Alright, so I'm sitting here in Iraq looking up suspension parts for my 1990 Trans Am (that was bought while I was over here so I've only seen it in person once and in pictures) when my wife tells me that it has a "Performance Suspension" badge on the dash. I was wondering if this was just something someone might have added or if this was a way of marking certain T/A's. Also if anyone knows about this what all would this performance package have and what could I put in to make it better. I've already added an Edelbrock strut tower brace and was looking at some Hotchkiss sway bars and sub-frame connectors. Any help would be great.

 

I don't know if it came on all of the cars or just the ones with upgraded suspension. If you have the list of RPO codes, check for "ws6" If it does, that would be the best factory suspension, mainly consisting of upgraded swaybars in 36mm front 24mm rear. If so, there would be no point in getting after market, some poly bushings is the only thing you would need to make them better. Subframe connectors are a great way to stiffen up the car, and should be one of your first upgrades.

If you want more suggestions, tell us what you want to do with the car. Since you mentioned sway bars, I would guess you want it to handle well. Just have to check because many people want their cars to get traction and race in a straight line. Do you want to lower the car or keep it at stock height?

 

I think the performance suspension badge came with at least the F41 package along with ws6 cars. Not to sure. But you can definitely do better than the stock 36mm bars. You could go lighter, chromoly or something similar. Really depends on how you have the car setup. And you won't know that until you start driving it.

 

my goals for this car aren't really extreme. my wife and i have an 87 lx mustang that should be putting down 1300 hp at the flywheel when we are done. right now it's getting stripped and parts are getting gathered for that as well. so for this car i'm only trying to hit around 350 hp maybe a little more, with decent handling but still a nice ride. nothing is getting changed on the exterior and the interior is just getting a few personal tweaks here and there.

also, where would i look to find the rpo codes? my wife is the one doing all the work right now but she's not dumb so you don't have to simplify it for her.

as for the sway bars i was looking into a set of spohn 1 5/16" (front) and 1" (rear) solid chrome moly or 1 7/16" (front) and 1" (rear) hollow hotchkis bars. which do you think would be better for getting rid of the body roll and yet still keeping it somewhat comfortable. i was thinking the spohn because they are solid and that might help with the traction in the rear as well.

 

Your stock ones should be at least 1 5/6" (~34mm) and if it's ws6 they will be 1 7/16" (~36mm) and those will keep body roll down enough. You should work on the rest of the suspension first. Bushings, struts/shocks, springs, etc. I would look at sways as a tuning tool after most of your suspension is established.

 

I talked to my wife and she told me that after installing the edelbrock strut tower brace it really strengthened the car a lot, but the rear feels more like it's following now instead of pushing. I was thinking maybe subframe connectors would be the way to go on this one, along with some new shocks. I know weld in would be the only way to go on this. The only thing is that I'm trying to strengthen it without losing the smooth ride. Would this really affect the ride and give it that little extra beef you think?

 

Weld in subframe connectors are a nice addition but the floating rear sensation could be bushings , not that they're totally worn out but the factory rubber bushings are somewhat soft and after 20 years are probibly fatigued .

 

would i have to find out which performance suspension i have before getting new bushings? of course i'd throw some polyurethane back in from energy.

 

Have you checked out Spohns site yet?

 

looks like they would be the way to go with this one. they've got them all. now just to find my rpo codes and see which performance suspension code i have so i can know what sizes to order.

 

Really the only thing back there that changes is the swaybar diameter. Measure it and you'll be good to go. Either a caliper or even an adjustable wrench and a tape measure.