burningsquirrels
5th-April-2006, 11:30 AM
Hey guys I'm thinking of ways to help improve handling on the 69.
Currently I’m sitting here with new stock rear multi-leafs and from-the-yard v8 front springs, with bolt-in CE subframe connectors and CE full length traction bars, and 15x8 rally wheels with 215/60r15 BFG radial t/as. There is no rear sway bar, but me so have an ST 1.25" front sway bar. Both front and rear suspensions were rebuilt with regular (not poly) bushings when I put the springs/sway bar in a couple years back. I am running Gabriel shocks, whatever the premium ones are from AutoZone, that are a couple years old.
How it handles now...? Well, I think I got spoiled by driving newer Euro sport sedans that ride stiff, but minus the engine power of the nova. The nova on the road feels fine in a straight line like most any car. Hit a bump, the front feels ok but the back feels stiff.. I’m thinking this is the traction bars? Other than that, the front of the car is pretty level in the turns, but feels on the sloppy side and doesn’t really feel glued down to the road. What I also noticed is that with the car sitting still, I can push and shake the car and a lot of the wobble seems to come from the tires themselves. They’re not under inflated, just really soft. The car rocks a little, and the tires look like stiff sponges squishing around… as if the tires are softer than the suspension. So, I was thinking that moving up to a 16x8 wheel with some sportier tires or something may help the ride and handling bigtime? In addition to the wheels and tires, I was thinking of doing some upgrades of Bilstein heavy duty shocks, and a rear sway bar, and hopefully this will be a step in the right direction. What do you guys think?
edit: Oh yeah, I know there are big dollar things out there like coilovers and tubular control arms and centerdrive rear suspensions and stuff, but I'm keeping this on a budget.
Currently I’m sitting here with new stock rear multi-leafs and from-the-yard v8 front springs, with bolt-in CE subframe connectors and CE full length traction bars, and 15x8 rally wheels with 215/60r15 BFG radial t/as. There is no rear sway bar, but me so have an ST 1.25" front sway bar. Both front and rear suspensions were rebuilt with regular (not poly) bushings when I put the springs/sway bar in a couple years back. I am running Gabriel shocks, whatever the premium ones are from AutoZone, that are a couple years old.
How it handles now...? Well, I think I got spoiled by driving newer Euro sport sedans that ride stiff, but minus the engine power of the nova. The nova on the road feels fine in a straight line like most any car. Hit a bump, the front feels ok but the back feels stiff.. I’m thinking this is the traction bars? Other than that, the front of the car is pretty level in the turns, but feels on the sloppy side and doesn’t really feel glued down to the road. What I also noticed is that with the car sitting still, I can push and shake the car and a lot of the wobble seems to come from the tires themselves. They’re not under inflated, just really soft. The car rocks a little, and the tires look like stiff sponges squishing around… as if the tires are softer than the suspension. So, I was thinking that moving up to a 16x8 wheel with some sportier tires or something may help the ride and handling bigtime? In addition to the wheels and tires, I was thinking of doing some upgrades of Bilstein heavy duty shocks, and a rear sway bar, and hopefully this will be a step in the right direction. What do you guys think?
edit: Oh yeah, I know there are big dollar things out there like coilovers and tubular control arms and centerdrive rear suspensions and stuff, but I'm keeping this on a budget.