Suspension ** (Finally Fixed) **
04-25-2007, 06:45 PM
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Suspension ** (Finally Fixed) **
So, when the car does a 70 degree fishtail only going about 25 mph on a wide turn, do you think it'* about time to upgrade the suspension. The tires are crap too, but that'* coming in due time. It'* hard finding SSE/SSEi'* around here to rip the sway bars off of...
04-25-2007, 08:37 PM
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Yeah, I should've elaborated on the fact that when I drive down a rough road (hardly bumpy at all) the car body seems to float all over the place and the back end does the whole fishtail thing. Tires, definitely. They're cheapos from Discount Tire. The guy ripped me off on them too. I'm lookin into new tires after I get the important stuff done.
04-25-2007, 08:45 PM
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Um, before you go buying new springs and sways, take a look at your RPO codes to see what you have first.
Most SEs have FE1 (soft ride). *SOME* SE' and SLE'** and ALL SSE/SSEi'* have FE2 (semi-firm ride and air-assist rear suspension). And *VERY FEW* SE'* got the F41 package, which is "rollercoaster" handling. And not all the suspension components can be mixed and matched.
Advise to you? Check the condition of your endlinks and sway bushings. Urethane replacements can be had and installed easilly, and will make a noticeable improvement in your cornering for less than 100.00. And that is for ALL 4 corners.
Most SEs have FE1 (soft ride). *SOME* SE' and SLE'** and ALL SSE/SSEi'* have FE2 (semi-firm ride and air-assist rear suspension). And *VERY FEW* SE'* got the F41 package, which is "rollercoaster" handling. And not all the suspension components can be mixed and matched.
Advise to you? Check the condition of your endlinks and sway bushings. Urethane replacements can be had and installed easilly, and will make a noticeable improvement in your cornering for less than 100.00. And that is for ALL 4 corners.
04-25-2007, 08:47 PM
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Originally Posted by mstrwolfgang
I'm lookin into new tires after I get the important stuff done.
Sway bar endlinks are probably around $30 for all four corners. MUCH less than $100, and a good thing to upgrade.
04-25-2007, 09:39 PM
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Sandrock - Pete... Good posts guys.. 
A little lesson for the member here..
Most all of the 92-99 SE have FE1 Soft ride suspension..
But off the show room floor they rode drove and handled pretty good..
But as the years wear on, the struts wear out, the end links wear out and the center links get a bit soft...
The first things I would do would be to replace the end links front and rear... iirc these could be had for less than $40 for all 4 corners.. This may be the first thing to do...
Also keep in mind that the front bar is 30mm, pretty good for bone stock, but even it would perform a bit better with Poly center links as opposed to the rubber.. so for less than $100 you can make a noticeable difference, but thats if your parts are known tired or worn out...
Tires are in another world.. If the tires you bought were a single ply sidewall, you aren't going to have good handling, the tires will lean too easy.. Most economy tires are this way, some touring tires are also that way... there are some touring tires that have the 2 ply sidewall which is stiffer for better cornering ability.. I have a set of all season performance tires waiting to go on the car now... and they too are a 2 ply sidewall... My current set is an all season touring, but it has the 2 ply sidewall... Good handler for what it was, I got more out of them than I ever expected..
So the little things can make a difference in terms of handling...
Later down the road if you want to keep the car and make it a large corner carver you may consider the beefier springs and sway bars.. But be ready to fork out the fundage for the proper parts..
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A little lesson for the member here..
Most all of the 92-99 SE have FE1 Soft ride suspension..
But off the show room floor they rode drove and handled pretty good..
But as the years wear on, the struts wear out, the end links wear out and the center links get a bit soft...
The first things I would do would be to replace the end links front and rear... iirc these could be had for less than $40 for all 4 corners.. This may be the first thing to do...
Also keep in mind that the front bar is 30mm, pretty good for bone stock, but even it would perform a bit better with Poly center links as opposed to the rubber.. so for less than $100 you can make a noticeable difference, but thats if your parts are known tired or worn out...
Tires are in another world.. If the tires you bought were a single ply sidewall, you aren't going to have good handling, the tires will lean too easy.. Most economy tires are this way, some touring tires are also that way... there are some touring tires that have the 2 ply sidewall which is stiffer for better cornering ability.. I have a set of all season performance tires waiting to go on the car now... and they too are a 2 ply sidewall... My current set is an all season touring, but it has the 2 ply sidewall... Good handler for what it was, I got more out of them than I ever expected..
So the little things can make a difference in terms of handling...
Later down the road if you want to keep the car and make it a large corner carver you may consider the beefier springs and sway bars.. But be ready to fork out the fundage for the proper parts..
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04-25-2007, 10:53 PM
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I have always had the bad habit of trying to do things in the WRONG order, but thanks to you guys, I have a much better gameplan... While I figured that the things you were suggesting were also going to be done, I realize that I could start cheaply (meaning economically) and work my way up to what I was originally planning to do in the first place, and who knows, eventually it may turn out that I don't need to do the suspension as much after all. Still, those monroes are mighty tempting to look at, lol.
I think I will go with the endlinks and the centerlinks to start, and the tires would be next. I assume that the energy suspension endlinks are a good start...
http://www.bonnevilleclub.com/forum/...+firmer+energy
What about the centerlinks though, any suggestions? Also, has anyone researched the Falkien brand name? I'm looking for some performance tires, but I'm also looking at a feasible price range. Thanks.
I think I will go with the endlinks and the centerlinks to start, and the tires would be next. I assume that the energy suspension endlinks are a good start...
http://www.bonnevilleclub.com/forum/...+firmer+energy
What about the centerlinks though, any suggestions? Also, has anyone researched the Falkien brand name? I'm looking for some performance tires, but I'm also looking at a feasible price range. Thanks.
04-25-2007, 11:00 PM
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The energy suspension end links will work fine for you... Exactly where you want to begin..
Before I start trying to explain more, I want to make sure of what suspension you have.... some of the 92-93 SE could be ordered with F41 Firm Ride and handling, most did come with FE1 tho..
Check your spare tire cover looking for the RPO listing... Look for either FE1 or F41 and I'll dig up the part number for the center links you'll want for the front bar..
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Before I start trying to explain more, I want to make sure of what suspension you have.... some of the 92-93 SE could be ordered with F41 Firm Ride and handling, most did come with FE1 tho..
Check your spare tire cover looking for the RPO listing... Look for either FE1 or F41 and I'll dig up the part number for the center links you'll want for the front bar..
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04-26-2007, 02:01 AM
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You know, judging from the people that had owned this car before, it seemed like they were trying to get the cheapest, most under-optioned Bonneville that was made... however, if this means what I think it means...
On the spare tire cover, 4th column, 2nd row under Service Parts Identification... It says "F41". Is that what you are referring to?
On the endlinks, I'm assuming this is what I need, just want to be sure...
http://www.autozone.com/R,NONAPP1085...ductDetail.htm
Weirdness... Thanks.
On the spare tire cover, 4th column, 2nd row under Service Parts Identification... It says "F41". Is that what you are referring to?
On the endlinks, I'm assuming this is what I need, just want to be sure...
http://www.autozone.com/R,NONAPP1085...ductDetail.htm
Weirdness... Thanks.
