FE2 to F41
02-09-2005, 09:18 PM
#1
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FE2 to F41
I have a olds 88 behind the house I am "parting out" and it has the F41 Suspension.
I do not have any real tools, Just a basic $150 socket set from craftsman. I have also never done anything with suspensions on these cars.
I am wondering what I should take off that car that would be easy?
I am thinking rear sway bar, but mine already has one, would the F41 sway bar make a noticable difference?
What about the front sway bar? Not much of a pain is it other than the rusted bolts?
I am planning on some of those energy endlinks as well.
I would like to do springs but do not think I can by myself since I would need to take them out of the parts car, take mine out, put the F41 springs in mine and then put my springs in the parts car. Seems like a LOT of work there.
So I guess my question is can someone with minor mechanical knowledge and limited tools swap sway bars without a problem? what about the springs?
Is it worth the time with the sway bars?
I do not have any real tools, Just a basic $150 socket set from craftsman. I have also never done anything with suspensions on these cars.
I am wondering what I should take off that car that would be easy?
I am thinking rear sway bar, but mine already has one, would the F41 sway bar make a noticable difference?
What about the front sway bar? Not much of a pain is it other than the rusted bolts?
I am planning on some of those energy endlinks as well.
I would like to do springs but do not think I can by myself since I would need to take them out of the parts car, take mine out, put the F41 springs in mine and then put my springs in the parts car. Seems like a LOT of work there.
So I guess my question is can someone with minor mechanical knowledge and limited tools swap sway bars without a problem? what about the springs?
Is it worth the time with the sway bars?
02-09-2005, 09:27 PM
#2
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the swaybars, springs are all a intrigal part of the F41 system. even though you have a swaybar the F41 is much larger in diameter. I believe that the sway bar can be done with basic hand tools, but to change the springs, you will need a spring compressor
02-09-2005, 09:30 PM
#3
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Originally Posted by 1993 SLE
the swaybars, springs are all a intrigal part of the F41 system. even though you have a swaybar the F41 is much larger in diameter. I believe that the sway bar can be done with basic hand tools, but to change the springs, you will need a spring compressor
This pretty much confirms what I thought. Thanks.
How much larger are the sway bars in the F41 system compared to the FE2 units???
F41
02-09-2005, 09:55 PM
#6
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Where is that thread that somebody here wrote about doing the endlinks, something about you had to buy a seperate kit and you have 2 or 4 bushings left over???
Have fun with it!
02-10-2005, 01:47 AM
#10
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NOTE: MY CAR IS FE1 NOT FE2, MY BAD.
I am transfering items from a 95 LSS (F41,L67) to my 94 88 (FE1) and am wondering if there is any point in changing sway bars if I am already getting those energy end links.
I would assume the springs would go over from 95 to 94 since the body is identical on the outside.
So I need a spring compressor tool from autozone, any other tools that are not listed in chiltons that I should have to make the job easier?
Originally Posted by jr's3800
Is this Olds 88 the 87 Model?
If it is the front sway bar should be a 32mm unit, the rear would be an 18mm bar...
Now if this car was a 92 or later than it would be a 32mm front and 21mm rear bar..
On the bonnevilles and the same should hold true for the Oldsmobiles,
The FE2 and F41 suspensions did use the same bars as Jason stated... Also as stated there were diffrent spring rates... In some aspects F41 and FE2 are listed together with 3 or 4 diffrent rates from stiff to stiffer to stiffest...
If it is the front sway bar should be a 32mm unit, the rear would be an 18mm bar...
Now if this car was a 92 or later than it would be a 32mm front and 21mm rear bar..
On the bonnevilles and the same should hold true for the Oldsmobiles,
The FE2 and F41 suspensions did use the same bars as Jason stated... Also as stated there were diffrent spring rates... In some aspects F41 and FE2 are listed together with 3 or 4 diffrent rates from stiff to stiffer to stiffest...
Originally Posted by jr's3800
Now comes the tricky part with these springs,
Say you have an 86-89, the front springs( I haven't proven this yet but have found that the 86-89'* and possibly 90, use a diffrent strut as the lower part of the spring was diffrent) so the front springs may not work on a 91 or later H body, but the rear springs should be a direct swap...
So there are some variations... Being that you have the FE2 suspension, you may be ok the way you are...
Good Luck
Say you have an 86-89, the front springs( I haven't proven this yet but have found that the 86-89'* and possibly 90, use a diffrent strut as the lower part of the spring was diffrent) so the front springs may not work on a 91 or later H body, but the rear springs should be a direct swap...
So there are some variations... Being that you have the FE2 suspension, you may be ok the way you are...
Good Luck
So I need a spring compressor tool from autozone, any other tools that are not listed in chiltons that I should have to make the job easier?
