PontiacBonnevilleClub.com

very well I will take you guys word for it but I would have to go for a ride before going through all that work

Point being.. educate yourself a little before you start making assumptions.

was thinking, what if you did a coil over spring on the rear then where the stock spring sits do a Air bag like trucks use for helpers... that would keep your ride lowered but still work in a air leveling setup (while relieving the stress if any on the shock towers).. spring rates would be trial and error.. the W-body guys run a ~275lb straight spring rate on their setups.. you can get softer, firmer or progressive springs.. any good spring/suspension company should be able to help setup the best setup for you, would help to know the corner weight of the car (for all 4 corners). as for shocks, just about any shock can be used if you make a custom mounting plate for it on the top and/or the bottom. the conversion kits are allready setup for the size and weight of the bonnie's... but most likely not be best for performance as our cars are supposed to ride pretty soft.

or the other option is to find one that will fit and make custom mounts... this has the Air bag, Adjustable shock dampening and everything all in one.
(Like the far left one)

I don't see why the bag in place of the spring plus coilover wouldn't work.

I just don't see why you wouldn't want to keep your existing auto level setup with a custom lowering spring and modified level sensor arms. It's a lot less work and all you really need. An FE5 rear shock should handle the lighter rear well with a stiffer than FE5 rear spring rate.

I told coilsprings.com to go 20% stiffer than F41 for my rears and the Monroe Matic Plus shocks handle it without issue 4" or so lower.

I'm sure Pat's rears are decently stiffer due to the aftermarket springs and he has no complaints with the rears keeping up.

95naSTA wrote:Point being.. educate yourself a little before you start making assumptions.

really? so how's your ride?

Deano. 95naSTA is very informed and has done much research about the suspension in the 92-99 platform,

I also have knowledge on setting up suspensions for different applicatons. I could show you the formula for figuring out spring weight, based on the 4 corners of what the car weigs and what your cross weights are.

But just because its a coil over setup dosent mean that it rides like a 16yr olds Honda that drags frame on cut springs, and your dentures fall out when you hit a pebble in the road.

2003 SSEi wrote:Deano. 95naSTA is very informed and has done much research about the suspension in the 92-99 platform,

I also have knowledge on setting up suspensions for different applicatons. I could show you the formula for figuring out spring weight, based on the 4 corners of what the car weigs and what your cross weights are.

But just because its a coil over setup dosent mean that it rides like a 16yr olds Honda that drags frame on cut springs, and your dentures fall out when you hit a pebble in the road.

Hey, I am sure he has done all you say, I just don't appreciate being talked down too nor do I talk down to people if I happen to know more than they happen too about a subject, that's all. Like I said, I would have to see it to believe it

deano55 wrote: Hey, I am sure he has done all you say, I just don't appreciate being talked down too nor do I talk down to people if I happen to know more than they happen too about a subject, that's all. Like I said, I would have to see it to believe it

agree to disagree I guess is the only play here. No one is talking down to anybody, its trying to get info out and debunk the myths....

Most of the H body people dont step out of the "shell" when it comes to modding anything on the car.

deano55 wrote:

95naSTA wrote:Point being.. educate yourself a little before you start making assumptions.

really? so how's your ride?

95naSTA wrote:I've done a few road trips like this and both times everyone was comfortable enough to be falling asleep.

deano55 wrote:Hey, I am sure he has done all you say, I just don't appreciate being talked down too nor do I talk down to people if I happen to know more than they happen too about a subject, that's all. Like I said, I would have to see it to believe it

I'm seeing zero knowledge level based on your input.

You give us this:

deano55 wrote:I just would imagine the terrible ride with this set up

Don't expect respect from me when I had over a ton of research/suggestions and I get Oh, that would probably be a crappy ride.

For what it's worth: one of my friends IMPROVED ride quality on his Lexus IS-F by going to BC coilovers. Like we've said, it's all about the configuration and the matching of parts so that they work well together as a system.

I apologize that you took my comment to heart, I meant it more as in general with the little knowledge I have seen with coil overs. As far as my "zero knowledge" thats what kind of talking down that was mentioned before and as far as respect, from one post you have made that conclusion? So be it

95naSTA wrote:I just don't see why you wouldn't want to keep your existing auto level setup with a custom lowering spring and modified level sensor arms.

I like Fat chicks... There i said it! i like the car to ride level even when loaded down with stuff.

S

deano55 wrote: I just don't appreciate being talked down too...

The problem is that you come off as a little irritated with the whole idea. I sort of wonder why you even post on the subject if youve already rejected it. Its just a shock with a spring around it, i dont know why you assume it will ride very harshly, but theres no basis for it.

I did some poking around yesterday looking for the coilover sleeves. Havent really seen anything sold by size but Arraut looks like a good place to start. Ill have to send him an email.

Ill have to take a bunch of measurements of my FE5 struts and see if I can find anything adjustable. It would be really sweet to be able to manipulate compression and rebound independently, but Im sure that doesnt come cheap in a strut. I come from bikes, where a Penske "double clicker" shock for the rear is a few hundred bucks, so Im sure adjustable strut prices would scare the crap out of me.

Have not rejected at all, I will say this one more time, I have to see it to believe it, that's all.

rather then doing a sleeve, you could find a shock that is already threaded. these are QA1 adjustable shocks with a threaded sleeve and Nuts for a coil over setup..couple hundred each. again you would need to get one that has a simmilar travel and range as our cars and most likely do something for the top mount.

here is the covette rear setup..

deano55 wrote:Have not rejected at all, I will say this one more time, I have to see it to believe it, that's all.

Quick example: Rally cars. Pretty soft suspension overall. My biggest concern is getting enough damping out of the system. You can make the springrate literally whatever you want. Thats the whole point.


Shane, the problem there is the front. The rear is simple enough that i could adapt something like that setup. The front, you need the right length, the right mount for the bottom, something for the top mount and either full adjustability or the right damping for the springrate you use.

I don't know if this will help any one but here are the stock specs.

Rear:
Lower Mount : XP7
Shock Compressed Length : 14.5"
Shock Extended Length : 24.375"
Travel : 9.875"
Upper Mount : S1

Front:
Strut Body Length : 14"
Strut Compressed Length : 10.125"
Strut Extended Length : 16.5"
Strut Travel Length : 6.375"

this might help for the front.. Again, doesnt seem like something to hard to do Lol if the W-body guys can do it we should have problem... its basically the same setup. with the stock measurements you should be able to contact Koni, Tokico, KYB and find a suitable replacement to adapt. IIRC the front W-body shocks Koni made (discontinued long ago) required you to cut the stock strut, slide the insert in the stock shock housing and bolt in the bottom to secure it. from there you can put a sleeve over the stock housing and adapt the coil over to the stock housing (minus the spring purch) and mount. Its only money... Lol. Honestly after having a set of Koni's on my other car i wouldnt spend that money again, get a good spring (to your prefference) and make the coil over on the stock struts or GXP struts.. But again thats just me.. My Eibachs did more for the handling then the Koni Adjustables ever did..

http://www.clubgp.com/newforum/tm.asp?m ... &language=


Stock Housing cut:


http://www.w-body.com/showthread.php/47 ... i-shock-GB
W-Body Koni Insert: Model number is 8610-1437

found this on a RIV forum: Front coilover setup.. did a search for the Koni inserts and this pulled up, so looks like thoes konis are the generic insert everyone from Beemers to Pintos. he did a front and rear coilover setup.
http://rivperformance.editboard.com/t78 ... n-required