[1985, Z51, very stock]

So, in my continuing attempts at restoring but still driving my 1985, we come to a question of priorities. I'd like to make the suspension as compliant as possible within the original design limits.

My question is:

Which 24 year-old suspension components can be replaced to give the best return on achieving this goal?

The original Bilstein shocks have been replaced with exact replicas. The car has a reasonably current alignment (about 3,000 miles ago) and modern tires with about 16,000 miles on them.

In front, the rubber bushings are bonded to the metal. This adds stiffness to the suspension.

I would recommend some polyurethane up here, if installed and lubed properly, it will be more compliant.

I would not recommend them however in the front sway bar end links, or anywhere in the back of the car.

What will your resto rules allow?

Chainging the bushings may help, a little. But, you have Z51 springs on the car. Nothing but changing them will make a big difference.

Alignment has zip,zilch, nada to do with it.

For ride, you might get away with the base Delco shocks.

But I agree with Bill... you might want to swap springs. The thing is, once you get the car fully NCRS'd, then you can do this!!!

The spring codes are probably part of ncrs.

Pry some off and glue them to a base spring.

If it makes you feel better, the 85Z is about 1/2 the rate of the 84Z.

Quote:
On the springs I have the codes is stamped into the spring itself.