Handling

[Spacely]

Wrapping up my 85 Regal project, but I want to get a better ride. What steering parts should i change to get my Regal to handle better taking turns & for the overall ride. I have changed the shocks, idler arms. Im thinking maybe A-arms.. I dont know.. Thanks guys

 

[gwhiz]

not sure your question but need to inspect ball joints,control arm bushings wheelbearings,and all steering linkage.is it alot of play in your steering ? but all those things affect steering and handeling. if you got alot of body lean in corners look at sway bar links or bigger sway bar.

 

[Evan11]

As he said. pick up a F-41 front & rear sway bar off any gbody. Hit up the pull a part & take a tape measure with u. The F-41 front bar should be 1 1/8- 1 1/4 inch. The rear bar wont be that thick though. That would help more than one would think! You can also get a "Grand Prix" bar off a 81-88 GP, it will tie the jounce bars and the front frame together. Do a quick search, there's a great thread topic about this on here. If you can't find it, I'll find a link.

 

[dogsht]

you don't have any pics in your photo album or signature that lists what you have now. but as mentioned the F41 bars from a salvage yard etc and poly end links would be cheap and most important. Especially if you have the factory 14 by 6 wheels a wider lower profile tire would help. such as a 245/60/14 versus a 195/75/14. This is all cheap easy stuff. if you're not satisfied after this you can look at more difficult and expensive stuff.

 

[Spacely]

Thanks guys! I had my friends dad look @ it. He said my sway bar links are horrible. Looks like i signed up for a weekend project.

 

[gwhiz]

at the very least get the poly end link kit.and while your at it get the sway bar mounts too. well worth the money.

 

[Spacely]

Thanks definitely will grab the poly kit. Thanks man

 

[pontiacgp]

and when you're installing the links butter the shaft and threads of the bolt with anti seize...

 

[85Frankencar]

This is from Turbo Buick.com, there's a lot of good info on there as well about handling, it's a great starting point with lots of good info:
http://www.banningcohen.com/buick/handling/documents/Making a G-Body handle.pdf

This is also a very informative thread on body bracing:
http://gbodyforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=8126

Like gwhiz said, first and foremost replace old, wore-out steering/suspension parts first before thinking of upgrading anything else - F-41 bars and f-body sway bars will also make a big difference. I wouldn't bother too much with tubular a-arms - they'll shed some weight, but that's a big investment - maybe hold off on that, you can do a whole lot more with upgrading basic parts first. Stiffer springs are another good way to beef up handling (but will affect ride), get a MC SS or GN steering box (12:1 ratio, 2.5 turns to lock), this will also help. Wheels and tires can also make a big difference, as well as brakes - google "LS1 brake swap" or "g-body blazer brake upgrade" for ideas for brakes.