FE2 Suspension question

[rustymutt]

I've searched elsewhere but couldn't find the answers, so hopefully my friendly Aurora fanatics can help

My '99 Montana van has the sports suspension - the original window sticker says it is the FE2 package. What exactly is different from a non-sports package? I'm guessing a non-sports suspension is the FE1. Is there a sway bar difference? Springs?

I searched RockAuto for clues and it only lists 1 swaybar and 1 set of springs for it. If there was a difference in FE1/FE2, I would expect them to list different parts. So I need some help to understand more.

I'm asking because we recently bought an '06 Buick Terraza (minivan) and I miss the handling of the Montana. I can't help but wonder... what would I need to do to improve handling? What I dislike most is the Buick takes a nose-dive when you hit the brakes, and the body has a lot of roll on the turns. I could get used to it over time, but having the FE2 on the Montana and whatever is on my Aurora (FE3?) has me a little spoiled in the handing department. I'm not going to go nuts trying to change the Buick, but I'm definitely curious what it would take to firm up the handling.

I believe the '06 Montana SV6 (essentially the same as my Buick) came with an available sport suspension, but I just don't know what is literally different.

Any help shedding light on this will be appreciated.

Thanks!
Dave

[nice95]

First read this and thought that's a pretty easy question. Did a web search,, and found tons of listings, none of which tells what you're getting witht he package. I even found a GM decoder, even it only lists generics, (IMO), here's what the GM RPO sheet lists:

OptCode OptCont Opt OptFamOpt OptNounName OptDesc ActionDat OpRe OwActivityStatus


FE2 6653 P SSP M SUSPENSION SYSTEM RIDE, HANDLING 840427 E E E A

Sorry I couldn't get them to line up better, top line is the column heading for the second line.

Not much help, but doesn't seem to be a "good" description out there.

[sksb3]

FE1 SUSPENSION SYSTEM , SOFT RIDE
FE2 SUSPENSION SYSTEM , \"RIDE, HANDLING\"
FE3 SUSPENSION SYSTEM , SPORT

FE3 are stiffer (sport) ride suspensions. Many here upgrade front and rear sway bars on the Aurora to FE3 Seville STS sway bars. To tame body roll you can get rid of the rubber sway bar and end link bushings and replace with poly bushings and end links. Upgrading to poly is like upgrading to a larger diameter sway bar. You could inherently do both but I\\\'m not sure how stiff of a ride you want. Theres a little more to it than just sway bars (struts, etc) but just read up on FE1 vs FE2 FE3, etc.

[robaurora01]

well put it this way, call a dealer and you can get the fe2 however what your feeling is it needs new struts specially in the front no vehicle is supose to nose dive like your saying even if its an 06 I bet its still the struts, any monroe ones will do much better then what you currently have.

now to get a better handling, get a strut bar plain and simple

[rustymutt]

Thanks for the replies!

I'm not accustomed to working with dealers, so I wouldn't know what to expect if I walked in and asked about the differences between FE1 and FE2 (or specifically regarding my van). Having worked with software support, I would cringe at that type of question Would most dealerships hate me or really work with me to get the info? I bought this used and would be walking in blind to a GM repair shop to just ask.

I purchased new struts but haven't installed them yet... and have even reevaluated whether they were worn or if the handling was just characteristic of the suspension. So many of the vans I test drove were the same way. My van has 35k miles, which seems really early for needing them to be replaced. It does a nosedive, but immediately settles and doesn't bounce after that. I thought perhaps the rear shocks were contributing to the nosedive, so I replaced the rear shocks last week and it still nosedives. I probably ought to just do the struts and be done.

Apparently the sway bar links have been redesigned for these last gen GM minivans... from what I've read the OEM ones were too weak and they caused lots of weird rattles. These aren't the typical link design - they attach from the sway bar to the upper part of the strut, and are maybe 12" long. New ones have zerk fittings on each end. Replacing these will probably affect the handing as well.

There's a lot of general info online about FE2 but noting that really says anything like, "these 3 parts are different..." I'm surprised how little is out there... or if it is out there somewhere it is just really hard to find it.

Dave

[robaurora01]

fe1 means "soft and cushiny ride" to put it midly and fe2 means the sport suspension which means " I can take that turn that says 50 at 90 "

[robaurora01]

and those "weird say bars links " its called their trying to mimic the european designs and import designs on their sway bar links. my honest opinion they should stick to whats on the aurora and alero's

[ntrenn]

Rob, you forgot FE3 - I can jar your teeth out while taking this 50 curve at 90....

I own 2 cars with factory FE3.

[robaurora01]

lol I was being sarcastic obviously with the speed difference lol but I just wanted to get my point out to what they were designed for lol.

as FE3 I never really looked much into what their for but im guessing more performance

[rustymutt]

Somewhere online I read:

FE2 = your glasses bounce off your nose
FE3 = your fillings bounce out of your teeth



Overall, though, I just can't find anything online that really describes what parts are different between FE1 and FE2.

Does the Aurora have FE3?

Dave

[ntrenn]

When I ran the RPO site on my VIN, it said 51,972 built in 2001 with FE3....sounds like they all were FE3

[ntrenn]

Rob, I'm laughing with you....

FE3 historically put in stiffer shock valving, bigger sway bars - 24's became 28's, etc, and possibly stiffer bushings.

If you want to tame much of the FE3 harshness, just swap in aftermarket shocks. You still have the reduced body lean, but the shock harshness really improves.

[robaurora01]

oh I know ntrenn I never took it seriously lol just the way it sounded