I think its time to start planning a suspension upgrade, but I know nothing about suspension, other than mine is really soft. I also know I dont want to spend more than about $500-$800

I know the passenger side of my front end is JACKED UP. When I bought the car the wheels were chewed up in one spot because the guy hit a pot hole or a curb at 40 or so. I took it in to be aligned, and they said it couldn't be done, the strut was bent. Someone also pointed out that my springs are way worn out. I believe it, and I think that is why I keep dragging my chin piece SO BADLY. If I am going to do anything with this stuff, I want to replace all the wear parts, and get this thing to handle the same as the stock IROCs did from the factory, or better.

I dont want to lower the car.... (I have to go over the rail road tracks 4 times, EVERYDAY)

Are adjustable struts worth the money? I mean, I am going to run stiff springs, but If I can soften it up for a date, then cool. I just dont want to spend money on it if I wont see a noticeable difference between stiff and soft. Umm, how stiff is stiff?

The back suspension wont be hard, I have already pulled the rear end out and replaced it, so I am confident on the installation of the rear parts. What about the front? I have heard its a real PIA. I mean, can I use Vice Grips to compress the springs?

What is a "Wonder Bar"? Is that the thing that goes from one strut tower to the other? How much does it cost, what does it do, and where is the best place to get one?

SFC, Cash is short, as always. I can get my father to help me weld them in, but that involves pulling up my carpet? That doesn't thrill me, because in my experience, interiors dont always go back together right, Im also afraid of what kind of rust might be down there.

Sway bars, what size are the ones that come on a 1991 RS? The rear should be stock for an 87 GTA (Came with the rear end) and I have the front one of a very early third gen Z28 sitting in the garage. How big should it be, and how do I measure?

Because I dont know ANYTHING about this stuff, I cant even hardly look over summit and price stuff, because I dont know what any of it is....

Suspension for dummys?

 

IROC style replacement springs (Moog 5662 and 5665). You can't compress a spring with Vice Grips. Perhaps some Monroe struts/shocks. I doubt your budget will allow for adjustables. Use a monkey wrench around the sway bars and measure the jaws for size. Replae the end links. The Wonderbar is a steering box braces and was designed as a BandAid for problems in that area. Most driver's, in a blind test, wouldn't be able to tell if it was in place or not. The Wonderbar and larger sway bars can be had cheaply at a JY; otherwise, check out a board sponsor such as Spohn. Strut Tower Braces (STB's) join the strut towers. Subframe connectors are a must. If you're going to mod a car, you're going to have to bite the bullet and deconstruct from time to time.

Check the following link for more info:

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/susp...des-irocs.html

JamesC

 

Here... read this.
You can't get these cars back in shape for $800... just too much worn out. You might get KONI reds and some Moog springs. For wonder bar, sfc, shocks, springs, sway bars you'll be around $1500 or so if you do it right.

 

This is what I have so far:

Strut Tower Brace

ENS-3-18131G Bushing Kit
KYB-735001 Adjustable front struts
KYB-743019 adjustable rear struts
MOG-5662 Front springs
MOG-5665 rear springs


So that comes to just over $700 for suspension pieces, and then find some SFC, and then I will be sliding around stiffer than snot when I want to, or kind of soft on prom night, ect? Maybe, kinda not really?

 

I'd get a Wonder bar before a STD. Also, I've heard those KYBs wear out very quickly. That set-up won't make the car very stiff. It will be a little stiffer than stock, but that will feel alot better than what it is now.

If you swing a little more on the shocks, though, I think you'll be good to go. The LCAs would be better if you replaced them. The polyurathane doesn't work well in the LCAs, plus the stock pieces are flimsy.
You'll need to consider tires too. They are very important. You will still need to replace the tie rods and the ball joints as well.

 

I'd purchase bushings as needed, rather than a kit. Check Spohn's web site for the various pieces you're interested in--perhaps you'll get some ideas there.

JamesC

 

What Im worried about is that I dont know suspension well enough to know what each piece is called.... I guess I ought to just save some cash, beg my dad for a week of garage use, then start tearing it up? If it looks nasty, replace it? In order to do the bushings and jazz, will I need to re-align my steering? If so, then I want to do springs and struts and the bushings all at once, right?

 

Take a peek below at my Car Details, and you'll find most of the pieces you're searching for, with the exception of the coil spring isolators which can be had from Spohn. All the OE rubber is going to look nasty. I'd certainly do the springs, struts, A-arm bushings and end links at the same time (if the world were perfect I'd also buy a front end rebuild kit as seen below). An alignment will be required.

http://www.spohn1.com/?action=shop&pcid=1065

JamesC

 

Read this thread budget upgrade questions 2. We talk about the order that you might want to do upgrades. Also check out front suspension 101 to get familiar with the names of the different suspension pieces. Yes you will need an alignment.

 

My advice is to find everything you will need for the front end of the car and do it all at once (springs, struts, strut mounts, a-arm bushings, ball joints, tie rods, etc). That way, you only have to do one allignment. If you're worried about not knowing what things are what, read those threads and do a little research to familiarize yourself with the suspension before you start.