Suspension / ChassisQuestions about your suspension? Need chassis advice?
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I know most people want Camaro's to handle good and don't care about the ride but I'm getting ready to have all new suspension parts installed in my 92 RS, money is no object and I want to have the best softest ride as I just use the car for cruising now, car is stock height and has stock 235/55-16 tires, it road nice when new but even then was harsher than I like, would a air-ride system be smoother or is there a better option?
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I know most people want Camaro's to handle good and don't care about the ride but I'm getting ready to have all new suspension parts installed in my 92 RS, money is no object and I want to have the best softest ride as I just use the car for cruising now, car is stock height and has stock 235/55-16 tires, it road nice when new but even then was harsher than I like, would a air-ride system be smoother or is there a better option?
How about a different car? I'm kidding, or at least half kidding - an F-body is always going to ride like an F-body - which is similar to a ton of bricks falling down a flight of stairs. You've got a low-slung car with a limited amount a suspension travel, which neccesitates a pretty stiff spring to prevent bottoming out w/ suspension compression. Berlinetta springs with OEM shocks is probably going to give the best ride.
You can have my old springs when im done with them. Just pay the shipping. They are 20 yrs old, work great, and are super soft. They still look about the height they are supposed to be.
you're complaining about all factory stock suspension and old saggy soft springs? never ridden in a lifted truck I'm guessing then. Honestly, I'd look into just stock replacement struts and shocks and leave it at that with replacing whatever worn out front suspension pieces there may be. If you want the floaty ride of a cadillac, then you bought the wrong car. This is a sports car, meant to ride a little stiffer than a family sedan.
You guys always say that, but I think that there are cadillac's and other "new" cars out there that have a "floaty" ride, and also handle better than a third gen.
__________________ -Adam
1990 Firebird Formula
Bone Stock 305TBI, T5 tranny, 62k Origional
UMI subframe Connectors
You guys always say that, but I think that there are cadillac's and other "new" cars out there that have a "floaty" ride, and also handle better than a third gen.
I would have to disagree with that statement - name one of these "new" car's that will out-handle a third gen with the floaty big car ride you speak of. Closest thing I can think of is a GTO or CTS-V - but while riding better than a third gen, neither of those cars can outhandle a 3rd gen. A 3 Series BMW wears the handling and ride hat's both at the same time pretty well, handling is at least on par with a third gen, and it definetly rides better - but doesn't have anything like the floaty ride of a caddy.
Thanks for the input, I know the car will never ride like a caddy, but I figured with modern technology I could have a little better ride than was designed into the car to start with, after all the first ones were designed in the late 70's, the first 3rd Gen was in 82 so I imagine GM was working on design several years before.
I would have to disagree with that statement - name one of these "new" car's that will out-handle a third gen with the floaty big car ride you speak of. Closest thing I can think of is a GTO or CTS-V - but while riding better than a third gen, neither of those cars can outhandle a 3rd gen. A 3 Series BMW wears the handling and ride hat's both at the same time pretty well, handling is at least on par with a third gen, and it definetly rides better - but doesn't have anything like the floaty ride of a caddy.
Okay, I think that statement needs clarification. First, a CTS-V is not a big car in the sense of big cadillacs or mercurys, etc. In fact they are about the same dimensions as the camaro--might be a shade shorter. I guarantee that it will outhandle any of the early versions of the 3rd gen up to at least 86 when the IROC came out. And the brand new CTS-V would run circles around em without breaking a sweat. Maybe on a skidpad you might generate similar or better numbers, but out on the road, the CTS-V is going to generate a whole lot more confidence and thus better numbers. Handling is the whole package: power to weight, braking, horsepower, roadholding, etc. The CTS-V has all of that in spades. Frankly, so did the new generation GTO despite its rather bland styling. Remember, our cars didn't come with subframe connectors, strut tower braces, and the like. IROCS and later z28's had beefier sway bars and springs, and the lower center of gravity certainly helps, but they were still crude cars in many respects. Now, you can add things to improve the handling, such as mentioned above, and be real close to new vehicle numbers. But from the factory, not so much. The nice thing on our cars, you can spend a a decent amount of money and have a great handling, good horsepower car and still have a large chunk of change leftover compared to a new vehicle.
__________________ "Not all who wander are lost." -- JRRT
Okay, I think that statement needs clarification. First, a CTS-V is not a big car in the sense of big cadillacs or mercurys, etc. In fact they are about the same dimensions as the camaro--might be a shade shorter. I guarantee that it will outhandle any of the early versions of the 3rd gen up to at least 86 when the IROC came out. And the brand new CTS-V would run circles around em without breaking a sweat. Maybe on a skidpad you might generate similar or better numbers, but out on the road, the CTS-V is going to generate a whole lot more confidence and thus better numbers. Handling is the whole package: power to weight, braking, horsepower, roadholding, etc. The CTS-V has all of that in spades. Frankly, so did the new generation GTO despite its rather bland styling. Remember, our cars didn't come with subframe connectors, strut tower braces, and the like. IROCS and later z28's had beefier sway bars and springs, and the lower center of gravity certainly helps, but they were still crude cars in many respects. Now, you can add things to improve the handling, such as mentioned above, and be real close to new vehicle numbers. But from the factory, not so much. The nice thing on our cars, you can spend a a decent amount of money and have a great handling, good horsepower car and still have a large chunk of change leftover compared to a new vehicle.
I can see some of your point, certinaly handling is the whole package. I think if you were to take a L98 Iroc out on a short course against and GTO and CTS-V you'd get some pretty similar lap times. Bigger the track, the more you're going to notice the lack of HP in the third gen. Certainly the 3rd gen is much much more crude than any new car. The third gen defintely has the most potential for the all around handling package, it has some think you mention like a lower cg, and simply less weight. Like you said, a little money goes a long ways, and there are a lot of 3rd gens out there that would outhandle these "new" cars with ease. I don't have all the motor of an LSx car, but I wouldn't hesitate to race any of the above mentioned cars in an autocross, where the motor isn't gonna matter much.
I was thinking along the lines of the new GTO, and something like the G35 infinity. Those handle awesome, drift great and do smokey burnouts, and still ride like a luxary car.
Hell, my buddies 98 Camaro SS with the LS1 rides 100 times smoother and softer than my car, and he has twice the miles. He has no creaks, clunks, bangs, clanks, squeaks, and pops that I get just driving my car over a slightly rough road. His camaro just rides right over the bumps, you feel them only as much as any other car. And it outhandles my car by alot. Especially in the corners, when my car gets all "loose" even with my SFC's.
__________________ -Adam
1990 Firebird Formula
Bone Stock 305TBI, T5 tranny, 62k Origional
UMI subframe Connectors
I WASNT kidding about getting old springs. My car has a very nice "floaty" ride. Its just a lil scary when i go into a turn to fast, cuz the car wants to drift sideways while "floating". But its soft, and i would definately take the car on long cruises.
But it takes alot of speed for that to happen.
If you are just looking for comfort on daily ride, just get some older springs, or the lowest V8 spring rate. I would imagine the v6' springs bottom out with a V8.
Id also recommend getting new padding for your seat. The old seats make a HUGE difference in comfort. You may have noticed this if you ever work on the interior of the car. Sit in the driver's seat, get used to it, and then switch over to the passenger seat. The passenger seat is usually MUCH more comfortable because it has such little use.
I just got the Air Ride done on mine...and it honestly rides way better. Softer...not really...but it doesn't seem to pound the hell out of you when your driving on bumpy roads...
__________________ 1991 Z28 Camaro~5.7 L98/G92
Air Ride/INTRO Wheels 1999 WS6 Trans Am 30th Anniversary #357
Owner: Shawn Nelson "If you didn't build it with your hands, you can't call it yours"
The best way to make the ride comfortable in your ThirdGen is to copy that of any 80's Berlinetta. They had the softest suspension ever installed in this generation F-Body.
I don't remember the spring rates off the top of my head, Just call any parts store and ask for 82-84 Berlinetta specific springs. The front sway bar calls for a 27mm in the front and NO rear sway bar installed. Just call any parts store and ask for Berlinetta springs for the softest "stock" ride.
You can also remove the crossmember to frail rail braces in the engine bay for a little additional body flex - but I wouldn't do that if rust is an issue where you live !
I was thinking along the lines of the new GTO, and something like the G35 infinity. Those handle awesome, drift great and do smokey burnouts, and still ride like a luxary car.
Hell, my buddies 98 Camaro SS with the LS1 rides 100 times smoother and softer than my car, and he has twice the miles. He has no creaks, clunks, bangs, clanks, squeaks, and pops that I get just driving my car over a slightly rough road. His camaro just rides right over the bumps, you feel them only as much as any other car. And it outhandles my car by alot. Especially in the corners, when my car gets all "loose" even with my SFC's.
I've driven a stock 4th gen with comparable miles as mine (160k miles), and the ride is alot better. But, I think my car felt alot better (handling wise) with ~120k miles and all stock suspension than the 4th gen. That car was quieter and had a better steering response, but the roll on that car was insane. It felt like my Grandpa's Buick when just turning in traffic.
The noises you describe are from the fact that you probably have all stock bushings, shocks, springs, etc in the car. The age on the car is just as bad or worse than the extra mileage.
My car was pretty quiet til I started modifying it. Now it's like a bob-sled, but
it'll hammer and 4th gen I've met in the turns.
To the original poster, if you want a soft ride, I'd replace all your bushings with rubber bushings, do some research on shocks with softer dampening, and get the softest springs you can stand. I don't think that the sway bars will affect the ride much, but you might want to experiment with that.
