I have an RS with 200k+ miles.. Pretty much completely stock, including the original engine. I don't race it or even push it much, especially not when it comes to cornering. I have no plans to race it or bring it to any track, just street driving/cruising and freeway driving. I'm just looking to tighten everything up and make the car handle how it should handle. I'm definitely keeping the car though. When the 305 blows (if it ever does), I'm gonna put another engine in there. Not decided on 305/350/LS1 yet. So I don't want to go cheap, but I don't know about top of the line either. And I don't think it'll be a really fast car for a while anyway. I'll probably put 20" iroc rims on it before I make it a fast car.
The suspension and steering components for the most part look like they haven't been changed the entire life of the car. It definitely feels like it too. The one time I had my car on a lift and got to look all around under it, everything looked pretty old, but the tie rods definitely are a little loose and need replacement. A few shops have taken a few quick looks, and they all said I could wait to replace almost everything, even the tie rods. However, my car isn't anywhere close to where it should be, so I want to replace most of the major suspension and steering parts.
Here is what I've noticed since I've had the car:
- When turning the wheel all the way to the left, there is always a loud creaking noise. If I'm standing still, it still creaks, but only for a second, until I start moving, then it keeps creaking. Going to the right is fine.
- Rear of the car will sometimes drop too low going over a bump, or more often when there's a dip in the road. It causes a loud thumping noise. It does not sound good at all. This only happens if I take the bump/dip too fast, like around 20mph+. But it still shouldn't happen.
- Wind has a large effect on the car. It will get swayed fairly easily. I compare it to other cars, and it is noticeably affected a lot more by wind. I notice with the windows open there is a lot of sway, so it could just be because my weatherstripping around the doors isn't the greatest, but there is definitely a weird steering sway that is caused by the wind, but it does center itself without me even moving the wheel.
- After hitting bumps, sometimes the wheels will kinda swerve both ways. Same thing with the wind sway though, the car will even itself out without me even moving the wheel. I can even let my hand off the wheel, though it feels tighter if I hold it steady.
- In general it is a very bumpy ride and there are a lot of noises when going over bumps.
- There is a slight rumble of the engine, and you can see the idle rpms going slightly up and down, but there is also definitely some kind of steering vibration, because when I hold the steering wheel real firm, I can stop some of the vibration and rumble.
- I have broke the tires and done some 180s and some donuts. Probably a total of 12 times. In the rain too. And the car seemed to take it well, I mean it didn't seem to cause any immediate damage or abnormal noises or feelings.
I'm going to get everything installed by a shop. Right now I don't have a jack, and I rather have my steering and suspension done by a shop, just because it seems safer, considering I have never installed any steering or suspension component ever. Where should I be able to get labor savings by getting things done at the same time? Like getting both the center link and tie rods replaced shouldn't cost much more than just doing one right? I know they could just charge book rate for everything, but most shops seem to suggest they will give a discount.
I think I could just get away with replacing the driver side ball joint and bushing, replacing the tie rods, and getting new rear shocks & coil springs. Maybe the strut mounts to help the vibration problem. But I'm thinking I should just get all this at once: both sides ball joints & bushings, front & rear coil springs & shocks, front struts & mounts, inner & outer tie rods, center link, and idler arm. Right now I'm thinking just getting everything KYB off rockauto. And the things that they don't have KYB, then just AC Delco. I'm very open to suggestions though, that's why I made this thread.
Oh yeah, got an alignment roughly 9 months / 8,000 miles ago. Still seems pretty good. When I let the steering wheel go, the car goes straight.
The suspension and steering components for the most part look like they haven't been changed the entire life of the car. It definitely feels like it too. The one time I had my car on a lift and got to look all around under it, everything looked pretty old, but the tie rods definitely are a little loose and need replacement. A few shops have taken a few quick looks, and they all said I could wait to replace almost everything, even the tie rods. However, my car isn't anywhere close to where it should be, so I want to replace most of the major suspension and steering parts.
Here is what I've noticed since I've had the car:
- When turning the wheel all the way to the left, there is always a loud creaking noise. If I'm standing still, it still creaks, but only for a second, until I start moving, then it keeps creaking. Going to the right is fine.
- Rear of the car will sometimes drop too low going over a bump, or more often when there's a dip in the road. It causes a loud thumping noise. It does not sound good at all. This only happens if I take the bump/dip too fast, like around 20mph+. But it still shouldn't happen.
- Wind has a large effect on the car. It will get swayed fairly easily. I compare it to other cars, and it is noticeably affected a lot more by wind. I notice with the windows open there is a lot of sway, so it could just be because my weatherstripping around the doors isn't the greatest, but there is definitely a weird steering sway that is caused by the wind, but it does center itself without me even moving the wheel.
- After hitting bumps, sometimes the wheels will kinda swerve both ways. Same thing with the wind sway though, the car will even itself out without me even moving the wheel. I can even let my hand off the wheel, though it feels tighter if I hold it steady.
- In general it is a very bumpy ride and there are a lot of noises when going over bumps.
- There is a slight rumble of the engine, and you can see the idle rpms going slightly up and down, but there is also definitely some kind of steering vibration, because when I hold the steering wheel real firm, I can stop some of the vibration and rumble.
- I have broke the tires and done some 180s and some donuts. Probably a total of 12 times. In the rain too. And the car seemed to take it well, I mean it didn't seem to cause any immediate damage or abnormal noises or feelings.
I'm going to get everything installed by a shop. Right now I don't have a jack, and I rather have my steering and suspension done by a shop, just because it seems safer, considering I have never installed any steering or suspension component ever. Where should I be able to get labor savings by getting things done at the same time? Like getting both the center link and tie rods replaced shouldn't cost much more than just doing one right? I know they could just charge book rate for everything, but most shops seem to suggest they will give a discount.
I think I could just get away with replacing the driver side ball joint and bushing, replacing the tie rods, and getting new rear shocks & coil springs. Maybe the strut mounts to help the vibration problem. But I'm thinking I should just get all this at once: both sides ball joints & bushings, front & rear coil springs & shocks, front struts & mounts, inner & outer tie rods, center link, and idler arm. Right now I'm thinking just getting everything KYB off rockauto. And the things that they don't have KYB, then just AC Delco. I'm very open to suggestions though, that's why I made this thread.
Oh yeah, got an alignment roughly 9 months / 8,000 miles ago. Still seems pretty good. When I let the steering wheel go, the car goes straight.
Member
to be real honest here, sounds like youre going to have to commit and change pretty much everything. consider that the car is over 20 years old. im pretty much on the same boat, so I know what youre talking about. safety first!
Your best bet is a complete overhaul. I just did the same thing with my 92 RS but i upgraded for autoX. Since yours is strictly a cruiser i recommend....
-Moog stock replacement ball joints, A-arm bushings, swaybar bushings and endlinks, inner and outer tie rods, centerlink. and idler arm.
-For springs, do you want stock height? or a lowered stance? Once again since you only like to cruise your car, Moog stock replacement springs for stock ride height, Eibach or hotchkis springs for a lower stance. this thread was very helpful to me in my spring selection. https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/susp...d-3rd-gen.html
-for struts and shocks, get something decent, i'm sure you appreciate the camaro performance. I have koni yellows and i highly recommend them, not sure what of any others to recommend. KYB gas-adjust are working well for me on my 69 camaro.
I would stay away from poly stuff for your car, i will just end up squeaking.
Hope this helps. I'm no expert, but this is what i would do if it was my cruising only car. You could just replace the parts that are BAD but how long before your replacing something else? then something else? Just replace it all with new and forget about it till 300k miles.
-Moog stock replacement ball joints, A-arm bushings, swaybar bushings and endlinks, inner and outer tie rods, centerlink. and idler arm.
-For springs, do you want stock height? or a lowered stance? Once again since you only like to cruise your car, Moog stock replacement springs for stock ride height, Eibach or hotchkis springs for a lower stance. this thread was very helpful to me in my spring selection. https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/susp...d-3rd-gen.html
-for struts and shocks, get something decent, i'm sure you appreciate the camaro performance. I have koni yellows and i highly recommend them, not sure what of any others to recommend. KYB gas-adjust are working well for me on my 69 camaro.
I would stay away from poly stuff for your car, i will just end up squeaking.
Hope this helps. I'm no expert, but this is what i would do if it was my cruising only car. You could just replace the parts that are BAD but how long before your replacing something else? then something else? Just replace it all with new and forget about it till 300k miles.
Yeah, I'm ready to do a complete overhaul. I guess my main question is... What exactly is the list of all the parts I need? This is what I have so far: both sides ball joints & bushings, front & rear coil springs & shocks, front struts & mounts, inner & outer tie rods, center link, and idler arm
which seems pretty much like your list..
My other main question is what brand is a good brand for my needs? I don't want to go cheap at all, but I don't plan on much more than stock performance. I was just gonna get all KYB off Rockauto, and AC Delco or Moog for some of the parts KYB doesn't make.
which seems pretty much like your list..
My other main question is what brand is a good brand for my needs? I don't want to go cheap at all, but I don't plan on much more than stock performance. I was just gonna get all KYB off Rockauto, and AC Delco or Moog for some of the parts KYB doesn't make.
KYB is a good brand for the money along with Moog. Cant go wrong with a list using those two
When I did the 200k overhaul, I used an energy susp poly kit, Monroe shocks/struts, moog everything steering, original springs left alone. The polys didnt squeak
Now over 300k, I put in KYB shocks/struts, eibach springs and another moog front end set
Since you'll be digging in there already, I highly recommend a set of motor mounts. They're due by now
When I did the 200k overhaul, I used an energy susp poly kit, Monroe shocks/struts, moog everything steering, original springs left alone. The polys didnt squeak
Now over 300k, I put in KYB shocks/struts, eibach springs and another moog front end set
Since you'll be digging in there already, I highly recommend a set of motor mounts. They're due by now