taman86

iTrader: (4)

I got a 89 GTA with Gabriel Pro Ryder Shocks.

As far as I can tell the car's suspension is stock WS6, I did put on an aftermarket Steering Brace Bar.

This car is so F'ing stiff, and uncomfortable to drive on almost any roads I go onto. I am not going to a Track, just using car for everyday transportation. I drive fast on the Freeways, an corner fast on City Streets, but I'd rather have comfort over Performance.

This GTA is twice as rough as my 86 Y99 TA was
3X as rough as my 85 TA was,
and 4X as rough as my 97 WS6.

Anyhow I am tempted to go to Sears and have them put on Monroe Sense-A-ble-Track's. They'll do it for $85 installed.

I understand most don't rate these high for performance, and some even thing there crap.

I need advice on what to get to smooth up my ride and make it endurable to go on a 3-4 mile trip to the store.

I feel every Frickin bump, every little crack, every groove, every aspect of the roads surface I do indeed feel. And the car
jolts something most horrible going over RR Tracks. The windows rattle loud, and some makes a loud clunk in the back. The car likes to Fish-tail out around corners.

Actually I'm so sick of it I put up this car for sale too on this site.

I've read from other threads about the KYB GR-2 Front/Gas-adjust rear setup.
Any other opinions?

I have also though about getting KYB or Tokico adjustable Shocks, but someone told me that even on the smooth setting these would be stiffer than a regular KYB or Monroe shock.

THX TAMAN86

Stephen

iTrader: (12)

That is all a matter of personal preference & perception.

I have 17" tires. Solid heim joints in the rear (LCAs & PHB), urethane bushings up front. And my spring rates are roughly double the stock rate up front & 50lbs higher in the rear. And without any bushings between the springs & body, front or rear. And KYB Gas-Adjust shocks & struts.

And yet I, nor any riders, male or female, ever say my cars rides "too stiff". And it depends on YOUR roads. I stay on relatively smooth paved roads with the occasional train track & cattle guards. There is one cattle guard right in the middle of a curve that makes my butt pucker, as the rear "shifts" as I round the curve under speed!

Guest

There is more than one factor involved. What size tires are on it? Just the difference from a 45 series (if those are still around) to a 50 series is huge. The springs may not be stock, might be best to see whats on there.

I havent used many different shocks. I've had stock, Monroe (just gas, way before any of the sensatrac junk), and Bilstein. Of those, the Bilstein had the best ride. However, I think from your complaint the problem lies somewhere else than just shocks.

taman86

iTrader: (4)

I got stock GTA Wheels with 245/50/16's on it.
You are right I need to check to make sure of what springs I got there.
Am I going to be able to tell by looking at them?
I see something like part #16081601, but that is not coming up doing a search on the internet. I am not sure about the last 4 digits of that part#.


The car actually handles well at high speeds on a smooth road, too bad there are few of those around here.

1MeanZ

iTrader: (9)

Yah I agree, something else is wrong. Can you compress the suspension by just pushing down on the car when it's parked?

taman86

iTrader: (4)

Yes, it goes down about 2 inches in the front, and 3 inches in the back.
Just by pushing down on it, it is comparable to my 97 WS6.

It's obvious that the super stiff, rough ride I'm feeling is coming from the front end as well as the back. The struts are original, 145K miles on the car.

When I hit a bump the jolt is felt through the car much more so than the other TA's that Iv'e driven. Maybe part of it is just that 3rdgen WS6 suspension was really stiff even compared the other 3rdgen's suspension.

I need to drive some other GTA's or Iroc's for comparison.

//<86TA>\\

iTrader: (14)

if you can push the car down that far, somethings wrong.

it may feel so rough because the suspension is bottoming out.

Stephen

iTrader: (12)

If the car is lowered too much, you could be bottoming out on the bumpstops & that will give you a harsher ride.

taman86

iTrader: (4)

I just went out and tried pushing down on the front end again. If I rock it up and down, I can get it to go down about 4 inches. Doing the same thing on my 97 WS6 for comparison, the car only goes down 1.5 to 2 inches.

The back end will only rock down about 2 inches.

I don't think the car is lower than normal, at least I didn't do it.

92GTA

iTrader: (11)

I would say to get some Eibach springs in there, just the Pros, not the Sportlines. Also the KYB shocks (the ones just under their AGX model) will work nicely with them. The suspension will feel a bit softer but it will actually be stiffer, if that make sense? The suspension will be doing a better job of absorbing.

The above made the biggest difference to me hands down in just normal driving down a straight road like a freeway or bumpy city road.

I have every suspension mod in the book but by no means an expert. I'm just relaying my experience.

taman86

iTrader: (4)

Great reply, TY.

Have you had a 4thgen?

Is all this advice applicable to a 4thgen?

I have a 97 WS6 also. It would make more sense to put more money into the 97 than into my GTA that just isn't as usable for transportation.

85 ZXX

iTrader: (1)

Here is a link you may want to check out....(http://www.eshocks.com)

taman86

iTrader: (4)

I put new KYB Gr-2 shocks in the back, to replace the Gabriel ****-ryders which were there, that really helped. The car does not slide out around corners excessively the way it used to. It was obviously to stiff in the back.

Also found out that the car is at least 1 1/2 inches lower than a stock GTA, so I am assuming that there are aftermarket lowering springs on it.

The way I see it I could replace the original aging struts which KYB adjustable ones, to see which setting can smooth out the ride with the aftermarket springs that I have. If I then am not satisfied, then I can replace the springs with original WS6 or Y99 springs. Probably the Y99's that came on non-WS6 TA's.

Thank you for all the great info, it was very helpfull.