Suspension conversion kit for catera?

[tpilews]

Why??? The brakes on the catera are fine. They're the best brakes of any car I've ever driven.

[elvin315]

Originally Posted by tpilews

Why??? The brakes on the catera are fine. They're the best brakes of any car I've ever driven.

Best brakes? No offense but the brakes on the Catera are only adequate. As Cadillac's entry in the Luxury Sport Sedan market it was meant to compete with BMW and Audi.

2001 Catera Braking Distance (60-0 mph): 130 ft.

2001 BMW Series 3 Braking Distance (60-0 mph): 126 ft.

2001 Audi A6 Braking Distance (60-0 mph): 126 ft.

Cadillac shortchanged us in horsepower (200) versus the Omega (210) and limited her top speed to 125 MPH versus Omega's 150 MPH. We can't do much about the HP/Top speed but we can improve the braking. The Catera has single piston sliding caliper brakes in front. Ironically her rear brakes are dual piston. The 2004 GTO has dual piston front caliper that, with the GTO brake hoses, are a direct bolt-on swap. No test results but they must decrease the stopping distance a few feet closer to the class standard. If he already has access to a 2004 GTO then why not grab the brakes too?

Elvin

[tpilews]

I never said they were the best of any car. I said of the cars I'VE DRIVEN. Either way, the brakes work great for me. I'm more interested in how shitty the stock suspension is in these cars. I hate how they made the camber of the rears not adjustable.

I only have access to the suspension.

The Catera is a pig. If the catera was 300lbs lighter, I'm sure it would stop better than the 126 ft. rated for the BMW

2001 Catera - 3815 lbs.
2001 BMW Series 3 - Curb Weight: 3494 lbs.
2001 Audi A6 - Curb Weight: 3836 lbs.

I'm sorry to say, but the Audi should not be in the same class with the Catera.

[elvin315]

I saved this from another rear suspension thread.

Rear Camber Kit

It's for the Holden Commodore but I've been assured it fits the Omega B/Catera.

Elvin

[elvin315]

Hey Guys,

How did the GTO suspension swaps go?

Elvin

[R-Caddy]

I need to loan a spring compressor to find out how the struts fit. So far, the shocks are great My next project is front struts and springs and then rear springs. I will definitely keep you guys updated.

[tpilews]

Haven't really gotten to it yet. I just moved a week ago and am waiting for my buddy who's an electrician to set up my 240 outlet for the compressor. I'll update with some pictures in a couple weeks.

[tpilews]

Does anyone know if the gto's rear springs will create the factory height or will it be lowered? The gto's springs look smaller, but they may be stiffer. I'd really like to have to avoid getting a camber kit.

[PEETYZ]

Heres what I just did i removed the catera rear air ride shock absorbers and replaced them with the gto rear shock absorbers very easy just like r-caddy but so far I left the catera stock rear springs in and wow the car handles much better (it sits about the same height as before maybe a bit lower) its amazing how much stiffer it is in the rear. Now i will remove air compressor and take out leveling light behind guage cluster. I have not tried the front struts yet but i hear you must have gto stuts and gto springs to do it. Has any one done it yet and is that all that is required to do the swap?

also i can get gto rear springs but does it offer any advantage if my catera springs are in good shape? Car so far handles great. For anyone looking to do the swap you can get a set of used gto absorbers from ls1gto.com for around 40 for the pair id say or spend like 63 and get a new set from www.rockauto.com note all rear shock absorbers are the same from 04-06 my car currently has 05 gto shocks

[cateraowner]

just wondering? how difficult is it to change out the rear shocks, I know mine are leaking and would like to replace them.