442 1987 OLDSMOBILE COIL SPRING ASSISTANCE

[UNGN]

There is a lot of old/likely missing rubber between you and the road. Upper/lower control arm bushings, the rag joint in the lower steering shaft and the lack of lower body mounts (many G-bodies just have lower washers in some of the body mount locations that only are there to keep the body on the frame during a crash)

New bushings, add the lower frame mounts, new taller balljoints, U-joint lower steering shaft, and new shocks and it will drive/feel much more like a modern car.

 

[69hurstolds]

If you want a firmer ride, you'll need to update the suspension. The factory 442 suspension, even as it's the "F41" it is still hampered by the mushy *ss springs and tremendous body-roll in turns as compared to the leaps and bounds they've made in suspension systems over the years since then. They may have been sporty for the time period (31+ years ago). Which, looking back when I bought my first new G-body 442, it would have been akin to comparing its suspension with a car made during WWII. So in 1987, the F41 was the sh*t as far as G-body cars went. UNGN makes a great point in if you're going aftermarket suspension, do it all with complimentary parts and you'll enjoy it more if you want it to handle tighter/better.

 

[sergio]

I'm looking for any assistance on recommendations for coil spring and shock replacement. I'm trying to bring the vehicle back to its original ride height, but I'm not sure what the factory original spring load rate is on my springs. There seems to be many front and rear spring options depending on load rating and constant or variable types. Can anyone provide me with the original coil spring specifications for the front and rear of a 1987 442? Also, I'm thinking about replacing the shocks with something better than what the factory gave it. Currently, I have the air adjustable rear shocks and the front shocks are the standard OEM. I seen a set of coil spring assisted shocks from Monroe, but I'm not sure if that will make the suspension too stiff. Any recommendations based on ride experience?

I brought the Moog coil springs #5606 and 5391. They were wrong. They lowered my front end a lot and raised the back up high.
I have a 1986 442. I got ahold of the Acdelco coil springs and the right ones were listed under Cutlass Supreme not Salon.
I'm thinking I got the ones for the 231 V6 cars

 

[Qdub24]

My favorite spring reference:
http://jeffd.50megs.com/Moog_Spring_Page.htm

 

[pontiacgp]

I brought the Moog coil springs #5606 and 5391. They were wrong. They lowered my front end a lot and raised the back up high.
I have a 1986 442. I got ahold of the Acdelco coil springs and the right ones were listed under Cutlass Supreme not Salon.
I'm thinking I got the ones for the 231 V6 cars

the 5606 should have only lowered your car around 1/2". The rear spring you got isn't on that chart but it fits a 1970 full size Pontiac and called a problem solver so that is why it raised the back end. If you don't understand the charts then just ask

https://www.opticatonline.com/part/moog-5391-coil-spring-set

 

[UNGN]

I brought the Moog coil springs #5606 and 5391. They were wrong. They lowered my front end a lot and raised the back up high.
I have a 1986 442. I got ahold of the Acdelco coil springs and the right ones were listed under Cutlass Supreme not Salon.
I'm thinking I got the ones for the 231 V6 cars

Holy Crap. I wouldn't use the 5391's in back unless I planned to tow a boat.

 

[sergio]

the 5606 should have only lowered your car around 1/2". The rear spring you got isn't on that chart but it fits a 1970 full size Pontiac and called a problem solver so that is why it raised the back end. If you don't understand the charts then just ask

https://www.opticatonline.com/part/moog-5391-coil-spring-set

I have the right springs now. Acdelco

 

[Turbolq4]

These cars have really tall stock springs. I put 5662s and Bilstein shocks on it. It also has 45 series tires. The ride is firm but not punishing. The best part of these springs is they don't have much up pressure past ride height. Some of the stock ish springs have near three inches of free height above these. Makes them float/wallow down the road. I'm going to try the bilsteins on the stock springs in the wagon to see what they do.