I have a couple quick questions regarding the suspension on our cars.

The first question is this: I have about 20,000 miles on my car, and I have noticed that the handling has diminished a pretty good bit. Could this be my tires (Goodyear RSAs) which still have a good bit of tread left, or could this be my shocks already going out? I plan on upgrading both eventually, just wondering which to go with first.

Now for the second question. I am on a limited budget and would like to improve the handling of my car, especially at high speeds and taking tight corners. I figure I will get bigger swaybars, subframe connectors, and shocks. The question is this: I currently have 245 width tires and am debating going with 275 width tires. Is this an absolute must to do if you want to improve handling? I figure I could get pretty good 245 tires, and am just wondering whether to chunk down the cash for new rims with new tires as well. Just wondering of the cost-benefit. Your thoughts are appreciated. Thanks

Josh

 

I was having the same handling problems with my Z28 also. A couple of weeks ago I upgraded with SLP's Level One Suspension Kit. The handling is so much more better now. I'm not sure what kind of budget you're on, but the kit costs around $800. It was alot for me to throw down, but it was money well worth spent.

 

sway bars and sfc will make a VERY noticable improvement.

and for tires, just stick with the 245's now...and get some good rubber...

as mentioned
gforce kdw
or
firestone firehawk SZ50

 

What I have on my 99 Z28, that doesn't really sacrifice comfort ,has arguablly better than stock reliablity, and feels awesome.. Btw, my stock shocks felt dead at about 40,000..

17" SS takeoff's
35 mm solid front sway bar
bilstien hd shocks revalved by Sam Strano
T2R diff

oh, and I also have SFC's..


didn't want to lower my car and roughen it up too much, since I have to go thru driveways and speed bumps at work, so I stuck with the stock springs..

upcoming mods are C5 front rotor and brakes, and maybe 3.73's out back.. think when the time comes to replace my stock clutch with a z06 replacement clutch and hydralics, since I only occasionally drag race on street rubber..

 

Yeah, I forgot about tires. When I got the bigger wheels, I immediately had BF Goodrich KDW's put on. Those definitely made a difference, especially when handling in the rain.

 

First things first. Tires will be the biggest improvement. RSAs are not much of a performance tire. The suggestion to upgrade to KDs would make the car stick like glue compared to old RSAs, but it would point out the weaknesses of the suspension. Additionally the KDs will wear out quickly if you use them. They aren't the greatest in the wet either. (KD = "King of the Dry"). Unfortunately they don't come in an appropriate 16 inch size.

Look at TireRack for tires in the "Ultrahigh performance" either summer or all season, depending on your weather.

On the other hand, if you change shocks, bars, and maybe springs, and don't upgrade the tires well above RSAs you have a firmer riding car which dosesn't generate hardly any more cornering power because the tires are the weak link.

First put on good tires. Then, if the car rolls too much for you now that it is sticking, and generating more cornering force which causes the roll, consider bars, springs and shocks. You might find that you like the tires on the basically stock suspension. If your shocks are truly toes up at 20k, change them, but only AFTER you get good tires.

My $.02.

 

I upgraded my 01 Z28 with SFC's from Dynamic MotorSports (DMS) and got a new set of 4 BFG G-Force T/A KDWS' (245/50X16) on the stock rims. I kept the original shocks since I only have 32000 on my car and the shocks seem fine. The car handles VERY well now. No body roll; a bit stiff over bumps in the road as can be expected, and the tires grab-n-go VERY well. Good wet traction rating, too. Something you should consider given where you live.

I have noticed a few squeaks in the rear end. I think it's just the springs settling in, though. I only had them installed 1K ago. Perhaps I need to get different shocks for the lower spirngs??

DS