I feel every single bump in the road and when it gets bad, it feels like I'm getting into a car crash. So I want to replace the struts and coil springs. A guy said he would do it for me if I get everything, but what do I need? Are there only struts in the front and springs in the back? Also is there anything that would be pretty easy to do myself.?

 

replacing the rear springs/ shocks is a piece of cake all you really need is a jack, jackstands, some tools and some auto knowledge... i'm actually in the process of stripping my whole suspension apart and its easy as hell.. for the rear all you have to do is jack it up.. put it on jackstands on the BODY, place the jack on the pumpkin jack it up.. disconnect the lca's and panhard bar, slowly lower the rear the rear springs will come out, then for the shocks its just unbolt and bolt right back up preferably w/ the rear still lowered and on the jack.. make sure that you have buddy helping you etc.. for safety

The front is a little more complex but basically the same thing. the only additional tool you would need is a spring compressor other than that is just bolt and unbolt but be sure to get an alignment after you do the front...

 

thanks a lot, very informative. what do you mean by place the jack on the pumpkin? also what is lca and panhard bar? thanks again

 

the lca is the lower control arms it is what connects the rear end to the body and the panhard bar does the same.. they also keep the rear from moving while your driving... the panhard bar is on the back of the rear end its the bar that goes across it from behind the back seat area to the right side of the rear.. the pumpkin is the bottom of the rear where the cover is in the center

 

Its a really easy job it took me 2 hours to do the whole car for new shocks springs and struts....i put in Eibach Performance package that came with my car and its like riding on glass..it lowered my car 1 3/4inches so im riding like 4 inches off the ground at the skirts but overall i would recommend Eibach if you want a really smooth and easy ride

 

what exactly does my 87 trans am have. shocks and coil springs in the back? and what in front? thanks

 

you have springs and struts in the front... its basically the spring overlaping the shock and the top of the strut bolting to the body while the bottom of it bolts to the a-arm i think... you definitly need a spring compressor to take the spring out of that assembly otherwise once its unbolted the spring will release very quickly and cause either damage or injuries

 

Springs hurt lol i didnt use a spring compressor i place my feet on the spring and pulled it down and out and the recoil is amazing lol left a good mark for a month.

 

Get the car on a lift or put it up on jackstands(do it safely) and give the entire front end and rear end suspension a through inspection. Check for worn or busted bushings, ball joints slop, sagging springs, etc. While you are changing springs it's a good idea to also do your lower control arm(LCA) bushings and also replace the ball joints as they are all part of the LCA. Look for worn or busted sway bar and end link bushings also. It is sometimes easier to do alot of things at the same time
instead of a little here,a little there. But, it calls for more cash outlay. Look at link.

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/susp...ion-101-a.html