Currently my GP is currently at 69K miles and I will upgrade and lower my suspension come springtime, as it stands, the only suspension upgrades I have performed are upgrading the rear sway bar to the Comp G bar and installed the F/R STB with DR's brackets. I originally wanted to go for Bilstein struts (original Bilstein's, not the GXP ones) but have opted to go with the FE3 Comp G struts for two reasons, for one I will save about 300$ and since Im upgrading from an FE1 suspension at stock height, I will already notice a night and day difference. The money saved will go towards UMI trailing arms and Goodridge SS brake lines.

I want to start buying my parts now but I want to make sure that I have everything covered before I start the project. I will be building my complete strut assemblies before the end of winter and come springtime swap out the current stock assemblies with the new ones and keep the stock assemblies intact.

I hope that this thread can eventually help others who are willing to upgrade and possibly become a sticky if worth it so I will keep editing my OP to keep the list of parts and parts chosen clean. For ease of reading, I have posted the specific questions Im unsure of in bold and orange. Below is the planned list of parts that I believe I will require along with some questions:

Front/Rear parts list
2 x GM (FE3) Comp G front struts
2 x GM (FE3) Comp G rear struts
1 x Vogtland spring kit
1 x ZZP Engine and Trans mount spacers
4 x ZZP Anti-Pogo washers
OR
4 x GM Anti-Pogo washers (GM P/N: 10203412)

Front suspension parts list
2 x Top nut (GM P/N: 11516382)
2 x Front strut mount (GM P/N: 22179331) *See notes below
2 x Upper retainer (GM P/N: 22167000) *See notes below
2 x Bearing (GM P/N: 908554) *See notes below
2 x Spring seat (GM P/N: 22166979) *See notes below
2 x Front Upper insulator (GM P/N: 22181807)
2 x Lower retainer (GM P/N: 22166890) *See notes below
2 x Front dust shield (GM P/N: 22189840)*FE3
2 x Front bumper (GM P/N: 22181788)*FE3
2 x Front lower insulator (GM P/N: 22181835)

and maybe the parts below depending on answer to questions below
2 x Monroe strut-mate mounting kit (P/N: 902973) *See notes below

Rear suspension parts list
2 x Top nut (GM P/N: 11516382)
1 x Right rear strut mount (GM P/N: 10410962-1)*
1 x Left rear strut mount (GM P/N: 10410962-1)*
2 x Rear dust shield (GM P/N: 10282100)
2 x Rear lower insulator (GM P/N: 10286793)









Thanks in advance!

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Hey there!

Wish I could be of help! You have some very good questions and I also want to know about the Monroe Strut Mount Kits and whether they work with Don Rome's Brackets. I am going to be getting Bilstein HDs and was thinking of getting new strut mounts as well. Hope someone chimes in!

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2009 G8 GT -Sport and Premium Pkgs, Roto-Fab CAI, Cortex 93 Octane Tune, Billet Prototype Catch Can, BMR Front and Rear Sways, BMR RTAs, BMR Rear Cradle Bushings, BMR Steering Rack Bushing, GXP SW......and much more to come.

There are exactly the same amount of threads on the monroe/kyb and stock strut mounts. The diff is that the stock mounts have an additional tapered shank past the threads to help with lining the mount into the tower openings. I can take some pics if you like but assure you you'll be fine.

-- Sun Feb 20, 2011 11:42 pm --

If you wanted to spend the $ (apprx $60 total) for new strut to knuckle bolts, the bolts are 10247637, nuts are 11516382, and are the same for front or rear.

I'm curious about the gm/zzp pogo washers. Monroe gives a stock and somewhat pogo'd washer with each mount but I'd like to see some close up comparison shots if anyone has the GM or ZZP.

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~I was in San Diego on the beach eating an eggo. Dropped it in the sand. Damn sandy eggo

'05 GT, Don's Brkts Fr & Rr, Insulated CAI, lots of leds...

Thanks for the info. Would there be any issue of using the existing bolts from the stock strut mounts....as long as there is no visible damage to them?? Are you using Monroe strut kits with Don's STB brackets?

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2009 G8 GT -Sport and Premium Pkgs, Roto-Fab CAI, Cortex 93 Octane Tune, Billet Prototype Catch Can, BMR Front and Rear Sways, BMR RTAs, BMR Rear Cradle Bushings, BMR Steering Rack Bushing, GXP SW......and much more to come.

Those part numbers are for the lower strut to knuckle bolts/nuts and you can reuse the stock ones...I did. I just posted them because I don't think anyone else has listed the gm stock part numbers on this site. They do get a little corroded so replacing would probably make the job a little easier but they are expensive.

Yes, I'm using monroe mounts right now but I don't have Don's brackets just yet. I know they will work for the simple facts that lots of others have them and there are the same amount of thread length as stock so it should be no problem. I have some new GR-2's sitting the garage with some new KYB mounts that I plan to put on one of these weekends. When I do I can take some apples to apples comparison pics of the KYB vs Monroe vs Stock mounts so you can see first hand the thread length.

-- Mon Feb 21, 2011 7:00 pm --



The new strut mounts will come with the studs already in them, regardless of MFR. However, the stock and I believe Monroe mounting nuts have a locking feature at the top of the thread...the KYB nuts don't. So if using KYB mounts I would reuse the stock mounting nuts unless they are corroded...they would be more difficult to tighten but less likely to loosen over time. With stock or monroe just use the new nuts that come with them. I think I read that question right.

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~I was in San Diego on the beach eating an eggo. Dropped it in the sand. Damn sandy eggo

'05 GT, Don's Brkts Fr & Rr, Insulated CAI, lots of leds...