Rides like a tank

[N PRGRES]

I don't remember how the TAs rode whenthey were new, I was only about 9 or 10, but mine rides like a tank.  How, it does have the solid body bushings, that it does transfer alot into the body, and it does have the GT suspension kit from PTFB, but it does still seem to ride harsh.  Is this just a shocks issue?
I ahve considered pulling the GT kit and going with the 1LE kit he offers but I love the stance it has.

[roadking77]

My '77 is pretty much a stock settup suspension wise. It rides fine for what it is. Not Cadillac smooth by any means. And these cars should be a bit stiff. Not sure what your expectations but nowhere near what modern cars are like.

[79GoldnTan]

I have PTFB solid bushings, subframe connectors and 1le kit on mine, I think it rides fine, not the wallowing mess it was stock, I don't remember what shocks I have but will look that up,n

[stros]

I have the same PTFB setup as you but with the Viking double adjustable shocks.  It only is rough riding if you hit potholes. Otherwise it actually rides pretty smoothly.  You may also want to try lubing up the rear leaf springs and bushings along with your sway bar bushings. That seemed to help and it’s a lot less noisy now. 

The shock adjustments are a bit hard to access so I found one setting and have largely never adjusted it since.  Kinda defeats the purpose of the adjustability but it let me dial in a good balance of decent comfort but excellent control. 

[Wallington]

What shocks did they supply? Blue Afco?

[scarebird]

I think your issues are spring rates.  PTFB and I do not agree on that philosophy:  I like Herb Adams approach and ran a much softer spring than stock being an LS3 motor and significantly lighter* - think 300 pound springs*.  Did quite well at the track and nice on the road.

I had 1980 301 WS6 non-turbo spec springs at first - way too stiff.

*3,300 pounds empty

**Moroso 275# drag springs cut 1/2 loop

[N PRGRES]

What shocks did they supply? Blue Afco?

I want to say yes but I bought them probably 10 years ago when I first started the project. They don’t have many miles on them but they were one of the very early GT kits

[N PRGRES]

My '77 is pretty much a stock settup suspension wise. It rides fine for what it is. Not Cadillac smooth by any means. And these cars should be a bit stiff. Not sure what your expectations but nowhere near what modern cars are like.

Not sure what I expect lol. I know it’s never like a caddy but when it hits a rough road, it’s a very jarring ride. I will probably lube the rear spring bushings and thinking about it, I might have the bolts too tight as well

[tinpusher]

Don’t forget about the tires … if you are riding on 17-20’s  with low profile tires… expect a harsher ride than the 15’s with a stock sidewall height. Not sure what wheels/tire combo you are using, but I have a 74 with Ridetech front suspension and solid mounts and sub-frame with 17 year ones low profile tires (don’t remember the size) right now, and it handles like it’s on rails, a little harsh on rough roads
My 79 with PTFB 1LE kit, blue shocks, 17 YO with 255/50/17 all around , poly body mounts and sub frame connectors.. firm ride but softer than the 74 and doesn’t handle as well … more comfortable/forgiving on rough roads.

[tinpusher]

I looked up the 74 tires and I’m running 255/45/17 front, and 285/40/17 rears… also the ridetech suspension has dual rate coil springs.

[N PRGRES]

I am running 255 60 15s

[tinpusher]

Did you rebuild your your upper and lower control arms and if so, what bushings did you use?

[N PRGRES]

Did you rebuild your your upper and lower control arms and if so, what bushings did you use?

Yes and I believe they are delarn bushing but that was 10 years ago

[N PRGRES]

I know this may be a negaive post but are there other options than PTFB?  For track cars or autocross maybe he is the best option but thats no longer my direction.

[N PRGRES]

I have PTFB solid bushings, subframe connectors and 1le kit on mine, I think it rides fine, not the wallowing mess it was stock, I don't remember what shocks I have but will look that up,n

Does the front end sit high?  Too many of these cars seem to have a high front end and a squatty rear

[5th T/A]

I don't remember how the TAs rode whenthey were new, I was only about 9 or 10, but mine rides like a tank.  How, it does have the solid body bushings, that it does transfer alot into the body, and it does have the GT suspension kit from PTFB, but it does still seem to ride harsh.  Is this just a shocks issue?
I ahve considered pulling the GT kit and going with the 1LE kit he offers but I love the stance it has.

I had several of these cars when they were new, starting with my 1973 TA purchased new in January of 1973. Honestly when I bought it I was very impressed with the handling, By 1973 standards it was very good. The ride was not a concern to me back then. Fast forward to my 1980 today the suspension is almost completely stock. I have upgraded to urethane bushings for the front sway bar and one level up on  the front shocks using Delco’s. Through the years I have found that lower profile tires ride harder so I stick with 70 series. At this point in my life ride is more important to me.

[stros]

I have PTFB solid bushings, subframe connectors and 1le kit on mine, I think it rides fine, not the wallowing mess it was stock, I don't remember what shocks I have but will look that up,n

Does the front end sit high?  Too many of these cars seem to have a high front end and a squatty rear

It did at first.  That definitely bugged me too.  But for some reason it actually has some rake to it now after getting some decent miles on it.  Not sure if the front springs need to be broken in or were installed wrong but it also seems to ride better now after those miles too.  It’s on the lower shackle setting to get it as high as possible in the rear.  Including some pics to show the difference (after and before).

Personally I would try replacing the shocks before ripping the springs out but if you’re unhappy with the looks totally understand as I was debating the same thing before the rear came up a bit.

[N PRGRES]

Personally I would try replacing the shocks before ripping the springs out but if you’re unhappy with the looks totally understand as I was debating the same thing before the rear came up a bit.
[/quote]

I actuallt love how mine looks.  I agree on the shocks as they would be the quickest and easiest place to start.

[roadking77]

Originally these cars sit high in the front. I guess they are the originators of the Carolina Squat! LOL
I will add, my car was clunky on bumps in the front end. I had an oil change and the shop told me the sway bar bushings were wore out.  Something I should have checked and known before them telling me. Anyway while I did that I put new shocks in the front. Stock configuration. Between the new bushings and more importantly the shocks the front smoothed right out. Again, stock configuration, 15" tires my car rides pretty decent.

[tinpusher]

If you don’t get the results you want, maybe a dual rate spring (ridetech)  might give you the results you’re looking for. Also, they have a body bushing kit that might also comfort the ride.
I have solid body mounts and thinking about replacing them with their kit, it’s  a combination of Delrin and Aluminum., supposed to reduce NVH (noise, vibration,harshness)
I definitely can tell the difference between the conventional performance spring and the dual rate in comfort. Adding rubber (control arms and body bushings) back into your suspension will definitely give you the results you want.

[N PRGRES]

If you don’t get the results you want, maybe a dual rate spring (ridetech)  might give you the results you’re looking for. Also, they have a body bushing kit that might also comfort the ride.
I have solid body mounts and thinking about replacing them with their kit, it’s  a combination of Delrin and Aluminum., supposed to reduce NVH (noise, vibration,harshness)
I definitely can tell the difference between the conventional performance spring and the dual rate in comfort. Adding rubber (control arms and body bushings) back into your suspension will definitely give you the results you want.

I was told I had to go to the solid pushings due to the torque my motor puts out.  I wouldn't want to resolve one issue only to create another

[FormTA]

I have the GT rear springs and Hotkis front drop springs, solid body mounts and PTFB subframe connectors.  Car rides great, but like others have said, pot holes are rough! I did swap out my shocks to the cheapest non gas charged shocks I could find. The gas charged shocks really made it worse.  I have purchased air shocks for the rear as Tom (another LS swap car) tried those and said they really helped too. He went through a few pairs of shocks trying to smooth out the harshness of sudden suspension drop or bounce. My car is pretty good but I still need to put those air shocks in to see if they help

[b_hill_86]

If you’re willing Luke, I’d like you to take me for a ride in your car one day. I’m fairly satisfied with my near stock setup. I don’t know what front springs I have but I cut them slightly to adjust my height and installed new gas shocks and new bushings everywhere. The front rides very well. The rear however is quite bouncy on the highway and I’d like to tame that down. I wouldn’t mind seeing how yours rides. For the longest time I kind of thought that’s just how these ride being a leave spring rear.

[FormTA]

Absolutely. We should go for a ride and then let me swap the rear shocks (because that it the area I'm trying to loosen a bit. Then see how it rides with the air shocks.

[79GoldnTan]

Yes,  the front is slightly higher, not enough to bother me,before I did the change it made horrible noises over bumps, aftersolid bushings and subframe connectors most were gone, 1le kit made a big difference in ride quality in my opinion.  Still had squeaking noise after all that, was hard to track down but replace door hinges and that took care of it. Now if I could only get tac back on the other format replying would be much easier.

[b_hill_86]

Absolutely. We should go for a ride and then let me swap the rear shocks (because that it the area I'm trying to loosen a bit. Then see how it rides with the air shocks.

That would be cool

[stros]

Have any of you added aftermarket control arms?  I replaced the control arm bushings about 10 years back but curious how folks have found them to impact the ride and handling on the street. 

One item that I’ve found a bit annoying is how the car tracks pretty violently into slight ruts in the road more than my other cars.  I’ve got 255 wide 17s on the front.  I’ve heard that they may help the car track straight.

[N PRGRES]

Have any of you added aftermarket control arms?  I replaced the control arm bushings about 10 years back but curious how folks have found them to impact the ride and handling on the street. 

One item that I’ve found a bit annoying is how the car tracks pretty violently into slight ruts in the road more than my other cars.  I’ve got 255 wide 17s on the front.  I’ve heard that they may help the car track straight.

The control arms are the same but have all new delran bushings in them.  The whole suspension is "new" but it's about 8 years old if that makes sense.

[stros]

Have any of you added aftermarket control arms?  I replaced the control arm bushings about 10 years back but curious how folks have found them to impact the ride and handling on the street. 

One item that I’ve found a bit annoying is how the car tracks pretty violently into slight ruts in the road more than my other cars.  I’ve got 255 wide 17s on the front.  I’ve heard that they may help the car track straight.

The control arms are the same but have all new delran bushings in them.  The whole suspension is "new" but it's about 8 years old if that makes sense.

Yep, sounds about the same age as my "new" suspension too.  Replaced my control arm bushings about the same time but I think i did stock replacement ones - rubber. 

[70_71_78]

I have a full set of control arms boxed, prepped with Global West Suspension Del-a-lum bushings, waiting for installation on one of the second Gen F-body shells I have hoarded. I think the '78 shell will likely be ready first. Any body else have them, installed and driven or rode in a car with them installed? I am trying to attach photo's of latest rust repair, have to see if it goes, they should give some idea of how far off a test run could be.

[stros]

I have a full set of control arms boxed, prepped with Global West Suspension Del-a-lum bushings, waiting for installation on one of the second Gen F-body shells I have hoarded. I think the '78 shell will likely be ready first. Any body else have them, installed and driven or rode in a car with them installed? I am trying to attach photo's of latest rust repair, have to see if it goes, they should give some idea of how far off a test run could be.

Can't answer your question but I had heard good things about those bushings.  I'm thinking to go with the Ridetech arms as they also have dual adjustable steering stops.  I had replaced my spindles with ones that work with Corvette C5/C6 brakes a while back but they have no stops on them so I'm hitting the swaybar in one direction and hitting the frame in the other.  Hoping these stops will help.  The Ridetechs have height adjustability too from a 0" to .5" to 1" drop too.  I think a lot of the other arms force you to lower the car further.  I'll probably go with 0 or .5" to get a little rake back from the rest of the PTFB suspension. 

[stros]

For you guys who have lowered your Firebirds - did you trim your control arm bump stops at all after?  Wondering if that’s the main issue when it’s going over larger bumps, as at all other times it drives pretty smoothly.

[N PRGRES]

For you guys who have lowered your Firebirds - did you trim your control arm bump stops at all after?  Wondering if that’s the main issue when it’s going over larger bumps, as at all other times it drives pretty smoothly.

I didn't and have never hit them as far as I can tell

[FormTA]

I'll have tonlook to see if past me ever installed the bump stops. I can't remember.