Best stiffening solution??

[99firebirdconv.]

Im kinda new to the suspension side of the forum so youll have to speak english with me, im not sure what STB, LCA, and such stand for to bare with me. Im looking to get a better ride and cornering. I want my heavy a s s car to be stiffer, so what should i do to start out with? Thanks


;)

[Arctc Wolf]

stb= shock tower brace
lca= lower control arm
sfc= subframe connector
phr= panhard rod

I'd have to say that the 3 best chassis/roll stiffening mods are:
1. subframe connectors
2. bigger sway bars
3. shock tower brace

after that, ppl talk about springs/shocks and other things, but for the price and how much they shiffen and prevent rool, these are the best things to get.

since ur car is a convertible, look for a set of conv. subframe connectors. I know somebody makes them, but I forget who exactly.

[99firebirdconv.]

What would be the best Brand/kind of STB and Sway Bars to get? Also with sway bars, do i need to have my car lowered with springs?? Thanks. ;)

[Arctc Wolf]

I like 1LE swaybars, the 32/21 combo, but others will say and prefer other combo's. I and several other members on the board have used 1LE bars and they work well for us, no loss of control, and better cornering capability.

most 1 point stb's would be good. BMR sells theirs for between 100 and 125.

U won't need lowering springs with any of these pieces, but they will help cornering a lot and make the car look good. They help cornering by increasing the spring rate and giving the car a lower center of gravity.

[99firebirdconv.]

Thanks, yeah i know that about springs, but i though i read a post that said you had to lower it to but i could be seeing things. Where is the best place to buy the BMR STB? Thanks :D

[MrCoffee]

http://www.acaenterprises.com/catalog/

[Arctc Wolf]

lots of places sell BMR stuff. www.bmrfabrications.com, www.thunderracing.com, www.lmperformance.com, www.stealthperf.com are just some of the many.

[Dominic]

When you mean stiffening, what exactly are you looking for? I think you probably just need better valved shocks.

[V6Bob]

Dominic (as always :D ) has the right idea, except that you have a convertible.

The most important thing for a convert is subframe connectors. Then, Dominic's suggestion of shocks. These may make you happy enough with the car to stop there.

If not, swaybars are the _last_ thing to change when setting up a car and they need the most expertise to choose. They must be matched to the rest of the suspension, especially to the springs.

[ June 09, 2003: Message edited by: V6Bob ]</p>

[Arctc Wolf]

or u can be like me and dominic and put swaybars on first, and then match the suspension to it later. the stock V6 suspension seems decent w/ the bigger swaybars.

[6birds]

I will chime in as another one who did the 1LE front and rear swaybars first. Even the POntiac tech that installed them at the dealer was amazed at the difference. He said my car handled better than his stock T/A. I already liked the ride quality, so I did not want to change shocks or springs. I am not looking for a washboard ride. I already had that in my 88 Formula. My butt hurts just thinking about that car. Just be careful and don't get cocky with it. If you push it hard enough the *** will come around on you. It is after all a drivers cars.

[97rs]

viagra :D

[V6Bob]

"Just be careful and don't get cocky with it. If you push it hard enough the *** will come around on you. It is after all a drivers cars."

Or, you could use a smaller rear bar and the *** end won't come around on you so easily. You will then have a _race_ drivers car. Oversteer = slow.

[PiLOTLiTE]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Arctc Wolf:
or u can be like me and dominic and put swaybars on first, and then match the suspension to it later. the stock V6 suspension seems decent w/ the bigger swaybars.<hr></blockquote>

Word. When I had just the 1LE sways, the car handled great. The addition of the STB, LCAs, and a bit stiffer shocks just complemented what the sway bars already did. I still have stock springs, but am thinking about Eibachs pro kit... :D

[Arctc Wolf]

the way u keep the *** end from stepping out is to put wider tires on the rear. that way, it'll grip more.