WoodyFromBama

The previous owner of my son's 2006 Cadillac CTS-V lowered the front-end by replacing the stock springs with some that were clearly rated for much less weight than this car. In fact, they sag so much that they had to insert rubber spacers in the springs to keep them from bottoming out.

We would like to put stock springs back in it -- can't afford a coil-over conversion -- and return it to its factory stock height. The original springs were p/n "General Motors 25752925, Coil Spring" but are no longer available from GM. But I'm not sure they would be the correct ones anymore anyway as the original LS2 aluminum motor has been swapped out for a LQ9 with a heavier cast iron block. One possibility I looked at was to just swap out the complete strut assembly. I think -- don't know how to confirm -- that it came with FE4s but the only thing I have found are FE1 soft rides.

Does anyone have any experience in doing something like this that can tell me how to figure out the correct spring specs and where to find them?

Thanks in advance,

Howard
Seattle

BudRacing

iTrader: (3)

Barrok69 has some for sale in the classifieds. New members don't have access to the classifieds section until 50 posts or so, but you may be able to PM him.

From his ad:
'05 CTS-V Stock Springs (front/rear set)
Condition: Used 38k miles, no rust, look new.
Price: $250obo + ship

WoodyFromBama

Thanks BudRacing. I appreciate the response and referral.

MN_V

iTrader: (5)

Lots of stock springs for sale if you ask around. Usually cheap...

WoodyFromBama

Thanks MN V. My son just joined the Pacific Northwest regional FB group for V owners. We'll check with them and see what we can find here in the Seattle area.

Howard

jmilz28

iTrader: (13)

Have you confirmed what shocks are on there now?

WoodyFromBama

Short story long... Not yet. My son lives down in Sumner which is about 45 miles away. Anywhere else not a big deal but the traffic between here and there can make it take as much as 2 1/2 hours of head splitting frustration each way. He tries to do as much as possible but works two full time jobs so sometimes it takes a while to get info -- especially if it requires looking under the car. We manage to get everything done -- just takes a little longer.

I thought I might get it off the RPO codes but I guess they are underneath the spare tire cover which has a 10" sub-woofer & box mounted on it which he plans on eventually removing.

I added this detail so folks will perhaps understand why some of my follow-ups take a while -- its not that I'm not trying to be respectful of your time.

Howard
Seattle, WA

actrite80

iTrader: (2)

I'm in Portland and have factory springs if your interested

Jay

WoodyFromBama

Thanks Jay. I don't get down that way much but with the weather we're having it might make a good day trip for my wife and me.

What are you asking for them?

WoodyFromBama

Btw, the GM build sheet shows both FE4 and FG2 with slightly different descriptions. Perhaps it has the stock FE4 springs with the upgraded FG2 shocks.

I'm gonna see the car in a few days and maybe this will become clear.




GM Build Sheet for 2006 Cadillac CTS-V

MN_V

iTrader: (5)

They all have the same springs. The ones on the car are either cut drastically too much or are something aftermarket.

WoodyFromBama

Finally got confirmation on the current shocks. SACHS FG2 all around.

The springs are H&R 50781 avg low 1.2"F 1.0"R. The rear shocks have 4 spacers for a total of 1.25" lowering in the top shock mount.

If you consider the stock height to be 15" when measuring from the center of the wheel to the fender lip then it is lowered 2" in front (13" both sides) and 2" on rear driver side and 1" on rear passenger side -- sitting on completely level surface for about 2 hours when measured. The rubber spacer inserts in the front springs aren't very tight so they're not adding any lift. I assume just as protection against bottoming out.




H&R Premium Performance Spring Set





Four Lowering Spacer Discs = 1.25"

** My goodness, I didn't expect these pictures to be so big **

Fuzzy_Wuzzy

iTrader: (8)

How many miles are on the car? those are the "better/stiffer" factory shocks, but it seems like (from my reading only and not personal experience) that those tended to fail quicker than the FE4 springs.

WoodyFromBama

Thanks Fuzz. Not sure what I can do about that other than cross my fingers and I'm already doing that. 80,000.

BudRacing

iTrader: (3)

The FG2 shocks were also discontinued. I'm not sure where you'd find "new old stock," but the FE4s aren't bad shocks. The rears are PRICEY though @ ~$250 each.

WoodyFromBama

Thanks. I believe that all I need to do is to install the original springs. The shocks seem to be just fine -- quiet and stiff.

bmylez

iTrader: (3)

V2 fronts are 340+ each, but rears are also 240+ like the V1. I've replaced one front and both rears at 55k...good times.

Mendez509

I have some stock springs with the self leveling rear shocks spring have 28k only thing is I'm in tri cities

WoodyFromBama

Thanks Mendez. This car isn't self leveling -- I don't think.

Are the springs different when the car is equipped with self-leveling shocks?

BudRacing

iTrader: (3)

All OEM V1 rear shocks are self leveling "Nivomat" by Sachs.

The rear stacked shock spacers are to counter their self leveling effect to match up with the lowering spring.

I have the H&R springs too and made a 3/8" donut spacer out of a sheet of stiff rubber stock from McMaster Carr and some hole saws. I don't recall what the actual lift was, but it brought my tires even with the fender rather than tucked. I also used the same type of spacers under the rear coil springs.