hard ride. suspension?

[forcedinduct22]

My 00 ssei rides kinda rough. I've driven le sabres and cadillac Seville's (same frame and suspension) that ride nice and smooth like new and hits bumps fairly soft. I installed new quick struts on the front and new shocks and mounts in the back and there are no rattles or nothing just seems to hit bumps hard and ride a little rough. Any ideas on making it hit bumps more softer. Maybe subframe bushings, control arms. IDK Thanks.

[redzmonte]

the SSEI has a Suspension FE3 which is stiffer springs larger sway bars and "Sport Shocks". if you swap to FE1/FE2 you will soften it up but it will not handle as well.

S

[forcedinduct22]

Yes I know this but I would like it to ride like when it was brand new. Im a certified mechanic and work at a shop and drove another one the other day with only 60k miles on it and it rode excellent I wanted to yank all the suspension off it and swap haha

[RJolly87]

How many miles on your car? You will probably have to rebuild the entire suspension, front and back. Bushing, struts, etc.

[KM AXer]

Recognize that the quick strut is a compromise fitment. The same part number will be used for several applications, which had noticeably different ride quality. Car manufacturers caught hell for a while by using only slightly different sheet metal, trim, and brand badges on what were otherwise the same car. Dang near killed the American auto industry. Most of the people on this list were probably not around for the "Chevy engine in my Oldsmobile!" debacle. But I get off-topic...

Anyway, about the "one part fits all" issue, being stiffer is not what I would have expected, because the SSE/SSEi original equipment was, as compared to the other brands like Buick, more "performance oriented". In almost all cases, the Pontiac was the stiffer version compared to the other brands which used the same platform.

Another factor is this: Replacement shocks can sometimes be a bit harsher than the OE being taken off. The reason for that is this: If the OE shock is really still functioning within design limits at the time of replacement, the aftermarket shock must produce a change that the consumer can notice. That means a slightly more taut ride, usually felt in impact response like expansion joints, etc.

So, a couple of questions:

How many miles are on your car?

Is it possible that the shocks/struts were changed before, or are you certain that you took off the OE stuff?

Did the supplier you used for shocks and struts have more than one option available? If so (and that was the case for my '93 SSE) you must have chosen the stiffest one.

Being an auto tech, you must realize that (if there is no unusual binding) the extra harshness will subside with some miles. Also, you are in Ohio, it is still cold there, and new shocks will be extra stiff because of the temperature. I put new struts all around on my SSE, and the ride was pretty firm (not to the level of annoyance, though), especially for the first winter. It has since become more relaxed.

Now, if I can just get those brake lines fixed....

[nos4blood70]

Just to clear up, most SLEs and all SSEis had FE2.

What brand stuff did you put on the car? Not many here are fans of Monroe. Myself included.

[forcedinduct22]

I have 135k on my car which isn't alot at all and they only offered 1 strut for the front. The rear is pretty smooth since I changed the trailing arms or whatever they call them. Look like tie rods in the rear. The front is what I'm concerned with. I'm thinking I might have to change subframe bushings and lower control arms. I drive alot of different cars everyday and I don't think it's riding stiff it just feels it hits hard every little bump like maybe my bushing need all done. The car sat alot therefore not alot of miles for a 2000 the subframe bushings and control arm bushings look dry rotted from what I can see. I'm guna try new control arms and get all new subframe bushings from the dealer. I don't mind if the ride is stiff. I just want it to feel more solid

[KM AXer]

http://gmpartsdirect.com/ and

http://www.gmpartsgiant.com/

Can be your friend, if you want to save some money over what you will pay at pretty much all dealerships. Some will sell at internet prices, but not many, in my experience. I have bought from both, and been happy with the parts every time.

[dadofone2011]

Im going to steal a thread here or would this have anything to do with my car riding a lot harder over last 2 weeks now it seems like I can notice every single bump in the back to my car. Wasn't so bad till the wife said something about it.

[KM AXer]

Im going to steal a thread here or would this have anything to do with my car riding a lot harder over last 2 weeks now it seems like I can notice every single bump in the back to my car. Wasn't so bad till the wife said something about it.

IF your car has the self-leveling suspension that is automatically adjusted by air from an on-board compressor...

Yes a problem in the air system anywhere could cause the rear to hit hard. It would be most noticeable when carrying extra weight in the trunk or back seat, but even with a minimal load that issue can be felt. To me, what that was like was hitting bump-stops in the travel of the rear suspension.
For my '93, replacing the rear struts fixed the issue.

You have not said, but do you hear the air compressor running often?

[dadofone2011]

No it runs after start up and I don't hear it again.

[KM AXer]

No it runs after start up and I don't hear it again.

OK, well I'm not certain about the limitations of the system, and whether it will stop running if it cannot build pressure. On my car at least, it almost never runs unless I add weight to the trunk or back seat. The system holds pressure while it sits, even for several days or longer. Running every start up might just be a bad sign that it can't hold pressure.

When my rear shocks were bad, I took a couple of hundred mile trip with five of us in the car, and some luggage. It was a rough ride... I do recall the compressor running every time we stopped for fuel, food, breaks, etc. But I don't know whether it was pumping as we rolled down the highway.

[wl1904]

I'm having the same exact problem as forcedinduct22. Please update us on the outcome forcedinduct22 . My suspension rides rough on the front but the back is fine. I've taken it to quality shops and they say that everything looks good. My Bonneville is a 2000 with 125k miles. I've replaced the struts through the dealer and believe it was replaced by the original brand. Love the car but hate the rough ride. I bought it new so therefore I've been the only owner. Please somebody.......anybody........Helllllp!

[AJT2004]

Tire pressure is sometimes overlooked when dealing with ride issues. Did you try GM recommended psi levels to check how the ride quality feels?

[wl1904]

Thanks for the quick response but it's 30 psi. Still rides hard over bumps. Is there anyone here with a 2000's style Bonny? If so do you have or had the same issue?

[ddalder]

OK, well I'm not certain about the limitations of the system, and whether it will stop running if it cannot build pressure. On my car at least, it almost never runs unless I add weight to the trunk or back seat. The system holds pressure while it sits, even for several days or longer. Running every start up might just be a bad sign that it can't hold pressure.

Every 2000+ Bonneville will run the compressor for a few seconds at ignition 'On'. This functionality is part of the RIM programming and is normal. It would not be normal however to have the compressor run again without adding weight to the rear of the vehicle.