about the monoleaf...

[EviLette]

Stupid question, I'm sure, but I was always told the most asinine quests were the ones you needed the info for, but didn't ask.

 

I was reading, and searching, and I think I came to a realization but I just want to double check.

 

Converting to coilovers (rear specifically) replaces the monoleaf with a different type of suspension, correct?

[jeremy]

[Addicted To Boost]

Correct. You are removing the monoleaf and using a set of coilovers instead.

[EviLette]

Correct. You are removing the monoleaf and using a set of coilovers instead.

 

I like that idea.

 

The less rust-touched parts I can get into that car the better.

 

I'm just clueless as to how to do it. My mechanic is going to hate me tomorrow.

 

I need to quit smoking so I can spend more money investing in my car (PITA)

[xtremerevolution]

Correct. You are removing the monoleaf and using a set of coilovers instead.

 

I like that idea.

 

The less rust-touched parts I can get into that car the better.

 

I'm just clueless as to how to do it. My mechanic is going to hate me tomorrow.

 

I need to quit smoking so I can spend more money investing in my car (PITA)

 

I thought the monoleaf was fiberglass. How would this rust? If anything, the coils would rust long before the fiberglass would rot away, though I doubt anyone would keep their car that long.

[jeremy]

you are right, the leaf is fiberglass

[hotrodolds]

The one thing to remember is that when you convert to a coil over, the rear upper strut towers become load bearing. From the factory, they are NOT designed to do this. A lot of people don't have a problem. Some have. That is a risk that personally I will not take.

[EviLette]

The one thing to remember is that when you convert to a coil over, the rear upper strut towers become load bearing. From the factory, they are NOT designed to do this. A lot of people don't have a problem. Some have. That is a risk that personally I will not take.

 

I hadn't considerd that.

 

I also didn't realize monoleaf wasn't made out of some type of metal.

 

It's dirty enough I really couldn't tell, never thought it would be anything but metal. My bad.

[93CutlassSupreme]

IMO transverse leaf springs are a good suspension setup. Leave it on.

 

Monoleaf suspensions can be lowered, and provide better side to side weight transfer than coilovers.

[CSI_MuNkY]

The one thing to remember is that when you convert to a coil over, the rear upper strut towers become load bearing. From the factory, they are NOT designed to do this. A lot of people don't have a problem. Some have. That is a risk that personally I will not take.

 

I have a problem with this....

The weight handled by the rear strut towers isn't that much more... keep in mind that the stock struts DO go to them, yes the monoleaf absorbs some of that stress into the center of the car, but certainly not all of it. That being said, the construction of the rear strut towers is very similar to the front strut towers, which might I add have to hold a hell of a lot more weight than the rears ever would. The metal on both front and rear towers is the same thickness, in addition to that the rear towers have 1/4' plates welded into the top of them. I've yet to actually read any occurrences of the rear towers failing in a coil over conversion.

 

IMO transverse leaf springs are a good suspension setup. Leave it on.

 

Monoleaf suspensions can be lowered, and provide better side to side weight transfer than coilovers.

 

I agree, but disagree at the same time... Obviously the mono leaf design has potential, why else would it still be used on the Corvette, which can out handle a lot of coil over set up cars.

However, about the side to side weight transfer, you can make up for this by adding in the 7/8' sway bar, and increasing the spring rate of the coil springs. If I were to guess, my car has about 75% less body roll in the corners now, than it did when I had the mono leaf.

 

FWIW, Evilette, I have coil overs on all 4 corners and would not swap back, NO regrets here.

 

Jamie

 

Jamie

[hotrodolds]

Have you ever noticed how far the car will sag in a corner that a rear strut mount has broken in? I broke one, and collapsed the strut, so there was NO strut taking the weight of the drivers' rear corner. It didn't sag at all. Not one bit. The other rear strut was NOT seized, so it wasn't holding it up at all. That center mount for the monoleaf holds A LOT of weight. I'd say it hold better than 95% of the weight in the rear.

 

I do know that the metal should be sufficiently thick in the rear to do it, and if you add a rear STB, it's helped that much more. But, that is just a little food for thought on the rear sag with a broken mount.

[CSI_MuNkY]

Just changing struts in Q-balls car gave it the monster truck look from an almost low rider look.

 

It also depends on the sway bar too, with that 7/8" sway bar you can jack up the right hand side of the car from under the trailing arm mount, and the other side will follow within a few inches. One strut breaking through would be evened out by a sway bar greatly...

 

Jamie

[hotrodolds]

Problem is, if a strut does break through the upper tower, the car is junk. That's not really something you can fix. Just ask the Escort owners from the '80's.

[AWeb80]

I wouldn't go back to mono either.

 

w/ my RSTB, addco bar, there is virtually no body roll you can feel......the front rolls more than the rear....

[3.1cutlass]

I agree on not using a coil over setup. It may have advantages but the risk of destroying my car is not worth it to me.

If lowering the car is what you are interested check out flex a form they can hook you up.

[EviLette]

No, I have no desire in changing the stance of the car. I actually really like it the way it is.. the improved handling that comes from coilvers though, that's a big thing I like the thought of... not that i have MUCH to handle, but the lowering is a bit of a bonus, as long as its not much... but as it stands, I probably will just stick with monoleaf.

 

Nasty speedbumps in my apartment complex... and I dont really need to do that I guess. I've just been replacing it with lifetime warranty replacement parts since I bought it... just to maintain it.. IDK.

[3.1cutlass]

if handling is what you are after i would add/upgrade your sway bar and get a rstb. You will notice a big difference there and not break the bank. As far as lowering goes it not only improves the stance but you will gain some handling performance as well.

[AWeb80]

ya, I only have 5 Rear strut bars left.

[Addicted To Boost]

I see W-bodies around all the time with snapped monoleafs dragging on the ground and people are still driving them around.. the struts don't go through the upper tower even with NO monoleaf.

[ismellrealbad]

The thread I'm about to link to should be made sticky. This is the oldest and most drawn out W-body debate in history.

 

http://www.w-body.com/forum/index.php?topic=9548.0

 

Our wonderful forum creator Shawn went to a yard a while back to gather facts and simply that.

It is clear that GM felt the need to strengthen the strut towers of our cars that came with rear coilover setups stock. To further heighten the point, this is GM we are talking about here!!! The company that will cut any corner for $.02. Ask any tech that’s ever worked for them. If our cheap fuck of a car company went to this extent for something, there was probably a good reason. This should really be the end-all to the debate.

 

Use that information to consider your own decision and possible consequenses.

 

That being said, I still haven't heard a single story of failure or disappointment by converting to coilovers. I feel a RSTB should be sufficient reinforcement, and would keep me sleeping well at night. Also I don’t like the review given by the lowering monoloeaf, and I certainly didn’t like the pic of it either. It’s this little skimpy ass thing that looks like it’ll break in 3 days.

 

[Addicted To Boost]

Interesting read on that link... I didn't think the gen 1 strut towers were that thin.

[jmoore4294]

The 'verts can't use a RSTB correct?

[EviLette]

ya, I only have 5 Rear strut bars left.

 

I should probably get one of those then? lol PM me info please

 

PM sent.

[3.1cutlass]

The 'verts can't use a RSTB correct?

correct

[19Cutlass94]

The fact of the metal breaking around the strut towers... heres the problem. The Tensile strength of the steel used is roughly 40KSI ( assuming I have the right metal ) That means there would have to be a force of about 40,000PSI pushing up on the towers. You tell me a bump that you will go over that wil exert a force of 40KSI on the strut towers. If the metal rusts, thats one thing, but if your towers have no rust, you wont break them.