Thread: help me choose struts and springs 2001 Grand Prix GTP

What about the rear lateral rods and suspension crossmember? Aren't there bushings or joints in these lateral rods? I was planning to replace the trailing arms, but there are other moving parts that I would think wear out also.

Originally Posted by Lifespeed

I thought the SSCs are lowering springs, causing an issue with the angle or interference of the axles. Doesn't this require me to shim up the engine/trans assembly to restore the correct axle angle? Just going by what I read here, I'm not a W-body expert by any stretch.

I keep forgetting about that. I rode them a while without.
It's just 3/8" thick aluminum for the top an bottom bolt holes of the mounts to raise the engine and transmission side.
You could easily make them with some plate stock.


It would give you a good reason to replace the mounts while your at it.

Originally Posted by Burbman

Did you grab the Bilsteins, the auction is over. I have not read anything about needing to shim the motor mount for lowering springs and have not found the need to do so with the Vogtlands. It would make sense if you were lowering the car so much that the driveline angle was waaay off, but the CVs on the axles can run at different angles with slight lowering.
Just looked up prices on Rock Auto and looks like the OEM are same price as KYB. Last time I bought the KYBs they were like $75 each. For the same money I would get the OEMs. R

I did buy the used Bilsteins, will report back on the results in less than two weeks if all goes well. Apparently @spazzz ran the SSC lowering springs for a while, then shimmed up the engine and trans. One can only assume he had a reason for doing so. For this car and the way it will be used, I'm not willing to entertain lowering.

Originally Posted by Lifespeed

I did buy the used Bilsteins, will report back on the results in less than two weeks if all goes well. Apparently @spazzz ran the SSC lowering springs for a while, then shimmed up the engine and trans. One can only assume he had a reason for doing so. For this car and the way it will be used, I'm not willing to entertain lowering.

That was/is on FE3 struts. The Bilsteins won't drop as much. You might not even need the spacers with the SSCs.
You are going to be very pleased with the Bilsteins.

Originally Posted by Lifespeed

What is the concern, axles rubbing the body? Bottoming out in the transmission?

Edit: If I stick with the lowering springs, do these cars usually need some sort of camber adjustment kit?

A little wobble from take off from the axles but nothing detrimental. No major issues with lowering.
Some guys don't even bother with spacers.

As far as camber??. My fronts are within spec and the back I slotted the struts so I could get -1.5 instead of -2.2. My rear tires didn't wear any different with -2.2.
I bought new tires and the OCD in me slotted them. The guys at the shop wondered why I even bothered.

Originally Posted by spazzz

A little wobble from take off from the axles but nothing detrimental. No major issues with lowering.
Some guys don't even bother with spacers.

I see, operating the CV joints beyond the proper angle.

Originally Posted by Bronco Boy

I'm on SSC's and half the spacers (half the thickness) installed; been vibrating for 5 years now.

OK, I'm just going to buy rear GXP springs and front FE3 springs. I'm paying labor for the suspension work and alignment, and really just don't have any interest in lowering experiments. Maybe I could get away with the SSC springs, but it is a gamble. I'd rather just put on new stock springs and ride at stock height. Stuff will all be here in a week, then a day or two at the shop. Going to do the LCA, rear trailing arms and Moog upgraded LCA rear bushing also.

You guys have been great, thanks!

Just wanted to post an update with the results. The car drives great! The good damping with new springs and GMPP sway bars to tie it all together makes it like a whole new car. It is surprisingly competent for an older, unassuming GM car. It does ride much higher with new springs, although the ride height I was used to was on sagging springs. I'm very happy with the results. It is clear the Bilstein struts are critical to getting these good results.

The SSC lowering springs are for sale, cheap. For those of you who participated in this thread you may recall I bought slightly-used Bilstein struts assembled with these springs, but did not use the lowering springs. I'll give a further discount to any of you who helped me figure out the right mix of suspension tuning.

What year is your car? My 98 gtp sedan has oem regal springs and gxp bilsteins on it and I still think the struts are a bit harsh. I wish they still offered the comfort bilsteins. Do you find the ride harsh on yours? I suppose California doesnt have crap roads everywhere, thats probably more of my problem. The car feels really good on the highway but low speeds around town are really annoying on bad roads.

Originally Posted by ebk231

What year is your car? My 98 gtp sedan has oem regal springs and gxp bilsteins on it and I still think the struts are a bit harsh. I wish they still offered the comfort bilsteins. Do you find the ride harsh on yours? I suppose California doesnt have crap roads everywhere, thats probably more of my problem. The car feels really good on the highway but low speeds around town are really annoying on bad roads.

2001 GTP. The ride is good, firm but well-damped, which is how I like it. I am in San Jose, we have some really awful roads here. It doesn't ride like a luxury car, but does ride well even over the rough stuff.

How many miles on your struts? What many people don't realize is that a "harsh" ride usually doesn't mean the shocks/struts are too "stiff". On the contrary, it usually means they are worn out and have lost damping (some might call this "soft", I prefer under-damped). Or, in the case of a new parts-store strut like KYB, Monroe, etc. paired with an increased spring rate, it means the rebound damping provided by the strut is insufficient for the higher spring rate.

Maybe your struts are worn out? Most don't last more than about 70K miles.