F41 suspension swap
- murderedout
- SLE Member

- Posts: 76
- Joined: Mon Jan 17, 2011 5:30 am
- Year and Trim: 1989 bonneville LE flat black paint 133k
F41 suspension swap
How do i do it? What is needed? Estimate of cost? since i have fixed the engine problem i want this thing to handle the twisties when i go to work everyday. anything to make it handle better lay it on me
- MattStrike
- Certified Bonneville Nut

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- Year and Trim: '99 Montana
'04 Dirtymax
'97 Camaro
'92 Trofeo - Location: SE Michigan
Re: F41 suspension swap
'86-'91 F41 donor is required. You will need the springs, sway bars, struts, and rack & pinion. Junkyard price for these are about $160. I wouldn't trust junkyard struts and shocks for long though. Later F41 cars use a different spring and mount and strut, the whole assembly may be swappable but I haven't tested.
If you want it to handle firm (for an H-body), the F41 sway bars and struts & shocks and stock tires wont cut it. There is a Cadillac that uses a 34mm front sway bar that fits our H-bodies, and you will want to find a 21mm rear sway bar off a newer H-body.
You will need 16" wheels (mine are from a Regal) and some 225 or wider tires.
I use KYB struts & shocks. I don't get a lot of body roll thought corners. Problem I have is with the front end lifting 6" every time I hit the gas, but it corners nicely.
If you want it to handle firm (for an H-body), the F41 sway bars and struts & shocks and stock tires wont cut it. There is a Cadillac that uses a 34mm front sway bar that fits our H-bodies, and you will want to find a 21mm rear sway bar off a newer H-body.
You will need 16" wheels (mine are from a Regal) and some 225 or wider tires.
I use KYB struts & shocks. I don't get a lot of body roll thought corners. Problem I have is with the front end lifting 6" every time I hit the gas, but it corners nicely.
Boost addict

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The Fleet:
'93 SSEi - Twincharged + manual Build thread
'97 Camaro - Top swap
'05 STS - V8, AWD, her DD
'92 Trofeo - Fair weather DD
'99 Montana - top swap 3800
'04 Sierra 2500HD - LLY Duramax
Current project:
Something cool, trust me.
Upcoming projects:
'92 Bonneville SSE
'87 LeSabre T-type
'67 LeSabre
Gone to greener pastures:
'84 Sierra Classic - Twin turbo 3800
'97 LeSabre - Top swap
RIP:
'86 LeSabre - pictures
'93 SE - L67
-
Jrs3800
- Retired Admin/Techinfo Admin

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Re: F41 suspension swap
A 32mm bar would be quite good for the front... The 34mm bar is like liquid gold here...
You are going to be hard pressed to find an F41 H body in my opinion.... and if you do 87- mid 90 should be a match for your car... Late 90 production went to the 92 + coil spring set up... An example is my 91 LE, its an Oct Production and uses the same parts as the 92-99 suspension wise...
The set up you go after will depend on what you really want...
I have F41 springs from a 93 Olds, as well as the 32mm front bar and 21mm rear bar... These will go on the 91 when I find the time to bring it back to life...
as well remember that for Pontiac F41 never used Load Level, so the rear springs are designed to hold more weight as there is no air assist...
On the FE2 the rear uses the air ride ( load level ) as part of the calculated system... so everything makes a difference...
I will hazard a guess and say you have the FE1 suspension?
You are going to be hard pressed to find an F41 H body in my opinion.... and if you do 87- mid 90 should be a match for your car... Late 90 production went to the 92 + coil spring set up... An example is my 91 LE, its an Oct Production and uses the same parts as the 92-99 suspension wise...
The set up you go after will depend on what you really want...
I have F41 springs from a 93 Olds, as well as the 32mm front bar and 21mm rear bar... These will go on the 91 when I find the time to bring it back to life...
as well remember that for Pontiac F41 never used Load Level, so the rear springs are designed to hold more weight as there is no air assist...
On the FE2 the rear uses the air ride ( load level ) as part of the calculated system... so everything makes a difference...
I will hazard a guess and say you have the FE1 suspension?
- murderedout
- SLE Member

- Posts: 76
- Joined: Mon Jan 17, 2011 5:30 am
- Year and Trim: 1989 bonneville LE flat black paint 133k
Re: F41 suspension swap
Mine maybe the FE1 I remember when I first got it the struts were shot and it was like driving a cloud. Put new struts on the front and smaller wider totes and it handled like a different car. I guess I'll just go for tje sway bars and see how that makes it feel and add on as I feel the need.thanks
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purplexj
- LE Member
- Posts: 5
- Joined: Mon Apr 11, 2011 9:23 pm
- Year and Trim: 1990 Olds 88
1999 Regal GS
Re: F41 suspension swap
The 92up front struts will fit and raise the front 1" from stock. I have them on mine and it leveled it out. I should have gotten the entire set u at one time, brakes and all. I did the 92up front brakes and it was a direct swap with no changing of other parts. Just knuckle, rotor , caliper and pad. My struts were from a 97 SSEI and i put new top mounts , bellows and stops on them. Changed everything else as suggested here. F41 rack, 32/21mm sway (all poly) . Added the core supports from a caddy , which had a 34mm sway but i had already pulled a 32mm. And, the strut brace from the same SSEI. I'm using rear air but stock springs. This is all on a 90 Eighty Eight. Rides great handles way better. The only problem is that with a little air in the rears it rides higher.
- 89OldsRocket
- SSE Member

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- Joined: Thu Jan 29, 2009 3:03 am
- Year and Trim: 1989 Oldsmobile 88 Royale Brougham Regency - FE3
Re: F41 suspension swap
Is the F41 suspension equivalent to the FE3? My Olds 88 has the FE3 and is pretty stiff and the steering box is very responsive. I think this option also has the HD tranny cooler as well.
1989 Oldsmobile 88 Royale Brougham Regency - Grey on Grey - FE3 - X06 Package - Limo Tint - Clarion HU - 2K Pontiac Grand Am 15" Alloy Rims

