I finally got to drive my GTA and I think it needs to be a little stiffer. Can I do this with just shocks or will I need to do springs as well. I do not want to lower the car because it is almost to low now where I have to drive. It needs a little more power too but that is for a different thread. Thank's

Phil

 

Look into KONIs if you can afford it. They are adjustable and an affordable performance set (compared to race-level shocks). If this doesn't do it, try replaceing the springs with Moog replacments available from local autopart stores or Spohn.net.

 

After replacing shocks and struts on my 89 RS with Tokico Illumnas the ride was noticeably stiffer, but even more so after changing out the stock soft ride springs for WS6 Pontiac springs and replacing the sway bars with a 34mm front and 24mm rear (those sway bars may already be on your GTA). I'm near 200 pounds and when I sit on the fender, I can't compress the suspension more than maybe 2 inches (I don't think even that much).

After all that, subframe connectors stiffened the chassis up significantly.

 

For a comparison, you see the mods in my sig. My friend that's ~220 can't compress mine an inch with just his weight.

 

While the coils and the struts are out it would be a perfect time to replace the control arm bushings with polyurethane , depending on how worn your origional ones are this could make a big difference in the " stiffness " of your front end .

 

Lets analyze what you really are looking for here- A stiffer ride? A firmer ride? maybe you are just needing less roll for better handling?

You really do not want a stiffer ride unless you are suffering massive nose dive under braking.

Suspension system needs are in the eye of the beholder. Some may like a car and others will say it is unstable. (I feel a Dean Novel approaching- I am going to try and stay away from this for now)

Rebound setting on the shocks and struts are what control roll stabilty of a car. It basicall controls the roll rate (time involved until the chassis sets into steady state.) Too much and the tires lift pressure and will skip accross the road.

Spring rates will also control the amount of roll travel when ultimately set into a corner. Now the two acting together is what controls your "yaw ratio" into a corner, steady state, and corner exit so as to get the stabilty and correct ratio of time between the 3 so the driver feels stabilty and is not over or under working the controls for the given needs. (THis is why spring rates and shock dampers are changed from track to track.)