Hi everyone

I've got a 1989 Firebird with a 5.0 V8 TBI engine and T-Tops.

It's mechanically stock with 14" rims and 225/70 R14 tyres on the rear and 215/70 R14 at the front.

I just wondered what I can do to make the car handle better? I live in the UK and it would be nice for it to go through the little bendy roads over here without spinning the whole car 180 degrees! Also, traction is not great - especially under heavy braking.

What is the best way of improving the handling and who makes the parts (like I say - keep it simple if you can!)

Thanks, and Merry Christmas
P

 

first i would say... Ditch those wheels and tires. get some 16 or 17" wheels, and some good tires.

next would be shocks and springs. easy combo here.

eibach pro-kit, and bilstein HD shocks/struts is a good combo, if you don't want to spend the money for bilstein. i here alot of people who like KYB.

 

I second what Dewey stated. Those 14 inchers aren't helping at all, and the stock suspension is probably really worked. Go with KYB as a cheaper alternative to Bilsteins. IMO, KYB's are the best if you're on a budget like most of us.

After you get some 16 or 17 inch wheels with good meats (at least 245's), then it would be a good idea to get some thicker sway bars, some sfc's to stiffen her up a little wouldn't hurt either.

Hope this helps.

 

i would do subframes before sway bars

the first thing is really the wheels tires, no matter WHAT you do, those are going to kill you.

 

Read "Life at the Limit" by Graham Hill and also do a lot of reading on this site for a while and you should soon get an idea for yourself as to what it is that you need to do for the type of driving that suits you.

No flame intended - just that you can learn a lot here in a short time.

Best wishes for the New Year etc.

 

sounds like you need some bigger rims and tires, with better struts / shocks and some bigger swaybars..

 

Yeah...lose the 14s unless you have bags on all 4 corners and can pick up one front wheel....


"Three 14 inch rims rollin' on the side......"

-Snoop Dogg.


(I hate rap but he talks funny..)

Ed

 

I have cable operated exhaust cutouts installed on one car that I have just for *******s at intesections that play cRAP music like this. I frikin let them have it--Oh revenge is sweet.

 

Nice setup w/ the cutouts. That would be a freakin good time.

As for the question: All of the parts mentioned will drastically help your handling. I just thought I might add a little.

For Sway Bars: Try 36mm up front
24mm in back
And don't forget to replace your rubber bushings with Polyurethane. Energy Suspension, Prothane, or Spohn can probably help you there.

After all the above mentioned mods, you'll just need an engine swap and a trip to the autobahn

 

stronger control arms could help too, although I would do them after wheels/tires, shocks/struts, variable rate springs, sfc's, sway bars.
If all that doesn't meet your requirements, stronger panhard bar would be about the only other thing I could think of.

I think George had some great advice for you. Reading is a great way to learn, and this site has some great info. to read. My car would be a lost cause without this site.

 

Cheapest route to go is this:
Eibach Prokit
KYB GR2 Shocks and Struts
16'' Stock style wheels (Formula, GTA, Iroc) with new ZR rated Kuhmo 712's (Great in rain, cheap, and long lasting)
Try to buy some junkyard swaybars on the internet, the hollow 36 mm Front and 24 mm rear combo.
You will have to buy new bushing and endlinks for this too. If you have the opportunity spohn has all these. You may be able to get a wonderbar too from whoever you got the swaybar from or you can get it from steve spohn. This is in my opinion the best route for the money. I've got the rims, tires, shocks, struts on and have in hand the sway bars and bushings. This will change the car by a lot and will make it much tighter over a base suspension. I also got the cheap $30 jamex strut tower brace to and that made the front tighter. Subframe connectors make wonders in all cars, that is in the mail now.