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Post by mission008 on Sept 30, 2005 10:43:29 GMT -6
Are there any performance lowering kits for our cars? I've searched everywhere and I came up with nothing.
Also, are there any other GM vehicles that have compatible suspension setups with the Aurora? For instance; the GTP and Impala can interchange certain brake & suspension parts.
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Post by Custom88 on Sept 30, 2005 11:23:18 GMT -6
Trust me, out of all the H/G bodied vehicles, the Aurora has the best suspension.. It's actually slightly firmer than the Bonneville and still seems to provide a better ride. check this site out for the lowering kit and other parts: www.rsmracing.com/aurora00_03.htm
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Post by Aurora40 on Sept 30, 2005 11:31:11 GMT -6
Cars you can probably interchange with are the Bonnie, LeSabre, and possibly the Park Avenue and Seville. The GXP is probably the only one sportier. Keep in mind the 3800 cars have less weight so the springs and such are probably not as high-rate as they don't have to hold up as much weight.
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Post by Custom88 on Sept 30, 2005 11:37:54 GMT -6
You sure about the 3800 weighing less? My Aurora feels quite a bit lighter than our SSEi. It is a lot more nimble while driving.
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BNICOV
Aurora Lover
Posts: 782
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Post by BNICOV on Sept 30, 2005 13:09:12 GMT -6
Dan, remember that the 3800 is an iron block/aluminum head engine, your shorty-star is all-aluminum. It probably weighs at least a hundred pounds less. Anyone know what the engine weights are??
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Post by Aurora40 on Sept 30, 2005 15:17:51 GMT -6
DOHC more than compensates for the iron vs aluminum. I'm sure an SSEi weighs about 3600 lbs while a 4.0 weighs 3800 lbs. The tranny is bigger and heavier too. The Bonnie GXP weighs a fair bit more than the Bonnie SSEi.
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Post by flintoid on Dec 11, 2005 11:20:36 GMT -6
Would this be a good place to ask:
I just bought a 2001 Aurora - literally yesterday. (reading all this forum talk lured me in!)
The car isn't very stiff = bobs and weaves like it needs some shocks or struts. Talked down the price on this point, now I'm looking for the parts. Can anyone tell me what works. the sticker indicates that the car has a self-leveling suspension and I sheepishly admit I don't know what that is.
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Post by Aurora40 on Dec 11, 2005 13:51:16 GMT -6
What's the build date of your car? Look on the driver's door for the build label. I've noticed the earlier 2000 build cars seemed to have a softer ride than the later cars.
The rear shocks can be pumped up with compressed air to compensate for increased loads. So the rear is always level, vs sagging under heavy load. There's two shocks, a compressor, a ride height sensor, and a controller for the system.
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Post by flintoid on Dec 12, 2005 19:21:50 GMT -6
June 2000 build date. I assume they began production @ March?
I hate ride problems because I can never seem to diagnose them correctly. It could be that the rear shocks are damping but just not enough. Or I need new tires. Or . . .
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Post by Aurora40 on Dec 12, 2005 19:52:09 GMT -6
It's possible yours is just one of the softer riding cars. I want to say I test drove a May and Sept 2000 build with my dad, and noticed the difference? If the shocks are damping well, that could be it. You could try the dealer to see if the shocks or springs were different for different build dates. It could be it's just shock tuning and thus easy to upgrade?
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Post by flintoid on Dec 12, 2005 21:54:32 GMT -6
Great catch. The more I think about it the better I feel about waiting this problem out - My last car was about 500 pounds lighter, and I'm still in transition. I'll give it a chance.
(i.e., Problem exists between wheel and seat.)
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Post by flintoid on Dec 21, 2005 23:07:08 GMT -6
Nuts. Car will need new shocks and struts. Anybody with an '01 or newer know what the baseline cost ought to be for it?
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Post by Wacko on Dec 22, 2005 9:20:26 GMT -6
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Post by Aurora40 on Dec 22, 2005 9:50:09 GMT -6
Nuts. Car will need new shocks and struts. Anybody with an '01 or newer know what the baseline cost ought to be for it? What was the method that brought you to conclude that? That would certainly be a short life for them.
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Post by flintoid on Dec 22, 2005 11:09:08 GMT -6
Yeah I wouldn't expect that either. I wouldn't believe it but the problems are pretty similar to my last car before I replaced the rear shocks and springs.
Bumps are still steering the car pretty hard and it feels like they are pulling the rear end out of position. I'm getting some light *clunk* audibles from it and I feel out of balance when dicing traffic. New tires fixed other problems but not these ones.
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Post by Wacko on Dec 22, 2005 11:29:21 GMT -6
Have you checked the stabilizer bar links and bushings and other undercarriage rubber bushings/parts for wear and deterioration? When these go, they can make all manner of noises. Also, broken stabilizer bar links can contribute to visits from both Bob and Weave.
Basic things you may have already checked: Lug nuts secure/properly torqued (not out of the question) Worn steering and suspension parts Worn front and rear hub/bearing assy
Like Aurora40 asked, who concluded the shocks and struts were gone and why?
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Post by flintoid on Dec 22, 2005 13:33:36 GMT -6
The conclusion was mine but at this point I think I'll brand it a hypothesis and check out what you've listed. Thanks.
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Post by TJM on Dec 22, 2005 13:38:21 GMT -6
I agree, kinda early for struts but maybe not shocks depending on mileage. I did my first set of shocks at about 120k(?) miles and just did the second set a few weeks ago. I'm still on my original struts but I think it may be time.
Wacko, you are absolutely right about stabilizer bushings and links. I put in new poly bushings at around 100k and all the noises and sloppy ride disappeared.
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Post by flintoid on Jan 7, 2006 8:58:19 GMT -6
Just an update: Had both shocks replaced after the right rear failed the 3-bounce test. Managed to use Monroe Max Air # MA 822 instead of the original GM parts, which are obscenely expensive (@$75 per shock vs. $175 per shock). Results are encouraging - the worst parts of the ride are gone. This is actually turning out to be at least two problems masquerading as one. The old tires were causing bad vibes at speed, the rear shocks were prematurely aged and letting the car bounce off line. Now I''ve at least got the ride under control. There's still something funny in the bump management going on under there but at least the shocks are turning it back into a molehill until I can get back under the car and check out Wacko's items. I really need a garage in January.
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Post by Custom88 on Jan 7, 2006 11:37:00 GMT -6
how are the rear sway bars looking? Are any of them bent, missing, or loose? Are the tires perfectly perpendicular to the road, or are they at a slight angle? Did the old tires have an odd wear pattern to them? Does the front end feel o.k.?
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