RallyRedTexan

First, I'd like to say hello, I'm new here. I post mostly on LS1.com.

My 92 RS with 50k miles has it's original suspension and it rides like crap. I can feel every bump. It's also way low and I scrap alot, there's about 2.5 fingers front and 3.5 in the back. It also make poping sounds when I turn the wheel to lock.

What do I need to do to remedy this situation? I want to have a smother ride as this is my daily driver. I'm looking more for comfort than anything, when I want fun I drive my LS1.

Thanks in advance for helping me out, I'm sure this has been asked a million times but I did a search and got pretty scattered information.

BretD 88GTA

Are you the original owner? If the car sits that low, it sounds like it's got lowering springs on it.

As far as the popping sound, you might need new balljoints.

RallyRedTexan

I know it has stock suspension, I think it's just sagging. It was a Memaw's car before mine.

RallyRedTexan

Okay, I went out this morning and remeasured the wheel gap and it's like 1.75 inches in the front and 2.25 inches in the back.
That just seem low to me.

George

I shouldn't have sagged that much with only 50K on it.

My 83TA has 100K miles on it still with the original suspension and it's maybe half an inch lower than stock ride height after nearly 20 years.

As for a smooth ride - depends what you you're comparing it to - my truck rides a lot smoother than my TA but it don't hold the road quite so good as the TA.

What the hell's a "Memaw" anyway and how would that explain the car being like two inches off the ground.

George

Measure from the top of the fender well to the ground - it should be around 27 inches depending which car you have - like IROCs are about one inch lower than stock or something but 27 is an approximate average which should let you know if it's been lowered.

BretD 88GTA

My lowered GTA is about 1.5" all the way around - 2 fingers.

With only 50k on the car, the springs shouldn't be sagging. Do you have any pictures you could post?

BretD 88GTA

He means an older lady owned the car before and she wasn't hot roddding it.

As far as the 2", he was referring to the gap between the tire and fender lip.

RallyRedTexan

Okay, my Memaw is what I call my grandmother, and I know she didn't change the springs.

Is it normal for the front end to be that low?

I think my shocks/struts may have worn out, the ride quality has gotten progressively harsher over the last four years. The ride is harsher than my 2001 Z28 w/ revalved bilstiens and G2 lowering springs.

BretD 88GTA: I don't have internet hosting for posting pics, but I can snap one tomorrow and email it if that would help.

RallyRedTexan

Oh, and thank you guys for helping me.

BretD 88GTA

Yeah, if you could snap a pic and e-mail it that would be helpful.

How does the car respond going over bumps, etc... Does the front end tend to bounce a bit before it settles down? If that's the case, the struts are probably shot.

The struts don't really don't affect the ride height. The springs do that. At 50k miles, the springs should be fine.

RallyRedTexan

Okay, just got in from school I'll go snap a pic.

George

It sounds like you need shocks and struts. I don't know if that's premature at 50K miles - probably it's not although my original shocks and struts did'nt get real bad until lately and now my car is sort of like you're describing yours to be ie. ridding really rough as opposed to like a solid sports car feel to it; but then mine is twice as old with twice the mileage.

Look at the shocks and struts - if you see evidence of fluid leakage then they're likely shot

RallyRedTexan

Thanks again, I'm gonna jack it up and remove the wheels for further inspection on Thursday. I think they may have had it. The streets that this car has seen really, really suck, more potholes than sound surface.

What else should I look at other than the ball joints and shocks/struts?

I kinda wanna replace all those bushing things that are so worn. I'll just do a front end rebuild search and see what I get.

Thanks for all the help guys, your advice has been invaluable.

RallyRedTexan

One more thing, what replacement shock should I get? I like a solid but smooth feel, don't we all. Not squishy but comfortable and price, as always, will be an issue.

George

From all the stuff I've read on this board I'd say your lookin at KYBs.

I'm holding out for Bilsteins myself - that's why I'm still runnin around on 20 year old shocks and struts.

Although the SLP 17x9.5 rims just a took a whack of cash out my life and then there was the headers and Hooker Catback - my accountant says to me "what! you spent $500 on a Hooker".

RallyRedTexan

Alright thanks for the advice, and just tell your accountant it was for a few months
Who carries KYB shocks?

DartByU

For your popping noise you might check out this thread:https://www.thirdgen.org/techbb2/sho...ng+turned+left
It has some good information in it, my car has that same popping noise but I haven't looked into the cause yet. My car has 152,000 miles on it and it's still at the stock ride height with the original springs, I inclosed a picture so you can compare yours to mine. And I've never rode in a 3rd gen that didn't ride at least a little rough, mine even did when it was new, but I like it.