Can an 86 GT be made to handle as good as an 88?
What are yuor feelings and experiences on the subject?
Anyone used aftermarket suspension for an 84-87? Seeing there are a few around.
Bump steer. What will solve it best?
Anything else you would like to add is appreciated.

My current setup (yet to be installed) is Intrax lowering coils, KYB shocks and struts, fully poly kit and standard front swaybar.
Should I just scrap this and go for a complete aftermarket setup or maybe add coilovers, a larger front swaybar and a rear swaybar?

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Sure, an '86 GT can be made to handle as well as an '88. But the ride quality will be worse.

Bumpsteer is an issue with the '84-87 rear suspension. IMO, the best way to solve it is to stiffen up the rear suspension. The less the suspension "bumps", the less it will bumpsteer. You can also get a bumpsteer correction kit from RCC Specialty Products, that reduces (but doesn't eliminate) rear bumpsteer. The combination of stiffer springs/dampers and the RCC kit should reduce rear bumpsteer considerably... to the point where it'll be unnoticeable unless you're racing.

If I remember correctly, the Intrax springs drop the suspension 1.5". With that much drop, I'd suggest modifying the bumpstops. I have no hands-on experience with Intrax springs, so I don't know how well they work with KYB dampers. The safe bet would be Koni dampers. But I'm sure you already know that.

Sway bars are a matter of personal preference. If you want the car to handle like a go-cart on steroids, then by all means use a front + rear sway bar setup. The sizes of the bars and the bushing materials will depend on how you want to tune the oversteer/understeer situation. That will require experimentation.

I have just finished up the rear suspension Of my 87. I installed a set of DEL-Alum bushings from West Coast Fiero. Contrary to popular belief they did not make the car ride ANY harsher, but improved the handling in the rear susstantially over my stock rubber bushings. Then I installed a kyb+custom coilover setup. I used 400 pound springs, and again, contrary to popular belief, the car does not ride bone jarring stiff. It is sporty, yet still absorbs bumps. The Kyb's do handle the 400 lb springs quite well. I lowered the car all the way with the coilovers in the rear, and was riding on the bumpstops. I raised the rear bumpstops and now I have full travel. The car sits about 1-1.5" above the tire in the rear, and about .5" off the tire in the front. The biggest improvement was new high performance rim and tire combo. I have not noticed any bumpsteer, or maybe I just dont drive my car hard enough.

This setup is on a daily driver.

When we built the roadster, we were trying to stay within a fairly limited budget. We used the Prothane poly bushings and cradle mounts; RCC bump steer kit, added a rear sway bar, and cut the coils. Seemed to handle the corners very well at Buttonwillow and the Streets of Willow Springs. For full racing, the aluminum bushings are probably better. And, even though we haven't had any specific problems with them, I would rather have used replacement springs. A couple pix of the roadster can be found here: https://www.fiero.nl/forum/Archives/Archive-000002/HTML/20040710-1-037446-2.html

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FierOmar

Lowering the car can make the bumpsteer effect even worse since the suspension is already away from it's normal position. I heard of a Honda owner whi reinstalling stock springs to sell it and found that the car handled better. It was in proper alignment again. Try a bigger front swaybar and a stock front bar on the back and you will be very happy with the results.

When I rebuilt the front end of my car I installed KYB struts and shocks along with poly bushings and the swaybars that I just described. I would love to do some canyon running with a stock Fiero to see the difference. I am giving away a little with my tire package though. 17s with shorter sidewalls would sharpen everything up tremendously.

I drove a stock Fiero after completing the installation of all of my parts and the difference was night and day. The stock suspension felt unplanted in the rear and generally soft.

When you enter a corner does the rear of the car track in a way that makes you counter steer just a little after the car has taken a set? This can be corrected with a rear bar. By limiting the travel of the suspension you limit the bumpsteer.

If you install a rear bar take a look at this page to avoid the mistake that I made. Manic Mechanic may have saved my future cookies by pointing it out. Rear Swaybar Caution.

[This message has been edited by RACE (edited 08-16-2005).]

Although many will say this is a waste of time; IT IS NOT!!!!!!!!!! On my '87 GT, I replaced my old, useless steering stabilizer with a set of Monroe stabilizers (SC2943) using the bolt on dual stabilizer kit sold by Rodney Dickman. Although I have not yet done this, moving the battery up front, shifting weight or adding weight up front is a positive. Steering in and out of parking spaces is like steering a 1953 Pontiac, but on the road it's rock solid to over 100 mph. Ed

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