Ok guys, time to get new tires, along with it is suspension. What should I all get? Remind you, I don't want to lower the car and I am on kind of on a tight budget. Any input on prices, part #'s, where to order from, etc would be appreciated!
Get KYB GR-2 Struts all the way around. Not a firm ride, but much better than stock suspension. Good/Year Eagle HP was a great all around working tire on my TGP. Smooth, quiet, and great in the rain. 8)
I agree with the KYB's. As far as tires, I would grab a set of Kuhmo Ecsta Supras. I have had them on mine since right after I got it, and they work great! Good wet traction, killer dry traction, and excellent treadwear. I usually have to buy tires every other month, and these have lasted since last March. Oh, they are also hella cheap. I think I paid $102 a tire mounted and balanced with disposal fee's for old tires.
Sounds like a good price for tires. I think I paid $140 per tire mounted and balanced for the Good/Years... 8)
The 245/45/ZR17's I have on the Cutty were $145 each. I have heard that the Kuhmo's separate (I have seen this as well) I personally am going to stick w/ my Toyo Proxes FZ4's. I'm gonna have some pics of the TGP on my webshots site tonight, and I will grab some shots of it w/ my Cutty 17's on there, to get opinions on what you guys think.
If they havent seperated under my driving, they never will. I road course the TGP regularly, and not to mention I just generally drive hard.
What are the part #'s for teh KYG's? Is there anything else I should get as far as springs, mounts, etc?
Quote from: turbo90gpWhat are the part #'s for teh KYG's? Is there anything else I should get as far as springs, mounts, etc?
Go to www.tirerack.com and look them up for our cars. I think that's the cheapest place people found to get them. :D
Make sure you get the tower braces aswell. The stock ones are prone to clunk. That should about do it.
Quote from: 90tgpblkMake sure you get the tower braces aswell. The stock ones are prone to clunk. That should about do it.
You mean the strut mounts are prone to clunking right? (The strut mount being that big
rubber piece that you can see when you remove the strut tower cover plate.)
You can pick up strut mounts for about $20-$25 a piece. Most strut mounts will be falling apart
after 10+ years.
You might also want to take apart the strut bearing, clean it and re-lube it with
fresh heavy duty molly grease.
Yes I couldn't remember the proper term.. Thank you for clear that up..
But yes they need replacing.
KCP
I think i know what you mean by clunking, ever time i go over a bump of any sort it makes a clunk-clunk sound from both the front struts, do you think it is the strut mounts, they are most likely factory. Thanks
The front struts are far from conventional struts. As such, any clunking is probably from somewhere else. I would suggest checking the sway bar links, ball joints and control arm bushings. The rack bolts and bushings can also cause a clunking noise.
However, if the upper strut bolt or the upper strut plate is loose it may cause your clunking. The plates on top of the strut towers are a structural member, they keep the strut in place.
Ok, now, I may be stupid, but I dont want just the front cartridge insert for the KYB-GR2, but the whole front shock, correct? Because I did a search and here is what came up http://tirerack.com/suspension/Susptabl.jsp?category=Shocks&scat=Shocks&scat=BootMount&autoMake=Pontiac&autoModel=Grand+Prix+SE+Coupe&autoYear=1990&brand=all&perfcat=premium&perfcat=perf&x=77&y=4
HELP ME PLEASE! I am an idiot when it comes to suspension and brake work, lol
Nope, what they show is what you get. What would be considered the "whole strut" is not normally serviced as an assembly, just the cartridge inside is replaced.
So you don't think it could be the strut mounts? It goes clunk-clunk over bumps, and on gravel about 15mph it will sometimes do the same really fast, how do i tell if the strut mounts are bad? How should they look? I'll check the rest out wed. thanks,
Oh, my steering wheel now vibrates side to side at pretty much any speed and the tire pressures are correct, it never use to do that, i think my problem is getting worse.
You need to give your front end a complete check out. It could be alot of things, but its rare for the w-body front struts to clunk. The rear struts will clunk though, and the upper mounts will do it.
Chris
ball joints clunk also!
Yep, thanks for adding, I didn't have time go into detail. Figured if they needed it, they would ask.
Quote from: Chris AThe front struts are far from conventional struts. As such, any clunking is probably from somewhere else. I would suggest checking the sway bar links, ball joints and control arm bushings. The rack bolts and bushings can also cause a clunking noise.
The strut mount has a metal base and a rubber top. If The metal base of the strut mount
starts seperating from the rubber top, you can get an annoying clunk when going over
speed bumps. Since the car is 10+ years old, I would replace the strut mount if it looks
torn in anyway.
And yes, as Chris stated, the tie rod ends, ball joints, and control arm bushings can make
noise. If the ball joints (about ~$30 a piece at Autozone) are original I would certainly
replace them when doing the struts.
If you pop out the tie rod ends, grab the inner tie rods and make sure that there is no
in & out play on the inner tie rods themselves.
You can check the control arm bushings by jacking up the car and looking at the bushings.
The bushings can be weather checked, but the bushings should be equally seperated at
all locations. ie: You should not have a bushing that looks like it has been sandwiched.