W body suspension Q's

[Mr_Efficiency]

I'm looking at doing two things to my front suspension/brakes but theres one thing im not sure about.

I want coilovers in the front and they only seem to have them for the 95+ cars cause the steering arm is mounted on the spindle and leaves room on the strut for the coilover sleeves, the steering arm is in the way on the pre 95 cars.

I'm also looking at swaping to the 95+ brakes, from my understanding to do this I need the 95+ spindles.

So if I swap to 95+ spindles I have the steering arm on the spindle, so whats really required to move the steering rack to the apropriate location for 95+ steering? I know it can be done cause the W body shell was the same from 89-96.

then once i relocate the steering rack I can buy 95+ struts to get rid of the steering arm on the strut and my coilover probelm is solved

also quick question, can i use the rear tubular trailing arms off a newer W-body on my first gen or no?

thanks in advance

[radman3120]

im pretty sure there are people working on front coilovers that will fit without swapping the steering.

yes you can use the newer trailing arms. GMPP part#12456148 (96 monte) is what i have on my z34

[OldSkoolGP]

People claim to be working on front coilovers. Held Motorsports is one of them, but so far all he has is claims. I've offered to work with him directly to get things moving, even bringing him my car for R&D, but he's either lazy or bored with it. I'm thinking about making my own front coilover kit once I have time to work out the logistics of it.

[Mr_Efficiency]

I'm making my own coil oves but i want the 12" spring and I cant do that with the steering arm in the way. i was just curious since I'm already swaping spindles how much more work is involved in converting to 95+ steering.

[blackbombshell95]

People claim to be working on front coilovers. Held Motorsports is one of them, but so far all he has is claims. I've offered to work with him directly to get things moving, even bringing him my car for R&D, but he's either lazy or bored with it. I'm thinking about making my own front coilover kit once I have time to work out the logistics of it.

I think HM finished the front coilovers for the Gen I wbody years ago. I've read that some guys on wbody.com have them and complain that they make a lot of noise.

[3100 MPFI]

Okay. I am confused here.

First of all, I was not aware that there was anything different between the steering racks other than the lack of a pressure sensor. I have had several friends use the older steering rack in the newer cars with no problems.

I guess what I mean to know is when you say COIL-OVERS, are you referring to LOWERING SPRINGS? Seeing that the 1988-1996 GEN 1 W-body has a STRUT inside of a COIL SPRING, then it IS a coilover.

The only difference between the brakes in the older setup, and the newer setup is the tabs for the mounting brackets. You can just swap out the knuckles, and all will be well with the world. It uses the same tie rod, ball joint, axle, hub, springs, etc. The brake calipers and BRACKETS are even the same. The newer knuckle just has the longer mounting tabs and a bigger rotor.

In my 1988 Cutlass Supreme, my front setup is a 1996 FUX (which is an FE3) coil spring with a Monroe Reflex strut. The knuckle and brakes are STOCK 1988 setup but the calipers themselves are 1996. My AXLES and HUBS are all 1996. My steering rack is a 1990. My sway bar is from a 1996~ish GEN 1.5 Lumina Z34.

I have not had any complications and I drove the car for several YEARS on this setup.

In what way is the steering DIFFERENT? I am also using a 1995 Cutlass Supreme steering column on my 1990 Steering rack. No problems there. I will go so far as to say that my 1990 rack is using 1988 lines, and a 2000 power steering pump. I have not had ANY issues with anything not working the way that not only I WANT it too, but the way it SHOULD.

[Mr_Efficiency]

when i say coil overs i mean coil overs, sleeve, adjustable perch, a true aftermarket coil over.

I'm new to the W body so if any of this is wrong please correct me.

The diffrence in suspension is the steering arm on my 90 GP is on the strut and on the 95+ (i think it was 95) has the steering arm on the spindle and the strut has nothing. leaving lots of room for a sleeve from a coil over. I know the shell is the same from 89-96 so if they are diffrent like i described above then it should be swapable.

or i'm totally wrong and my 90 has the tie rod on the spindle like the newer cars, but im pretty sure im right and they are diffrent.

The racks may be the same, just relocated lower on the newer models.

[SappySE107]

My 91 is like my 96. Never had a 90 but I would like to see pics of the steering going to the strut.

[Mr_Efficiency]

I'm pretty sure thats where it went.... I'll go look, but then if they are all the same, whats stoping me from running 94-96 coilovers?... I guess this thread is pointless then, lol

[Mr_Efficiency]

Ok i was wrong and the steering arm never changes from 88-96, it looks like the strut does tho. on a 90 the strut housing and steering knuckle look to be one piece, and on the 94+ cars the strut has two bolts that go through the spindle i think... im still trying to find pic to compare.

question tho, if you swap to 94+ front spindles for the bigger brakes, do you need to swap the newer strut as well or no?

[3100 MPFI]

It almost sounds like you are thinking of the GEN 2 cars (1997+).

The 1988-1996, the ONLY change is the mounting tabs for the brake caliper brackets.

This is the front spindle/knuckle for the 1997+ W-body.



In the 1988-1996 they are all identical other than the mounting tabs for the brakes. The newer ones are longer for the larger brake rotor.

[dohcfiend]

i have had my full coilover kit on for about a year now. here is a pic of the front.

you do have to modify the front strut assemblies/knuckles.

[Mr_Efficiency]

thanks for the pics, i realised where i was getting lost, I saw a coil over kit for a gen 1 and they were struts and i thought it was a front kit but it was for the rear, thats why i thought they had the two bolts like the gen 2 has.

anyways, the Gen 2 stuff looks like it would fit my 90, and i'd get the huge brakes they got (something like 11" or 12" rotors), as long as the lower balljoint, tie rod and driveshaft work out I'm good to go, then I'll use a gen 2 strut.

Will the gen 2 strut bolt up to my 90 on the top or do i have to make a custom mount?

[3100 MPFI]

from what I have seen, the gen 2's are NOT compatible. I think the changes would have to be all the way to the subframe itself (different control arms, etc).

You MIGHT be able to make it work, but to be honest, I have not really looked into it in a LONG time.

[OldSkoolGP]

No the Gen 2 setup is completely different and the only way you could use it would be to swap cradles, strut housings, A-Arms, everything from a Gen 2.

dohcfiend: Is that the HM coilover setup?