1985 Monte SS with a ZF6

[CadVetteStang]

Originally Posted by SickSpeedMonte

I seriously suspect that my stock suspension was in a good bit of bind at this low ride height. The Johnny Joints seem to have freed up the suspension articulation quite a bit. I've noticed some roll steer and the car just feels different (less stable actually). I wonder if I need to get the currie lower arms now, as the stockers have 200k on them and the bushings.

When you lowered the front of the car (speaking only of the amount that may have been lowered by the springs), did you shorten the sway bar end links to level the sway bar? Assuming you have the standard front bushings and side end links that are essentially extra long bolts that run through a metal sleeve that separates the end link bushings- you would have to cut the sleeves down so that the sides of the bar are level again. This may require shorter grade 8 bolts if the ones you have are not threaded all the way through. If you did not cut the sleeves- and if the springs lowered the car much, then the swaybar is in a bind. If you switch to polyurethane bushings and end links, be sure to leave some room for the end links to work- if you tighten the end link bolts too much, the bar can only work by bending the bolts. – that can make it bind too--- until the bolt breaks.


Unstable? An often overlooked adjustment when lowering and or changing the forward rake or stance of the car is the front end alignment. You have had so much done to yours that a factory spec alignment may no longer be correctly angled- especially in camber and caster. You might need someone (who knows more than me) to figure out what the best alignment angles would be for you.

Here are three sites that talk about alignments; the last one is for Regals and should be more specific to your car:

http://www.familycar.com/Alignment.htm

Also: http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tirete...e.jsp?techid=4

And: http://www.gnttype.org/techarea/susp...uspension.html

[montessaj]

Bernie, I'm glad you took my advice and got on this site! Lots of excellent cars on this site, and its the perfect place for your Monte.

Andy

[SickSpeedMonte]

Originally Posted by CadVetteStang

When you lowered the front of the car (speaking only of the amount that may have been lowered by the springs), did you shorten the sway bar end links to level the sway bar? Assuming you have the standard front bushings and side end links that are essentially extra long bolts that run through a metal sleeve that separates the end link bushings- you would have to cut the sleeves down so that the sides of the bar are level again. This may require shorter grade 8 bolts if the ones you have are not threaded all the way through. If you did not cut the sleeves- and if the springs lowered the car much, then the swaybar is in a bind. If you switch to polyurethane bushings and end links, be sure to leave some room for the end links to work- if you tighten the end link bolts too much, the bar can only work by bending the bolts. – that can make it bind too--- until the bolt breaks.


Unstable? An often overlooked adjustment when lowering and or changing the forward rake or stance of the car is the front end alignment. You have had so much done to yours that a factory spec alignment may no longer be correctly angled- especially in camber and caster. You might need someone (who knows more than me) to figure out what the best alignment angles would be for you.

Here are three sites that talk about alignments; the last one is for Regals and should be more specific to your car:

http://www.familycar.com/Alignment.htm

Also: http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tirete...e.jsp?techid=4

And: http://www.gnttype.org/techarea/susp...uspension.html

I didn't shorten the end links, and thank you for pointing that out. The springs lowered the car about 2", so judginb by the end link location, in relation to the LBJ and LCA bushings, the end links probably need to be 1.25" shorter or so. Thanks for the tip.

I do plan on getting an alignment done, but I need to get a new steering box first. The one in the car is the original and has 200k+ on it.

Originally Posted by montessaj

Bernie, I'm glad you took my advice and got on this site! Lots of excellent cars on this site, and its the perfect place for your Monte.

Andy

Thanks for the referral! I'm loving it here.

[Ummgawa]

Very neat car. I really like the Monte SS of that year.