Lowering the Montana

[codybirchem]

So I'm going to need some step by step help.. haha, I'm going to be lowering the Montana sometime soon, would like to go down about 2 inches in the front and about 2.5 in the back. I'm going to have a buddy of mine help me out adjusting my air shocks so it will level out right, but, the front end.. What/how should I go about lowering it? Replace the whole strut? Replace just springs? What should I do and where can I go to find out more info? Help? Haha..

[Pontiacgt201]

um well your gonan have them out so Id say replace the struts. and new lowering springs will get a good drop.

DO NOT CUT THE SPRINGS!. that can really mess with the vehicals handeling and could cause a failure and crash.

and just search online for lowering springs for your year make and model. you may even find instructions. I know on a GA there easy to change but I dont know how it is on a Montana.

someone else many have more info on this.

[markpetersonii]

Put it on bags! (if you can't find lowering springs...)

[Pontiacgt201]

now that would be sick as hell. freaking put some nice 19-20 inch rims and bags. that be freaking amazing

[Ghost]

Put it on bags! (if you can't find lowering springs...)

what this guy said.

[codybirchem]

Wouldn't that be pretty expensive though? and then I'd have to not only adjust the rear suspension, i'd have to replace it. I won't cut the springs, and i tried searching for the year make and model lowering springs earlier this afternoon couldn't find anything. That's why i was hoping someone would have a little more info on these. Well, it's 4AM, I worked a full day, chopped off part of my thumb, and spent 4 hours at the casino (just got home) hopefully more info comes tomorrow, will be doing 20's, was actually just thinking of doing a 2 inch drop rather than messing with bags, but if anyone can find anything (if it's easy, sorry I'm a dummy) just hook me up with a link. Signing off for the night,

[Ringo64]

Yea the only problem really is that you have a Montana and its going to be hard to find lowering springs for it. Might be able to find a car that uses the same setup and then see if they have lowering springs. I have no experience in lowering Vans so I can't really tell you where to begin, well other than look for like parts from another car.

[Pontiacgt201]

hmm um Ill do some searching see if I can find anything. yeah cause I dought there are many people that want to lower a montana but if we can find a vehical that uses the same type of springs or something that might open up some options.

[codybirchem]

I'm going to do some researching too, just been extremely busy between work, moving the girlfriend's parents and been doing a lot of cleaning so I can get a dog.. haha, Des has been arguing with me a lot because I like to spend a lot of time on here, and well, me spending a 1/2 hour on here turns into me never doing anything else. I love it, haha thanks for the help guys

[Pontiacgt201]

I'm going to do some researching too, just been extremely busy between work, moving the girlfriend's parents and been doing a lot of cleaning so I can get a dog.. haha, Des has been arguing with me a lot because I like to spend a lot of time on here, and well, me spending a 1/2 hour on here turns into me never doing anything else. I love it, haha thanks for the help guys

lol what type of dog you looking at getting?

well I did some searching and couldnt find anything. I found air ride systems but no springs. I posting some info on another forums and see if I get anything on there. I got a few sites ive used in the past. im gonna check them out see if I find anything.

ok well the few sites I check I came up with nothing but just to give you a price for thought, lol. a good air ride kit/ bags for the kit will cost $2000 for the whole kit.

[dangerranger67]

your going to run into the same problem as me.. there is no bolt on lowering suspension.. the best and easiest solution is to take measurments of your springs and then either find a spring from a car that that matches up but has smaller springs, or bag it.. of course because nothing is bolt on bagging a van is probably a good double weekend project because there is quite a lot of fabrication required.. also keep in mind that if you can find a shorter spring from another car you are sacrificing your safety and handling and load the van can handle

[codybirchem]

lol what type of dog you looking at getting?

I found air ride systems but no springs.

I'm getting a Manchester Terrier. If you google image it, they're usually skinny dogs, little, slightly bigger than a mini poodle. Mac, he's a fatty haha, getting him from my girlfriends' parents. I've always wanted a dog, but because of our living situations we were never able to have one when I was little, and the one we got when we finally moved into a house wouldn't stop biting so we only had her for two weeks and to the suspension.. I think for the most part, the air ride systems you're going to find are for the rear, but things could be worked for the front too I'm going to figure this out lol

your going to run into the same problem as me.. there is no bolt on lowering suspension.. the best and easiest solution is to take measurments of your springs and then either find a spring from a car that that matches up but has smaller springs

The only thing I can think of is like, a bonneville or something. they're lower, but their struts match up I think, could just take a strut and shock combo for say, my 99 bonne, and instead of replace bonnie's 200k old suspension, lower the minivan? And, also, the load the van can handle, I think mostly is in the back, which, all I'm going to do, is either pull the fuse for my air compressor so my air shocks don't fill up, or else I'm going to rig up a different way to mount the air shocks, so they think they're pushing my van up to level, when really, they're lower (say 2" lower) than they're supposed to be. Definitely a project all right, but I don't want to bag it. I just (not only don't have $2k), don't have the time nor the patience to give up my DD for that long. I'd be screwed, haha

[G0VTCH33ZE]

I've been doing some research for you yesterday/today (I look up parts for a living), and I've narrowed it down to two options for you.

#1. Cut em, 1 coil won't put anyone in danger, the ride wont be as smooth, from what I was seeing, you might want to start out with 1/2 a coil because there aren't a whole lot of coils if that option is even possible. It almost looks like the spring tapers off at both ends, rendering it impossible to hack off a couple coils.

ebay page SV6 coils link

#2. Measure out the dimensions of the spring (i.e. how long, top & bottom diameter, how many coils, etc) and go hunting through junk yards/parts stores/online.

No matter what you do, you will have to cut something since there is no aftermarket parts available. Man if I were closer to you I'd love to surf through some junk yards & parts stores, and possibly figure this out. It sucks being the first and having to do all the legwork. If you get it figured out, it can be very rewarding

[codybirchem]

I might go that route, buy a second set and experiment. Well, my main idea was find a car with the same bolts and buy a smaller strut, with the same bolt up spots, you know? I'm still thinking on that, am going to go compare my bonneville to it right now!! Thanks for all your help guys!

EDIT::

99 Bonneville = NO MATCH

07 Grand Prix = MATCH

win? I think so.. I just need to make sure the strut mounts are the same and then it's a go. I'm out of here, time for work. Let me know if anyone finds better research, I just need to know how much more this will lower me and if they will bolt up right!! thank you!

[Mariachi]

well.. i did the lowering on my car and it wasn't too hard. i dont think we have the same suspension but you can try looking up my car's suspension. I can even get a pic of my stock springs if you want to compare and contrast.

[60DegreeVVT]

oh man you should

1. Heat the Springs with about 300 lbs of salt in the car

2. Cut a coil out for further lowerage

3. for custom tuning please add the spring compressers on there

4. post your own car in the rice thread

5. shoot yourself

sorry....

[09g6owner]

Well, I believe the Montana is the same as the Chevy Uplander, so heres this.

http://www.streetbeatcustoms.com/Chevy/Upl...ion/Coil-Overs/

[codybirchem]

well.. i did the lowering on my car and it wasn't too hard. i dont think we have the same suspension but you can try looking up my car's suspension. I can even get a pic of my stock springs if you want to compare and contrast.

-- Thank you for the help, I think for the most part I'll be working with Grand Prix suspension and what I got from 09g6

oh man you should

1. Heat the Springs with about 300 lbs of salt in the car

ACTUALLY not a terrible idea.

4. post your own car in the rice thread

5. shoot yourself

way for sarcasm. haha.

Well, I believe the Montana is the same as the Chevy Uplander, so heres this.

http://www.streetbeatcustoms.com/Chevy/Upl...ion/Coil-Overs/

Next to the fact that everyone else has been trying to help, and that's been awesome, this is probably the best response I've gotten yet, and thank you!

As of now I may work with some grand prix struts, going to check dimensions, otherwise, the bags are probably the way I'll go depending on how much I get for my Grad party on Sunday, pay off my first semester of school, and buy my jet ski next week haha (:

hate to say it.. but nice jet ski comes before custom minivan

how do you replace struts with bags by the way..?

like just... pull the strut out and put the bag there..? I'm pretty sure that's not how to do it though? haha sorry to sound stupid..

[Mariachi]

how do you replace struts with bags by the way..?

like just... pull the strut out and put the bag there..? I'm pretty sure that's not how to do it though? haha sorry to sound stupid..

its a lot more than that. you have to have a compressor, and a ton of other stuff. i believe welding is involved as well. you will most likely have to have some fabbing done since their is not direct bolt on bag kit for your car.

[codybirchem]

Yeah, I think that one is pretty good. I would really like to do the $2,000 job, but I'm buying a jet ski instead haha. I'm just going to cut my springs haha I'll only cut off a 1/2 a coil if that

[markpetersonii]

Yeah, I think that one is pretty good. I would really like to do the $2,000 job, but I'm buying a jet ski instead haha. I'm just going to cut my springs haha I'll only cut off a 1/2 a coil if that

WARNING: Might screw up the suspension and cause damage, good luck.

[dangerranger67]

you should let me know what the measurements are out of the grand prix.. i have a feeling it could be very similar to my torrent

[codybirchem]

Well haha, I planned on doing that but I got the book that tells ALL the measurements of the shocks on my computer.. The struts for the grand prix are bigger, and longer than the ones for my van! That wouldn't lower it, in fact, wouldn't that make it higher? haha

[dangerranger67]

well.. it would probably make it higher HOWEVER

if you know they bolt in.. there are more aftermarket parts for the grand prix.. possibly a lowering kit.. if stock bolts in.. aftermarket will bolt in

[codybirchem]

The do sort of, but my sway bar links won't be able to bolt in which would pose a problem. I think I could get them on there but I don't want to take any chances and well, I don't want to roll my poor van lol (even though I drove without the sb links for almost a year). I will have to compare a little bit more. I will get it figured out and let you know