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97 Lesabre suspension too soft

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Old May 28, 2011 | 01:45 PM
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Default 97 Lesabre suspension too soft

I have a cherry 97 lesabre custom (55K miles). The suspension is just too bouncy and soft, when cornering there is way too much lean. Are there any sporty improvements I could make to stiffen things up a bit, especially in the front end????
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Old May 28, 2011 | 02:05 PM
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As far as the front end goes you could go with a Strut tower brace.And step it up to stuts that are more performance minded like i think its FE5 type suspension..Same goes for the rear..But keep in mind it wiil not be as smooth on regular highway driving
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Old Jun 1, 2011 | 10:30 PM
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gotta love that bouncy buick suspension I replaced my shocks and struts 2 years ago and they are finally worn in perfect it is the best ride ever.
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Old Jun 2, 2011 | 06:05 AM
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Typical "Dynaride". 1st time I really drove a LeSabre w/Dynaride, I thought that it needed struts.
Don't forget that the average age of a LeSabre owner is 75!! Buick did not want their owners complaining that their teeth fell out!!
Put in Bonneville struts.
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Old Jun 2, 2011 | 07:12 AM
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You can FE5 a 2000+ LeSabre like mine, not sure how you could do an earlier version.

Find anti roll bars from a similar year Bonneville SSEI. They should help a lot. I'd do front and rear bars first, then if you need more, go with SSEI struts.

There really aren't any aftermarket solutions for H body cars as far as suspension upgrades. W Body cars get all the attention. So, you have to improvise. I was in the same boat (ha ha, get it?) when I got my 2004. Looked all over for improvements and found nothing. Stumbled on this site (back when it was Bonneville Forums) and found someone doing the FE5 swap on an SSEI. Figured I'd give it a shot, dug up the parts, and now the car corners like a slot car.

Only H Body FE5 I know of is the 04-05 Bonneville GXP setup. Which wont fit 99 and older H bodies without modifications.
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Old Jun 22, 2011 | 03:21 PM
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thanks, I replaced the sway bar end links with moog heavy duty ones, then I installed Monroe sensa-trak strutts. It now rides like a new one.
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Old Jan 17, 2012 | 12:03 AM
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The best improvement I've made to mine so far is the Moog Cargo Control rear springs. Get the ones made for a bonneville ssei of the same year, fits perfect, much better ride quality!
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Old Apr 20, 2012 | 09:55 AM
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Default 99 Buick LeSabre

Hello,

1999 Buick LeSabre owner.

What I did, and I only suggest this because I like the result so much, is replace my suspension assemblies and add a strut tower brace bar. I normally wouldn't mod my car but I was sick of driving a boat as well. I got my assemblies for real cheap, I think they were only 70 or 80 dollars a piece from completestruts.com and my strut tower bar for the same 70-80 from Summit Racing. The springs are nice and stiff, the strut tower bar made a noticeable difference too. Altogether the whole project was under $500.

Hope this helps,
John
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