

Sounds like from the last post its all or nothing?
So if you already have aftermarket A-arms or rear trailing arms and if you don't need all the bushings you can't get get credit off the price?