SERVICE GUILD: SUSPENSION AND STEERING INFO. & DESCRIPTION

SUSPENSION INFORMATION

VEHICLES AFFECTED: 1988 - OLDSMOBILE VEHICLES ONLY -----------------

Oldsmobile suspensions receive a great deal of engineering effort to obtain the very best in ride comfort and handling. Spring rates, stabilizer bar size and torsion rate, shock absorber valving, and the durometer of control arm and stabilizer bar bushings are selected to accomplish a well-tuned suspension.

When the car tire rolls over a bump or tar strip on the road, the deflection rating of these components determines how much movement deflection will be absorbed by the tire, the spring, or the car itself. Tire pressure that is too high or too low changes tire deflection in relation to suspension deflection. Tires of different construction than original equipment design intent will exhibit greater or lesser deflection and affect car ride. Higher rate suspension components deflect less over bumps or tar strips which causes the tires and/or the car itself to deflect more.

Spring rate is the pounds of force required to compress the spring a given distance. Spring load is determined by the vehicle weight on the spring required for correct car trim height. F41, FE2, and FE3 options generally use higher rate springs to provide less suspension movement on rough, wavy roads or when cornering. Higher rate springs provide a firmer ride due to less spring deflection movement on bumps or dips in the road. Higher spring rates contribute to improved handling with heavier vehicle loads on adverse roads; however, these options should not be sold to a customer simply for heavier load capacity. G67 leveling system and air shocks will retain car trim height with heavier loads and the recommended option for this purpose. On some models G67 is included in FE3 or is available with standard base suspension.

Coordinated with higher rate springs are higher durometer control arm bushings, firmer valving of shock absorbers, and larger stabilizer bars. Special steering gears of a faster ratio, higher effort, or both, are also included in some suspension option packages. These components and their application will vary by model to accomplish tuning the suspension to F41, FE2, or FE3 design intent.

If service replacement of an optional suspension component should become necessary, care should be taken to identify the correct replacement part in the GMSPO catalog. As an example, a 1988 Cutlass Calais with FE3 sport suspension uses a steering gear of a different part number than is used without FE3 suspension.

1988 Delta 88 (H), Ninety-Eight (C), and Toronado (E) FE3 option also includes:

* Aluminum styled 15" wheels and P215/65Rl5 steel belted radial ply blackwall tires.

* 2.97 transaxle ratio, with a higher speed torque converter clutch engagement at approximately 39 mph to 41 mph.

1988 Cutlass Calais (N), and Cutlass Ciera (A) FE3 option also includes:

* Aluminum styled 14" wheels and P215/6ORl4 steel-belted radial ply blackwall tires.

The following charts provide general suspension description steering gear and stabilizer bar application by suspension option as well as an example of a parts catalog spring identification and selection chart.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF 1988 SUSPENSION OPTIONS

OPTION - Standard Base Suspension

Ride : Smooth, comfortable ride Load Carrying Capacity : Normal Loads Handling : Typical precise handling for all conditions

OPTION - F41 or FE2

Ride : Firm ride optimized for adverse road conditions Load Carrying Capacity : Generally, slightly higher load carrying capacity Handling : Handling tuned for higher vehicle load

OPTION - G67 (Leveling System)

Ride : Ride usually not affected. G67 air shock absorbers include rear spring rates which are tuned to maintain a comfortable ride with the standard base suspension. Load Carrying Capacity : Recommended option for higher load carrying capacity to retain correct trim height Handling : Handling further improved with heavier loads as car will retain normal trim height

OPTION - FE3

Ride : Firm ride optimized for maximum handling and cornering ability with less emphasis on smooth, silky ride Load Carrying Capacity : Generally, slightly higher load carrying capacity Handling : Precise handling and responsiveness generally typical of performance cars; includes higher effort and faster ratio steering gear

1988 STABILIZER SHAFT DIAMETER

FRONT Base FE2/F41 FE3 ----- ------- ---- Firenza 22 ---- 28 Firenza Cruiser 22 ---- ---- Cutlass Calais 24(L68) 26 28 26 (LN7/LD2) Cutlass Ciera 22 24 27 Cutlass Cruiser 22 24 ---- Cutlass Supreme 28 30 30 Cutlass Supreme ---- Classic 25 32 Custom Cruiser 30 ---- ---- Delta 88 28 32 32

1988 STEERING GEAR USAGE

Standard Fast Standard High Ratio Ratio Effort Effort -------- ----- -------- ------- Firenza Base 16:1 x Firenza Cruiser FE3 14:1 x

Cutlass Calais Base 16:1 x FE2 16:1 x FE3 14:1

Cutlass Ciera Base 17.5:1 x FE2 17.5:1 x FE3 15.7:1 x

Delta 88 Base 19.1:1 x FE2 19.1:1 x FE3 18.1:1 x

Ninety-Eight Base 19.1:1 x FE2 19.1:1 x FE3 18.1:1 x

Toronado Base 17.5:1 x FE2 17.5:1 x FE3 16.5:1 x

Cutlass Supreme Classic Base 15-13:1 x F41 14 :1 x

Custom Cruiser Base 16.13:1 x

Cutlass Supreme Base 17.5:1 x FE2 17.5:1 x FE3 15.7:1 x

Figure 1 is an example of the spring chart information which appears in the back of group 7,000 in the General Motors Service Parts Catalog. This chart represents the information available for 1988 Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight (C) cars. The chart allows the technician to select the correct spring for the vehicle based on suspension option, spring code and whether a stronger or weaker spring is required to repair the vehicle.

FIGURE 1

|---------------------------| |---------------------------| |FRONT SPRINGS | |FRONT SPRINGS | |---------------------------| |---------------------------| |STD SUSP | |W/F41 OR FE3 | |---------|-----|-----------| |---------|-----|-----------| |PROD # | CODE| SERVICE # | |PROD # | CODE| SERVICE # | |---------|-----|-----------| |---------|-----|-----------| |14080163 | DJD | 14065855 | |14081076 | DWC | 14065855 | |14080162 | DJC | 14065855 | |14080175 | DWB | 14065855 | |14080161 | DJB | 14065855 | |14080174 | DWA | 14065855 | |14080160 | DJA | 14080160 | |14080173 | DUZ | 14080160 | |14080159 | DDZ | 14080160 | |14080172 | DUY | 14080160 | |14080158 | DDY | 14065851 | |14080171 | DUX | 14065851 | |14080157 | DDX | 14065851 | | | | | |---------------------------| |---------------------------|

|---------------------------| |---------------------------| |REAR SPRINGS | |REAR SPRINGS | |---------------------------| |---------------------------| |STD SUSP | |STD SUSP | |---------|-----|-----------| |---------|-----|-----------| |PROD # | CODE| SERVICE # | |PROD # | CODE| SERVICE # | |---------|-----|-----------| |---------|-----|-----------| |10028221 | NWJ | 14065855 | |25524996 | MAD | 25524995 | |10028220 | NWH | 14065855 | |25524995 | MAC | 25524995 | |10028217 | NWF | 14065855 | |10032837 | NXZ | 25524995 | |10027119 | NUF | 14080160 | |10032836 | NXY | 10032836 | |10027118 | NUD | 14080160 | |10032835 | NXX | 10032836 | |10027117 | NUC | 14080160 | |10032834 | NXW | 10032834 | |10027116 | NUB | 14080160 | |10032833 | NXU | 10032834 | |10027115 | NUA | 14080160 | | | | | |10027114 | NTZ | 14080160 | | | | | |10027113 | NTY | 14065851 | | | | | |10027112 | NTX | 14065851 | | | | | |---------------------------| |---------------------------|

General Motors bulletins are intended for use by professional technicians, not a "do-it-yourselfer". They are written to inform those technicians of conditions that may occur on some vehicles, or to provide information that could assist in the proper service of a vehicle. Properly trained technicians have the equipment, tools, safety instructions and know-how to do a job properly and safely. If a condition is described, do not assume that the bulletin applies to your vehicle, or that your vehicle will have that condition. See a General Motors dealer servicing your brand of General Motors vehicle for information on whether your vehicle may benefit from the information.