boat feeling while steering

[cherry325]

Background, 88 vert, replaced front wheel bearing, front lower control arms, sways/links/bushings front and back, rack and pinion, power steering res and lines.

Now before i got to drive the car i went ahead and mounted a set of basketweaves with a 195/70/14, vs the 205/60/14 that were on the bottlecaps.

Now it feels like i'm driving a boat! Is this attributed solely to the tires due to the increase in sidewall sizing?

I understand its a vert and its on stock suspension, but it felt tighter before all the work was done?

[IRON-E]

sounds like bad shocks dude.

[cherry325]

sounds like bad shocks dude.

i'm attributing worn out shocks, but chris @ castro's said the shocks are good for another couple thousand miles easy, i'm going in for an alignment tomorrow morning (its way off) so maybe that'll help things out.

But my question is do you think the tires are a large factor to it?

[IRON-E]

Unless they are low on air, I don't necessarily see that but I could be wrong.

[cherry325]

i'll report back after my alignment tomorrow, any other suggestions?

[IRON-E]

i'll report back after my alignment tomorrow, any other suggestions?

I can't really think of any since you have already had the Castros check it out for you.

[MaxBell]

I finished a huge front end overhaul and the car is very floaty and bouncey and boatish. Later I installed the H&R/Billy combo pack and it's 100% better.

[cherry325]

got an alignment, car drives MUCH better, less sway and the steering feels tighter, gonna have to invest in new shocks/spring soon. any suggestions on a college student budget?

[aTron12]

I'm on a pretty tight budget also. Since your shocks aren't broken or leaking, you should just buy the fronts one month, rears another and have them installed the next. Cheap shocks (from what i've read and heard) will give you a cheap ride. You could also post a WTB on the classifieds and see what comes up. Bilstein is what a lot of E30 guys go with but there are also other good ones too. Good luck.

got an alignment, car drives MUCH better, less sway and the steering feels tighter, gonna have to invest in new shocks/spring soon. any suggestions on a college student budget?

[mr ilia]

got an alignment, car drives MUCH better, less sway and the steering feels tighter, gonna have to invest in new shocks/spring soon. any suggestions on a college student budget?

I got a set of STAGG gas shocks (front+rear) on ebay for 100.00. Perfect fit. Ride is firm enough with stock springs. I love it.
I beleive there the same shoks that come with JOM coilover setup.

[AE86]

If you read some of the tech forums you'll find a lot of your answers, but to help you on your way consider 82-02 Camaro rear shocks, they are shorter in length and offer better dampening, moreover you find them for as little as $20 a piece.

[325IDD]

Ebay KYB and Vogtland setup 300bucks and will do you fine.