'94 sts struts :(

[alkapin]

Hi.

My '94 STS front struts are gone.

The original ones are 1,300 CND each! I dont think I am going to spend that much.

Any ideas what aftermarket brand should I get to replace. And while I am at it, I would liek to lower it a bit as well.

Anyone did that? Could you please recommend struts and springs.

Any problems I could run into replacing. I think I will do it with my buddy. He is car mechanic but dont think he has deep knowledge of caddys.

Thanks.

[KenD]

GM has the replacements for them at a cheaper cost. I think I paid around $300 for each strut. The only problem is that I get the SRC message everytime and have to punch the info button to get rid of it. Not a real PITA, but it would be nice to not have to do it. I think someone on this board is in the process of changing their front and rears with ones that have the resistor in them so the SRC message doesn't come up. If I recall correctly, they were about $199US for the complete set.

Ken

[Bob D]

Hi.

My '94 STS front struts are gone.  

The original ones are 1,300 CND each! I dont think I am going to spend that much.

Any ideas what aftermarket brand should I get to replace. And while I am at it, I would liek to lower it a bit as well.

Anyone did that? Could you please recommend struts and springs.

Any problems I could run into replacing. I think I will do it with my buddy. He is car mechanic but dont think he has deep knowledge of caddys.

Thanks.

After much research on this subject,(as it's time for my '93 STS to have all four corners replaced,) I've chosen and ordered Arnott products. You can find them at: http://www.arnottindustries.com/products/index.asp

This company has extesive experience manufactoring passive systems for Licolns, and has branched out to Cadillac passive replacements and other products. The system for Cadillac has a plug with the proper resistor value and wattage for each year to satisfy the computer and prevent any error codes. They were running a special for my year when I ordered two weeks ago, for 500.00 US, four all four. The fronts have arrived as promised,rears are supposed to be here by Friday.

As far as springs go, I've already lowered my STS, using the Eibach Pro Series. Very happy with the results.

I hope your friend is an expeienced mechanic.

[alkapin]

Hi.

My '94 STS front struts are gone.  

The original ones are 1,300 CND each! I dont think I am going to spend that much.

Any ideas what aftermarket brand should I get to replace. And while I am at it, I would liek to lower it a bit as well.

Anyone did that? Could you please recommend struts and springs.

Any problems I could run into replacing. I think I will do it with my buddy. He is car mechanic but dont think he has deep knowledge of caddys.

Thanks.

After much research on this subject,(as it's time for my '93 STS to have all four corners replaced,) I've chosen and ordered Arnott products. You can find them at: http://www.arnottindustries.com/products/index.asp

This company has extesive experience manufactoring passive systems for Licolns, and has branched out to Cadillac passive replacements and other products. The system for Cadillac has a plug with the proper resistor value and wattage for each year to satisfy the computer and prevent any error codes. They were running a special for my year when I ordered two weeks ago, for 500.00 US, four all four. The fronts have arrived as promised,rears are supposed to be here by Friday.

As far as springs go, I've already lowered my STS, using the Eibach Pro Series. Very happy with the results.

I hope your friend is an expeienced mechanic.

Hi Bob.

Thanks very much for your reply. Exactly info what I need!

Will call them tomorrow.

Regarding lowering, do you have a picture to show how it looks?

With replacement struts being "active" wouldn't computer try to push the car back up to compensate for lower springs? Especially on the back.

[alkapin]

GM has the replacements for them at a cheaper cost. I think I paid around $300 for each strut. The only problem is that I get the SRC message everytime and have to punch the info button to get rid of it. Not a real PITA, but it would be nice to not have to do it. I think someone on this board is in the process of changing their front and rears with ones that have the resistor in them so the SRC message doesn't come up. If I recall correctly, they were about $199US for the complete set.

Ken

Hi Ken.

I called around few dealers and no1 mentioned this cheap replacement option. I was quoted 1,300cnd - about 900us for each which is insane.

So I guess I would go aftermarket.

Cheers.

[Bob D]

Regarding lowering, do you have a picture to show how it looks?

With replacement struts being "active" wouldn't computer try to push the car back up to compensate for lower springs? Especially on the back.

With the Eibach kit comes a pictorial diagram showing you where to relocate the rear height sensors, to compensate the computer. Very easy really, just measuring hole center to hole center, drill and tap. The farther you go, the more the drop. Following Eibachs numbers, you get about 1.5 inches in the rear, and =2 inches in the front...a slight 'rake'. Looks kind of cool, really, but if you want it completely level, you'll have to play with the location a little more..no big really. I'm going to do it again when I have it up in the air for the shocks. If I don't like it, just unbolt the sensor and put it back in the first (modified) location.

As far as pictures...that's one shot at the bottom of my post (signature).

For more, go to:

http://caddyinfo.netgetgoing.com/cars/bobd.htm

Note..The front bumper guards are now diamond white to match the rest of the body. Looks MUCH better than factory black.

Time for new pictures..

[decosse]

Bob - I had already replaced my struts before i found your Arnott reference - do you know what he resistance value is inside the Arnott strut? Do you have a way to measure it if you disconnect the plug? (I had tried a bunch of values previously with no luck)

Appreciate your help to get rid of the service ride control message!

[Bob D]

Bob - I had already replaced my struts before i found your Arnott reference - do you know what he resistance value is inside the Arnott strut? Do you have a way to measure it if you disconnect the plug? (I had tried a bunch of values previously with no luck)

Appreciate your help to get rid of the service ride control message!

Heres' an excerpt from a link on this subject:

Defeating the SRC: I found that a 10 - 12 ohm resistor will mimic the presense of the strut actuator and will trick the system into think that the electronic strut is still present. This was first tried by my associate Dan-O with no success. The reason being that on a 12 volt signal the resistor will dissipate up to 72 watts. A power resistor is needed. I use a 50 watt resistor on each side which works fine.

The resistor works because the diagnostic check is simply putting the 12 volt signal across the 2 signal lines while the system looks at the feedback voltage. The 12 ohm resistor plays the part of a resistor divider providing that correct feedback voltage. I have had the resistor in place for more than 2000 miles with no messages.

I think this may get it working for you. For more info, go to:

http://maydog.dyndns.org/www/struts/97_passive_replace.html

Or:

http://www.cravener.org/struts/Page0.htm

Hope this helps!

[wake]

After much research on this subject,(as it's time for my '93 STS to have all four corners replaced,) I've chosen and ordered Arnott products. You can find them at: http://www.arnottindustries.com/products/index.asp

This company has extesive experience manufactoring passive systems for Licolns, and has branched out to Cadillac passive replacements and other products. The system for Cadillac has a plug with the proper resistor value and wattage for each year to satisfy the computer and prevent any error codes.

Thanks for the info... I ordered mine yesterday...

[KenD]

Hi Ken.

I called around few dealers and no1 mentioned this cheap replacement option. I was quoted 1,300cnd - about 900us for each which is insane.

So I guess I would go aftermarket.

Cheers.

I'll take a look at my receipt and check the part # for ya. I got them through a buddy who gets dealer pricing so they were cheaper. I would have like to have kept the original specs to it but even through his pricing they were still $900 Cdn each.

Ken

[KenD]

Here's the number from my invoice.

22189452 STRUT SP 073450.....................................LIST PRICE $425.50,

I got them for $334.20 (for both) with the labour being almost as much. Labour included:

drill out new struts to allow for link installation (they were worn out so they replaced them for $99.28) cut connectors off of old struts, loop wires/heat seal and install connector on new struts. Align front end. Total 4.51 hrs

All in Canadian dollars and done just over a year ago in November 2002.

Ken