Suggestions for sloppy Buick Suspension?

[skiColorado]

I have a 1997 Buick LeSabre that rides like a bouncing boat! The rear struts were done recently however I know the front needs to be done soon. My question is:can I add a different sway bar to stiffen up the ride? Or any other tips/ creative non-stock ways to make ride more like a sports car vs what is now.

[Black Pearl]

New struts would help alot. Upgrading your swaybar endlinks to polyurethane will help in cornering

[00Beast]

Which RPO suspension do you have? FE1?

[skiColorado]

How do I find out what suspension I have?

[myfirstbonnie]

Spare tire cover. Verify the VIN to make sure it belongs to the car. Looking for codes like FE1, FE2 etc.

[skiColorado]

It looks like FE1... So what does that mean?

[00Beast]

FE1 is the softest. You might be able to find a car with F41 or FE2 and steal the springs and swaybars off of it, and then you'd have FE2.

[LeSabre in Buffalo]

I'd do the poly endlinks and upgraded swaybars. And do the front struts. My car bounced like a ball over road imperfections before replacing all 4 struts. I really noticed the fronts were super-not-bouncy once they had been done.

[rogers9c1]

I will be doing front and rear shocks on my lesabre soon and I will be disabling my auto level to to help lose that boat and bounce feeling with this car. where is a source for poly endlinks?

[LeSabre in Buffalo]

Energy Suspension is commonly used. Also the blue Moog endlinks are much stiffer than stock. Check Ebay or your local speed shops. If you're close enough to the States or know folks who are in the States, they're in many AutoZones too.

I wouldn't disable your ELC since that doesn't make the car feel floaty. Worn struts and springs make the car feel floaty. All ELC does is keep your car's rear level when you put a load in it.

[rogers9c1]

well I am just getting tired of hearing the pump kick on and and have people tell me my car is making funny noise's. Plus I don't want air shocks out back because that would have something to do with the floatyness of the car, I will just be putting Stiff new non air shocks. the car leans like crazy when going around corners and its embarrassing to the point where i have to take very wide turns to make my passengers not lean like they were on a motorcycle. I just had my front swaybar replaced because it the Loop on the end snapped off. anything off a Bonneville I can steal to help stiffen up the rear end? maybe bigger rear swaybar?

[Jrs3800]

well I am just getting tired of hearing the pump kick on and and have people tell me my car is making funny noise's. Plus I don't want air shocks out back because that would have something to do with the floatyness of the car, I will just be putting Stiff new non air shocks. the car leans like crazy when going around corners and its embarrassing to the point where i have to take very wide turns to make my passengers not lean like they were on a motorcycle. I just had my front swaybar replaced because it the Loop on the end snapped off. anything off a Bonneville I can steal to help stiffen up the rear end? maybe bigger rear swaybar?

The car leans due to the suspension... Not because you have air struts in the rear, he air struts are the same as the regular shock with an added air bag for load level, remove it and you will be in the exact same boat, and when loaded up the car will sit on the ground.. The air portion of the strut can actually make it ride stiffer.. and keep the rear end level when loaded down.. If the system works do not ditch it...

It seems that you want more of a sporty ride... In that case... You will want the FE2-F41 Springs and sway bars... along with new front struts..

[imidazol97]

well I am just getting tired of hearing the pump kick on and and have people tell me my car is making funny noise's. Plus I don't want air shocks out back because that would have something to do with the floatyness of the car, I will just be putting Stiff new non air shocks. the car leans like crazy when going around corners and its embarrassing to the point where i have to take very wide turns to make my passengers not lean like they were on a motorcycle. I just had my front swaybar replaced because it the Loop on the end snapped off. anything off a Bonneville I can steal to help stiffen up the rear end? maybe bigger rear swaybar?

If the pump is kicking on, you may have a leak in the tubing or one of the rear struts.

The sway bars front and rear make my leSabre handle fairly well for a car its size and weight and not being intended for hot rodding.

I'd suggest putting on new rear struts with the automatic level and new front struts.

Replace the links on the sway bars with fresh ones ($8 at autozone). The new rubber bushings will help. I learned the hard way.


Exchanging springs and sway bars sounds like a big task. Maybe you can buy a car with the touring suspension as a donor car. It might be easier just to buy another car.

[01bonneSC]

Its a LeSabre not a Ferrari...

[Jrs3800]

Changing the springs out can be costly, it can be a task if you have never done them.. If you have friends in the automotive field or with automotive experience they can be a great help.. And the swap on the H bodies is not that bad.. The Only thing I hate about doing the F41 suspension swap id removing and install the front sway bar..

But I will agree that replacing the Endlinks all the way around will make a difference, as well using Poly center links on the front will also help keep the lean down..

Does the Dash say Dyna Ride?

For the FE1 on the buicks it seems you could have had a 28mm or 30 mm front sway bar and a 14mm or 18 mm rear sway bar..

The F41( Grand Touring ) LeSabres had the 32mm front bar and 21mm rear bar as well as stiffer springs...

Like stated above do check for leaks..

[dirtracr95]

Get the Addco front endlink kit 015 it is FAR better than the Energy Suspension endlinks. $15.98 shipped to your door.
http://www.jegs.com/i/ADDCO/020/015/100 ... Id=1137088

Also go out and get a 21mm rear sway bar. That will help alot too. FE2 Springs will help too. KYB GR-2s are a step up from stock.

If you got 15's you will probably help moving up to some 16's or 17's with a smaller sidewall.

Heres my Lesabre build thread mine is totally on the extreme side though and still a work in progress.
viewtopic.php?f=12&t=14639

[95naSTA]

If you want to go nuts, I currently have the most modded suspension 92-99.

A write up of what what I did the to front suspension can be found here: AGX fronts and F-body calipers.

And info from when I converted to coilovers and modded all my engine/tranny mounts: Here. and Here.

[rogers9c1]

I will be keeping it simple and stock with stock replacement parts. I am worried that if I replace the air shocks with new one's that my airpump will go tits up and leave me with a saggy ass lol 95naSTA you have a lot of work into that drop! looks great

[wjcollier07]

If you replace your shocks in the rear with non-air shocks, you'll need to change your springs to a much higher variable rate capacity, and even then if you put a couple people in the back and some stuff in the trunk, you're definitely going to have a height issue. That ELC system is very good to have. That pump may go tits up some time soon, but regardless of if it does or not, you'll want it, and want to replace it..and you really don't realize what you've got until you're dealing without it.

Upgrade to F41/FE2 spec springs and new SensaTrac struts all the way around with new mounts and bushings. Parts wise...we're talking a good $500, but well worth it if you want to transform your buick into an H body of a different nameplate. You might want to nab a bonneville steering rack if you want to quicken up your steering a bit as well.

Also, for those that don't know...FE1 isn't one standard by company, its by marque. FE1 in a LeSabre isn't FE1 in a Bonneville. If you were to compare them relatively...Pontiac FE1 would be Buick's F41, and Buick's F41 ends up being about Pontiac's FE1.5. At least, that's what I've gotten from my experiences in driving different cars.

[dirtracr95]

Also, for those that don't know...FE1 isn't one standard by company, its by marque. FE1 in a LeSabre isn't FE1 in a Bonneville. If you were to compare them relatively...Pontiac FE1 would be Buick's F41, and Buick's F41 ends up being about Pontiac's FE1.5. At least, that's what I've gotten from my experiences in driving different cars.

True but swaybar wise its almost the same. 85-91 suspension codes for H-Body differ than 92-99. F41 for my 88 Lesabre T-Type has a 19mm rear bar. F41/FE2 92-99 rear swaybar is 21mm. Spring rates may also differ between the BOP and C because some are 2 door (sorry no pontiacs) some are 4 door.