FAQ: Aftermarket Lowering Springs

Sweepspear wrote:

In doing the rear brakes on the '96 last week, I noticed one of the rear springs is broken. The bottom loop that rests on the insulator is missing.
I guess the air shocks have been keeping the cars stance level.

Anyway, I see that Morad has listed in his eBay store both a set of rear springs from a 2000 Bonneville for $20.00, and a set from a 2005 Bonneville GXP for $45.00. (FE5)
The best I can tell from my research, both of these will fit our cars. Rock Auto shows the same Moog #80659 for the Riv and Bonnies.

What's your opinion? Will either work?
Should I spend the extra 25.00 for the GXP springs? Are they lower than my stock spring? Stiffer?
If those GXP springs are desirable, I am calling dibs on them until further notice!

Consider getting the GXP springs if only because they are a lot "younger."

My guess is the Moog is a higher rate spring that fits the application. Moog should have an application support 800 number for technicians. Maybe one of the techs on this board could ask what those rates are because a customer noticed the 80659 is listed for the different applications and wonders if the Moogs will make the Riv ride firmer or what. So the customer is wondering what the rate for the Moog is, given the stock rates are something like 200 or 250 front and rear. Or, what are the spring rates for the Riv compred to the GXP - stock? Point is, on the Riv vs. the GXP - maybe the Moog application folks can comment.

Albertj

Dale,
Don't delay. Dib's mean nothing to some of these scoundrels.

Jack the R wrote:

That sucks balls! And I just did a shitload of road work specifically so I could drop the Riv with a set of their custom springs.

What exactly do you mean by doing a shitload of Roadwork?

MOOG's part number for 97+ on front of Riviera is: #60230 (97-99) $98.41 CAD
MOOG's part number for 97+ on rear of Riviera is: #80659 (97-99) $98.41 CAD

MOOG's part number for Front Riviera is: #81038 (95-96) $101.89 CAD
MOOG's part number for Rear Riviera is: #80659 (95-96) $98.41 CAD

All prices are per pair, listed as my cost (CAD) not retail so if you can get them around that price your doing extremely well!!!
______________________________________________________________

MOOG's Part numbers for 2005 Bonneville are the identical numbers to 97-99 Riviera (coil springs). They will easily fit in, the rear springs will also fit the 95-96... but only the rears. It must be the 05 Bonneville tho the 04 front srings are different they're MOOG number is #60232.

Its long distance for me and works kinda busy but here is MOOG's number to call in reference to spring rates.

(248)-354-7700

Hope this helps

Thanks a lot for the info and the number.

Rickw wrote:

Dale,
Don't delay. Dib's mean nothing to some of these scoundrels.

I hate it when I am watching a part on Ebay, and someone on a board points it out to everybody.
Shhh!!! Dude, On'tday aysay anythingway aboutway ebayway!

And here I am, doing it to myself.

DID not know anything was on EBay until you just mentioned it.
I thought you were dealing direct with MORAD"S.!!!!!!

Me thinks you have enough suspension upgrades.



For now, anyways.

I think I do also. Not looking to make any changes......Unless something good and cheap comes my way.!!!
I still need a front sway bar and Lowered Springs, in preparation for the new wheels and tires in the spring.
Can never be too prepared. j/k

Happy I found this thread and logged on. Summer of 2005, inherited my aunts 1998 Pearl White Riv. This was her 4th white Riv. over a period of decades & I helped her car shop for each of her Riviera's . The 1998 will remain in the family for the next 20-30 years.
Currently, my 1998 has 66,000 miles, drive it about 3,000 miles (or less) per year and stored winter months. I only drive low speed city streets. It is a South Carolina car, I imported to Canada Dec. 2005. Never been driven in snow.
I want to maintain ride quality, but lower (1-inch to 1.5 preferable). Do not want stiffer suspension. Might also consider moving to 17-inch wheels that are design related to originals.
Question: What parts, do I need to order to lower suspention (1-inch, preferred 1.5- inch)?
Question: What other parts should I consider replacing/altering to lower my Riviera but retaining stock ride quality ?
Question: If I lower my 1998 Rivera, do I need to consider newer 17-inch wheels?

abaucom wrote:

Happy I found this thread and logged on. Summer of 2005, inherited my aunts 1998 Pearl White Riv. This was her 4th white Riv. over a period of decades & I helped her car shop for each of her Riviera's . The 1998 will remain in the family for the next 20-30 years.
Currently, my 1998 has 66,000 miles, drive it about 3,000 miles (or less) per year and stored winter months. I only drive low speed city streets. It is a South Carolina car, I imported to Canada Dec. 2005. Never been driven in snow.
I want to maintain ride quality, but lower (1-inch to 1.5 preferable). Do not want stiffer suspension. Might also consider moving to 17-inch wheels that are design related to originals.
Question: What parts, do I need to order to lower suspention (1-inch, preferred 1.5- inch)?
Question: What other parts should I consider replacing/altering to lower my Riviera but retaining stock ride quality ?
Question: If I lower my 1998 Rivera, do I need to consider newer 17-inch wheels?

Those are pretty much the exact questions I'd like to hear the answers to as well. I have to replace the struts and shocks soon so I figure why not throw a set of springs on too if it doesn't mess with the ride quality too much or anything else for that matter. I love the ride of the car, just a little high for my taste.

Well, if you want to put lowering springs on it just query this site and you'll find a few people that have done it.
Otherwise you can replace the worn out OEM springs with some new OEM's or aftermarket to bring back the new ride. You'll have to replace struts and all the other parts too.
I bought every piece i needed to make a new strut assembly, from bearing mounts on top down to the bottom shock bolts.
It cost about just the same to replace everything new with stock springs as would with aftermarket 1" lower springs from what I've read.

I have seen a handful of people do it on the site but none have reported on how the ride quality has changed and if it was for the better or worse. That was my concern. I don't want the car bouncing around like previous lowered cars I've had.

If I'm going to put the work and money into replacing springs it sure isn't going to be for stock stuff. Might as well lower it some.

I'll probably end up doing the same thing with replacing everything in one shot.

IMO the lowered 95-99 models dont look right, some cars do have a nicer look when lowered from stock ride height but not these

Each to their own, but i wouldnt go back to stock ride height after seing how it looks with rims and a 1.8" drop.
As far as stiffness/ride quality. i actually wish the eibachs were stiffer in the corners b/c even with the upgraded sway bar and poly links the car still has some roll to it.
they are slightly more jarring than stock worn out springs but anyone who has ridden in it still agrees it rides like a buick on the road.

Wow talk about the right place at the right time. Just picked these up on Ebay. Amazing deal!!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110521216219&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT

Man what a deal! So that works for the riv bolt-on??

from what i can find, they dont make GR-2s for my 97 park avenue. would these springs be too stiff with some new delco struts?

VJD2 wrote:

Wow talk about the right place at the right time. Just picked these up on Ebay. Amazing deal!!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110521216219&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT

How much do they normally cost, Retail.?

About $250 shipped give or take. So I saved about $100 which will go towards new struts and shocks. Every bit helps!

Tank wrote:

Man what a deal! So that works for the riv bolt-on??

Sorry, completely forgot to answer your question. Those springs will only work on a 97 Riv. They are not bolt on for other years as far as I have read.

So since I don't feel like going through the hassle of modifying things to fit the KYB's on there I'm going to order a set of Monro SensaTrac front struts and the Monroe Max Air's for out back.

I hope you'll like the SensaTracs - I do... I toss this thing around like a rear-driver.
I'm not so sure about the lowering-springs, though - I guess you're unfamiliar with the "SKREEEK" of the air-dam/splash-shield and front cross-member scraping on curbs and parking-chocks.

Also, you might want to search around here (I know I saw someone mention it) as to which aftermarket air shocks have fittings that match our Level Ride systems without needing modification. I don't think our Rivi's are this way, but on my Cad I stuck with Delco Air because they not only had the tapered quick-connect fittings, but on that car they actually used 2 different shocks instead of a T-fitting: the right side had 1 fitting, and the left side had 2, for branching off to the right...

Eldo wrote:

I hope you'll like the SensaTracs - I do... I toss this thing around like a rear-driver.
I'm not so sure about the lowering-springs, though - I guess you're unfamiliar with the "SKREEEK" of the air-dam/splash-shield and front cross-member scraping on curbs and parking-chocks.

Also, you might want to search around here (I know I saw someone mention it) as to which aftermarket air shocks have fittings that match our Level Ride systems without needing modification. I don't think our Rivi's are this way, but on my Cad I stuck with Delco Air because they not only had the tapered quick-connect fittings, but on that car they actually used 2 different shocks instead of a T-fitting: the right side had 1 fitting, and the left side had 2, for branching off to the right...

Glad to hear you like the Sensa Tracs. I'm very used to the scrapping noise because two of my other cars are lowered and one has a body kit on it so its a daily occurrence which I don't like but I guess the trade off is performance handling and looks. Not to worry!

I thought I read on here that someone was running the Max airs with our stock air system with no problems hooking them up. I could be wrong. I've been reading so much on this site lately things are starting to blur together. I will do some more research before ordering though. I just wanted to keep them a matching set.

Eldo wrote:

I hope you'll like the SensaTracs - I do... I toss this thing around like a rear-driver.
I'm not so sure about the lowering-springs, though - I guess you're unfamiliar with the "SKREEEK" of the air-dam/splash-shield and front cross-member scraping on curbs and parking-chocks.

Also, you might want to search around here (I know I saw someone mention it) as to which aftermarket air shocks have fittings that match our Level Ride systems without needing modification. I don't think our Rivi's are this way, but on my Cad I stuck with Delco Air because they not only had the tapered quick-connect fittings, but on that car they actually used 2 different shocks instead of a T-fitting: the right side had 1 fitting, and the left side had 2, for branching off to the right...

If you use Monroe Sensatracs you can not use lowering springs. The sensatracs require +/- 0 factory ride height. KYBs or Gabriels will work with lowering springs.

albertj wrote:

If you use Monroe Sensatracs you can not use lowering springs. The sensatracs require +/- 0 factory ride height. KYBs or Gabriels will work with lowering springs.

Ooohhh, good catch Albert!