Front springs and shocks ?

Rich Biebel · 05-31-2025, 05:16 PM

My mid 90’s Firebird stocker tends to dive the nose to much after a wheelie.
I do have double adjustable shocks and they are probably QA-1s
I’ve tried different settings and the car launches well with mid 1.30 60’s in decent air on a good track.
I drove this car in 2011 and it was doing much higher wheelies back then with better ET’s in cooler fall air.
Pictures I have even from back then show the same thing
Front end dives down to much and tends to bounce once.
I know Santhuff shocks are what many racers recommend.
I’m wondering if a spring change is also a good idea but don’t know what spring to use.

The car sits a little lower than some I’ve seen and I have added some spacers under the shock to raise it some rather than screw the spring collars up and lose travel.
The car hooks very well and always has. It just doesn’t land as nice as it should and may be costing some ET.
Looking for some input here on springs mostly.

Coach · 05-31-2025, 07:56 PM

Afco shocks & springs are what we use on my F Body.

Call Madman & Co Racing. He will have them in stock.

SS3860 · 05-31-2025, 09:41 PM

Randy Manns at Fastshocks got the cure

Tom Flowers
E/SA 3860

CMcAllister · 06-01-2025, 05:01 AM

Fastmann shocks and struts, along with Landrum springs from Marty, have tamed a few violent set ups for me. Consistent and tunable.

Santuffs work well also.

05-31-2025, 05:16 PM	#1
Rich Biebel VIP Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Northern New Jersey suburbs Posts: 2,314 Likes: 25 Liked 544 Times in 213 Posts	Front springs and shocks ? My mid 90’s Firebird stocker tends to dive the nose to much after a wheelie. I do have double adjustable shocks and they are probably QA-1s I’ve tried different settings and the car launches well with mid 1.30 60’s in decent air on a good track. I drove this car in 2011 and it was doing much higher wheelies back then with better ET’s in cooler fall air. Pictures I have even from back then show the same thing Front end dives down to much and tends to bounce once. I know Santhuff shocks are what many racers recommend. I’m wondering if a spring change is also a good idea but don’t know what spring to use. The car sits a little lower than some I’ve seen and I have added some spacers under the shock to raise it some rather than screw the spring collars up and lose travel. The car hooks very well and always has. It just doesn’t land as nice as it should and may be costing some ET. Looking for some input here on springs mostly. __________________ Rich Biebel S/C 1479 Stock 147R Last edited by Rich Biebel; 05-31-2025 at 05:20 PM.

05-31-2025, 07:56 PM	#2
Coach Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 68 Likes: 200 Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Re: Front springs and shocks ? Afco shocks & springs are what we use on my F Body. Call Madman & Co Racing. He will have them in stock.

05-31-2025, 09:41 PM	#3
SS3860 Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2019 Posts: 86 Likes: 9 Liked 129 Times in 54 Posts	Re: Front springs and shocks ? Randy Manns at Fastshocks got the cure Tom Flowers E/SA 3860

06-01-2025, 05:01 AM	#4
CMcAllister Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Fulton County, PA Posts: 603 Likes: 15 Liked 890 Times in 248 Posts	Re: Front springs and shocks ? Fastmann shocks and struts, along with Landrum springs from Marty, have tamed a few violent set ups for me. Consistent and tunable. Santuffs work well also.