Big cars vs. smaller cars

[mike561]

Is it just me, or does anyone else feel like that when they drive a smaller car, you seem to feel more comfortable going fast in it? For instance, i dont know how accurate my speedometer is, and im not a crazy driver, but i always try to keep up with the flow of traffic. I can do about 80 mph in the caprice, but when im in a smaller car 80 mph feels like only 50 mph, and i still keep up with traffic, granted if everyone is doing about the same speed as me reguardless

[GreyGoose006]

i think it has to do with the fact that most "smaller cars" are newer than your caprice.

my uncle has a dodge magum (big car) and he let me drive it when i got my licence.
being used to my caprice, i gave it generous gas to merge onto the highway.
after a few seconds i told him that the car sure was twitchy, that the steering was hyper responsive.
he replied, that's cause you are doing 85.

i felt like i was doing 50 by the stability of the car at speed.
it all has to do with the rigidity of the platform and the alignment of the suspension.

aerodynamics also come into play.
the less wind noise you hear the less the sensation of speed.

[bhw33191]

yup its definately the fact that these cars are older. My parents have a dodge durango with the hemi and man is that thing responsive! Don't get me wrong the hemi is over-rated but its like driving a race car compared to my 305 lol. That makes it so easy to speed. If i try to speed in my caprice it starts to shake. Probably not a good thing lol but i think its because of my trim rings/center caps set off the wheel balance..and i need new shocks probably.

[mike561]

yeah thats another thing, the faster i go in the caprice the less control i feel like i have. i feel like im all over the road

[Blt2Lst]

Originally Posted by mike561

yeah thats another thing, the faster i go in the caprice the less control i feel like i have. i feel like im all over the road

I feel the same way, Caprices do not exactly inspire confidence at high speeds and my wagon is no exception.

However, some suspension mods will help the situation greatly.
I installed some beefy Hotchkis sway bars front and rear along with KYB gas adjust shocks and BFG ta radials all round. The car now corners flat with no body roll but at high speeds it is still a little twitchy. I think some better upper and lower rear control arms would help this situation and probably some different springs.
I also replaced all tie rod ends and center link and idler arm to tighten up the front end, could still use some urethane control arm bushings.

It's alot better than stock but it still is not what I would call a great handling car.

I wonder if dropping the car 2" would help in the handling department?

[j cAT]

when I go traveling and rent vehicles, I find my 96 impala has a superior ride when going 80mph on the open road...as compared to these smaller newer vehicles...the reason is they are very light...and the road surface and wind moves them about...too much...


these larger vehicles especially with old springs shocks steering componets and sway bar bushings all add up to a very sloppy ride...

when these items are corrected you will get a much firmer ride...also the installation of the rear sway bars help at higher speeds and a lower profile tire....

one vehicle I rented was a nissian with the CVT.. a transmission that does not shift.....I was impressed as it climbed the mountains on the hwy with ease and smoothness....but the vehicle lacked high speed control stability...If the impala only came with a transmission like that...

[mike561]

I know i need new shocks and springs soon, thats on my near future to do list. matter of fact i went over a small bump the other day and it sounded like i went speeding over a massive pothole (made a loud BOOM sound you could hear from the inside) i also get a wierd rattle from the left front, kind of sounds like a glass cup full of screws flopping around, I hear it over every single little bump.

[Blue Bowtie]

Originally Posted by j cAT

when I go traveling and rent vehicles, I find my 96 impala has a superior ride when going 80mph on the open road...

Agreed. I've rented Chargers, Camrys, new Impalas, 500s, and none of the newer cars seem as stable. It seems that they hold the road well until a little bump comes along. It's everything or nothing, with very little cushion between. As soon as it starts to go, you've lost it. I've driven Chargers hard enough to push the front tires on turns, and they don't like to recover well. It gets especially interesting when a bump or rippled pavement is coupled with a turn and/or wind. Then it's like trying to steer a bumper car on gravel. I put 2300 miles on one in about 10 days and got pretty familiar with the nuances of the handling, and could push the front end at will without losing it, but it could easily become unrecoverable.

Then again, I have a lot more comfortable experience in my Impalas, and know exactly how they'll act and react.

[bhw33191]

i noticed if i hit bumps on the highway my caprice tries to move all around the road unless i'm holding wheel as tight as i can. otherwise it basically takes the wheel out of your hand. i think its my shocks maybe? despite the fact, its still the most comfortable ride out there even if its considered "sloppy."

[mike561]

didnt ford (or maybe they still do) put some kind of air bag suspension on the older town cars?

[Blue Bowtie]

Ford had rear air bags on some Town Cars and Connies. Subaru had them, too. You can spot the Fords a half-mile away because most of them are by now riding on the snubbers, since the bags have failed. Most Subaru owners who bothered to keep their cars replaced the bags with springs. There were plenty of aftermarket kits available specifically for that purpose for several years.

Bags are great on busses, OIR trucks, and trailers, but most of those are Firestone or Goodyear air springs, and most of those vehicles get regular maintenance.

As for the loose steering/wandering on bumps on the Caprice, shocks are probably not the cause. Take a good look at the tie rod ends, Pittman arm, and ball joints.

[mike561]

Oh yeah most of the older town cars by now i see the rear bumper is almost touching the ground lol

[bhw33191]

Originally Posted by mike561

Oh yeah most of the older town cars by now i see the rear bumper is almost touching the ground lol

I've also seen the ones with the a$$ up in the air cuz of an airbag problem. Funny seeing an old lady driving all cheech and chong like that lol!

[NOVAZ27]

Hello. My "84" caprice drives great at higher speeds. It is set up as listed below.
1. Use a high quality 225/70/15 tire on 7" wide wheels. High pressure/performance radials work best. Ie. Goodyear regattas etc. 44lbs max vs. 32lbs max. Inflation.
2. Check/replace center link & idler arm. This will cause front end shimmy over washboard roads. Worse if rear of car is loaded heavily.
3. Poly bushings/end links for front sway bar. Autozone had a house brand endlink kit that came with the poly bushing. About $7-$8 a side.
4. Top quality gas shocks front & rear.
5. Factory sway bar works great+ no bushings required.
6. Variable rate springs for the rear. + spacer if you want to raise it up some.
7. Front end alignment is very important. If the car steers straight she will not want to wander.

Note: My caprice came with the "f41" package so some of these mods were already in place. But all the impalas/caprices from 77-96 were basicly the same platform suspension wise. Up grades should retro fit very well.

Hope this helps.
John in belton.
Novaz27

[Blt2Lst]

Originally Posted by NOVAZ27

High pressure/performance radials work best. Ie. Goodyear regattas etc. 44lbs

I didn't think about that one.
I run BFG TA's @ 35psi but higher press tires would probably reduce sidewall flex thus improving handling.