Originally Posted by MikeR
The sway bar link is mounted to the lower control arm, right next to the shock. It looks like the loading of the sway bar/sway bar link that occurs when lowering is taking load off(or compressing) the shocks and putting it straight to the body via the sway bar. So the shocks don't appear to be able to use the full travel and absorb those bumps and dips. At least that is what it looks like to me.
When you lower the car the lower control arm moves up. This is what exaggerates the negative camber in back. It also pushes the fixed length sway bar link up, which pushes the sway bay up just like you were cornering. Only it is seeing that load ALL the time, on both sides. Since the sway bar is mounted directly to the chassis, those bumps get transmitted directly to the chassis as well. Could this be part of the reason some of the sway bar mounts are breaking????
Hey Mike, I have some questions regarding this set up and how it may or may not apply when using KW-V2 coilovers. I just had the KW-V2's put on by a professional suspension shop. Contrary to popular notions, the ride isn't stiff. The set up is keeping a slight rake on the SRT6, with a 1 finger wheel gap at the front and a 1.8 finger gap at the rear, which translates (using stock wheels/tires) to about 5/8" in front and 1 1/8" in the back. The shop said that after the settling time for the springs, it will drop another 3mm front and back. At which time I go back for an alignment. The V2 rebound settings are about 3 clicks softer than the recommended settings since I wanted a more "comfortable" ride, no harsher than stock. Since I have V3's on my other car, after the break-in period, I had to have them soften it a click or two. So, with the SRT6, after break-in, it should be just-right and need no adjustments for rebound. The ride is TOTALLY awesome right now, way easier on my ****/back than stock, and it take bumps with ease even lowered. Cornering is much improved over stock, and even has a bit less tram-lining in the front. But, as you mentioned above, I notice some serious camber going on due to the lowering. And, like you mentioned, the sway bar might be having a constant-load on it. I am wondering if the adjustable end links might help out even more with the rear end, and whether the stock camber arms will have enough adjustability to have a bit of negative camber, but not an exaggerated amount that will wear out my rather expensive tires quickly. The installer from Sonic Motor Sports in Mt. View, CA did a great job, didn't have to cut, drill or shave anything, and there is no "contact noise" of the sway bar and camber arm, even when I lay into a bump and corner hard. No banging on anything. The ride is great, honestly. But, if the sway bar end links would take off that preload, I am wondering if it would handle even better with those links. I can post some pictures of the non-aligned rear end situation if need be. Would like your opinion though. Will be taking it back for alignment in another 500 miles or so.