jm91rs

I own a convertible that rides like a tank. I have been in many other 3rd gens that ride much smoother. I am looking for a fairly inexpensive way to make the car ride better (struts, or whatever else will help). Which struts will provide nice handling with a smoother ride. I also plan on within a year or so getting some new rims and slightly lowering the car. If I do this, what would be changed on the car to lower it, I know nothing about lowering cars, so if i bought new struts, would those get replaced when I lower the car in a year?

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Jeremy
91 rs, convertible, K&N, Edelbrock open element cleaner, 3.73, B&M mega-shifter, goodmark cowl-induction hood,tinted windows,MacEwen Overlays
Coming soon...non red interior with 4th gen charcoal/grey seats

[This message has been edited by jm91rs (edited July 17, 2001).]

jm91rs

I guess to sum it up, what I really want to know is , is there a way to make my car ride better without replacing anything that would get replaced when I lower my car?

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Jeremy
91 rs, convertible, K&N, Edelbrock open element cleaner, 3.73, B&M mega-shifter, goodmark cowl-induction hood,tinted windows,MacEwen Overlays
Coming soon...non red interior with 4th gen charcoal/grey seats

Apeiron

Good handling and smooth ride are mutually exclusive concepts.

jm91rs

How about decent handling with a good ride?

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Jeremy
91 rs, convertible, K&N, Edelbrock open element cleaner, 3.73, B&M mega-shifter, goodmark cowl-induction hood,tinted windows,MacEwen Overlays
Coming soon...non red interior with 4th gen charcoal/grey seats

junkyarddog

all you need to lower the car are shorter springs. the ride will depend on a number of things,17" rims will give a harsher ride but much better handling,I have 16" IROC rims with 245/55 tires,it handles good and the ride isn't too harsh,good "in between" combo. different brands of tires also have different ride qualities. you will probly be happy with stock style struts/shocks on a moded suspension,maybee even KYB GR-2 gas struts/shocks I have them and don't think they are too stiff at all.

'84 Trans Am 305 HO,700r4,3.73 posi,
Eibach pro-kit 1.5" drop springs,KYB GR-2 gas struts & shocks,PST polygraphite front end rebuilt,stock sway bars (1.25" front,7/8" rear),hotchkis rear LCAs and adjustable panhard bar,16"x8 IROC rims w/KHUMO ECSTA 245/55 tires. hotchkis SFCs need to be trimmed to install and I'm waiting on S.Sphon to make the STB for carbed engines that clears the A/C bracket.

since the Eibach pro-kit is a "progressive rate" type spring,it barley affects the ride quality during normal driving,upgrading the swaybars or just the sway bar bushings (if you think they are big enough) will help things out alot and not hinder ride quality.in fact I highly recomend the PST front end kit,for $159 it's the best bang for the buck! I wouldn't worry about ride quality at all,unless your putting on some 17" lo-pros and Koni struts/shocks

nicmike85

You can have a fairly decent ride and handeling. I mean when you run 600 lbs an inch springs how good does a car stick to a bumpy road. Be weary of drop springs. They are usually harsher because of the decreased suspention travel. Drop spindels would be the way to go. For a softer ride run a softer spring and a stiffer sway bar. This will help keep the cornering ability. Real hard chassis set-ups are only good on flat smooth roads and they loose thier edge on banked and bumpy roads.

dsavio

Junk yard dog
can you use the edelbrock tbi strut tower brace for a carbed car? read some one did but not sure?

Dave

jm91rs

So if I go replace my struts right now, those will not get replaced again when the car is lowered? what is a good strut for decent handeling and a nice ride. I am looking for something that is fairly inexpensive.

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Jeremy
91 rs, convertible, K&N, Edelbrock open element cleaner, 3.73, B&M mega-shifter, goodmark cowl-induction hood,tinted windows,MacEwen Overlays
Coming soon...non red interior with 4th gen charcoal/grey seats

brharris27370

I have a 91 RS Convertible and didn't want to make it ride like a tank. So I replaced all the bushings with poly and just ran Monroe $37ea struts on the front and rear monroe shocks. It rides very well and handles well too. I also added a Wonderbar (which I designed and build) and Alston Sub frame connectors which helped body roll TREMENDOUSLY. I didn't buy a Convertible to rally race. I just wanted to improve it a bit.

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91 Camaro RS 5.0L Black Convertible 700R4
** Added so far **
*GM Wonderbar,Alston SFC's,spohn LCA's and Panhard rod
*Turbo City Inj Spacer
*Dual Snorkel Air Filter
*March Performance Pulleys
*GM 3.42 Gears with OEM Zexel POSI
*Edelbrock headers
*3" High Flow Cat
*3" Dynomax Exhaust
*Walbro 255 lph Fuel Pump
***Future 330hp Vortec Crate with LT4 hotcam and 454 TBI

jm91rs

you see, I know nothing about suspension, but I have two convertibles. One rides smooth and the good one rides horrible. The previous owner had bushings replaced and new struts, so do I go to a shop, tell them to replace my bushings and struts? what bushings are they? can i easily replace these my self. What monroe shocks did you get?

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Jeremy
91 rs, convertible, K&N, Edelbrock open element cleaner, 3.73, B&M mega-shifter, goodmark cowl-induction hood,tinted windows,MacEwen Overlays
Coming soon...non red interior with 4th gen charcoal/grey seats

ATOMonkey

If $$$$$$$$$$$$$ is not an object, air-ride with leveling software will give good handling with a great ride. Plus you can change the ride height of the car. This is a huge project and involves cutting and welding. If you're on a budget, then anything progressive will give good ride and handling. A sway bar upgrade(front and rear) along with progressive springs and shocks is about as good as it gets. You have to buy your progressive shocks at specific ride heights, or they won't be progressive.

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'89 Red Formula 350- 350 .060 over forged pistons 232* @ .020 cam Performer RPM Holley 750 DP Vortec 1.94 1.50 Hedman shorty headers Dual Exhaust w/ cutouts 1LE WS6 suspension, wheels, and brakes, 9 Bolt 3.27 Posi Edelbrock LCA's & Track bar subframe connectors 700R4 Harwood snorkel scoop Eclipse Head Unit Delco Bose Speakers 2 12" Pioneer subs w/ 400 watt/chanel amp

MelloYello

I'm sorry, but this is simply not true. I lowered my car with Jamex 1.5" drop springs and my car actually has a much better ride while dramatically improving handling.
How is this possible? Well, all stock springs on thirdgens are linear rate, meaning that if the spring is rated at 500lbs., then the full 500lbs. from the spring is felt at the slightest bunp. Jamex springs are progressive, meaning that the average spring rate may be 600lbs., but the rate is much lower under slight compression, increacing progressivly as the spring is further compressed.
Keep in mind, however, before you flame me, the topic was about GOOD handling and a smooth ride, not EXTREME handling.
In short, any GOOD progressive rate spring will improve handling and ride quality, just ask anyone who has had experience.

Kyle

jm91rs

I guess I'm not looking to do anything to my springs yet though, just my struts and bushings.

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Jeremy
91 rs, convertible, K&N, Edelbrock open element cleaner, 3.73, B&M mega-shifter, goodmark cowl-induction hood,tinted windows,MacEwen Overlays
Coming soon...non red interior with 4th gen charcoal/grey seats

Jza

C5 = great handling, great ride

Tas

get used IROC or WS6 springs and put new shocks and struts with them. my Ride was good and handled great before my shocks gave up. I got 170k miles now.

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-Tas
'89 Formula WS-6

305, TBI, auto, 14x3 chrome flat based open element with K&N, Milodon 160* thermo, functional Formula hood, cross-flow Flowmaster, '99z28 rear pipes and tips....

To be installed eventually far far far into the future: Yours if the price is right and I don't have to ship :
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Kandied91z

iTrader: (7)

I've got bilsteins all around with eibach springs; 1-le sway bars front and back with all new bushings as well as sub-frame connectors, adjustable lower control arms and adjustable panhard rod and my car rides like a dream and takes corners like an animal! It rides better than any f-body new or old that i've ever been in.

but, it wasn't cheap.......so it just depends on what your willing to spend; after all it's a sports car so the ride will always be somewhat "sporty" and you'll get what you pay for.

brharris27370

If the one that rides like a tank has new bushings I wouldn't change them. Just the struts. Hopefully he didn't mess with the springs. Bushings I used are PST Performance. They have a website but I don't remember what it is. But any Poly urethane bushings will improve car dramatically. The Monroe's are just the ones I picked up from advance auto parts. Are there better shocks? Yes. But unless you are REALLY going to punish your car I think they are overkill. Spend your money on other goodies like the Alston Sub Frame Connectors. Really stiffened the chassis up. I don't get that popping by the windshield from chassis flex anymore.

[This message has been edited by brharris27370 (edited July 18, 2001).]

CamaroBoy

I have a 90 bird. I just recently replaced the struts. But i hate the 4x4-like stance. If i get springs from a GTA or IROC, will the ride height change? I'm guessing not, but I thought it couldn't hurt to ask. Also, while i'm at it, my bird rides really rough. When driving on a straight paved road, it sounds, and feels (from the front end) as if i'm running over lots of little bumps. I know it might sound strange, but that's the best way I can describe it. She has 160,000 miles on her, so i'm sure the suspension is quite worn. What's the problem? Thanks in advance.

brharris27370

Camaro-Boy, the ride height won't change by using iroc springs. You will need after market springs with a progressive spring rate to give a nice ride on a lowered car. The lot of little bumps problem is most likely really bad struts. How old are they? BAD struts can provide little to no resistance and the wheel can actually bounce like a basketball. Don't laugh I actually saw it and been there done that. With your car having so many miles I would go ahead and get the PST Performance complete kit for the front (centerlink, inner&outer tie rods, ball joints and all bushings). Replace the struts. You can do it all yourself and save $$$ on labor. Then hobble to the alignment shop for your alignment. $500-$700 and you should be able to replace shocks, struts, front suspension kit and the lowering springs. Your car will ride ENTIRELY different. Much more sure footed. You won't believe the difference.

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91 Camaro RS 5.0L Black Convertible 700R4
** Added so far **
*GM Wonderbar,Alston SFC's,spohn LCA's and Panhard rod
*Turbo City Inj Spacer
*Dual Snorkel Air Filter
*March Performance Pulleys
*GM 3.42 Gears with OEM Zexel POSI
*Edelbrock headers
*3" High Flow Cat
*3" Dynomax Exhaust
*Walbro 255 lph Fuel Pump
***Future 330hp Vortec Crate with LT4 hotcam and 454 TBI

FiReBReTHa

do you think it would be bad if i was to get spindels for 17's and then get eibach sportline spring kit?

i want to lower, but id like to smoothen the ride, and get KYb's all around..

id like to keep it under a thou Definitely...


Thanx!!!

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91 FireBird 305 V-8
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F-Body Meeting, Naperville IL, Chicago Ave and Washington. July 27, 8:00ish.

Part Search, I NEED A Harness For A Radiator fan, THANX

CamaroBoy

The struts aren't that old. A few months maybe. My dad works for the local university, so the auto mechanic class or whatever put them on. Along with new shocks front and back. Have no idea what they were though. Only cost around 40 bucks for all that. So i wouldn't think it should be that, unless those bozos failed hehe. Any other idea?? I'm kinda on a tight budget here, only wanna fix what's "really" broken. Thanks.