ok so i have an 84 TA with stock suspension. i would like to know what i can get that will give it a better/smoother ride. i don't auto X nor do i drag, if anything, the only thing i might do here and there is street race so i don't need anything over the top, i want to keep the same ride height but just make it a little better in turns and over bumps. and in advaced thank you for any and all info.

P.S. i would think i would just get new coils and shocks right?

 

I put monroe sensa tracks on my 90 firebird, they stiffened the normal crusing ride, and vastly improved my handling. I didn't replace any springs tho, just the sensa tracks... my car is a daily driver and I don't 'race' at all, except for the occasional blast into or back from town on old county roads

I would buy them again.

 

ok so i really don't know anything about suspension, (that's y i'm asking) but what r sensa tracks. r they the struts/shocks or what???

and to be honest i'm more looking for a ride where if i hit a bump the car won't shake. i really don't want it stiffer, could it be that maybe my shocks r bad now and that's y it's soo ruff???

 

yeah, struts and shocks, front and rear. I didn't go for aftermarket springs since I don't race my car (and never will) and only want a sweet ride.

 

1. Replace all the bushings with Polyureathn
2. Get New Shocks & Struts
3. Get a Wonder Bar (This is like 50.00 and great imporvment on steering.)
4. Get Sphon Sub Frame Connectors (Even Stock with no racing these will be the best thing you can do. It will strenght the entire Flimsy Sheet Metal That They call A FRAME.)


Just my .02

 

I'd agree, sub frame connectors are a good idea, one of those things that's on my to-do list.

all great ideas tho.

 

1. so just get new OEM struts/shocks???
2. what's a wonder bar
3. SFC would be nice, and i'm sure it'll firm up the car. but what about smoothness of the ride

 

A wonder Bar AKA: Steering Brace.

 

thank u for all the info, but what about the other 2 ?'s. and where's a good site i could buy all this from?

 

See the ends of these suspension parts...those rubber ends are called bushings. It is where the susupension pieces connect at. Type of bushing makes a big difference.

 

ok guys i don't mean to sound like an @ss but no one has answer the main ?. so far the only person who gave any good info on the ? i asked was vpStein telling me about monroe sensa tracks. if anyone else has some good info on shocks/strut and/or to make a smoother ride i thank u in advance

 

ok here are links.

Wonder Bar http://www.spohn.net/product.cfm?productid=1391
Sub Frame Connectors http://www.spohn.net/category.cfm?categoryid=1052
Polyurethane Bushings http://www.spohn.net/category.cfm?categoryid=1069

I would do at least the SUB FRAME CONNECTORS, WONDER BAR,SHOCKS & STRUTS , and BUSHINGS. make sure to do all Bushings and also Check your upper strut mount to make sure it isn't wore out.

 

thank you MTPFI-MAF...i searched for a wonder bar/steering brace and all i was able to come up with was a strut tower brace. and what brand/kind of shocks should i get for a smooth ride. looking around i saw koni reds ,i think, but they sed it was a stiffer ride or maybe it was their normal sport shocks...idunno

 

Even stock replacments would be better than the Wore out Old ones.

 

i think you would be happy with just standard replacement ones... you can even take the easy route and just have a shop put some on.

you dont seem to want anything more then the orignal stock performance anyway.

 

dude, the quickest way for a better ride is to replace your old shocks and struts. I too am running the Monroe Sensatrac struts/shocks on my car. The difference is awesome. I went a step further and put the sportline lowering springs on my car from eibach, i love the ride. The Eibach sportline kit would only lower your car 1" all around, and provide better wight transfer for cornering and braking, hence a safer ride. 1" isn't much of a drop considering your stockers are probably allready sagging about 3/4" anyway.
Or for stock replacements i just found them throught spohn from Moog for 99 bucks. here is the link.http://www.spohn.net/product.cfm?productid=1404


Loving my ride quality.
john

 

ya that's about it, i mean i'm not running any kind of massive power to need something to grab better and i don't auto X so it's unneeded,.......atleast for now.

also..frogmanjohn, ya i would love to do all that, it's just i'm sick of slowing down coming up to small bumps just so my car does shake and hit hard. who knows...maybe it is just that my stockers r shot and that's y it doing that.

 

o ya.. i forgot to ask, would moog OEM shocks/struts be a good OEM replacement?

 

Moog makes good quality parts, but I don't have any insight on their struts/shocks. I do agree that these are a good place to start though. I would look into getting new springs put on at the same time, as well.

You will probably need new upper strut mounts, seen here in two flavors. The bearings in these will be worn out after 20 years of abuse.

I realize you're not looking to modify the car much, but I HIGHLY recommend getting subframe connectors welded onto the car. They will reduce unwanted body flex from the tired floorpan area and consequently get rid of a lot of squeaks and rattles in the interior. DEFINITELY look into getting these.

And perhaps not as important as the other parts mentioned here, a wonderbar is still a good preventative maintenance piece. Also known as a "steering box brace," this is not the same as a "strut tower brace" or "lower chassis brace" for our cars; it attaches both sides of the frame just below the radiator up front. This prevents the sheet metal from being torn under the steering box, which is known to happen on our cars, and provides slightly better steering response at the same time. I also highly recommend this piece.

 

ok so my parts list is this:

Upper Strut Mount Package
SFC
Wonder Bar
MOOG OEM springs
and then some MOOG OEM style shocks/struts

so the total $508+OEM shocks/struts

now i figure i can do the springs/shocks/struts and what not myself but what about the SFC, what do they normaly run to get them installed?

 

I have 3 buddies and we all went to different shops. the average is about $50 a hour. Make sure to do the prep work yourself. Like

Remove Carpet (so as to not start a fire)
Use a angle Grinder and a wire Brush and remove any undercoating and Grime where the sfc will be Welded
Make Marks where Welds will be.

Make sure that the shop welds the SFC every where they touch the floor. There should be a 1" weld's 3" apart. And They should Mig Weld them in (Don't let them weld the entire length of the SFC in on Long Weld)

With all prep work done it shouldn't take more that 2 hours.

just my .02

 

I have an '86 Camaro with original springs, and old worn out shocks/struts.

I just started improving the ride by having Spohn SFCs and wonderbar installed. I had the garage do everything, grind, weld, paint, etc. and it came to 6 hours of labor. Can't complain though, the guy did a great job.

Anyway, the ride is noticeably better already. My car used to give a bonejarring ride, even small bumps rattled the entire car ever since it was new. Now it feels much smoother, like the suspension is absorbing the bumps instead of transferring it into the car.

I'm looking forward to the new springs, shocks, and struts...

John

 

I don't know anything about the moog OEM shock/struts, but i am sure that the monroe sensatracs aren't much more at all, come with a warranty, and provide an awesome comfortable ride with control.

john