I have a mostly stock 1986 Grand Prix. I have aftermarket American racing rims and BFG tires. I think the fronts are 235 60 15. Every time I hit a dip my front crashes down on the front passenger tire and makes a horrible scrape sound. I would like new shocks and springs that would ride nice , (a little stiff is ok), that will ride about stock height. I've read that blistering and mood might be good options. Can someone provide specific part numbers? I would really appreciate the help. Thanks.
Shock suspension question
- Thread starter pic18
- Start date
- Status
Maybe the stock Monte SS front springs to firm it up some and KYB Gas-Adjust shocks? What engine? 305? What engine did the car originally have?
Check out this link on Moog Spring options. It takes a little studying to fully understand but it is great information.
http://jeffd.50megs.com/Moog_Spring_Page.htm
http://jeffd.50megs.com/Moog_Spring_Page.htm
I have an 82 GP that was a Diesel car but was swapped to a SBC before I bought it. I just rebuilt the front end and I went with Moog 5660 front springs which are a popular upgrade on these cars. Here is a link to my build thread.....
https://gbodyforum.com/threads/space-city-1982-gp-build.55501/
https://gbodyforum.com/threads/space-city-1982-gp-build.55501/
I'll have to read that in a quiet place and see if I get it! But if anyone else understands it faster, I'm looking for stock ride height with less compression on dips in the road, but not 100% stiff
The stock Monte SS front spring is the Moog 5606 (without A/C) or 5608 (with A/C). The KYB shocks for the front are the KG4513. The stock springs for your car are the 5600 (without A/C) or the 5602 (with A/C). If you look at that chart in the link above you will see those stock springs are pretty mushy (346 lb. spring rate). The SS springs have a 420 lb. spring rate and the 5660's have a 639 lb. spring rate so they might be too firm for you. Keep in mind your original springs are tired and are probably sagging some. Any of these new springs will likely lift the front of your car.
I don't have my car back together yet so I can't comment on ride height or quality of the 5660's yet. I'm under the impression that the 5660's go in with a nearly stock ride height. My car had tired original diesel springs and I had some rubbing on a hard left turn with some suspension travel with my 235/60/16 tires. I'm hoping for a little lift in the front for better clearance. My tired diesel springs were way too mushy and floaty for me.
If you want to stiffen it up a little I have used Gabriel Load Carrier Shocks as a quick fix when I have added weight to the front end and they only add a slight increase in ride height if any.
About $80 from Summit.
About $80 from Summit.
What is scraping? Is the tire hitting the inner fender? The stiffest shocks/springs won't prevent tire rub if the suspension arc moves the tire into the inner fender.
What is the width/BS of the Wheels? If they are 3.5", you may need to massage your inner fenders for clearance.
I run 255's in front with the car lowered so ZQ8 bumpstops are about 1/4" off the frame and inner fender surgery was needed for clearance.
Bilstein shocks are great. On our 700 mile roadtrip in my lowered T-type last weekend (even with 255's all around, cut 5662 front springs and an F-body 36mm Hollow front sway bar) it road and drove like a Buick.
What is the width/BS of the Wheels? If they are 3.5", you may need to massage your inner fenders for clearance.
I run 255's in front with the car lowered so ZQ8 bumpstops are about 1/4" off the frame and inner fender surgery was needed for clearance.
Bilstein shocks are great. On our 700 mile roadtrip in my lowered T-type last weekend (even with 255's all around, cut 5662 front springs and an F-body 36mm Hollow front sway bar) it road and drove like a Buick.
- Status
Similar threads
