Lets talk about: Ride Quality...

[99' Cajun Firehawk 157]

We purchased our car for one thing: pleasure rides/trips on the weekends, car shows, cruises, etc. No racing of any kind, just top down cruising. Our car has bone stock trans am suspension, original deCarbon shocks, slp added bushings (?) and no mods what so ever on the suspension. W/ 55k miles the ride quality at 40 mph on a scale of 1-10 is about a 5-6 at most , at 75-80 she rides smooth has silk. My quest and number one dislike about this car is the low speed ride quality.

What can be done to correct this issue?
Remember, I am looking to achieve the best overall ride quality, period.

PLMK

[96AZHAWK]

What can be done to correct this issue?

Buy a totally different car.

I hear you on the ride, I had been using my car as a daily driver and it was wearing on me after a couple years. I noticed it even more when I would take a break and drive a different car. I would experience both an appreciation for the performance and handling but hatred for the ride quality.

I have since tried to just realize that there is just a series of compromises depending on the purpose of the car. Good luck to you.

[99' Cajun Firehawk 157]

I understand totally David, in part I think that is what is to blame; we have Hondas, Toyotas, VWs and Nissans in our family currently and while they all ride great, they have no drop top and performance features the Hawk has, a trade off I suppose.

[PyroCobra]

My parent's Avalon rides very smooth, but I still prefer my car 100%. Even though the Avalon is smoother, the Hawk is MUCH more comfortable. It's pretty much impossible to find a comfortable seat position in the Avalon. Climb into the Firehawk, and you just sink right into a perfectly positioned seat. But yeah, I've just learned to live with the somewhat rough ride.

[Chuck Stong]

Get some new shocks. Bilstiens are great.

[sleepinghawk]

I would have to agree with Chuck Stong, I have Bilstiens, and my ride is great. I do alot of town riding, which is 25- 45 mph, and the hawk is great. Now when I go over those places in the road that buckle up in the summer and hit one, It's a jolt in the hawk. My only wish would be that the seat went back for my 6' 5 frame. With the exception of my exhaust, the hawk is stock. My vote is for better shocks.

[ANGUS]

If you do decide on the Bilstiens there are 2 versions. The ones that are softer for our package option and the standard which are harder than the ones that came on our cars.

[99' Cajun Firehawk 157]

If you do decide on the Bilstiens there are 2 versions. The ones that are softer for our package option and the standard which are harder than the ones that came on our cars.

So you suggest the softer ones...?
What do they call these and are they just SLP exclusives?

I added some $75 airlift "dragbag 1000's" which is a simple air bladder that inserts into the rear coil springs to help support sagging springs, the second owner had 300lbs worth of subs and electronics which were stored in the trunk year round, thus I assume, caused early spring fatigue. I find these a great improvement and a start to the better ride quality although I see now shocks are the final solution.

[Firehawk 526]

Better yet, get the 3rd gen SA (single adjustable) Koni's.......swapped out the rear Bilsteins' and love the Koni's much better. Of course, I also swapped out springs and installed GC perches, so the ride is completely different now, but much firmer/yet responsive. Greatest thing about the SA Koni's is that they are ADJUSTABLE from within the car. That way, you can set for any type of condition. Autox, daily driving, or the 1320 (1/4 mile)

Not to advertise for any one person, but Sam Strano can help you immensely. Depending on YOUR SPECIFIC purpose(s). You can find Sam on LS1Tech.com also under the suspension section.

Good luck

[Rotzy]

I'll vouch for Sam. Great guy, knows his stuff. If you have suspensions needs/questions, he's your guy.

[Garnermike]

I've not noticed really poor ride quality at any speed. I've had Bilsteins since I took factory delivery, however.

Does the car run as comfortably as my wife's Camry? Nope. But, hell, it's a world-class performance automobile, and the Camry rolls like a whale on every turn too!

[LT4Firehawk]

Don't get the 4th gen Konis, they will actually ride worse (I learned this the hard way). The 3rd gen Koni rears will actually ride much better then the 4th gen versions, and fit just fine since the rear suspension is virtually the same. I've had 4th gen Firebirds with stock Decarbons, Bilsteins, SLP Bilsteins, Koni Single Adjustables (4th gen front & rear), and 3rd gen Koni rears. For the best ride I'd go with 3rd gen Koni rears set full soft, and SLP front Bilsteins (or regular Bilsteins if you can't find any SLPs). The stock Decarbon shocks are horrible, and will often wear out by 35K miles.

[ANGUS]

As long as the car corners I do not care of ride quality. I owned a 88 Saleen mustang and added specific rate springs. The car was bumpy but boy did it corner..... Your best bet is the SLP tuned Bilstein shocks. The Bilstein HD shocks are stiffer.

[99' Cajun Firehawk 157]

Looks like I am going to go with the Bilstein setup.. .

[LT4Firehawk]

Your best bet is the SLP tuned Bilstein shocks. The Bilstein HD shocks are stiffer.

That's not quite true, the SLP Bilsteins are acutally stiffer on the rebound, but softer on compression. Compression is how hard it is to compress the shock, rebound is how much force the shock will use to return to it's normal position. All things being equal less compression will seem like a "softer" shock, but it's really secondary to the spring rate.