FAQ: Aftermarket 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.

Fack!! What the hell!?! I'm glad I didn't order them last night.

Do you know why that is?

Do the Gabriels provide the same quality as the Sensatracs?

Thanks for the heads up though.

VJD2 wrote:

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.

Fack!! What the hell!?! I'm glad I didn't order them last night.

Do you know why that is?

Actually, I should have realized it myself! Just the other day, in the top-speed thread, I wrote:

"...Like the variable-ratio steering that gets quicker as you move away from center, these dampers get firmer as they travel farther from the neutral position."

Which is exactly why you should not use them when you're changing the ride-height from 'neutral'...

Damn, damn, damn!

I read that the Gabriels are garbage....at least that's what a few said about them on this site.

Argh....ok, where is the thread about modifying the KYB's to install on a '97. Might as well start reading again.

merged from: https://rivperformance.editboard.com/brakes-suspension-f6/shocks-struts-options-t4929-135.htm

albertj wrote:

AA wrote:

I have the new struts already. And why the springs?

"Why" is why i said "maybe' - if your ride height is down, new springs will restore it. They will also lessen wear on the strut mounts by bearing more of the load.
Albertj

I know that Rick swears by his new OEM springs... and those are the ones that were weak-kneed in the first place!

Mine don't seem weak at all. Ride level is even and with plenty of clearance. I've never bottomed out or rubbed to my knowledge. If I were getting new ones, I'd probably go OEM, unless I could find stiffer ones without lowering the car.

Maybe yours were already replaced? I know my own front end sits too low, with over an inch less clearance above the tire than the rear... I think others have posted the same complaint about scraping the air dam on driveways and parking chocks.

I doubt they were replaced before 24k miles. I scrape sometimes, but no more than it did in 2003.

Hey no BONNEVILLE's

Question that I hope is not too far off base for this thread...

I've got 200k mi now and I'm replacing struts with new KYB's and new mounts as well. I don't want to lower the car at all but should I replace the original springs with new ones? (probably MOOG or something available in a parts store) Any good way to check the condition of them?

The only thing I've heard that old springs do is literally break or they sag down and the ride high gets lower. Any more to this?

Hey ask robo to borrow 1 of his fat chicks to sit on the bumpers test em that way maybe? He's goin to bust my chops for this one!!! LOL P.S don't know the real answer sorry.

turtleman wrote:

Question that I hope is not too far off base for this thread...

I've got 200k mi now and I'm replacing struts with new KYB's and new mounts as well. I don't want to lower the car at all but should I replace the original springs with new ones? (probably MOOG or something available in a parts store) Any good way to check the condition of them?

The only thing I've heard that old springs do is literally break or they sag down and the ride high gets lower. Any more to this?

All springs sag over time and use, hopefully they have the good grace to sag evenly.

Only way to really tell is measure ride height - I don't have the specs on hand though, I don't think anyone's posted them, but they should be in the service manual.

So instead of waiting for me to get my manual set back maybe someone with a set could look it up and post?!?

If it is any consolation, I have over 200K on my OE springs. I am thinking about getting in on the Addco buy and if I do I will get replacement springs too, probably the Moog (never been unhappy with a Moog chassis part).

turtleman wrote:

Question that I hope is not too far off base for this thread...

I've got 200k mi now and I'm replacing struts with new KYB's and new mounts as well. I don't want to lower the car at all but should I replace the original springs with new ones? (probably MOOG or something available in a parts store) Any good way to check the condition of them?

The only thing I've heard that old springs do is literally break or they sag down and the ride high gets lower. Any more to this?

the stock springs are seriously inadequate.if you have any kind of mods to the car,you have to get rid of the stockers.they do no good at all. if performance is your goal the stockers will hold you back. you have a 2nd gen,get the eibachs.they dont lower much,an inch or so i think,and they have higher rates to hold the car up while driving spiritedly. if you want to check the condition of the stockers,you have to take them off the car and to a speed shop with a spring checker.it will measure rate. they will probably charge you a few $. all springs will "set" over time.the high quality springs will settle very evenly.even cheap springs will settle to an acceptable height. no worries there.

btw,springs never wear out.they will lose a few lbs and settle a bit. but they will allways do their job.unless they crack. which is rare.

Hi guys,

I am a 'new' Riv owner, and new to this board. Inspecting the vehicle has turned up a broken rear spring, and I am hoping there are other vehicles that I could get a set of springs from at the bone yard... Not alot of Riv's to be found there.

Park avenues, auroras, im pretty sure bonnevilles and lesabres, sevilles, and of course rivs.
If any were to not work it would be from a bonneville but im not sure.

excellent, that will make it easier.

Any clue what years will fit my 1996?

I found this.
and think it says 97-05 Park Avenue will fit, but I am unsure what all the codes mean.

Im not sure what those are for, whenever i check part numbers to see if a part will fit my car i usually use rockauto. If you havent already, that might be somewhere to look.

johnjnesbit wrote:

Thank you Dave, Derek, Stan and Klix for the welcome and interest. Albertj, thank you. (Jim, chill. ;) )

Sorry its so tough to find a junkyard tensioner, but at least the new ones are not made of unobtainium or its very expensive alloys. :)

i think i still have my old springs in the attic from when i upgraded to the eibach lowering springs.

if you are interested i can look tomorrow. otherwise i would just order some from gmpartsdirect rockauto.

Edit: i DO still have my old stock springs. They have 0 rust and still have a black powder coat on them from the factory. i pulled them at ~100k miles

Having a bad summer with the Riviera. First the flex pipe split and now my driverside front spring broke. Eibach doesnt carry the Seville STS springs anymore so they cant replace it. Is anyone demodding or have a extra set of Eibach springs available? PN 3872140. Thanks!

You can buy a set at one of the links, I think it's a full set F/R:

http://www.rsaperformance.com/cadillac-98-99-seville-stssls-eibach-pro-kit-springs-3872-140.html

http://www.mosaicmotorsports.com/eibach-pro-kit-lowering-spring-kit-cadillac-seville-1998-1999-p-6749.html

Those places don't carry them in stock and eibach has discontinued production. Might have to have my NASCAR buddy treat me to a trick setup... He has a shock/spring dyno and owes me a favor... I just dont have the time to pull everything and put in a new setup.

i know this isnt helpful, BUT if you find an alternative solution please share. i may break an eibach spring one day too.
i'd really like to find a nice bolt in coilover solution that isnt costly and custom.

i do have a stock spring if you would like it, but its from a 96 and i think they may have been different than the 97+ springs.

spring info '97

Front
Free height 14.51
Load Height 7.50
ID 5.76
Design load 1121
Rate 160

Rear
Free height 10.93
Load height 7.00
ID 5.57
Design load 763
Rate 194

I am trying to determine what changes to make... I am thinking 1.75 drop and 25% front/ 30% rear higher rating and err on the high side for front design load at 1150 because of the ic. I found that Eibach sent me DeVille springs instead of STS springs initially which are much softer so I am having a friend make me a set from the orig Riv specs. Any thoughts?