i have my 84, i want to make it a WS6 suspension. so basicly a GTA clone, i want to have the better suspension at high speeds. because right now, it stands that it gets really sloppy at high speeds. but thats how most T/A's and camaros have been. would it help to put that package in and how would it be done? just by doing that, or should i just get air shocks for the rear end, because i have my exhaust kinda well jiggy rigged. because of the headers that we put on it. its got duals completely. to the rear axle. so what should i do????

 

To upgrade your stock 1984 non-WS6 suspension to later WS6 standards (they changed some over the years), you'll need to replace your:

32 mm front sway bar with a 36 mm sway bar (85 and up)
21 mm rear sway bar with 24 mm sway bar
15x7 inch wheels with 16x8s (three wheel choices- N96, PE0, and PW7)
12.7:1 steering ratio (need to change power steering pump, gearbox, etc.)
Upgraded gas struts/shock absorbers
4 wheel disc brakes (optional)

I also believe that WS6 cars had higher rate springs as well, but I don't have any numbers offhand to throw at you. None of the projects above are too difficult to handle, except for changing your drum rear axle over to discs. There may be more to changing the power steering pump, but the real guts of the WS6 package is the larger sway bars and wheels with a tauter suspension.

 

I forgot to mention that if you change your wheel size, pay careful attention to your tire choice because if you don't, your speedometer reading will be off. For instance, if you throw on a set of 16x8s with non-low profile tires, the circumference of your wheel and tire will be higher than what it was previously, and as the speedo is gear driven for a specific wheel size, the reading will be off.

If you have a base TA 84 suspension, you probably have 215/65R15s. This gives you a diameter measurement around 51 cm. For 1985, the 16x8 wheels used 245/50R16 combo which gives you a diameter measurement around 52 cm. You will need to stay close to that measurement- if you can find 245/45R16s they should fit very closely to your original 51 cm measurement.

 

If you decide to go with air shocks, I just pulled a set of Gabriel Hi-jackers off my 92 z28. Autozone shows the same part number for an 84 TA and a 92 z28. The shocks don't have 200 miles on them. I don't drive my car a whole lot since it is a weekend toy. I pulled them off because I went with a set of Vogtland springs and different shocks. I have the air lines and two valves, one for each shock. I didn't like the cheap plastic tee that came with the shocks so I bought two brass valves, and all the mounting bolts. If you're interested PM me. The ride was not bad on them at all and it kept my exhaust from scraping.

 

Buy really good shocks and struts- that will help dramatically.

DO not, Do not, do not put air shocks onto your car thinking its going to help performance especially at high speeds. Air shocks are simply for load assit in carrying payloads. They are not valved for performance driving.

I wan't to stress to you the importance of when I say *good* shocks and struts Best to drop all your money here rather than some here on cheap shocks and some their on some cheap other parts. Shocks are THAT important. Buy Koni Yellows (perferably for high speeds)or Bilsteins. Stay away from Koni Reds or lower rebound valve shocks like KYB's if you are wanting to drive high speeds and maneuver.

 

i have been told by a few people and web sites my car has the WS6/7 package or what not. it has rear discs, so basicly it has all the goodies except the ho motor. and i mean all goodies.. from the stero to the limited slip.

 

For what its worth, according to the Manufacturer's Motor Vehicle Specifications for 1987, the WS6 front springs had a 96.0 (547.2) rating versus 64.0 (345.6) on the base V6, 70.0 (399.0) on the base V8. The rear springs had varied according to engine, but the top of the line L98 350 TPI with WS6 had a 23 (204) spring rate. What the numbers refer to specifically I don't know, but it translates into tighter springs for the WS6.

 

thanks guys, you all kick major ***, you know i dont care what people say about my car, it sat for 6 years so it has some rust issues, lots, but you guys have helped me out more than almost anyone else!!!

 

I could be wrong, but I don't think they offered the WS6 package in 84. Even if they did, the largest of the WS6 sway bars didn't com out until later than 84. Yes, the WS6 springs are stiffer(higher rate), which is a BIG part of the better handling.

 

i got that info off a site that said the type of rims i have were with two different packages. a WS6 or WS7 option im not sure dont give me a lot of ****, suspension i have no clue on.
i have the turbo type rims. basicly my car is the "high performance" for 1984 with out the HO motor. so its lacking one thing. grr a holes!!! so i dont know please dont hit me!! lol
however i have rear drums and i have all the bells and whistles that they offered, i mean im not shure if im going to do this, basicly what it comes down to is, if i do WS6 suspension will it drop my car if it does, i cant i have the exhaust right now that scratchs on any and everything.. ugh. and i want high speed dependability i live in iowa, not alot of cops, so its fun to go fast and take turns. i have driven a 88 GTA and i loved how it just grabbed the road. but i dont want it to be lower than it already stands.

 

The numbers in parentheses are the spring rates in lbs/in and the smaller numbers are the metric equivalents (in Newtons/mm, I think).

Anyway, 3rd gen F-bodies have seen front spring rates at least as high as ~700 lb/in, as Moog has such a listing for the Firebird (#5662, 706 lb/in). If you're less "serious", 5660's (639 lb/in) or 5658's (579) will fit; if more hard-core auto-x use is expected, 5664's (767 lb/in) will fit. My Moog catalog doesn't list much in the way of rear springs with handling performance oriented rates.

Understand that there might be some trimming required for some of these, as they aren't all specifically F-body springs. The 5662 also fits the S10/S15/Jimmy/Sonoma, as do the other three front spring listings that I've provided. FWIW, these springs also fit the G-body (I currently have 5660's in the Malibu) and there's a spring data chart somewhere on one of the tech pages over at www.montecarloss.com.

On edit, stiffer springs will generally allow you to run a slightly lower ride height, as they won't compress as far for a given force input. Clearance requirements with respect to road hazards and driveway entrances don't change, though.

Norm