Re: What is the different between suspension in regular cat and the cat sport?
Quote:
Originally Posted by elvin315
I have the factory manuals and they don't mention the Sport as a separate model at all. From the specs I've found from GM Media there is no difference between the two other than wheel size. Not even the sway bars and ride height are listed as different. I know that can't be right. I test drove a couple of base Cateras before finding my 2001 Sport. Regardless of what GM Media says (PR types never get the facts right), they sure as hell don't ride the same. I know the struts & shocks must be different, as well as the springs. I would assume the sway bars on a Sport are thicker but without documentation, who knows?
The Sport is not a separate model, it's just an options package. It is true that the swaybars are the same, but the springs and coils are different. in the specs you linked to, it only indicates the style of shocks/coils not the specs of them. If you compare you will find that the sport had re-valved shocks and stiffer springs (thicker and fewer coils) http://media.gm.com/division/cadillac/products/01cadillac/catera/overview.html
Quote:
Catera Sport Makes Modifications The Sport package for '01 remains the same, offering 17-inch aluminum wheels, high-intensity discharge (HID) headlights, matte-silver chrome grille and brushed-silver aluminum interior trim, ZJ1 suspension, heated seats, rear deck spoiler, theft deterrent system and universal garage door opener
Re: What is the different between suspension in regular cat and the cat sport?
Quote:
Originally Posted by MyOpel
The Sport is not a separate model, it's just an options package. It is true that the swaybars are the same, but the springs and coils are different. in the specs you linked to, it only indicates the style of shocks/coils not the specs of them. If you compare you will find that the sport had re-valved shocks and stiffer springs (thicker and fewer coils)
You're right. Option Package is a better description. The problem is identifying which parts are which. According to your link above the Sport package was first available with the '99. I read somewhere that suspension ('99/ZJ1) became the Base suspension for '00-'01. The '00-'01 Sport suspension was made even firmer (RPO unknown). So when shopping for GM replacement Sport parts remember that. If you have a '99 Sport you can use the Base '00-'99 parts, but a '00-'01 Sport can only use '00-'01 Sport parts. I checked a few part suppliers.
RockAuto sells Monroe Sensatracs and KYB GR2s for the Catera but don't say whether they're for the Sport or not. They also sell ACDelco struts and specify they are for the Catera w/o Sport pack.
GM Parts Cheap sell ACDelco struts. This is what I found.
Strut, catera, right, w/o sport pkg. 00-01
Strut, catera, right, w/sport pkg. 99-01
Strut, catera, left, w/o sport pkg. 00-01
Strut, catera, left, w/sport pkg. 99-01
Note that they sell left/right '99-'01 Sport struts but we know they're different for '99 and '00-'01. So what are they actually selling? I've done many searches to find out what specific parts make up the ZJ1 RPO but no luck.
Damned GM. They never make it easy. We know the Sport suspension is different so why make it so hard to order the right replacements? You definitely can't trust a dealer to order the right parts. They hate this car and don't care enough to guarantee you'll get the right parts. They will tell you what you want to hear and take your money with a smile.
Re: What is the different between suspension in regular cat and the cat sport?
I found the following while searching for suspension upgrades. Besides the appearance features, like the exterior paint, satin silver grille, HID headlights, 17 inch wheels, rear wing, silver interior trim, yadda yadda yadda, what makes the Catera a sport version is the suspension. Of that, the only differences between the two are the front struts and rear shocks. For Sport owners needing replacement parts, or standard Catera owners wanting a sport suspension, these are the specific GM replacement parts for both the standard Catera and the (TV5) Sport Package. There are aftermarket components that are less expensive and more sport than AC DELCO available but speaking as a Sport owner, these ain't bad. Rock Auto Parts supplied the part numbers and descriptions. They've changed the parts listings since last time I checked.
STRUTS, FRONT:
ACDELCO Part # 506591 {#09192249}
STRUT,FRT SUSP LEFT HAND; w/4-SPD A/TRANS(ML4)
ACDELCO Part # 506592 {#09192250}
STRUT,FRT SUSP RIGHT HAND; w/4-SPD A/TRANS(ML4)
ACDELCO Part # 506593 {#09192291}
STRUT,FRT SUSP LEFT HAND; w/4-SPD A/TRANS(ML4) & SPORT APPEARANCE PKG(TV5)
ACDELCO Part # 506594 {#09192292}
STRUT,FRT SUSP RIGHT HAND; w/4-SPD A/TRANS(ML4) & SPORT APPEARANCE PKG(TV5)
SHOCK ABSORBERS, REAR:
ACDELCO Part # 560227 {#72119084}
ABSORBER,RR SHK
ACDELCO Part # 560228 {#72119087}
ABSORBER,RR SHK w/SPORT APPEARANCE PKG(TV5)
All the bushings, springs, swaybars, and brakes (front and rear) between the two are the same.
Re: What is the different between suspension in regular cat and the cat sport?
Just for the record:
The MV6 carried the full autobahn suspension. Back in '96 the Caddy engineers softened that considerably for the original Cats and so it remained until:
In 1999 the Cat Sport was the first with a stiffer suspension. This level of stiffness was maintained in 2000 and in 2001 in the _standard_ Cats. However:
The 2000 and 2001 Cat _Sports_ were stiffer still, returning full circle to the full Autobahn suspension, in terms of stiffness.
Re: What is the different between suspension in regular cat and the cat sport?
Quote:
Originally Posted by guardian
Just for the record:
The MV6 carried the full autobahn suspension. Back in '96 the Caddy engineers softened that considerably for the original Cats and so it remained until:
In 1999 the Cat Sport was the first with a stiffer suspension. This level of stiffness was maintained in 2000 and in 2001 in the _standard_ Cats. However:
The 2000 and 2001 Cat _Sports_ were stiffer still, returning full circle to the full Autobahn suspension, in terms of stiffness.
True. GM has the habit of second guessing its engineers and designers. In 1984 Pontiac debuted the Fiero. They planned it as a bargain sports car. GM ordered it be redesigned as an economy commuter. To that end Pontiac installed a Chevette derived front suspension instead of one of their own design (thought to have been copied from Lotus). Also mandated was the old Iron Duke 4 cylinder engine (Pontiac added a V6 in '85).
For the 1988 model year, bolstered by a good sales history, GM approved upgrades including the originally intended front suspension, and new Ferrariesque bodywork. The Fiero finally handled like its designers intended. Like a sports car. With its new styling it looked like an exotic. That's when GM pulled the plug on the Fiero. Pontiac had to wait 18 years before getting another two seater, the Solstice (based on the Opel GT Speedster).
I had missed that post and really appreciate your having mentioned this. I am astonished. I have studied heavily on the Cat over the years yet completely missed the 2002 cars.
Also I must now amend my earlier statements within this forum re the 1999 Cat Sports. Clearly, the 1999 Sports are NOT the rarest Cat of all, as I had said. I was wrong.
If I ever saw a 2002 stick shift Cat for sale, it would not be for sale long. Talk about an instantaneous collectors item!! My goodness, on top of its rarity within the Cat family, such a car is a factory stick shift Cadillac. How many of those are out there . . . any model.
We always have known about the ability to convert a USA Cat to stick shift using European parts . . . . . albeit that such parts are extremely tough to obtain. But the stick shift MV6s have always existed in small numbers. I never knew, though, that Caddy imported any in Cat form. It is just amazing.
