Inexpensive shocks/struts for 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier

9

97prizm

Joined
May 25, 2005
Messages
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Location
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Hi all,

I'm back. My 1997 still has a slight tick at idle when warm, and it smells like an old lawn mower at start up ( maybe the catalytic converter is going bad?). The ride is bouncy and beats me up when driving. What suggestions can anyone with experience with an older car can provide fir either full suspension or struts only? I'm looking at rockauto.com, carid.com etc. I've spent way to much but have a couple of co-workers and neighbors interested in buying it. If I had the money it would get a 3S-GTE turbo and a 6-speed sequential manual transmission just like the JGTC class did for nostalgia.
 
On the '98 Sunfire I did cheap OSC in the rear and Sachs up front. Some of this is dependent upon availability at RA.

It rode.....fine. No complaints but it's not like I tried tracking it.

How long will this thing live? Maybe do OSC, FCS or Mega and see how it goes. Most of the lower end struts will still give you several years and possibly more
 
I'd love to see a 3S-GTE Cavalier :D

Rock Auto has the Carquest quick struts on clearance listed under Famous Brand (AAP closed a bunch of stores). Get the cheapest quick struts. Just get the cheapest parts for anything you need to replace :)
 
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FCS is $23 ea up front and $18 ea in the rear. Considering we're talking about a '97 Cavalier with an admittedly ticking motor and potential sale in the near future.....FCS is good enough.

In a stroke of extreme engineering genius (read: someone messed up and let a common sense design go into production), you can buy just the bearing for the front strut mounts. And they're cheap. And easy to replace. Yeah, that'll never do -- remove that from future models 🙄
 
If you are planning on selling it, I wouldn't put any money into it. It won't get you any more money when you sell.
 
If I read between the lines correctly, your '97 Cavalier is ready to die, you have co-workers and neighbors circling the carcass and you're weighing installing $20 dampers.

What could go wrong?

To the OP: You said, "I've spent way too much....". What have you done to this vehicle so far?
Have you any timeline for ridding yourself of this car?

bullwinkle said:
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First I've heard of this. Is this related to the "close-outs" at the bottom of the parts' categories?
 
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97prizm said:
Hi all,

I'm back. My 1997 still has a slight tick at idle when warm, and it smells like an old lawn mower at start up ( maybe the catalytic converter is going bad?). The ride is bouncy and beats me up when driving. What suggestions can anyone with experience with an older car can provide fir either full suspension or struts only? I'm looking at rockauto.com, carid.com etc. I've spent way to much but have a couple of co-workers and neighbors interested in buying it. If I had the money it would get a 3S-GTE turbo and a 6-speed sequential manual transmission just like the JGTC class did for nostalgia.
Click to expand...
Depending on your needs you can get parts under $100 i wouldn't put big money into this. a new strut is better than a worn one if you got 25K out of them you don't know where you or the car will be 25K down the road.
 
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My 92 Cavalier feels like it needs struts and shocks again. I replaced them back in 2011 at 159,000 and the car now has 257,00 and the ride is horrible. I installed Monroe sensatracks back then front and rear. I also installed Monroe strut and shock mounts back then as well. FCS is about the only thing available these days for this car for original ride quality and that is from Rock Auto. They do have some cheaper Economy shocks from Monroe but no struts. The local O'reillys doesn't even offer struts for it anymore.
 
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