recommendations for front springs/shocks?

[that one girl]

howdy,

i am looking to replace the front springs in my 91 GM. a couple weeks ago, i put wagon springs in the back (moog-trw-cc819's). it raised the back up quite a bit. now i want to put new ones in the front that will make it more stiff in the front, and maybe raise it up a bit. i still want to keep the back end at least a little higher than the front. any recommendations?

also, i want to do all of the shocks before the weather gets too horrible. any recommendations for front/rear shocks?

i would greatly appreciate any suggestions.

[p71towny]

What is your driving style and is this your hotrod so to speak. Im partial to my IAS's cause she still rides like a lincoln with em, but can handle the twistys just fine.

[mrltd]

There are listing for the shock/springs that members have used in the FAQ.

[HerMajestysMechanic]

Howdy, this is ThatOneGirl's boyfriend/gear-head. Just want to start by sayin that the information y'all have provided her, and I, over the last few months has been invaluable, and I personally want to thank ya for welcomming us to yer dysfunctional family. Now, onto the question she asked above. I went over the listings in the suspension sticky, and know which shocks to get from there. As for the springs, reason I had her ask, was that I don't quite know how the posted numbers there, translate into ride height/stiffness. As it is, the front end of her GM wallows like a ship on high-seas, with all the weight shifted frontward. We both like the idea of a slight rake, so we don't want to go with a spring that would level out the car with the Wagon springs in the back. Would the Sedan HD springs take it up too high? I dont believe her stock springs are that badly beat, so I figured a straight stock replacement wont really help in this application. We're hopin to do them and the shocks this weekend, so Im trying to figure out what to grab at the parts store tommorrow, before they close up shop for the holliday's.

Thanks again for all yer info.

The Admiral

[mrltd]

Newer PI springs would raise it quite a bit (see natehawks car)

Sedan HD springs wouldn't raise it at all,(depending how bad the current ones are) I had some on my 87 and it didn't raise it at all.

I would also suggest police/taxi shocks and poly swaybar bushings. The bushings can be bought at any parts store. Most replacements are now poly.

[DuceAnAHalf]

I had cut Police springs in my 85 and put the stock sedan springs back in. Raised the car up level with the police springed rear.

This is cut police springs.

this is the stock sedan springs. (these tires are short, about 25" vs the 28" tires on the black wheels)

[HerMajestysMechanic]

So just to make sure I got ya's on this, yer basic recommendation is to just get new stock CV/GM sedan springs for the front end, and the Kyb GR2's all around for shocks? the Bushing job is prolly gonna end up waitin till spring, we're runnin outta warm weather to work around here, so for now, I just want to stop it from rollin around. I don't think I wanna go with the PI springs though, Im not tryin to make the front sit level with the raised back end. I think Im just gonna get a set of moog stock coils for the front, and those KYB's. hopefully that'll stiffen it up enough till the Spring. Hoping ThatOneGirl will consent to a full Poly conversion then hehe

Thanks again for your advice.

The Admiral

[gadget73]

The sway bar bushings are not a major job. The endlinks consist of a long bolt with some washers and donuts that look an awful lot like the ones on top of the shocks. The bushings that hold it to the frame are held on with two bolts. Endlinks should set you back maybe $25 for the set at Autozone (don't get just the bushings, get the whole endlink) and I'm not sure what the bushings go for, but not too much.

[mrltd]

Bushing job is 35 minutes...darn easy. KYB's are good. Could always get some sedan cargo coils and sell the wagon CC's.

[Southern_Pride]

How high do you want it? I can tell you what to get to jack it sky high but itll look retarded with anythin less than a 235/75 on it.

[Archangel]

Springs: TRW SC7172S, 1050lb/in, 13.5" free height, for installed height look at any pic of my car and imagine the front an inch higher.

Shocks: Afco 1020, extra heavy valving

Swaybar: Energy Suspension main bushings and end links, polyurethane

After installing these ride will be stiffer, and handling will improve greatly. Warning - plan on bucket seats, or at least cloth ones from a Signature Series Lincoln Town Car, stock ones won't hold you girlfriend in place if she decides to use the full potential of her new front setup.

[gadget73]

Boo on the truck springs. I'm replacing my 710 in/lb springs for 433 in/lb ones because I think its too stiff. Its a luxury car and it should ride like one. I'm also not convinced at all that one needs super duty springs to make a car handle nicely. I've driven the Superlincoln with it's replacement stock rate coils, and it handles amazingly. Big 98+ style sway bar and endlinks are the key.

[88Vic]

I got a stupid question: which springs would raise the back end more(on a box) PI or wagon springs?

[HerMajestysMechanic]

I know we put the CC Wagon coils (variable rate) on the back of her 91 GM, and it jacked up the ass-end almost 3 inches. Dunno bout the PI though.

[gadget73]

Wagon coils should lift it more in the back I'd think.