Suspension, Chassis, and Brakes Shocks, springs, cages, brakes, sub-frame connectors, etc.

Loose suspension.

Old May 7, 2007 | 11:41 PM
  #1  
aliensRreal's Avatar
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Loose suspension.

I have a 99 Firebird with a very bouncy suspension. For the first few months this was cool, but I am not so sure anymore. I would rather it be more stiff and not feel the bumps in the road. I have driven my dad's 97 Camaro RS before and like its ride but would rather have it somewhere in between what I have now and his car. I let a buddy drive my car tonight and he said something didn't seem right on the car. Granted he had never driven rear wheel before.

He apparently compared my car to his around a curve. In his 95 Grand Am he was able to take this curve at 90 or so with no problem and in my Firebird he could only take it at 75 before it started to pull. Now, I understand that it could have been his nerves or whatever, but I did feel the car "sway" so to speak when coming out of the curve.

Is the suspension supposed to be like that or no? Normally I wouldn't drive anything like that, this was all for testing purposes, apparently. If the suspension is indeed fine could it be tightened without having to buy anything, since I am kind of strapped for cash? If it's not ok, then well who knows what I will do.

Please note I don't know much about cars...
Old May 9, 2007 | 01:20 PM
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If you want a stiffer rie then you need to update your suspension. And also maybe a full ply bushing kit or a 1le Front sway bar should keep that thing from swaying, with some poly end links. Make sure everything is tight.
Old May 9, 2007 | 01:30 PM
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You need better shocks....... From there you can add other parts as needed. But the waterbed feel, the harsh impacts, the general floppiness are all due to severe lack of rebound control.
Old May 14, 2007 | 05:32 PM
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aliensRreal's Avatar
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Originally Posted by Sam Strano
You need better shocks....... From there you can add other parts as needed. But the waterbed feel, the harsh impacts, the general floppiness are all due to severe lack of rebound control.
Sorry, this may be a dumb question but what exactly do you mean by rebound control? If it is a comment on my driving like it sounds, the theory probably isn't right since my dad's car doesn't have any of these issues.
Old May 14, 2007 | 07:23 PM
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Shocks help control the rate at which springs compress and rebound. Think about a spring... if you just compress it and let it go, what happens? It springs back violently. A shock slows this action down, and that is called "rebound control."
Old May 15, 2007 | 03:37 PM
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aliensRreal's Avatar
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Thanks for clearing that up.
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