veritasz34 Posted April 26, 2005 Report Share Posted April 26, 2005 Like most older W bodies, mine has the sag also..I'm going to replace the struts very soon..I'm sure this will help some but not alot..Beside the coil over route (Thanks to comments here I'm not going to take that one) what can be done to make this better.. Does this require a full replacement of the rear leaf?? How does the Moog pads help (Or similar)?? [ If in fact I have to replace the rear leaf,can I get a beffier one to handle the stress the audio system places on the car??] Any help is greatly appreciated before I tear into her...Thanks... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwingvksm Posted April 26, 2005 Report Share Posted April 26, 2005 Struts have nothing to do w/ that (they just dampen the spring oscillations). GOtta replace the spring/rear leaf. That is what carries the vehice/all the weight. Always go moog - they are the best IMHO... How much is your audio system going to weight? The stronger the spring = the stiffer the ride... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J Posted April 26, 2005 Report Share Posted April 26, 2005 look into the birchmount rear spring (spelling?) they can make a custom spring for you, i'm sure they can make one to stock specs. Do a search on the forum to get the contact info. Hope this helps Later Jay Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GnatGoSplat Posted April 26, 2005 Report Share Posted April 26, 2005 Let it sag and add ST or Intrax springs up front to match. Well, KYB struts will help a lot. The gas charge in them is pretty strong, it raised my car 3/4" on the rear. That's why when you take off the retaining strap, those suckers pop right up and takes some force to push back in. 88-89 rear springs from FE3 cars also don't sag and are pretty stiff. You might try one of those. Mine looked like a 4x4 with the original spring. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5speedz34 Posted April 26, 2005 Report Share Posted April 26, 2005 If you want to keep the stock rear spring, I would just go get some MOOG leaf helpers. I can't seem to find them but they go between the body of the car, and the mono-leaf. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GOT2B GM Posted April 26, 2005 Report Share Posted April 26, 2005 Take the 200lbs of MDF, speakers, amps, fibreglass and carpet out of your trunk. Voila! No more sag. Now seriously, NAPA sells poly helper blocks that slip under the ends of the monoleaf. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
94CutlassSLCoupe Posted April 26, 2005 Report Share Posted April 26, 2005 my car sat higher in the back when i replaced the struts...probably close to a full inch. I would use an FE3 leaf (read DOHC cars) if i was going to replace it. Add a rear sway bar while you are at it if you don't have one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GnatGoSplat Posted April 27, 2005 Report Share Posted April 27, 2005 DOHC cars are more softly sprung in the rear than the old 88-89 FE3 cars. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rudefyet Posted April 27, 2005 Report Share Posted April 27, 2005 88-89 rear springs from FE3 cars also don't sag and are pretty stiff. You might try one of those. Mine looked like a 4x4 with the original spring. Mine still does Seems most 88-90 springs don't sag, even FE1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cutlsp Posted April 27, 2005 Report Share Posted April 27, 2005 mine sags cause i have bad rear struts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
veritasz34 Posted April 27, 2005 Author Report Share Posted April 27, 2005 Thanks guys..Yes the system in the car adds alot of stress to the suspension but removal is not an option..I compete professionally in IASCA sanctioned events..I'm getting ready for a system upgrade after I get a few little things fixed here and there.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cutlsp Posted April 27, 2005 Report Share Posted April 27, 2005 since you have that added weight i would see if you can still get the moog helper springs for our cars i'm sure someone here has some of them that they will sell for cheap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AWeb80 Posted April 27, 2005 Report Share Posted April 27, 2005 my car sat higher in the back when i replaced the struts...probably close to a full inch. I would use an FE3 leaf (read DOHC cars) if i was going to replace it. My GP is just an SE with the 3100 and it "had" FE3. You don't need a DOHC to have FE3. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5speedz34 Posted April 28, 2005 Report Share Posted April 28, 2005 my car sat higher in the back when i replaced the struts...probably close to a full inch. I would use an FE3 leaf (read DOHC cars) if i was going to replace it. My GP is just an SE with the 3100 and it "had" FE3. You don't need a DOHC to have FE3. You sure, it says it on the RPO sticker? Wow I thought all FE3's had to have the 3.4 option, or what ever the highest motor was in the year (3.1 up to 91) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1990lumina Posted April 28, 2005 Report Share Posted April 28, 2005 My 1990 Lumina has F41 suspension (as I've been told same thing as FE3), but there was no 3.4 in that year, so maybe that's why. My ass end sags to, I've just gotten used to it, but if you find something to fix the sag do tell! - Jeff L. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick1234 Posted April 28, 2005 Report Share Posted April 28, 2005 the rear on my lumina has sagged for the 8 years we have had it. And we put new rear struts on it too. I thnk that is just a characteristic of some w-bodies Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
veritasz34 Posted April 28, 2005 Author Report Share Posted April 28, 2005 I wonder what the effect of a set of helper springs would do the rear end sag??and the overall rear suspension in general??Any ideas??Does anyone have a fix other than lowering the front end to get rid of the classic Z34 lean?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee Posted April 30, 2005 Report Share Posted April 30, 2005 I've been hauling home huge river rocks for my wife's fake little river and my ass is draggin" The car too!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supreme_style21 Posted April 30, 2005 Report Share Posted April 30, 2005 my car sat higher in the back when i replaced the struts...probably close to a full inch. I would use an FE3 leaf (read DOHC cars) if i was going to replace it. My GP is just an SE with the 3100 and it "had" FE3. You don't need a DOHC to have FE3. You sure, it says it on the RPO sticker? Wow I thought all FE3's had to have the 3.4 option, or what ever the highest motor was in the year (3.1 up to 91) FE3 in my 95 SE. Not sure if you're still talking pre 94 cars. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
digitaloutsider Posted May 1, 2005 Report Share Posted May 1, 2005 FE3 was DEFINITELY not 3.4 specific. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirty Rockstar Posted May 1, 2005 Report Share Posted May 1, 2005 My 90 Granny mobile project "cavas" if you will actually rides higher than my Euro did.. Roughly the same mileage.. My Euro sagged in the back as bad as a set of Monte Carlo doors.. Maybe the F41 suspension I had was the casue.. I am going to keep the leaf there with my KYBs and see what happens.. Just thought I would share.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jcrow Posted May 1, 2005 Report Share Posted May 1, 2005 Mine is saggin an inch lower in the rear, you cant tell from the pic here, i don't know? it must have happened since I took the pic. I havent decieded to lower the front or not. How do you change that rear leaf, a buddy told me there is some crazy special tool? What are these ffp coilovers? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bolt_Crank Posted May 25, 2005 Report Share Posted May 25, 2005 my bros 91 GP LE didn't sag very much at all... I think Lumina's sag more than any others 98% of the saggy W's around me are Lumina's Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
94CutlassSLCoupe Posted May 25, 2005 Report Share Posted May 25, 2005 I have a factory lowering spring in mine now...my leaf is splintered to hell and now the car sits level!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black90Euro Posted June 8, 2005 Report Share Posted June 8, 2005 Same here in my '90 euro "F41" -- got KYB's x 4, much better ride now but still have a little tire rub on the right rear with peeps in the back . I had the MOOG helpers and was VERY stiff ride even after I trimmed them down a couple of inches that helped but not completely. Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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