okay, well im still learning all this stuff about my car, ive been reading up on the engine and how to enhance its performance, but what good is a powerful engine without a suspension to match? i really dont know much about suspensions and was just wondering if there is anywhere i can look to find out what each component of a suspension does, and how it works. i would like to overhaul the suspension on my 82 Z28 but i really need to learn all this stuff first to troubleshoot each component and then replace what needs to be replaced.

thanks for any help!!

 

I dont know where to tell you to look but I can help a little. The shock absorber, does just that, (they like to keep the names simple) when you hit a bump the tire flies up or the body comes down(its all relative) to keep this pothole or bump from jarring the crap out of you, the shock slows down the impact, or however you want to describe it. The spring pushes the shock back to it's original position so it'll be ready for the next bump. The sway bar( stops the car from swaying). If you want to beef up your suspension, I'd start with springs. Dont just go buy the replacements fro autozone or where ever, they are far too weak, yopu have to order some perfornmance ones from summit or somewhere. These new springs will tighten up the suspension, and if its on the rear it will keep the wheel from hopping(which sucks by the way) Next get a big ol fat sway bar. this will make the car handle better in the turns. The bigger the sway bar the better the handling. The shocks will be easy to find( the more expensive the better, generally) I've heard a lot of people saying that the body bushings and suspension bushing replacement kits work miracles on worn out third gens. They'll stiffen everything up. When it comes to high speed conering, body flex real close to the top of the list. If anyone disagrees with anything I've said, please feel free to ridicule me or whatever.

 

I think you have these two definitions backwards. The SPRING is what keeps the wheels from slamming into the car when driving over bumps. Stiffer springs are usually found on sports cars where it aids in traction where looser springs are on luxury cars where the focus is on a more comfortable ride. The SHOCK ABSORBER simply helps the spring return to its natural resting state sooner. Example: when you check the shocks, you normally push down on the car and it should simply rise back up to its normal position. If the shocks are worn the car will bob up and down several times before coming to rest.

 

Springs determine ride height and steady state cornering. Shocks have to do with everything moving. Hard shock ride like crap because they apply more force the faster you try and move them. An impact like a bump is almost instant acceleration so the shock doesn't move at all if it's very stiff. Shocks also stabilize and determine handling when you first turn the wheel, or if you are doing slalom. They are the dynamic tuning tool. You can also tune the cars launch and braking characteristics with shocks. The control arms determine how the body will roll. The angle they make relative to the cars center of gravity and the tires determines weight transfer which effects handling. Anti-sway bars try to keep the body of the car flat by raising the wheel on the inside of the corner. The stiffer the sway bar doesn't always make you handle better. The ratio of stiffness front to back determines if the car will be loose or pushy. The fatter the bar the faster that end will break loose. Tire pressure also determines handling. An underinflated tire will break loose faster than a properly inflated tire. All of this also depends on static weight distribution. Suspension are far to complicated to explain in an internet chat room. There are lots of books at the local library if you are genuinely interested.

 

hey, thanks for all the help, im gonna see if they have any books on this at the undergrad library, one other question though: I have a 305 LU5 which (from what i can gather) is a fairly week engine, (with some potential.) However I can still break loose from a stop pretty easily. I have P225/70/R15's (which i know are pretty skinny) but they break loose constantly in wet weather. I have to ***** foot all around the gas to keep from fishtailing if i try to start up a hill when its raining. I know ill have to replace at least the rear tires some time, but the rest of the suspension is also really old and the mechanic that i took the car to when i first bought it said the shocks were really bad. i cant remember if he said anything about the springs, but i do know that the car will bottom out fairly easily (i.e. when driving over a bump that my friends 79 cadi doesnt even feel, i know cadies are built so you dont feel anything, but still, i shouldnt be bottoming out all the time should it?!) if i were to start at one spot on the suspension, what should i do to it first, other than tires, cause i already know that.

Keep in mind that these are my goals for this car: A good amount of hook when launching and a fair driveablility in the city (im used to a bumpy ride, so this isnt quite as important as being able to launch.) For now, im not too worried about the sway bar because i have learned to take turns very carefully. what im really concerned about is girping the road when accelerating, especially if i add more power to this car.

YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW EMBARASSING IT IS TO LOSE TO A NEON BECAUSE YOUR CAR CANT GRIP THE ROAD!!!! ESPECIALLY WHEN ITS YOUR FRIENDS NEON AND YOU HEAR ABOUT IT EVERY DAY!!!

thanks again for all your help!

 

First thing I'd do is get good shocks. That will be night and day. Then wheels and tires. Then replace the bushings and control arms, end links, panhard rod. Then look into new springs. If you still have money left SFCs and a new torque arm.

 

relocation brackets might be a good idea, put a set of those on when you replace your bushings. they will really help the car hook better and virtualy stop wheel hop.