After driving my friends and family's newer cars then getting back in my TA, the ride and handling is entirely different. The steering is loose, doesn't feel as tight, etc. So assuming everything in the car is stock, what will make the biggest difference in replacing/upgrading?

 

I put new shocks, struts, linkage and steering gear in my bird and it drove like new. felt real smooth.

 

subrame connectors takes my vote,
but most of bushings in suspension are most likely somewhat worn out.


TA wasnt probably made for the most comfortable/quite ride,
so u can probably add some sound deadner under the carpet(it already has factory deadner, but u can add more beneath)
and u can feel the quite/smooth ride like newer cars.

shocks/struts and motor/tranny mounts are must also
if they're old.

 

I constantly wonder the same question. BUT, when I do the push down on the car and count the bounces test, the car comes back within the first bounce. Will we be wasting our money going with new struts, or will a diffrence be felt?

 

just cause they rebound properly under you pushing on them wouldnt mean there not giving you a bad ride when they you are going very fast. you have to keep in mind that they have to control 750+ pounds of steel bouncing around in probably thousands of cycles.

I felt a HUGE difference in how my car rode after i replaced all the Bushings on the front end. i still need to fix the Steering and rears but just that made the car react totaly different.

 

Yeah I think the upfront linkage is always overlooked and is critical to the feel of the car. When I get it on the road I'm definitely going to look into replacing it all.

 

If you don't have it - first thing would be the wonderbar - it makes a tremendous difference, and having it installed will allow you to "feel" other problems. I had a bad idler arm, but didn't know it until I installed the TDS wonderbar - it's the best 50 suspension dollars you can spend!

 

Where can you buy the wonder bar at?

 

You can grab one off any Iroc - Junkyard part maybe $30.

TDS (Top Down Solutions) makes a very nice one for $50 - he's a sponsor on here and a great guy to order from...

Top-DownSolutions.com

 

I've actually checked my junk yards and had no luck. is the one from TDS just as good?

 

I'd say it's better! A great product, and TDS a great company to deal with - you won't be dissapointed.

 

Thanks. I'll order one here soon.

 

Yeah, I felt a HUGE difference from my front end rebuild (tie rod ends, ball joints, etc) and all new bushings all around, with struts and shocks. I also put the TDS wonderbar on.......

All I can say is that this is a MUST for these old cars if it has never been done before.

 

Just wondering, what did the bad ideler arm "feel" like?

 

Bad idler arm really didn't "feel" much at all - after I installed the wonderbar I got a new noise, a clunking noise as I remember, when I turned sharply (like in a parking lot space), and I found the loosened, old, worn idler arm.

 

I have purchased all the items listed here on line E-bay etc ... I have listened to these guys and taken there sound advice. I am now putting it all together, if this car doesn't handle like a slot car I will be very suprised!

I have also replaced the camber plates with the Hot Part units ... hey in for a penny!!!

Dave