dse or hotchkis?

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Iam wanting to install the rear with 3" drop leafs on my stock chassis bird. Ive read somewhere in a forum here that the dse will drop it lower that the hotchkis leafs. I would rather it be lower than not low enough. Do you guys have a preference? I just use it for cruising and shows. Iam planning on putting 18s on after the drop. Ive been doing alot of research for wheel combo and i think iam going with 255/40-18 in rear and 225/40-18 in front. Ill have to measure for backspacing..probably 4.75-4.875 front and 5.5 rear. Or maybe 255/45-18 and 225/45-18, to fill the rear wheel well better? To many choices...but Iam looking for the perfect stance...as low as I can go without sacrificing drivability on a stock chassis. Thanks in advance, derek" Pics would be a bonus including 67 and 68 camaros

[jy211]

you can stick a 275rear in the back if you like

[68Formula]

Hopefully a builder who has used both, can chime in.

However, I'm not sure you'd rather be too low as opposed to not low enough. If it's not low enough, you can do lowering blocks to get it down a little more (although most say not to use more than an inch). If it's too low then you'll need to have them rearched.

[CarlC]

How low is low enough, and what are you willing to compromise to get there?

[[email protected]]

well id like to start with 3" lower springs. I have a 3.5 inch gap from the top of my tire to fender in rear right now. If I get hotchkis 3" lower springs and it only drops me 2 " I could go with 1 inch lowering block..but if dse gets me to 3" Ill be happy And if I want to go lower still..then I could go with a 1' block to go lower.Just heard dse is more accurate with what they say, but dont know for sure. I would like to hear from those who have used both and what they found. I know I can go with 275 in rear but that would limit me to my lower potential so I wanted to be safer with the 255's. 1fstbrd, who is a member on this site has a 67 bird with 255/40-18 rear and 225/40-18 in front and I think it looks nice, it is lowered 3" in rear and 2" in front.. thanks again in advance.

[Hotchkis]

well id like to start with 3" lower springs. I have a 3.5 inch gap from the top of my tire to fender in rear right now. If I get hotchkis 3" lower springs and it only drops me 2 " I could go with 1 inch lowering block..but if dse gets me to 3" Ill be happy And if I want to go lower still..then I could go with a 1' block to go lower.Just heard dse is more accurate with what they say, but dont know for sure. I would like to hear from those who have used both and what they found. I know I can go with 275 in rear but that would limit me to my lower potential so I wanted to be safer with the 255's. 1fstbrd, who is a member on this site has a 67 bird with 255/40-18 rear and 225/40-18 in front and I think it looks nice, it is lowered 3" in rear and 2" in front.. thanks again in advance.

Lowering height depends a lot on the current height of your car. If it's already sagging, even 3" springs won't lower it 3 inches.

The Hotchkis standard lowering springs should bring a stock Camaro or Firebird to the measurements listed below.

Vehicles are all stock Camaro's equipped with 225/60/15 wheel and tire packages. Measurements are taken from the ground to fender lip on a level ground.

Year Front Rear
67-68 25 1/8 27
1969 24 25 ¾
1971 25 ½ 26

The 3" spring kit should result in a stance similar to the one below:

[[email protected]]

Thanks for the reply. Its definitely not sagging, the springs are about 7 years old and there is a 3" gap from the top of my rear tire to the fender lip. I have 275/60-15 tires now but will be getting 255/40-18 after I drop the rear down. With enough backspacing I should be able to drop the tire slightly inside the wheel well. In theory anyway.

[[email protected]]

well I decided to go with dse 3" springs. Ill post some pics soon. Thanks for the advice

[Rod]

DSE on the rear? what does their leaf spring package come with? then what are you going to run for coils in the front? DSE also to have a balanced package?

[[email protected]]

ITs for the rear and I bought the leafs only, no package. I will be putting the 2" drop dse springs in front.