KYB front struts for ’97 ???

KYB now makes direct fit GR-2 struts for the 1997 and 1995-1996 model Rivieras. Anyone know when they started making GR-2's for the 95-96? I didn't even know they had those.
As well they came out with a GR-2 shock for the back.

i bought my fronts in 08 or thereabouts. as for the rears,i didnt know?

robotennis61 wrote:

i bought my fronts in 08 or thereabouts. as for the rears,i didnt know?

wow so they had fronts for the 95-96 & 98-99 for a while but said screw 97 until just now lol - thanks KYB
The rears are new for the quarter - same for all 95-99

Do you know where to get them from? I'm looking at the KYB website and it says "New Part Number, available 4th quarter 2010"

334677 GR2/EXCEL-G (front)
sr1002 EXCEL-G (Rear)

I've been waiting for these to come out for a while now since I've had problems with Monroes in the past and great results with GR2's. Plan is new struts, strut mounts, airshock kit and eventually upgraded sway bars front and rears. I used to love the cushy ride but I think my 98k original suspension is giving way and the floaty, all over the road feeling doesnt encourage the driving I'm used to.

I got my KYBs from rockauto.com

Albertj

Great info, Codith. I've ordered KYB struts from Summit Racing a couple times.

Those fronts fit the Riv and Park Ave Ultra (PAU) for '97.

the rears also fit late model Bonnevilles, all the Lucernes, and the late PAUs.

I am wondering if Shanghai GM is putting these on a new car of some sort. It's great that they appeared but it's all so, well, so sudden...

Albertj

Ive checked rockauto and summit but neither have the kybs listed for a 97 yet. Are they available yet?

The manufacturer just released it so it probably won't be readily available anywhere yet. I saw one website that had the new part number in their listing but no price or anything yet. It shouldn't take too long to get stocked.

I just checked RockAuto for the new KYB struts mentioned above and they now have them in stock. Yes!

Not only do the KYBs give some great support for our front end, imo, they are extremely durable products. I installed mine more than 100k miles ago and they are still very firm. The mounts are starting to go, so I'm going to replace with new struts as well. Good time for the spring mod!

AA wrote:

Not only do the KYBs give some great support for our front end, imo, they are extremely durable products. I installed mine more than 100k miles ago and they are still very firm. The mounts are starting to go, so I'm going to replace with new struts as well. Good time for the spring mod!

Spring mod as in you're going low!?
or
Spring mod as in you have you're mod for the spring time of the year?

Both!

I ordered some eibachs yesterday, im excited to see what they will look like

are these kyb struts easy to install like regular struts or do they take some pre fabbing etc?

My car came with KYB gr-2's when I bought it... its a 96... made me happy.. kindof sweetened the deal and they are great... car drives straight as an arrow and a nice kindof stiff sporty suspension... no body rolling on turns(might have more to do with sway bars tho...) but is nice to have... I couldn't imagine driving with a bouncy wore out suspension like so many olds and buicks get... def worth the money if it isn't too much and you do it yourself IMO....

nebstewart07 wrote:

are these kyb struts easy to install like regular struts or do they take some pre fabbing etc?

If the KYBs are specified for your year RIv, they fit no modifications. However you have to be sure to use the OE strut bellows (with the heavy metal caps) or the Monroe Strut-Mate mount kit (it comes wiht caps that fit the Monroe or KYB bellows and bumpstops). If you don't then the stiffer shocks will blow out your strut mounts within 9-15 months of driving.

Albertj

I'm replacing the struts on my 1997 right now and bought everything new. KYB struts, Monroe mount kits, KYB dust boot/bumpers, Moog upper/lower spring insulators.

Problem: Everything matches up basically perfect to the original parts except the dust boot & bumper. I understand the design can be different than original but there is no way to even get the bumper piece down far enough on the strut rod to get anything else on (upper spring insulator, bearing, mount, etc. Basically the original bumper piece is bored on the inside so it can accept the strud rod all the way through it to the other end. The new one I got only allows the shaft through one side and the hole on the other side is smaller as to stop the shaft at that point. With the boot/bumper slid on to the strut rod as far as it can go, there is not nearly enough of the strut rod left for anything to mount onto it.

Has anyone else ever seen this? I need to get these on so I'm just going to reuse my original bumper/dust boot and return these but it in the pictures, it looks like all the brands have the same design. Did they all screw up or am I missing something here?

turtleman wrote:

I'm replacing the struts on my 1997 right now and bought everything new. KYB struts, Monroe mount kits, KYB dust boot/bumpers, Moog upper/lower spring insulators.

Problem: Everything matches up basically perfect to the original parts except the dust boot & bumper. I understand the design can be different than original but there is no way to even get the bumper piece down far enough on the strut rod to get anything else on (upper spring insulator, bearing, mount, etc. Basically the original bumper piece is bored on the inside so it can accept the strud rod all the way through it to the other end. The new one I got only allows the shaft through one side and the hole on the other side is smaller as to stop the shaft at that point. With the boot/bumper slid on to the strut rod as far as it can go, there is not nearly enough of the strut rod left for anything to mount onto it.

Has anyone else ever seen this? I need to get these on so I'm just going to reuse my original bumper/dust boot and return these but it in the pictures, it looks like all the brands have the same design. Did they all screw up or am I missing something here?

IIRC with the new aftermarket (KYB, Monroe, whatever) you are supposed to put dishwash soap (not much) on them and shove them on. That should have been on an insert with the struts.

WARNING WARNING you are lucky. With the Monroe Strut-Mate mount kit you get what looks like an extra washer. That 'extra' washer actualy fits as a cap of sorts over the strut rod and keeps the rod from punching thru the mount. The top of the strut rod has a shoulder of sorts. The washer you want has a bigger hole then the one goed in thThe OE boots have a metal cap kinda pressed on. So please look at the OE boots and set up the Monroe/KYB combo analagously. So a word to the wise, Do Not Leave The White Bump Stop Uncapped. The Monroe SensaTrac struts come with an illustration that shows how the thing goes together and although the KYBs do too they assume the OE boots, I don't think they show how to use that estra washer.

Albertj

I'm going to come back to this with some pictures but it sounds like you're describing something about the 98-99 struts because the 97's have no such washers. I think I have the boots set up the right way but I'll post pictures and see how it behaves after driving and whatnot.


EDIT:



original parts


original boot on new strut - you can see how the bumper slides all the way down the strut rod


new boot on new strut - that's as far as the bumper can go down on the rod which doesn't leave any room for anything else to on top of it. The original bumper has basically one inner diameter that can accept the strut rod all the way through it. The new one has a diameter on the bottom side that fits tightly on the strut rod and a much smaller diameter at the top end that stops it. Soap and whatever isn't going to make that thing go through; it's like half the diameter it needs to be.


I used the original boots. The top of the original bumpers fit nice and tight in the new upper spring seats.


Installed and unloaded




top of boot


shot of bottom of boot unloaded

After installing and letting the car back down, the boots seem to stay right where they should be. They are only loosely helc on the bottom but even in full excursion, they are fit the right way so I think it's ok.

*Updated with the pictures

I got the new KYB's installed on my 1997 with new MOOG upper & lower spring seats and Monroe top mount kits. The struts are perfectly identical to OEM in dimension and mounting. The only thing I found with mine is that the spots where the brake caliper hose and ABS sensor brackets screw into the struts were not threaded for the screws like the originals. They were the correct size to tap with the M8-1.25 so if you have the tap, it's a 2 minute fix. While you're at it, get some stainless bolts for it. Mine were rusted to hell.

Nice. How's the ride? Did you use thread locker on the stainless bolts? I've heard SS fasteners can loosen up easier than regular ones over time.

AA wrote:

Nice. How's the ride? Did you use thread locker on the stainless bolts? I've heard SS fasteners can loosen up easier than regular ones over time.

I didn't know that. I'll get a couple nylon lock nuts on the inside for security.