my feelings are hurt

haha jk

Yes it's true, there really is no difference between a T/A and a WS6 T/A horsepower-wise, it was really just a selling point to get more money for the cars. Suspension differences are the main factor, and with WS6's coming with all options i believe...plus the bigger tires and larger rims. Oh and all WS6's have the 3.23's i THINK. but yeah, basically in a drag between a regular T/A and a WS6 it's all about who's the better driver.

One thing i do find funny while reading other forums (especially import forums) is when people talk about racing WS6's. They say things like "so i raced a trans am today, and it wasn't just an ordinary Trans Am...it was a WS6!!!" LOL cracks me up every time i read those comments...i guess a lot of people think that WS6's are much more powerful than a regular T/A

The swaybars and the springs are stiffer so it mkes the car react faster to steering input but the skidpad numbers between the 2 aren't that different. Base cars average .84 while a WS6 average .87 And the larger 17" wheels and tires also help turn in reaction aswell.
The weak spot on both cars is the Decarbon shocks, although the WS6's set is valved differently neither are capable of dampening the stock spring rates properly.
A good performance Shock can work wonders.

yep the decarbon shocks are pretty much garbage haha. I hear that once you change them out, it feels like a whole new car.

Think KYB AGX!

KYB's are a good shock, but my advice would be to spend the money and get Koni's

Sorry, have to disagree on that one. Have had a whole set of Koni's fail in as little as two months. Koni offered to rebuild them at 150 each (wait a minute, they should be under warranty??? Shouldn't they???--they weren't). In the meantime, how do you drive the car without shocks while they are being repaired? Never had a problem with KYB-AGX, I recommend them without reservation as the finest shock ever on my Firebird. Add to that, write to Koni and ask what the shock rates are. You will find that they start at considerably higher than OEM, so if you are looking for supple, they ain't it.

You guys can continue with your debate here.

Matt

bilstein for the win

Problem with Bilsteins is their on National backorder and have been fore quite awhile.

i have had a few sets of them before on other cars and the set i got on my 94 z is from a buddy that parted his car they are the factory slp ss setup, slp bilstien shocks and slp eibach springs, love the setup street or track they and previous ones have always performed to my liking and for a great price

The Bilsteins that I used were ordered from the San Diego distributor--since I was in town, just picked them up. The first set failed at around 2,500 miles after installation. Ordered the 2nd set, but did not have time to install the front shocks before moving. The rear shocks were again toast at less than 3,000 miles. The rear end was slamming around like a Jamaican steel drum band on every shift..the fronts were pathetic. Then started the great suspension rebuild (the Bilsteins, including the unused fronts were thrown in the trash) and installed KYB AGX shocks. The KYB solved the problems immediately and they held up. Have had Bilsteins on every car that I've owned since about 1980, including a 78 Corvette and an 85 Rustang GT. They were marvelous. I'm hoping that the Firebird shocks were an oddity--a build mistake.

I like my TOKICO HP FTW!!!

And so far as difference from WS6 and other formula/TA:
I know for 1997 the regular made 285hp, the WS6 models made 305.

We were actually only talking about suspensions

from `96-`00 the WS6 package only really included 1LE springs and a 32mm front swaybar over the standard Formula/Trans Am. And they all came with the crap Decarbon shocks.
For `01-02 every thing was the same except the 1LE springs were deleted from the package.

Click to view attachment

Oh, yeah...forgot all about Tokico...had a set of their shocks (adjustable ones) on an Acura after the crap Acura shocks failed. The Tokicos were great, put about 40,000 miles on those shocks and they were still like new. I'd buy those again as well. In fact, checked both KYB and Tokico for availability of an adjustable shock on the Corvette that am planning to build (no luck there, will have to buy a non-adjustable shock). I'll settle for either brand.

Well, I have only heard of one person having issues with Bilsteins. I have never had an issue they are great shocks. BUT the single best unit for these cars are the HAL QA1's look under most serious drag or autocross car and they either are using QA1's or Bilsteins. (from the hundreds of 4th gen F-bodies I have been around at the track).

All mentioned above are better then the decarbon but for the ultimate the QA1's can't be beat!

The debate is like any other (a debate) but the numbers don't lie if you look at the quickest 1/4 mile F-bodies in the conutry they usually have a couple of things in common

1) QA1 shocks


2) a BMR xtreme torque arm.

Those 2 are what is under almost all record holder F-bodies as well as thousands and thousands of street driven f-bodies.

This is just what I have seen in the past 10 years at the track anyway.

Also QA1's can be set for street use so the argument I see coming about them being too harsh is moot and Bilsteins can be ordered in different valving options from normal to sport to xtreme.

Just my opinion.

Doug

that was why i didnt go qa1 in my eyes as well qa1 and bilsteins are the only option just from previous expierences. i just didnt go qa1 because of the great hookup i got on the bilsteins, both are great shocks and in the end i dont care for an adjustable shock since i wouldnt adj it, i want a good all around performer that needs no fiddling on my z28, some other cars i have had were different but in the end its in the eye of the beholder what you want to do with the car, and well performing single digit drag street car is what i put together, for my liking , if i was auto xing the qa1 is by far the best and most tuneable thing out there is you have the cash.

Very well said. an adjustable shock like the QA1's aren't needed for an all around daily driver but I do stand behind that they are the best for these cars, but again I just finished making my car a total street car (that can still run strip duty once in a while) and I kept the QA1's but when they get replaced I will use Bilstein sports. They are awesome.

Like Charles (me too ) said above he had a bad experience with them but he had great luck them on other cars. He knows his stuff (alot) and I would bet that he just got a bad set of Bilsteins. I only know 1 other person that had a bad expeience and it was in a 9 second car and he was using normal bilsteins that were way too soft and just took a beating at launch.

Personally I never had a bad set and I would use them on anything. My last 2 Z71 trucks have had them one had a 7" lift kit and 35: tires

What it comes doe=wn to is this

1) What do you want to do with your car
2) what can you afford
3 what experiences you have had in the past with said shock.

My opinion is for a normal street car that hardly ever sees track use a Koni, tokiko, bilstein sports, or even decarbons for a street car are good. Decarbons isue is heat and they usually fail during rebound. I have seen so many F-bodies and Impala SS's use then on the track and kill them but for a fast street shock they are ok.

I am an overkill guy and I would use nothing but bilstein for a street car. QA1's are WAYYYY overkill for a street machine but they do crank, they make your car handle better than about anything.

So, decide twhat you want, what you can afford and go for it.

Do you have a website for HAL shocks, but not the company website. I tired downloading the company's PDF file (something like 77 mb) and waited a half hour, then the stupid file locked up the computer. I'd like to see what they have available for my present car (the 2006 Civic--don't you dare laugh or I'll get you....). and maybe they have a good adjustable shock for my project Corvette (it will be a 1996, but not the LT4 version).

http://www.halshocks.com/

Or give them a call they are very helpful.

They make real good stuff.

Doug