help me choose struts and springs 2001 Grand Prix GTP

[spazzz]

I needed to replace the rears and decided Bilsteins would be my solution. It raised the rear a little,maybe .5 inch.

They ride way better. My fronts are good. At the time the front Bilsteins could be had for 210 each but I decided I would just keep tossing FE3s on if there was a problem.
Of course now the front Bilsteins are over 300.

I didn't want the front jacked any higher than it is.

*******IF...you decide to use SSCs you will need trans and engine mount spacers to keep the geometry of the axles.*******

The sudsy picture shows the wheel gap with the Bilsteins in rear, the sig pic is with FE3s

[Lifespeed]

Good info. I'm definitely not messing around with lowering springs. My concern is the stockers are sagged and soft. New stock springs should be fine.

Weren't the front Bilsteins designed for the V8 GXP? Has anybody used them with good results in a V6 GTP? Of course the stiffer spring is a big part of that, and I assume a V6 car owner installing Bilsteins at all four corners would not put V8 springs in the front. If I were to go with Bilsteins, including the front (and that is a big if given the price), I would not want to end up with a harsh ride caused by too much damping for the lighter car/spring.

[spazzz]

My bad, I just looked up the GXP and found the spring numbers are different.....10305756 for the rear and 15236083 for the front.

Damn that should be right. the 10305757 spring for the rear is for the base model.

Those 2 numbers are gold for the GXP FE4 suspension.

I don't know what to tell you about those springs but I have the stock CompGs that might be pricey to ship to Cali?? Let me know

[Lifespeed]

How many miles on the comp G springs? As far as I can tell those are just "stock" springs used on all the W-bodys. Which is probably fine for me.

[spazzz]

85-90K, around there.

Did you find any good prices on those? The 10258881 is 51 and the 22133030 is 90 on wholesalegmpartsonline.
That was with not to much effort but a lot of places say part discontinued.

I just read a review on Amazon for the 2004 GP, AC Delco springs from Rock Auto. It said the springs added 2 inches to the height......whoops
The same numbers are listed for a GXP, so yeah not a good place to buy springs.

[Lifespeed]

Thanks for the tip on buying parts, I'll have to go with new springs. The car goes into the shop Monday for an inspection, but I'm sure the result will be replace everything that isn't already new. Yeah, when it comes to struts and springs you've got to be reeeeeaaaallll careful. Plenty of jokers out there will sell you one-size-fits-all, random spring rates and shock valving. It fits, doesn't it?

[spazzz]

Have you seen any pictures or read any threads about quikstruts?

You know 95 percent of the time it looks like there is pogo sticks under there aka fowheela.

[spazzz]

I think my man Guz hit the nail on the head with the best bang for your buck scenario.
$73 dollars each for the KYB struts on ZZPerformance and then the Vogtland springs. Around 500 for a good set-up, oh yeah and then the mounts.
Either way chit aint cheap

Could go Monroe mounts but you have to grease ( on top the factory grease ), the front bearing so it doesn't groan.

[spazzz]

K, one more time.

Buy these and be done. Bilsteins all around with SSCs. I believe he ( member here ) only had about 5k on them.


http://www.ebay.com/itm/4-Bilstein-s....c100012.m1985

At one time he said he would cut a deal to members....P.M. Hempire

[Lifespeed]

K, one more time.

Buy these and be done. Bilsteins all around with SSCs. I believe he ( member here ) only had about 5k on them.

But the SSC springs lower the car significantly, requiring engine and trans spacers. Really just not into lowering. Good buy for the right person, though.

[The Guz]

KYBs may be the route I end up going, but in my experience they are barely a step up from Monroe, Gabriel etc. But a step up is better than nothing. And this strut stuff is car-specific. KYBs may be awful on one car, and pretty decent on another.

By "bilsteins from an GXP" do you mean the front? By "stock springs" do you mean the stock front GXP springs? Some specificity is helpful. If this is what you mean, then yes, of course a V8 car strut/spring combo will raise the ride height in a V6 car.

Interesting point about rebuilding the Konis. The logistics of the process are not that appealing, however. Pull the struts, have a carcass of a car sitting at the suspension shop, wait how long for Koni plus shipping both directions?

Part number, specs, and/or link for Vogtland springs for the 2001 GTP? Is the GMPP spring and Koni strut combo still available? Part numbers or link? Similar info for SSC springs?

What I meant about stock springs was stock springs from a 97-03 GP. From what I recall reading on here the GXP struts and OEM springs raised the car quite a bit. You will have to search and see if those photos are still around.

The KYB's as far as I recall are 10% stiffer than the OEM struts. I never used Monroe or Gabriel struts. KYB's excel g's are decent for someone looking to stay with the stock height.

GMPP lowering kit have gone the way of the dinosaur. Vogltnad springs are as close as you can get to the GMPP lowering springs. Drops the car about an 1" or less. My brother runs the KYB AGX and vogtland set up and it's close to the GMPP set up.

But the SSC springs lower the car significantly, requiring engine and trans spacers. Really just not into lowering. Good buy for the right person, though.

Just get yourself some OEM replacement springs. I believe moog makes some. Pair that with some KYB excel g's and call it a day. KYB also sells a complete spring/strut combo as well.

[Lifespeed]

Thanks for all the advice guys. I'll probably order the parts Monday after the suspension shop confirms the LCAs are worn out, seems like a foregone conclusion. Although likely I would upgrade to KYB AGX. Overly-cheap struts give me the willies, I just don't believe they can make a decent product for $50. Or maybe buy those Bilsteins and put in '97 to '03 stock springs in the front?

[Lifespeed]

OK, the suspension shop has confirmed the remaining suspension parts (some were recently replaced) are worn out. What a surprise. At 160K miles I'm probably a fool for fixing it, but a decent car with low miles isn't exactly cheap. Hope this thing can go another 50K, but I could be delusional. Transmission and oil have been changed regularly, who knows?

I think I'll go with the slightly-used Bilsteins from Hempire, but install with (new) stock springs. Seems like pretty good bang for the buck, hope it all works. I have never bought used struts/shocks before.

[spazzz]

OK, the suspension shop has confirmed the remaining suspension parts (some were recently replaced) are worn out. What a surprise. At 160K miles I'm probably a fool for fixing it, but a decent car with low miles isn't exactly cheap. Hope this thing can go another 50K, but I could be delusional. Transmission and oil have been changed regularly, who knows?

I think I'll go with the slightly-used Bilsteins from Hempire, but install with (new) stock springs. Seems like pretty good bang for the buck, hope it all works. I have never bought used struts/shocks before.

Well in that case don't spend money on springs. Remember those oem springs will be another 250+
Use what's there and call it a 50,000 mile solution. You will be happy and if your not, ride it that way anyway.
50,000 on SSCs for me and counting.

[Lifespeed]

Well in that case don't spend money on springs. Remember those oem springs will be another 250+
Use what's there and call it a 50,000 mile solution. You will be happy and if your not, ride it that way anyway.
50,000 on SSCs for me and counting.

Tough call, springs sag. Thanks for pointing out the Bilstein Bargain, that could be huge.

[Burbman]

I used the KYB Excel-G struts on the 98 and 01 GT sedans with decent results. They are a "quick-strut" solution which means they come pre-assembled with new springs and are a snap to install. They are relatively inexpensive and will give you good service life, especially if the car will be a DD for the kid.

On the 02 GTP coupe I have now, I was looking for better handling, so I opted for Vogtland springs and AGX struts. I also added GMPP sway bars, new LCAs with Moog bushings, and tubular trailing and lateral arms in the rear. Finished it off with some 245's on 18x8 rims, now she handles flat as a pancake going around corners. No body roll, crisp steering response, and best of all, no tire rubbing even with back seat occupants. Vogtlands are supposed to lower the car 1", I would be surprised if it's that much.

If you are considering going for a higher-performance strut, then I would invest in the rear trailing and lateral arms as well since you already have the HD sway bars. It all comes down top how much you want to spend and where you want the handling to be. Point is that spendy struts by themselves are like leaving the window open with the a/c on...you won't get the full value of what they can do without the rest of the mods.

If it's f-it, it's a DD, then get the Excel-G and call it a day.

[Lifespeed]

I tried to visually compare the ACDelco 506-600 front strut and 506-283 rear strut as listed by application for my car 2001 GTP from the Amazon web site. Then I compared them to the used Bilsteins for sale, purchased for the 2005 5.3L application.

Comparing the struts, it appears the 2001 application front struts are missing the horizontal tab with two bolt holes, while the 2005 Bilsteins have this bar on both front and rear. What is going on here? Do these two bolt holes on the front strut simply go unused in the 2001?

Pardon me if I am asking a question answered multiple times before, just want to do my due diligence when buying used parts from a different model year car.

Edit: apparently these horizontal bars on the front struts are for the late-model sway bar configuration, unused on the 2001 application unless upgraded to the newer sway bar and control arm setup. Don't think I'll be doing that, although I already have GMPP sway bars on it for 2001 configuration.

[Lifespeed]

If it's f-it, it's a DD, then get the Excel-G and call it a day.

If it weren't for a good deal on slightly used Bilsteins, this would be the way to go. But the price is the same, so may as well go for it.

[spazzz]

I was referring to using the Bilstein with the SSC and not your old springs.
Why take those fckers apart when there is no need to.

If after awhile the SSCs don't cut it for you then look for some high boy springs.

[Lifespeed]

I was referring to using the Bilstein with the SSC and not your old springs.
Why take those fckers apart when there is no need to.

If after awhile the SSCs don't cut it for you then look for some high boy springs.

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.