Yeah a crap ton of trial and error. It was/is one major evolution.

Those springs that speedyguy sold were one off's and as far as I know it was the first 92-99 that was lowered via drop springs. (smellbird)

The second was paulnold and we went with 1-off coilsprings.com drop springs that were a 1.5" drop and F41 spec stiffness.

I followed suit with coilsprings.com except went with a 2" front and 1.75" rear and GR2s.
This setup was pretty stiff, handled great in turns, but was far from ideal on the highway. The front end would bob up and down after larger dips showing that those GR2s could not keep up with the drop and spring rate. I got into an accident that totaled that car.


Keep in mid that the offset on those wheels isn't too agressive and it seems a little lower than it really is.

For my current car I set out for improved dampening. OEM replacements were not going to cut it.



I was originally going to do Koni inserts into cut OEM shocks and coilsprings.com springs but found out some interesting info junkyarding.

KYB AGXs for the W-bodies have been out for a while by then for the W-body community and they seemed to be remedying any pogo issues those guys were having. I knew that they wouldn't bolt up but found that they would to the 00+ H-body knuckle and that it had the same balljoint/hub/tie-rod end orientation as the 92-99. The GP knuckle probably could have worked but it would have been pushing the limits of tie-rod end length.

Another thing that pushed me toward the use of another knuckle is front brake upgrade options. With the GP or 00+, 12" brake upgrades were possible.

A W-body strut could obviously use W-body drops springs just so long as the top of the spring had the same ID as a 92-99. And it did.

The last minor snag was the shaft diameter. The W-body's was slightly smaller, So I found a radiused washer to enlarge the contact point of the top mount and shimmed it where it went through the top mount.

I used Eibach springs and it lowered the front end quite a bit. I want to say around 2.5-3". For the rear I used coilsprings.com custom 2" drop springs and Monro Matic Plus air assist struts so I could dial in the ride height if need be.

That setup was amazing. Decently low, handled great, not real harsh, no pogo, and unparalleled braking with any 92-99.

The write-up for this setup is here: http://95nasta.infiniteboost.com/wp-con ... e_1pt1.pdf






But, I wanted lower. I tried another set of W-body springs that should have made it lower but it didn't. Then tried a custom 3.5" W-body front drop spring and that also didn't get it any lower. It wasn't near the bump stops or anything; it just didn't work out as planned.

During this time period, I had issues with my passenger side axle where there wasn't enough slack in the boot and it would pull off the outer CV. The more aggressive axle angle was finally taking its toll. I was able to fix it by pushing the inner side of the outer CV outward giving the boot more slack and it stopped giving me issues.

I wanted to go lower but I knew I was already pushing the limits of the axles. So, I raised the entire drive train 1.5" using aluminum blocks (front/TA) and modified brackets (rear/dogbone). This put the axles back close to neutral.
1.5" blocks:




Modified rear mount. I cut washers as necessary to make a flat mounting surface for the trans




The first iteration of the dogbone mount. The problem with this is it put the dogbone below the subframe.. I went to avoid an accident on the highway as someone was kind enough to make a 90* turn in front of me at 55 mph.. and my right wheel caught a Jersey barrier. It put me up in the air enough to bottom out my subframe, punch that dogbone, crack the diff housing plus case and shift the diff enough to damage the pinion gear. The trans was ruined.. You can see the mount hanging in the second pic.



I ended up replacing the modified mount for a stock one and used a Rodney Dickman Fiero adjustable dogbone. Spinning it down almost all the way get's it lined up.



Before and after axle angle



And finally I decided to go to a DIY coilover sleeve setup up front, similar to what the GP guys do. I cut the perch off the AGXs, put a sleeve on, 400lb springs, bearings top and bottom and welded a section of 2.5" pipe to the top mount to center the spring up top. For the rear, I went with a 3" custom drop spring.









This setup netted zero wheel gap, an even nicer ride, good handling, and no cv boot issues. I figured out what the lowest ride was that could work as a DD with very little issue. I surprisingly still have decent ground clearance too.

That's the major thing will all of my setups. The ability to DD. Up until I started my winter build I drove my car every day, anywhere and everywhere. Just the past summer I had 4 people and a jam packed trunk on a mini road trip. No problems. Air assist shocks are the truth.

Right now I have a few things in the works to improve the roll center, top mounting, and fender clearance. So, the limits will be pushed once again.

_________________

95 SLE... a keeper. 241k miles. Low and Slow.
97 BMW 528i
98 Infiniti vq35'd i30: 13.3@104mph, 30MPG Hwy (RIP)
02 Jag X-type
03 BMW M5
05 Chevy Cobalt LS
07 Infiniti G35s 6MT (Sold)
07 Ducati Monster S2R 800 with DS1000 swap
83 Yamaha IT175K
72 Yamaha DS7: '74 RD250 swap, JL chambers

Info on dropping a 92-99: Here.

Beautiful! Your time and efforts really show here, Mike.
Thanks for the very in depth explanation.

_________________
1996 Bonneville SSEi
- Stock Is A Bad Word -
3.6, FWI, 1 Range Cooler, and Energy Endlinks couldn't prevent a spun bearing.

amazing,

when do we get to hear those headers?

_________________
-Juan

No bonnie!
93 s10 ex cab: 2.8: t5: exhaust: tbi mods. 5.3, 76mm, and a D.r cam on a stand

Thanks.

This is it so far:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xd-yRwWZYLY

It'll be a few months at least till the engine/trans are back in the car.

_________________

95 SLE... a keeper. 241k miles. Low and Slow.
97 BMW 528i
98 Infiniti vq35'd i30: 13.3@104mph, 30MPG Hwy (RIP)
02 Jag X-type
03 BMW M5
05 Chevy Cobalt LS
07 Infiniti G35s 6MT (Sold)
07 Ducati Monster S2R 800 with DS1000 swap
83 Yamaha IT175K
72 Yamaha DS7: '74 RD250 swap, JL chambers

Info on dropping a 92-99: Here.

I added the W/F body upgrade write-up. I don't know why I didn't include it before.

If there are any questions, other than pricing, feel free.

_________________

95 SLE... a keeper. 241k miles. Low and Slow.
97 BMW 528i
98 Infiniti vq35'd i30: 13.3@104mph, 30MPG Hwy (RIP)
02 Jag X-type
03 BMW M5
05 Chevy Cobalt LS
07 Infiniti G35s 6MT (Sold)
07 Ducati Monster S2R 800 with DS1000 swap
83 Yamaha IT175K
72 Yamaha DS7: '74 RD250 swap, JL chambers

Info on dropping a 92-99: Here.

Love the write up, and found the pdf. I am extremely thankful that you went to your great lengths of research for this as this is exactly what I'll be doing for my 1988 T-Type. Already have the calipers, knuckles and hub, just need to put together the hardware kit and figure out a strut and spring combo. Do you have anything left from all the different variations you came up with?
If not I was thinking of some w-body KYB agx with either a coilspring.com lowering set or Eibach set. The only reason I am leaning towards the coil spring set is that I couldnt make use of the rear Eibach coils, and probably wouldnt be able to sell them.
I'm sure I'll make up my mind one of these days.

Sorry, I've pretty much sold off everything. I was able to sell just the rear Eibachs on CGP when I bought a full set.

Just for refrence though I ordered a 2.5" drop and 25% stiffer than FE3 for a W-body front springs from coilsprings and it netted maybe a tiny bit higher than the Eibachs.

_________________

95 SLE... a keeper. 241k miles. Low and Slow.
97 BMW 528i
98 Infiniti vq35'd i30: 13.3@104mph, 30MPG Hwy (RIP)
02 Jag X-type
03 BMW M5
05 Chevy Cobalt LS
07 Infiniti G35s 6MT (Sold)
07 Ducati Monster S2R 800 with DS1000 swap
83 Yamaha IT175K
72 Yamaha DS7: '74 RD250 swap, JL chambers

Info on dropping a 92-99: Here.

I can tell you've put a lot of blood sweat and tears into that car to get it how you want. Great work Mike.

_________________
Bye Bye:

RIP sandrock

Excellent. I just might go that route on my car after the top swap is done

_________________
2005 GXP - White Gold Pearl, no mods...yet.
2000 SSEi - Resurrection in progress. Built L67 w/L32 fuel rail, ported heads, and cam. Camaro front brake system, GXP cluster, and much more in planning.

It really looks like great work, man. If/when I can finally get some time and money to put into my SSE, I might follow some of your good work.

_________________

WHITE WHINE - 1992 SSE Supercharged 236.26 ci (.040 Over) 15.090 at 90.2 MPH on old engine w/ slipping trans & melted O2 sensor - Gen 3 M62 and matching TB, Gen 2 Pully, Zillamotorsports Ported LIM, YT 1.72 Roller Rockers, SII FPR & Injectors, Hypertech Thermomaster chip w/ 160 Thermo, TransGo Shift Kit, Infinity/Pioneer Speakers & a 10" Alpine Type R Sub, all the watts, 140 amp Alternator, Ricepipe CAI w/ heatshield, Pilot Angel Eye Foglights, Clear Corners, '02 17" Chrome Bent 5's, Magnaflow F-Body Muffler and Hi-flo Cat, Ceramic Coated Ported Exhaust Manifolds, Fan Override, Monroe Reflex struts, red calipers
2009 G8 GT - Sport Red Metallic, loaded, SOLO Axlebacks, Rotofab Intake, Tuned, autodim mirror, removed intake manifold cover, HSV GTS triple gauge pod, two tone red-hot shifter and HSV SuperSport steering wheel, GXP rear sway bar and diffuser, 3.45 diff and various Camaro suspension bits, LED Taillights

I appreciate it guys.

_________________

95 SLE... a keeper. 241k miles. Low and Slow.
97 BMW 528i
98 Infiniti vq35'd i30: 13.3@104mph, 30MPG Hwy (RIP)
02 Jag X-type
03 BMW M5
05 Chevy Cobalt LS
07 Infiniti G35s 6MT (Sold)
07 Ducati Monster S2R 800 with DS1000 swap
83 Yamaha IT175K
72 Yamaha DS7: '74 RD250 swap, JL chambers

Info on dropping a 92-99: Here.

Great write up thanks.One question I noticed you made no mention of the control arms.Yours look aluminum and your car came with stamped steel no?Did you use aluminum arms from a newer car?If so any issues?

Nope I have stock 92-99 control arms.

I did use the aluminum steering knuckle from an 00+ H-body though.

_________________

95 SLE... a keeper. 241k miles. Low and Slow.
97 BMW 528i
98 Infiniti vq35'd i30: 13.3@104mph, 30MPG Hwy (RIP)
02 Jag X-type
03 BMW M5
05 Chevy Cobalt LS
07 Infiniti G35s 6MT (Sold)
07 Ducati Monster S2R 800 with DS1000 swap
83 Yamaha IT175K
72 Yamaha DS7: '74 RD250 swap, JL chambers

Info on dropping a 92-99: Here.

Ah ok I'm not sure they would fit though I don't have one here for reference.I have my front and rear suspension apart and looking at pics of the aluminum looks like it has rubber bushings in both eyes where as the steel has rubber in one and the other on the frame hmm...yards want enough for the aluminum arms for me not to buy one for R&D but maybe I'll take my steel with me and compare when I buy the knuckles.

How much is too much for aluminum control arms? I have a stockpile here.

_________________
Andrew - owner/operator of Bonnevilles Unlimited

2004 Bonneville GXP | 60k | White Gold Tricoat | custom built supercharged 3800 hot rod | garage queen
1997 Corvette | 57k | Silver Metallic | Z06 wheels | Date-night Hauler/Parts runner
2014 Town & Country Limited | Cashmere Pearl | 110k | Family Hauler
2002 Ram 1500 Quad Cab Sport | Black| 270k | Official Bonneville Hauler

This car is amazing

_________________
2004 Bonneville SE 151,xxx- 20% tint all around, 5% tint bar on windshield | 4500k DDM HID low | De-badged | Hardwired Passport 9500ix | FWI(inter-cooler piping) | FE2 Rear Sway Bar | Solid Motor Mount | 180* Stat | Firm Shift Kit



- '92 Bonneville SE - '85 Grand Am - '73 Catalina - '67 Catalina
- '87 Bonneville SE - '82 6000 - '78 Catalina [/color]

Were did You get the head Lamps I love them!

First off, this thread is quite old, you will want to pay attention to dates so that old threads don't get stirred up.

Second, I believe they came off of a BMW, and he did custom bodywork to make them work.

_________________
~Randall~


1993 Buick Park Avenue - 197k - Some odds and ends done - Simply won't die
1994 Buick Regal - 78k - Bone stock - Always ready for a good kicking
1990 Oldsmobile 88 - Gone to a better place

Thanks. They're off an E39 5 series.

Here's info on the work needed to make them fit:
viewtopic.php?f=9&t=12270&p=150098&

_________________

95 SLE... a keeper. 241k miles. Low and Slow.
97 BMW 528i
98 Infiniti vq35'd i30: 13.3@104mph, 30MPG Hwy (RIP)
02 Jag X-type
03 BMW M5
05 Chevy Cobalt LS
07 Infiniti G35s 6MT (Sold)
07 Ducati Monster S2R 800 with DS1000 swap
83 Yamaha IT175K
72 Yamaha DS7: '74 RD250 swap, JL chambers

Info on dropping a 92-99: Here.

Love your Car man. Any updates on the car since your last post? I'm planning on doing the DIY coilovers to my car as well. What length springs did you get for coil overs and where did you get the bearings for the springs? Also you just let the sleeve rest on the bottom of the shocks right? And did you leave the back shocks stock but just have the 3'' drop springs?