[Guest]

Alright, the ride sucks right now. Just about any little bump in the road, and it goes bang bang and rattles the car around. I have original springs, 2 year old bilsteins, 9c1 sway bars, and Impala SS wheels with some tires that have good tread, but a goodyear place suggested new ones because they were dry. What would you guys suggest the problem with the ride quality is?

 

[Guest]

You have springs that are extremely unmatched to your shock/bar/wheel choices. Also, a complete freshening of all suspension parts (idler, center link, ball joints, a arm and trailing arm bushings, etc) would be in order. You are dealing with a car that is almost 30 years old...

 

[Guest]

First off nice car! Second off I agree with Jay. I have a 75 Cadillac Coupe Deville and I like the stock ride, I have OEM new springs and shocks. I can't corner like an Impala SS but it rides like your living room.

~HJ

 

[Guest]

Okay, well, I like the ride firmer, but right now it's just awful. I think I would probably continue with the bilsteins, so what springs would be well matched that wouldn't lower it too much? And by too much I mean more than an inch and a half. Should I get stock SS springs?

 

[Guest]

Check out the Moog 507s I have on the fwb, not much difference in ride height, perhaps a 1" drop. Stiffer, but well matched to a set of bilstein 929s. No gyrations, a firm hit when taking a corner at speed and hitting a bump. I put isolators top and bottom but considering removing the top after reading some comments here. BUt then again I added global west lower arms and doubled up on the rear bars, the whole package really did the trick

anyway, the yellow cad looks wicked on the impy rims. Nice modern look to an older style.

also, bang bang might mean something is loose. perhaps a thorough check of all bushings and connections is in order ?

[ 10-05-2006, 04:08 PM: Message edited by: Eracer ]

 

[Guest]

I just started doing my 78 FWB yesterday. I put monroe air shocks in the rear and got a 9C1 rear sway bar on so far. I am putting on new springs tomorrow. I was thinking of using the OEM heavy duty limo springs that my friend has in stock. Any suggestions would be great. I don't care much about ride hieght, and just want decent handling, while retaining the Cadillac ride.

 

[Guest]

P.S Ferris:
How do you like the T/A steering box? This was my next mod to-do.

 

[Guest]

I love the steering box. When I first got it I was totally amazed. Now I'm used to it, but I think I need new end links. I just did the center link and idler arm not too long ago, and it feels a bit funny.

 

[Guest]

Okay hey, I'm thinking of 3 different spring sets.

Stock SS springs, Hotchkis, or Eibach. Really what it comes down to is which one will give the best ride with the bilsteins, and I realize that depends on what I think is a nice ride, but I just want to see what other people think first. Then maybe I'll trade my hotchkis bars for hotchkis springs or something.

 

[Guest]

Something to consider is with the Impy wheels/tires you may have changed the unsprung weight of the car enough the Bilsteins are gonna be able to do the right job. What car were they for? If they are the Impala ones, I would recommend the FE2 Cadillac Fleetwood 93-96 Springs or the Impala SS (same rate in front, unsure in rear, just lower than FW)

I changed the rear end in my 96 Suburban from a 8.5" to a 9.5" and it significantly changed my unsprung weight so my brand new shocks sucked bad. GM at least had the right shocks for the 3/4t.

Sooo, remember, the shocks, springs, weight of the wheels, weight of the car are all a mathmatical forumula that it is in resonance (or not in resonance) so the car rides properly.

Honestly, the front end of your car looks high and the back low, you might be in a non centered part of the shock so that it is in a non controlled condition. Look at what it takes to level the car properly (cut springs if needed, or lift rear springs with coil over springs or coil boosters (not recommended)) and get the shocks in the right "place" in the stroke.

Next, ensure the body to frame bushings are not shot, with that age, very likely they are either hard as rocks, or are hard and breaking, or just plain missing. I highly recommend 9C1 bushings in all locations.

Are the end link and sway bar bushings in good shape? Often bar to frame bushings bad will make the car a rattle trap on bumps. Follow Scott Muellers advice on how to change them properly, they aren't as simple as tighted and go.

 

[Guest]

I replaced the lower body bushings not long ago, but not the upper ones. Most of the other bushings have been done at various times during the last 5 years that I've owned the car, and the sway bar ones looked fine when I was under there about a month ago. At some point I want to swap in an LS1 and stuff, so I'm thinking I may just store it for now, save up, and then take the frame off and do everything at once.