| Monroe Sensatrac sucks | |
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+5Ironfistdog boojum Matt Trakker MASShole9C1 GasTT 9 posters |
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GasTT
Posts : 2675 Join date : 2009-01-19 Age : 36 Location : Treasure Coast, FL
| Subject: Monroe Sensatrac sucks Tue Oct 02, 2012 11:54 am | |
| When I lowered the Fleetwood I installed Monroe Sensatrac shocks up front. When I did the suspension in my Olds 88 the Sensatrac struts were great. In these cars, lowered anyways, they absolutely suck. Floats/bounces like crazy takes forever to recover from a bump. I'm going to go with Monroe SS (550012 F, 550013 R) when I have the extra cash. Just thought I'd mention that. | |
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MASShole9C1
Posts : 4294 Join date : 2009-12-16
| Subject: Re: Monroe Sensatrac sucks Tue Oct 02, 2012 1:30 pm | |
| I had Monroe's in the Monte. They were great @ stock height.
With the lowered suspension I would have recommended the belltech drop shocks.
That's what I have up front in the 9c1 with the moog 5662 F body springs.
When I took it out for a quick spin a few weeks back, it took potholes like a dream!
Much better than cut ss springs and factory Gabriel commercial duty shocks. | |
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Matt Trakker
Posts : 5093 Join date : 2009-07-30 Age : 42 Location : Reading, MA
| Subject: Re: Monroe Sensatrac sucks Wed Oct 03, 2012 1:00 am | |
| Does anyone know if these shocks came from the factory on any Caprices? I would assume Delco shocks, but when I bought my '93 with 57K, it had (I think, I'll know when I take them out) Sensatracs on it that were not new. Maybe they were replaced when the car was only a couple years old or something.
Either way I don't like the ride of them, I get nauseous driving my car, but they are probably just kind of worn out. My car has the stock soft-ride springs too which doesn't help. I have some KYBs I'll be putting in there when I get the time to see if they help at all. | |
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MASShole9C1
Posts : 4294 Join date : 2009-12-16
| Subject: Re: Monroe Sensatrac sucks Wed Oct 03, 2012 1:05 am | |
| Do yourself a favor and get some U bolts for the rear uppers. | |
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boojum
Posts : 2182 Join date : 2009-01-21 Age : 36 Location : NH
| Subject: Re: Monroe Sensatrac sucks Wed Oct 03, 2012 1:10 am | |
| Sensatracs were my '95 Mass State cars. I assume they came that way. | |
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Matt Trakker
Posts : 5093 Join date : 2009-07-30 Age : 42 Location : Reading, MA
| Subject: Re: Monroe Sensatrac sucks Wed Oct 03, 2012 2:31 am | |
| ^Interesting. I'm betting these are originals from the looks of them, there's hardly any paint left on the exposed sections.
Maybe some fleet ordered cars came with the Monroes instead of Delco shocks? As time goes by I am more certain this car was built as part of an order for some major rental car company for use in Florida when it was new (for about a year, then sold at a Chevy dealer in RI, Viking). Compnine said it was part of a larger number optioned exactly like it in every way. It has a couple of odd options as well like the map light rearview mirror that I've actually seen not included on some higher optioned cars than mine. Perhaps the rental company wanted the car to ride a certain way for people taking one on a trip, or someone thought the Monroes were an upgrade...
Brian, I have the upper u-bolts on hand already as well as everything else, just haven't gotten around to it yet, lol. I put those u-bolts on my Impala a few years ago and it was ridiculous how much easier the new shocks went in. | |
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Ironfistdog
Posts : 2141 Join date : 2011-01-11 Age : 42 Location : Warren, MA
| Subject: Re: Monroe Sensatrac sucks Wed Oct 03, 2012 8:18 am | |
| Where'd ya get the u-bolts kehd? I need shocks in the wagon BAD. haven't attempted them cuz I can only imagine what a nightmare it is up there. I feel your pain Tim, I have NO shocks up front in my FWB at all! | |
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GasTT
Posts : 2675 Join date : 2009-01-19 Age : 36 Location : Treasure Coast, FL
| Subject: Re: Monroe Sensatrac sucks Wed Oct 03, 2012 8:39 am | |
| NO shocks? Damn in a car like this I'd go nuts. I didn't use the U-bolts when I did the Roadmaster and I didn't have much trouble. I did however get new hardware and dropped the bolts down from the top. | |
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Ironfistdog
Posts : 2141 Join date : 2011-01-11 Age : 42 Location : Warren, MA
| Subject: Re: Monroe Sensatrac sucks Wed Oct 03, 2012 8:47 am | |
| Yeah no shocks at all, but the air bags give some relief..... NOT much. I gotta weld brackets to the frame to re-locate them. At full air up it's like riding in a bulldozer, half air is probably the best ride. Once I hit a bump it's like a rap video from the 90's. Takes like what seems forever to recover. | |
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GasTT
Posts : 2675 Join date : 2009-01-19 Age : 36 Location : Treasure Coast, FL
| Subject: Re: Monroe Sensatrac sucks Wed Oct 03, 2012 8:51 am | |
| I saw on one of the big brake threads somebody welded brackets to the LCA and the frame to mount a shock edit | |
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MASShole9C1
Posts : 4294 Join date : 2009-12-16
| Subject: Re: Monroe Sensatrac sucks Wed Oct 03, 2012 10:30 am | |
| Tim, can you post a link to that thread please? | |
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Ironfistdog
Posts : 2141 Join date : 2011-01-11 Age : 42 Location : Warren, MA
| Subject: Re: Monroe Sensatrac sucks Wed Oct 03, 2012 10:42 am | |
| That's basically what I need to do. I just broke a tie rod pulling out of the driveway..... Had to walk up to CAP, and get some moog's. Think I might replace the steering components completely. Ball joints don't look too hot either. | |
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GasTT
Posts : 2675 Join date : 2009-01-19 Age : 36 Location : Treasure Coast, FL
| Subject: Re: Monroe Sensatrac sucks Wed Oct 03, 2012 10:47 am | |
| - MASShole9C1 wrote:
- Tim, can you post a link to that thread please?
I wanted to see people big brake kits on their impalas or caprices FYI: Astro Brake Rotor Upgrade | |
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MASShole9C1
Posts : 4294 Join date : 2009-12-16
| Subject: Re: Monroe Sensatrac sucks Wed Oct 03, 2012 11:44 am | |
| Thanks, Tim. Big brakes and bolt mod is my next big project once this suspension is buttoned up this week. | |
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Cadet57
Posts : 4481 Join date : 2010-03-14 Age : 36 Location : Chicopee, MA
| Subject: Re: Monroe Sensatrac sucks Wed Oct 03, 2012 6:30 pm | |
| Navylifer, I think his name is, makes the rear shock U bolts. I recommend them. Made swapping the shocks a breeze. They were only like $15 a pair. | |
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sdstick
Posts : 4292 Join date : 2009-03-20 Location : Revere, MA
| Subject: Re: Monroe Sensatrac sucks Wed Oct 03, 2012 10:04 pm | |
| Justins right
He's a great guy too. Also can school you on big brakes. | |
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Matt Trakker
Posts : 5093 Join date : 2009-07-30 Age : 42 Location : Reading, MA
| Subject: Re: Monroe Sensatrac sucks Thu Oct 04, 2012 12:01 am | |
| I got my ubolts from Navy Lifer on the big boards as well. GREAT guy and although they're "just bolts" they are well made too. | |
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Bull
Posts : 223 Join date : 2012-09-22 Location : Western MA
| Subject: Re: Monroe Sensatrac sucks Mon Oct 08, 2012 1:44 pm | |
| Noob question time: what are you guys talking about WRT rear shocks being a hassle and u-bolts and all this? | |
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1984twodoor
Posts : 4068 Join date : 2010-03-30 Age : 30 Location : Wilmington/Wakefield/Andover
| Subject: Re: Monroe Sensatrac sucks Mon Oct 08, 2012 2:07 pm | |
| - Bull wrote:
- Noob question time: what are you guys talking about WRT rear shocks being a hassle and u-bolts and all this?
The rear shock bolts spin when you try to loosen them, The heads/nuts will be on top of this And of course, the body of the car is like RIGHT there, so it SUCKS getting tools and hands in there, so you can remove the body to get the shocks out or you could use the u-bolts which do not spin the next time you replace the shocks and make it a ton easier. I hope that helps. The same kit may even work on your GTO, I'm assuming it is a similar set-up | |
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Matt Trakker
Posts : 5093 Join date : 2009-07-30 Age : 42 Location : Reading, MA
| Subject: Re: Monroe Sensatrac sucks Mon Oct 08, 2012 3:06 pm | |
| Yep. There are tricks to getting them out but if they're really rusted it's a pain. My Impala is dry as a bone underneath and I still had a hard time getting them. I think I jammed a small socket wrench up there or something. I think ratcheting box wrenches would help out too. The body must be a couple inches above the frame where the upper shock bolts are.
Navy Lifer (member on the Impala SS boards) makes these upper shock mount u-bolts that bridge the gap over the tops of the shocks. With them installed all you have to do is mess with the nuts on the bottom side of the frame. They're stainless and will not rust either.
I have them on my '74 so they will probably work on lots of other GM cars as Matt mentioned!
This is why I still haven't gotten to doing the shocks on my white "cah" yet. I'm not looking forward to it at all... | |
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MASShole9C1
Posts : 4294 Join date : 2009-12-16
| Subject: Re: Monroe Sensatrac sucks Mon Oct 08, 2012 5:37 pm | |
| - Matt Trakker wrote:
- all you have to do is mess with the nuts
^ LMAOooooo But yes, I used ratcheting wrenches on the top and a socket wrench with long extension on the bottom. | |
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1984twodoor
Posts : 4068 Join date : 2010-03-30 Age : 30 Location : Wilmington/Wakefield/Andover
| Subject: Re: Monroe Sensatrac sucks Mon Oct 08, 2012 9:31 pm | |
| - MASShole9C1 wrote:
- Matt Trakker wrote:
- all you have to do is mess with the nuts
^ LMAOooooo
But yes, I used ratcheting wrenches on the top and a socket wrench with long extension on the bottom. I had an excavator remove the body, used a grinding wheel to melt the heads off of the completely seized up nuts/bolts and they came right out. Though if you want the body to last then you may want to find an alternative method Looking forward to the U-Bolts down the road though. | |
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