SS Sedan Springs under the 2011 Caprice PPV

Suspension, brake, and hydraulic/electric steering discussion.
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kevink
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Re: SS Sedan Springs under the 2011 Caprice PPV

Post by kevink »

Do we know the rates of the various springs for use in these cars? I thought there was a thread somewhere with spring rates, but I can't find it.
2011 9C3: 11.48 @118.
camrat68
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Re: SS Sedan Springs under the 2011 Caprice PPV

Post by camrat68 »

Sorry to resurrect this dead thread but...

I scored two sets of used SS springs. I installed one set on my Wife's 2012 Caprice and it yielded a fender height of 28" all the way around measured through the centerline of the wheel from the fender to the ground. My '13 measures 28 1/2" both sides in the front and 29" both sides in the front. I'm just wondering if there is anybody with Eibach's and anybody with H&R's that could take these measurements for comparison.

I'm leaning towards the Eibach's just due to the stiffer ride they yielded on the Tri-9 Caprice's.

Thanks,
Jim
Jim Chesnutt
1968 Camaro -my first car.
1995 Black/White 9C1 Caprice
2012 Alto Gray Metallic 9C1 Caprice--The HoDag-Solo axle back exhaust, improved racing OTR CAI intake.
2013 Black/White 9C1--NADACOP-DOD Delete with BTR Stage II cam, Kooks Headers, Solo Hi-flow Cats and Header Back Mach Balanced kit, WestBendDyno tuned.
Ilikemtb999
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Re: SS Sedan Springs under the 2011 Caprice PPV

Post by Ilikemtb999 »

Center of hub to fender lip would be better and account for varying tire pressures and sizes. I have ss eibach springs and can measure later.
Ilikemtb999
Posts: 220
Joined: Wed Feb 06, 2019 11:49 pm

Re: SS Sedan Springs under the 2011 Caprice PPV

Post by Ilikemtb999 »

Here I measured both ways, hub to fender and ground to fender
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Navy Lifer
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Re: SS Sedan Springs under the 2011 Caprice PPV

Post by Navy Lifer »

Just my opinion - and this may already be presented on another post/page in this thread.

First, there has to be a consistent point of reference - not easy to do with a tape measure and eyeball. What we want is the ability to know what the CHANGE is ride height is, from "stock", when installing another set of springs.

What I recommend:

- Choose a place to measure that is flat and can be used before & after spring changes
- Measure and record tire pressures for the 4 wheels - ensure all are the same or to label spec
- If possible, mark the 4 points on the measuring surface for each wheel position
- Same fuel & trunk load, ideally

1. place a piece of tape, with a line on it, at the top of each wheel arch (as shown in Pursuit's photos) - it isn't important that they are the precisely the same at each corner, since all you want to meausre is the change in height with different springs

2. using the same wheels for measuring purposes is preferred but not essential

3. using a tape measure, hook the tape on the bottom-most edge of the wheel and measure up to the fender mark (line on tape). Record these numbers for reference. DO NOT REMOVE THE TAPE

4. once the springs have been changed, re-measure each corner as before, record the numbers, and compare to the original numbers. If the same wheels are not installed, compensate for any change in wheel diameter vs measurements to allow for the increase or decrease in wheel size

5. the SS spring consistently delivers ~0.75" (18-20mm) change in ride height (lower). Since PPV ride height is an anomaly among other production variants of the WM/WN platform, with ride height KNOWN to be intentionally higher, the SS spring cannot be said to result in a specific "lowering" amount (by the OEM) - just what we've seen through quite a few spring swaps....thank goodness the SS became available when it did!

6. this method eliminates variables in tire size, measurement point(s) on the car, etc., being inconsistent.
Ilikemtb999
Posts: 220
Joined: Wed Feb 06, 2019 11:49 pm

Re: SS Sedan Springs under the 2011 Caprice PPV

Post by Ilikemtb999 »

Sure, but I did what this guy asked using eibach springs. IMO if you want your car to look like a “stock” vehicle ride height (not jacked up like stock ppv springs) then ss springs are what you should get. If you want it to look lowered then I’d look elsewhere.
CapriceX2
Posts: 85
Joined: Sat Jun 22, 2019 10:06 am

Re: SS Sedan Springs under the 2011 Caprice PPV

Post by CapriceX2 »

Hey all,
I need to soften up the ride a bit in my 2011. I don't mind it, but it bounces my wife's head off the headrest repeatedly on long trips - making her uncomfortable and prompting comments of selling it. So I'm working on getting the parts together to get this done.

The previous owner included SS springs in the sale that he hadn't had a chance to install yet. I've got front struts added to my rock auto order, though I haven't decided for sure if I'm going with the Monroe or the ACDelco. Previous posts seem to suspect that the two are are the same. Anybody have any updates or been able to confirm any difference? I found a post from Navy Lifer indicating a car with the Monroe's might have felt more planted. I found another post that seemed to indicate the Monroe's were a bit harsher.

The post by Sanford on page 5 of this thread caught my attention. He mentioned swapping out the rear struts with later versions for a 100% improvement in ride. I did some additional research on this and found a post from Navy Lifer indicating that there was a running change in 2011 to softer rear struts. Does anyone have more information on this? I guess I'm trying to determine which rear struts my car might have. If mine are the early/stiff version, I'll definitely be swapping them as well. Is there a bulletin or VIN listed somewhere for this change? I called my local GM dealer and they only had the new part numbers listed for both the front and the rear. They seemed to have no idea that there had been a change to either.

I'm leaning toward getting all 4 ACDelco struts, but I don't want to waste money.

Thanks,
CapriceX2
2011 Caprice 9C3 - TSP 220R W/ DOD delete, 10.8:1 Compression, Custom Stainless Exhaust
1995 Caprice Classic Wagon
1996 K2500 6.5L diesel
xcidmigs
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Joined: Fri Feb 13, 2015 8:12 pm
Location: SE PA

Re: SS Sedan Springs under the 2011 Caprice PPV

Post by xcidmigs »

Read page 4 again, then just pony up for the new struts all around you won't be let down. Plus you will have the 2011 OEM parts siting there which someone may actually want eventually since you will not be able to purchase that ever again, those part #s don't work anymore and I suspect it was a limited run by Monroe just for Holden which is now gone. I have my 20K miles parts all wrapped up in bubble wrap for the guy who is road racing his caprice 10 years from now and wants them or the "restoration" back to stock that will happen 20 years from now complete with 4wd stance....
Navy Lifer
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Re: SS Sedan Springs under the 2011 Caprice PPV

Post by Navy Lifer »

The shocks or struts (note that Rock Auto lists them differently by source) are all made by Monroe in Australia. The Monroe branded parts cost less, however there's not been a determination of whether they're different in valving. The Holden-spec front struts were the biggest issue as far as harshness, but the rear was revised, too - in fact, as shown below, there is now a 3rd GM PN for the rear, but I don't know what's different. The Holden front struts WERE changed based on a specific VIN, from what I recall.

The SS springs are a really big help, and I also recommend that you adjust tire pressure to 36 on all 4 corners - it's in the owner's manual (for 2011) that this is acceptable. If you lower tire pressures, the TPMS threshold setting needs to be re-set to a lower pressure, between 28 & 30 PSI as the alarm setting. This is a dealer function, for most owners. If you don't, in cool weather you will start getting "tire low" warnings that are really nuisance alarms - as the car is driven, tires will warm up and pressures will rise to clear the alarm(s).

REAR
Manufacturer:GM
Part Number:92263480
Part:Shock Absorber
Replaces:92260670, 92262124

FRONT
Manufacturer:GM
Part Number:92263479
Part:Shock Absorber
Replaces:92260669

Manufacturer:GM
Part Number:92263478
Part:Shock Absorber
Replaces: 92260668

Monroe AU parts - better warranty - 3 years 100K miles

REAR
https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.ph ... 73&jsn=434

FRONT
https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.ph ... 73&jsn=435
https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.ph ... 73&jsn=436

Though I'm currently using the 2nd design GM/MonroeAU parts, I would not hesitate to use the Monroe Magnum "Severe Service" version of these parts.
CapriceX2
Posts: 85
Joined: Sat Jun 22, 2019 10:06 am

Re: SS Sedan Springs under the 2011 Caprice PPV

Post by CapriceX2 »

I found what I was looking for here:
https://www.newcaprice.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=31

The 2011 rear shock change happened July 4, 2011 at VIN BL565468. Just reposting here for future reference.

My car is well before this VIN, so it will have the older shocks front and rear. I'll be changing all 4.

xcidmigs: I'm not sure what you're trying to tell me. I've read the entire thread several times. I'm well aware that the 4 SS springs and the front struts will make a very nice difference. I've got the springs already and the front struts are in my shopping cart. My question was around the rear struts and when the change happened. I was not interested in replacing the rear struts with the same part. The info provided by Navy in the thread linked above confirms that my car would not have the 92263480 rear shocks from the factory.
CapriceX2
2011 Caprice 9C3 - TSP 220R W/ DOD delete, 10.8:1 Compression, Custom Stainless Exhaust
1995 Caprice Classic Wagon
1996 K2500 6.5L diesel
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