i have a 2000 LS6 and i really dont like how the car handles. i want it to handle better. pretty much i'm asking anyone that did do there suspension to improve handleing let me know what you did or what you would do to improve it. becuase i want my car to handle better. anyone know what is a good company for sway bars, strut bars. i'm going to overhaul my suspension soon. because the ls cant keep up with my driving. also breaking. easy ways to improve the stopping power. and yes it has new rotors and pads on all for coners . but i want it to stop on a dime.
i know every one wants there LS to be fast what about suspension ?
- Thread starter tubbyLS6
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lincoln00
Dedicated LVC Member
I have a feeling your going to get a reply that goes like this....
this has been covered before do a SEARCH!
this has been covered before do a SEARCH!
NYC LS8
Dedicated LVC Member
Or...good luck on this idea. There is nothing readily available for an out of production car. Better off finding something else with a bigger aftermarket.
if you dont have anything to say dont say it :bash:
lincoln00
Dedicated LVC Member
LOL!!!
Really tho... look up energy suspension and messure your stock bushings (sway bar, Control arms ect...) and look to see if they offer anything that is close or perfect... thats a start... and I dont know if yours is a sport or no but the LS did have a sport model with bigger sway bars... another idea is look up S type R parts.. some of those might work
I think thats enough said LOL!
Really tho... look up energy suspension and messure your stock bushings (sway bar, Control arms ect...) and look to see if they offer anything that is close or perfect... thats a start... and I dont know if yours is a sport or no but the LS did have a sport model with bigger sway bars... another idea is look up S type R parts.. some of those might work
I think thats enough said LOL!
see now your helpping. type s jag didnt think of that i think my car is a sport how do i tell? it use to have the chrome molding on the front untill i had to change it b/c the old bumper was f88k. the Ls has sunroof, wood steering wheel no heatted seats had the alpine 6 disc. snd its a 00' LS6
lincoln00
Dedicated LVC Member
ITS S TYPE JAG.... you will find nothing for type S thats acura! LOL
lincoln00
Dedicated LVC Member
If you had the chrome i believe your not a sport model...
yes gen 1 with chrome is not a SPORT!
yes gen 1 with chrome is not a SPORT!
Eibach springs, sport shocks and swaybars with energy suspensions swaybar bushings... that should make a noticable difference.
Or you can try to find euro shocks; I'm not sure they are still being produced. They are the firmest shock available.
Or you can try to find euro shocks; I'm not sure they are still being produced. They are the firmest shock available.
SPSully
Dedicated LVC Member
there is all kinds of stuff you can do.... just like with power.... just need to get creative and be willing to make stuff
Quik LS
Dedicated LVC Member
although you may not have a sport model - you may have the 'sport option' - i do. If you car came with 17" rims - good chance you may be sport underneath.
I have upgraded shocks, intrax spings, howe spring rubbers, rotors, pads, SS lines, fluids, tires - even thing like seat belts (hold you firmer in place) and pedal covers (if you know how to trail brake) can all help in handling. My cross weight is nearly perfect.
depends on how fast you are racing - but things like spoilers, and dams can help turn as well.
I guess the real question is - what don't you like about the handling? The LS is no slouch.
I have upgraded shocks, intrax spings, howe spring rubbers, rotors, pads, SS lines, fluids, tires - even thing like seat belts (hold you firmer in place) and pedal covers (if you know how to trail brake) can all help in handling. My cross weight is nearly perfect.
depends on how fast you are racing - but things like spoilers, and dams can help turn as well.
I guess the real question is - what don't you like about the handling? The LS is no slouch.
when going around coners it feels fishie. i have the new right control arm coming in soon so going to change that i know that will make a diffrence but i'm more into auto cross so i'm also in and out of line taking turns hard and sharp and i feel that i'm at its limit. iwant it to hand like its on rail. and i need to make it stop better.
Well man, bad news for you...
A care weighing in near 4000lbs isn't going to handle like it's on rails... not to say you can't get some solid performance out of it, but don't expect Porsche, Ferarri, or Ford GT like handling.
BUT with that said... tires obviously make a big difference; so does wheel size; if you have 16"s, ditch them for light weight 18"s... sidewall flex is a lot less.
If you don't have the sport suspension, swap it over.
Have custom sway bars made; a thicker sway bar will clean up some of the lean... and these aren't THAT expensive.
Put in some sort of aftermarket sport springs along with new sport or euro shocks.
For brakes, power slot rotors, braided stainless flex lines, synthetic fluid, porterfield pads or big brake kit.
Don't forget, handling can be effected greatly by simple suspension alignment. Depending on what you want out of the car, you can have it set for ultimate bite and cornering... but you'll chew through tires a lot faster.
A care weighing in near 4000lbs isn't going to handle like it's on rails... not to say you can't get some solid performance out of it, but don't expect Porsche, Ferarri, or Ford GT like handling.
BUT with that said... tires obviously make a big difference; so does wheel size; if you have 16"s, ditch them for light weight 18"s... sidewall flex is a lot less.
If you don't have the sport suspension, swap it over.
Have custom sway bars made; a thicker sway bar will clean up some of the lean... and these aren't THAT expensive.
Put in some sort of aftermarket sport springs along with new sport or euro shocks.
For brakes, power slot rotors, braided stainless flex lines, synthetic fluid, porterfield pads or big brake kit.
Don't forget, handling can be effected greatly by simple suspension alignment. Depending on what you want out of the car, you can have it set for ultimate bite and cornering... but you'll chew through tires a lot faster.
The new (retro model) T-bird and LS share the same chassis; the T-bird is just a bit shorter as I recall. Anyhow, suspension parts should... by and large swap over (some exceptions I'm sure). But you wouldn't be gaining anything and I imagine price to be the same.
SPSully
Dedicated LVC Member
my LS8 will out dance most any sport compact....how much you want is up to you though....QUICKLS races auto-x with his LS and does pretty well from what I've heard
revolutionaryconcepts
Active LVC Member
If the A$$ end is wanting to step out on you, ie oversteer on a track just have someone add a little camber to the rear, in my expience with my v8 towing the rear out a little makes them faster but loser through the corners under load, towing in makes it understeer a little, depends on your driving style and the size of your acorns
Quik LS
Dedicated LVC Member
Be careful about throwing bigger anti-sway bars at it.
The engineers took a lot of time to get the right balance of front and rear anti-sway bars, and even the right bushing - grippy vs. non-grippy. Hence the difference between the V6 and V8 - the weight difference in the engine made them retune the suspension - resulting in different components - so bigger is not always better.
The anti-sway bars do a lot to tune the over-steer and under-steer of the car - so make sure that is your area of focus before messing with it. Many times it takes professional level skill to really know the difference and be able to take the car to the edge where that level of tuning matters.
If you autox then you have seen the fast cars - small, light, 16"/15" rims, ... sidewall flex and bodyroll are not neccessarily a bad thing if it is controlled, predictable and gets you around the corner faster.
With me - the car is more capable than the driver....
The engineers took a lot of time to get the right balance of front and rear anti-sway bars, and even the right bushing - grippy vs. non-grippy. Hence the difference between the V6 and V8 - the weight difference in the engine made them retune the suspension - resulting in different components - so bigger is not always better.
The anti-sway bars do a lot to tune the over-steer and under-steer of the car - so make sure that is your area of focus before messing with it. Many times it takes professional level skill to really know the difference and be able to take the car to the edge where that level of tuning matters.
If you autox then you have seen the fast cars - small, light, 16"/15" rims, ... sidewall flex and bodyroll are not neccessarily a bad thing if it is controlled, predictable and gets you around the corner faster.
With me - the car is more capable than the driver....
i can push my acorns just the ls feels like its Acorns are to it limit. it heard to discrib. i think i need to just do new bushing shocks.i really dont want to lower her b/c the ls sits and a nice level now but an inch all around i can do i dont feel like droping it like 3 inchs. and maybe i should get bigger tires. maybe 18'' but i like having my 16'' i live in NYC so pot holes are a killer but in the name of performance and better handling i would get a set
SPSully
Dedicated LVC Member
I lowered mine with Intrax like Quick has, and I've watched the car go from being a animal in curves to bhe and all out beast!!!! The lack of camber kit works out well for those of us who like to let the LS's nuts sag through the corners as well! I havent seen tomany cars respind to lowering like the LS does. Quick mentioned earlier the weight ratios on these cars are rediculously close! You wont find to many 4000lb cars that dance like these. I think you should lower you'r car and find a good set of tires. If you still need to play with it some more after, there are a few other things to mess with, but I would do those minor mods first!
zintkala
Active LVC Member
"my LS8 will out dance most any sport compact...."
Not trying to rain on anyones parade and I'm glad that you are enthusiastic about your car but PLEASE....let's get realistic here. While the LS is a very well engineered car that handles better than most in it's segment IT IS NOT A RACE CAR! With all of the standard tweaks and good rubber they can be very capable and entertaining cars to drive while still being somewhat comfortable and refined. The biggest problem is size and weight. Pure and basic physics. My car, with the mods below, stock suspension and a good alignment pulled .91G on a skid pad and has been run through it's paces on both a road course and AutoX course. While it surprised everyone with how well it ran, it's limitations were also very evident. First off the car is underpowered. Not the fault of the motor, (mine is making around 1.3 hp/ci, VERY good numbers for any NA motor) but at 3.9L it is simply too small. The stock brakes with drilled/slotted rotors, SS brake lines, good fluid and Porterfield R4-S pads will get you some very good stopping distances for a few runs. But on the track it is very easy to use them up in a hurry. 4000 lbs is alot of weight to be hauling down repeatedly. Short of a Stop Tech or Wilwood big brake kit that will cost more than your car is worth and the need for custom wheels to clear them, the LS is underbraked. Tires and suspension? Again 4000lbs is alot of weight to be hauling around. Due to the cars design the largest tire that will fit is a 245F/275R without rubbing under all out track conditions. Not enough contact patch to overcome all of that PORK. In one afternoon at RIR I destroyed a set of nittos while a friends lightened M3 with the exact same tires looked hardly worn. Short of stiffer springs there is not much to do to an LS.
Reality is a good driver in a stock Golf GTI or Civic SI can run circles around your modded LS on a road course.
Respect the car for what it is. It is a LUXURY/SPORT sedan. Refined, comfortable and entertaining to drive at 8/10's, push it to it's limits and it will bite you if you are not careful.
One final rant....Who cares? The limits on the LS, bone stock are already high enough that no where on the street can you reasonably explore them without seeing speeds that are going to get someone killed or put in jail. Trust me when I say that for 95% of you on this board, stock, this cars limits are higher than your ability to drive it. Without professional training and lot's of track time none of you really know how to drive any car to it's limits safely.
Not trying to rain on anyones parade and I'm glad that you are enthusiastic about your car but PLEASE....let's get realistic here. While the LS is a very well engineered car that handles better than most in it's segment IT IS NOT A RACE CAR! With all of the standard tweaks and good rubber they can be very capable and entertaining cars to drive while still being somewhat comfortable and refined. The biggest problem is size and weight. Pure and basic physics. My car, with the mods below, stock suspension and a good alignment pulled .91G on a skid pad and has been run through it's paces on both a road course and AutoX course. While it surprised everyone with how well it ran, it's limitations were also very evident. First off the car is underpowered. Not the fault of the motor, (mine is making around 1.3 hp/ci, VERY good numbers for any NA motor) but at 3.9L it is simply too small. The stock brakes with drilled/slotted rotors, SS brake lines, good fluid and Porterfield R4-S pads will get you some very good stopping distances for a few runs. But on the track it is very easy to use them up in a hurry. 4000 lbs is alot of weight to be hauling down repeatedly. Short of a Stop Tech or Wilwood big brake kit that will cost more than your car is worth and the need for custom wheels to clear them, the LS is underbraked. Tires and suspension? Again 4000lbs is alot of weight to be hauling around. Due to the cars design the largest tire that will fit is a 245F/275R without rubbing under all out track conditions. Not enough contact patch to overcome all of that PORK. In one afternoon at RIR I destroyed a set of nittos while a friends lightened M3 with the exact same tires looked hardly worn. Short of stiffer springs there is not much to do to an LS.
Reality is a good driver in a stock Golf GTI or Civic SI can run circles around your modded LS on a road course.
Respect the car for what it is. It is a LUXURY/SPORT sedan. Refined, comfortable and entertaining to drive at 8/10's, push it to it's limits and it will bite you if you are not careful.
One final rant....Who cares? The limits on the LS, bone stock are already high enough that no where on the street can you reasonably explore them without seeing speeds that are going to get someone killed or put in jail. Trust me when I say that for 95% of you on this board, stock, this cars limits are higher than your ability to drive it. Without professional training and lot's of track time none of you really know how to drive any car to it's limits safely.
If there was some type of high speed driving school around here, you better believe I'd take a course. Because you're right. No where on the street can you go all out to learn the limits of any vehicle without getting in trouble (physical or legal). Plus it's just a dumb idea to try to drive a vehicle in that manner when there are so many outside factors (loose dirt on the road, other drivers becoming obstacles, the baby in the car seat in the car just around the corner who you might kill if you go out of control, etc.)
Keep the racing on the track.
Keep the racing on the track.