[GT Drew]

FE2 suck. Unless you want to keep the car 100% stock, don’t buy them. FE3 are gas charged and a definite improvement, but a bit more expensive. Now what ride type do you want? The PPV’s will give a firmer ride.
I ran them with Tein springs and it was like a BMW. Great on smooth road, didn’t like rough ones. Now if you are doing minimal mods. Poly bushings for the stock sway bars. Mevotech ft control arms and rear poly subframe inserts. The Pedders black replacement struts and shocks are gas charged and are imbetween the FE2 and FE3. At $409 for the set of 4. Hard to beat

 

[soda0091]

I like the idea of the FE3 since they seem to be a better performing product. But I also have the issue of needing some one to replace them. I have watched a few videos and I am not sure if I am capable of removing the current struts and taking the spring off and then installing the new struts with the existing spring.

 

[Hot Rod]

Front FE3 are like unicorns, you can only find the Left, Right is discontinued and rears are also discontinued.

 

[PONY MAN]

Information may or may not be applicable. GXP front struts.

 

[MotoGuy]

I agree with GT Envy. I have an '09 GT w/ 41k miles. While the car is in excellent shape, the suspension was still warn due to age. I ended up replacing the struts/shocks with Pedders and wrapped them with H&R Sport springs late last year. The ride and comfort is excellent. I also went with the SuperPro strut mount bushings at the same time.

The most important thing to note when doing the fronts is making sure the upper strut mount is properly clocked so the strut sits in the strut towers properly. I also highly recommend doing front and rear end links at the same time. As soon as I finished my rear suspension I started hearing a clunk. Sure enough, it was the swaybar end link on the right rear. Thankfully I already bought them and they're easy enough to install. I also found using the individual spring compressors (like stocked at Harbor Freight) worked better on removing the old springs. Best fo luck on your suspension project!

 

[sab123]

So the FE3 were the standard on the GXP? I was doing a little research and it looked like FE1 is base, FE2 GT, and FE3 GXP. Any issues with just changing the front two to FE3 and leaving the backend stock?

FE3 is no more, the only viable factory option like that is the PPV (police) part which is even stiffer. With so much stiffer front shocks you'll end up with a lot of understeer in your handling. It won't be a pleasant handling on the limit but at least will be safe. (As a self-promotion: I wrote a book "How to set up your car" on this general subject).

PPV is made by Monroe, and if you install it, definitely get the Monroe top bushings too. They're stiffer and stronger. I've installed at first the bushings from gtog8ta.com (or some such), and they failed in about 6 months, had to replace them.

I wonder if Koni or Bilstein make their shocks for our car?

 

[PONY MAN]

^^^ my book on suspension setup

 

[soda0091]

Great info. When replacing the struts and strut mount do you usually replace the springs also?

 

[Hot Rod]

Only if there's something wrong with them or you want to lower it.

 

[soda0091]

good to know. Is there a good per-assembled strut that would be a choice? Or is the only choice is to remove and then re-install with new parts?

 

[PONY MAN]

No, not that I am aware of nor can recommend. They're called quick or ready mount struts.

 

[soda0091]

So for the front strut replacement I will need the following parts.
strut
strut mount
bearings
I will be keeping the stock springs

Am I missing anything?

 

[PONY MAN]

Replace the boots/bellows and coil spring insulators if torn. May need new bumpers/bump stops as well.

 

[sab123]

So for the front strut replacement I will need the following parts.
strut
strut mount
bearings
I will be keeping the stock springs

Am I missing anything?

Depending on where you buy it, the top mount may in include the bearing in it, then you won't need to buy a separate bearing. The Monroe mount does have the bearing included.

 

[raymechil]

HI everyone.

I am in the Phoenix area and wanted to know if anyone has recently replaced their front struts on their 2009 G8 GT. I have noticed a clunking sound and popped the hood and pushed up and down a few times and saw the strut move up and down on the drivers side. Can anyone recommend a good strut model and shop for repair? I would prefer to stick with OEM parts.

Thanks.

What vehicle interchange struts on a 2009 G8

 

[PONY MAN]

Chevrolet Caprice PPV