George Posted April 22, 2015 Report Posted April 22, 2015 (edited) I'm going to post here as well for easier searching. I was able to use the factory upper strut mount and bump stop by using some springs that have a 4 1/8" ID top and a 2 1/2" ID bottom. The springs are listed as "GM series" coil springs and are available from 250 to 600lb. The 250 and 300lb springs are 11" long. The 350lb and above springs are 10" long. The springs I used for my 1994 Cutlass Supreme Convertible were the springs rated at 300lbs /in. I ground down the factory upper spring isolator to make a tapered spacer (3/8" thick on one side and 1/8" thick on the other) to keep the spring parallel with the strut. Install the tapered spacer on the upper strut mount, then install the poly spring isolator and spring with thrust bearing, adjusting sleeve and nut. The guys at QA1 racing said to use never seize on the thrust bearing. I cut the bottom two rings off the bump stop. Parts List: (2) HAL-11HTBF300 springs $65.97 ea at summit racing (1) ENS-9-6101G Spring isolator $20.97 pr at summit racing. (1) HAL-7888-109 Thrust bearing kit $25.97 pr at summit racing. (2) COK-12452-H Coil over adjusting sleeve about $40/pr A1 Racing. (2) COK-12460 Coil over adjuster nut about $26/pr A1 Racing Total investment around $250 Wheels: 17X8 + 38 offset Tires: 255/45-17 Tire clearance at 1 3/4" drop. I've since went 2" drop and no tire rubbing on either the springs or the fenders yet. This is as low as I feel comfortable with so this is where I stop. 2" drop front. 2 1/2" drop rear. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Edited April 22, 2015 by George Corrected part number. Quote
jake91 Posted April 22, 2015 Report Posted April 22, 2015 Interesting Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Quote
Nas Escobar Posted April 22, 2015 Report Posted April 22, 2015 Very interesting indeed. So those springs can be adjusted, or how does that work? I always thought the spring gave you a drop but couldn't be adjusted. Quote
George Posted April 22, 2015 Author Report Posted April 22, 2015 (edited) The second to last photo shows the black adjusting sleeve (threaded) and the gold adjusting nut. Just turn the nut up or down for the desired amount of drop. I should have just included this photo. If the 350lb springs (10" long) were used an additional 1" drop could be achieved due to the shorter spring, and would be stiffer to keep the strut from completely bottoming out. IMO I'm not sure I would go stiffer, it rides like a mid '90's Corvette already. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Edited April 22, 2015 by George Added photo Quote
Nas Escobar Posted April 22, 2015 Report Posted April 22, 2015 Damn, I kinda wish I didn't do my struts now. I have new struts in the front, 2 year old struts in the back. I would have done this as well. Quote
George Posted April 22, 2015 Author Report Posted April 22, 2015 It can still be done, ahh, with your luck at getting alignments, never mind. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote
Nas Escobar Posted April 22, 2015 Report Posted April 22, 2015 It can still be done, ahh, with your luck at getting alignments, never mind. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Well the rear is the one that they mostly bitch about. I've noticed the fronts are hit and miss. Of course if the rear coil overs get rid of the monoleaf, then it would definitely get adjustable rear lateral links which would probably "fix" the issue... then again my area really does have a lot of special people. I'ma leave it at that. Quote
vipmiller803 Posted April 22, 2015 Report Posted April 22, 2015 Damn, I kinda wish I didn't do my struts now. I have new struts in the front, 2 year old struts in the back. I would have done this as well. I am in the exact same boat, but I do not too much mind the bouncy buick ride for a DD. Yea yea, I can see you calling me old man already. Either way, very cool option for the right folks. So is the knuckle still part of the macpherson strut then? Are you still able to change out the strut cartridges from the top? Quote
George Posted April 22, 2015 Author Report Posted April 22, 2015 (edited) I am in the exact same boat, but I do not too much mind the bouncy buick ride for a DD. Yea yea, I can see you calling me old man already. Either way, very cool option for the right folks. So is the knuckle still part of the macpherson strut then? Are you still able to change out the strut cartridges from the top? It's the factory knuckle, just trimmed a bit. (The coil bucket and flat vertical plate removed for adjusting sleeve install) Yes you can still change the strut cartridges from the top. Edited April 22, 2015 by George More specifics on trimming. Quote
RobertISaar Posted April 22, 2015 Report Posted April 22, 2015 hmm...... if the suspension on the 91SE starts giving me trouble, I'm definitely going this route. seems like all 4 corners can be done for ~$500? Quote
George Posted April 22, 2015 Author Report Posted April 22, 2015 hmm...... if the suspension on the 91SE starts giving me trouble, I'm definitely going this route. seems like all 4 corners can be done for ~$500? $250 for front $175 for rear $425 total + some shipping I would say closer to $450 than $500. Quote
vipmiller803 Posted April 22, 2015 Report Posted April 22, 2015 (edited) It's the factory knuckle, just trimmed a bit. (The coil bucket and flat vertical plate removed for adjusting sleeve install) Yes you can still change the strut cartridges from the top. Is the adjusting sleeve just sitting against that strut/knuckle lip? It looks like you have a ring that threaded on there to keep it from flanging out? Nope, just a zip tie. Edited April 22, 2015 by vipmiller803 Quote
George Posted April 22, 2015 Author Report Posted April 22, 2015 The front side (outside of car) of the strut/knuckle is approx. a 1/4 in higher that the backside, so I ground some material off half of the sleeve so it sits on both surfaces and the sleeve cannot rotate. Yes, the zip tie is just a zip tie that holds the ABS sensor wire until get a split loom retainer to replace the factory one that broke.. Cheap 20 yr old factory plastic crap. Lol Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote
Nas Escobar Posted April 22, 2015 Report Posted April 22, 2015 I am in the exact same boat, but I do not too much mind the bouncy buick ride for a DD. Yea yea, I can see you calling me old man already. Me either, I enjoy the bouncy ride as well. Makes it fun when the road dips IMO. I get a lot of people that way hahaha Quote
George Posted May 21, 2015 Author Report Posted May 21, 2015 This is the correct photo for the bump stop. This is all that is left and the top of the strut contacts it from time to time over dips as there is 1 1/4in clearance between the bump stop and the strut. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote
lawdog Posted May 30, 2015 Report Posted May 30, 2015 Probably a dumb question but the rear of my 93 Cutlass convertible sags slightly IMO. Would coli overs allow me to adjust it up? Quote
Psych0matt Posted May 30, 2015 Report Posted May 30, 2015 Probably a dumb question but the rear of my 93 Cutlass convertible sags slightly IMO. Would coli overs allow me to adjust it up? Yes. Depending on sizes of springs/sleeves, you can adjust up or down. For example, I could jack mine up to higher than stock with my setup (not that I ever intend on doing that ) Quote
RobertISaar Posted May 30, 2015 Report Posted May 30, 2015 Yes. Depending on sizes of springs/sleeves, you can adjust up or down. For example, I could jack mine up to higher than stock with my setup (not that I ever intend on doing that ) WUV stance. Quote
Psych0matt Posted May 30, 2015 Report Posted May 30, 2015 WUV stance. Took me a second to get that Quote
RobertISaar Posted May 30, 2015 Report Posted May 30, 2015 sadly, I've been there..... stuff like 215/75R15 tires on a W fit, but barely clear the struts. had some incredible ground clearance, at least. Quote
George Posted May 30, 2015 Author Report Posted May 30, 2015 Probably a dumb question but the rear of my 93 Cutlass convertible sags slightly IMO. Would coli overs allow me to adjust it up? Maybe you would like to lower to front to match the rear? Cutting a 1/2 coil off the top of the front springs is about a 1 inch drop. That should make the front a little lower than the rear right? Quote
GPX Posted May 31, 2015 Report Posted May 31, 2015 I don't thonk you can/should cut just a half coil off. Others with more experience should chime in here, but I think you need to cut off complete coils to keep the spring fitting in the odd, lopsided configuration. My 95 GPSE back end was sagged. I cut a whole coil off of some FE3 springs and now my front sits 1/4" lower than rear and looks perfect IMO. Quote
George Posted June 1, 2015 Author Report Posted June 1, 2015 You just have to rotate the upper rubber spring isolator 1/2 turn so the bottom of the spring stays lined up in the groove. Quote
George Posted June 4, 2015 Author Report Posted June 4, 2015 I thought I would include a couple photos of the car here as well. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote
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