KYB front struts for ’97 ???

My Riv is about 100k miles and for sure I’m not satisfied with front struts.
I have replaced my struts on new (aftermarket AcDelco) and certainly it became better, but … but I would not tell that it “works well” and I’m happy.

I have read post from Aaron about upgrade to KYB GR-2
https://rivperformance.editboard.com/Supercharged-3800-Tech-c2/Suspension-Handling-f6/Write-Up-Installing-KYB-GR-2-Struts-t54.htm
An excellent write-up! Now I wish to throw out practically new AcDelco and to install GR-2 from KYB
But my Riv is ’97!!! KYB have struts for 95-96 and for 98-99 only …


Question for owners of ’97 Riviera: somebody upgraded to KYB?
May be it’s possible to install struts from ’96 or from ’98?

Please help. I want this KYB GR-2

I think you've got to replace stuff like the arms and who knows what else to use GR-2's on a 97.

You mean that I need control arms from ’96 (or ’98)? Will it be enough?

This is undiscovered territory, SilveR. We aren't yet sure of all the differences between '96, '97, and '98 suspensions, but we know some things. I know the brakes changed to 12" rotors for '98 (or was it '97?), so would think the steering knuckle changed.

Maybe the '97 owners can give us some feedback here to to help Alexey out?

AA wrote:

Maybe the '97 owners can give us some feedback here to to help Alexey out?

I hope so ... And it will be helpful not for me only

Might even be worth the effort to contact KYB directly and ask them why the 97 model year isn't included in their offerings. Maybe they would give you some very specific details on what is different.

Good idea … but I afraid that it’s not so easy for me, because of my english …
Maybe somebody from members will contact to KYB tech support?
In any case it is very interesting info. We should close “the undiscovered territory” and put it to the FAQ section

I'm going to predict KYB tech support will not give you an answer. Call it a gut feeling - I think those guys are limited to looking stuff up in their parts catalog and know nothing about Riviera suspension.

We won't get an answer to this question until a) one of the guys from GM who worked on the Riv suspension during those years joins up or b) one of us with a 97 buys the complete front suspension from a 98 and swaps everything, documenting the differences in the parts. That's a big job for what will probably amount to not much improvement over the new OEM struts. IIRC GR2's are designed for a small improvement in handling, not sports car handling.

I'd do the sway bars/strut tower brace/ranchos and forget about it.

I've got a little experance here to share.

Here is the 97 LCA (Top) vs the 95 LCA (Bottom)
The 97 is cast aluminum (This pic is after powder coating). They use the same mount points on the subframe.


Here is the 98 LCA
Notice it mounts to the subframe differently then the 95-97's:


I don't have any pictures of the 95 Calipers / Knuckles, but here is a pic of the 97 one's I have on my car (The caliper / bracket are LS1 camero parts)
The knuckle is cast aluminum, with a caliper bracket bolted to it. On the 95's, the caliper bracket is part of the cast iron knuckle. (All 1 piece)


I would assume that the 1998's use a knuckle that is similer in design, but has the bolt holes spaced differantly. I'd love to get a set to mess with though.

-Rob

If I had practically new AC-Delco's, I'd wait for them to die. The GR-2's aren't a performance strut. You might be disappointed by the marginal increase over new AC-Delco's, especially considering the money required to get them over to you.

The GR-2's are the same part # for all the g-platform cars, including lesabre and park avenue

Also, I looked into your question RE: changing the temperature display from F to centigrade. You can't. Which is disappointing because the "lesser" 98 regal has a button to toggle between the two.

Jason wrote:

Also, I looked into your question RE: changing the temperature display from F to centigrade. You can't. Which is disappointing because the "lesser" 98 regal has a button to toggle between the two.

Thats probably why I thought the Riv could....was thinking of the regal.

Jason wrote:

If I had practically new AC-Delco's, I'd wait for them to die. The GR-2's aren't a performance strut. You might be disappointed by the marginal increase over new AC-Delco's, especially considering the money required to get them over to you.

I see, but I still think about GR-2. Probably I’ve got rejected AC-Delco or … maybe I simply carp at them because I have nothing to compare

Jason wrote:

RE: changing the temperature display from F to centigrade. You can't.

Yes, I’ve already understood it … BTW, now I can recalculate from F to centigrade without calculator - daily practice

Hey everyone. In Rivman's post above, the image of the '98-99 lower control arm is missing. Anyone have an image for replacement? Please post below. Thanks!

yea a replacement would be great

Hey Hey... think I'm a little behind on this thread- must have been posted during my leave of absense... I run KYBGR2 struts on my 1997. I had to machine a little wash/bushing for the top nut and I used all new 1997 mounts but the '98 bumpstop. You will need to trim the poly bumpstop to fit in the 97 mounts a little on the ends. I also run the Eibach springs. Works great!

Get the 98 KYBGR2.. you will not need different control arms or such...

Sorry Eric, I pulled this thread out of the grave. Corey wanted to know the difference between '95 and '98 control arms.

dont worry about it, im done with riviera. im not going to buy that 98

I was wondering, are the gtp towers the same as ours? if they are I want to get my hands on agx struts.

Nope. The Riv is a G-body the Grand Prix is a W-body wrong chasis.

is there anyway that i could fit agx's on my car?

Not without extensive modification.

Ewolfe got KYB's to work on his 97 with a custom spacer at the top. That's as good as it gets for us unless you've got the bread to get custom struts made. But if you did you'd be driving a Corvette not a Riv.

no kidding, i can dream though can't i?

how exactly did he do the kyb's?