an FYI about lowering the front of your 1st GEN W-body

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[TurboSedan]

DO NOT use the KYB integrated strut jounce bumper/strut boot piece (like the ones tirerack.com sells).  with the Intrax 1.7" drop springs, my car is sitting right on the jounce bumpers (aka bump stops).  this makes for once stiff/bouncy ride.  it's tolerable, but pretty bad.  on the highway it's ok.  it's also keeping the front end of my car higher than what it's supposed to be....just look at RDubya's TGP with Intrax springs and then look at my car with Intrax springs.  big difference.

due to the KYB strut boot/jounce bumper being an integrated piece, you can't just cut an inch or two off the jounce bumper to gain more suspension travel - because you'd be cutting the strut boot off.

soo...if you buy lowering springs i would go with an OEM style jounce bumper and cut maybe 1.5" off the bottom part of it (considering the springs lower the car 1.5"-1.7") and then use a regular OEM style strut boot.  Monroe probably makes the right style of replacements but i haven't checked yet.  either that or just get GM parts.

[AWeb80]

Yep Josh.

I used my stock jounce bumper (yellow in color IIRC) and just cut it in half......works great for me....no "bottoming out"

[DiscoStudd]

Good info!  Glad I hadn't installed my Intraxes before reading this...

[Invasion1]

*adds that to the growing list of things to do*

[R Dubya]

I need to clarify the jounce bumper.  This is the piece that slides over the shaft of the strut, under the boot and spring correct?  Mine was yellow in color, looked almost nicoteine stained or something.  

If this is indeed what you are talking about, is it removeable with the knuckles still in the car or am I SOL and have to remove everything?

[TurboSedan]

I need to clarify the jounce bumper.  This is the piece that slides over the shaft of the strut, under the boot and spring correct?  Mine was yellow in color, looked almost nicoteine stained or something.

yes that's the piece.

If this is indeed what you are talking about, is it removeable with the knuckles still in the car or am I SOL and have to remove everything?

yeah you can leave the strut/knuckle assemblies in.  i'm not sure if you'd need the W-body strut tool or not  you wouldn't need to remove the strut cartridge, but you would need to remove the top plate, strut mount, and then the boot and jounce bumper.  you might need the W-body strut tool to get the strut shaft centered in the hole so you can drop the strut mount back in though.

[GOT2B GM]

hmm I have to do this to my Z34 with ST springs. Its constantly hitting the bump stop.

[R Dubya]

well thats on my to do list now as well..

Thanks for the heads up, I thought something was wrong in there.

[TurboSedan]

well thats on my to do list now as well..

Thanks for the heads up, I thought something was wrong in there.

what jounce bumpers are you currently using?  if they are the OEM yellow ones are they cut?  are you having any problems with your front suspension or does it just sit too low for you?

[R Dubya]

I have no problem with its ride height, but it bottoms out the coil springs.  The knuckles are from a 98 Lumina, sand blasted, painted, intrax springs and a brand new set of sensatracs.   Post a pic of the part you are talking about if you get a chance.  Do you have a pic of yours cut?

[Robby1870]

I've got a little request here, but it's on topic.  I've never really dealt with the front springs/knuckles much so that's why I'm asking this.  If anyone has a picture of the strut/knuckle assembly with everything hooked up, could you maybe draw some arrows and add some words pointing out each piece?  Thanks.  Sorry to sound like a n00b.

[Invasion1]

friggin Robby the newb.....









 :smilielol:

[TurboSedan]

I have no problem with its ride height, but it bottoms out the coil springs.  The knuckles are from a 98 Lumina, sand blasted, painted, intrax springs and a brand new set of sensatracs.   Post a pic of the part you are talking about if you get a chance.  Do you have a pic of yours cut?

i don't have any pics of the OEM jounce bumpers.  i'm using the KYB integrated strut mount/boots:
http://www.turbosedan.com/ste/brakes_susp/DSC02411.JPG
http://www.turbosedan.com/ste/brakes_susp/DSC02413.JPG

i think the jounce bumper section is just too tall for the 1.7" drop the Intrax springs give.

sounds like i'm having the opposite problem you are.  from the sounds of it, your springs are bottoming out due to too much suspension travel, whereas my springs are so limited in travel due to the KYB jounce bumper.  the jounce bumper literally sits right on top of the strut cartridge.  this is what's causing my bumpy ride and why my ride height isn't nearly as low as yours.  fwiw my knuckles are from a '96 Cutlass (for big brake upgrade).  they are exactly the same as yours as far as i know.

i guess i'm going to start out by using OEM jounce bumpers without cutting them and see how it works.  if suspension travel is still limited to the point that i'm sitting on or hitting the jounce bumpers i'll cut some of it off.

[TurboSedan]

I've got a little request here, but it's on topic.  I've never really dealt with the front springs/knuckles much so that's why I'm asking this.  If anyone has a picture of the strut/knuckle assembly with everything hooked up, could you maybe draw some arrows and add some words pointing out each piece?  Thanks.  Sorry to sound like a n00b.

lots of pics of the front suspension here from pic 2408-2510:

http://www.turbosedan.com/ste/brakes_susp

those pics showed me putting them in my old TSTE but it's now all in my Cutlass.

[pat]

wonder if thats one of the reasons my car rides like a go-kart.