Fox T-Bird/Cougar Forums

Technical => Suspension/Steering => Topic started by: desotorandy on December 12, 2009, 11:20:41 PM

Title: Rearend and swaybar question????
Post by: desotorandy on December 12, 2009, 11:20:41 PM
I know this subject is getting old but I was at the local boneyard getting some goodies today,was looking at some 94-up Stang front control arms and was looking at the rear axles w/disc,will they fit my 87 Bird LX or are they too wide like the Mark VII?

I was wondering about the rear control arms as well?
Title: Rearend and swaybar question????
Post by: vinnietbird on December 13, 2009, 06:53:03 AM
If I remember right,the sway bars will swap over.As far as control arms,I don't know.I think the upper control arms from Fox Stangs are shorter than ours,but can't be sure about the SN-95's.I'd guess that they wouldn't be right either.Wait a while and someone else will chime in.
Title: Rearend and swaybar question????
Post by: desotorandy on December 13, 2009, 10:09:50 PM
Thank you Vinniebird,

Just getting a good solid "game plan" going,found a lot of good info,now just working on sifting out the best ideas.

Our car is an 87 LX  3.8,AOD,7.5 w/no sway bar,9in brakes ect,just put a set of 10 hole wheels and new tires. Yesterday I found a rear sway bar from a V8 87 Cougar,was thinking of grabbing the front as well? along w/the springs and maybe the 8.8 w/10in drums???  What suspension setup are you running? your bird was a V6 right?

My 4 1/2 yr old daughter got her first ride the other night in "The bird" I asked how she liked it and her awnser was "I like it daddy,We're going to put a bigger engine in it right? "

Gues it's in the genes lol?
Title: Rearend and swaybar question????
Post by: jncocowboyx on December 13, 2009, 10:31:43 PM
Quote from: desotorandy;302406

My 4 1/2 yr old daughter got her first ride the other night in "The bird" I asked how she liked it and her awnser was "I like it daddy,We're going to put a bigger engine in it right? "

Gues it's in the genes lol?


cutest kid ever!
Title: Rearend and swaybar question????
Post by: vinnietbird on December 13, 2009, 10:34:14 PM
My car was always a V-8.The V-6 and V-8 sway bars are smaller than the Turbo Coupe bars (unless,like my car,it's a Sport model which shares the thicker Turbo Coupe bars).That what you should grab.They are thick,and really do make a difference.Fox Mustang swaybars (the 5.0 Stangs) are the same as the Turbo Coupes ('87 and '88).They are pretty easy to find,and generally fairly cheap.
Title: Rearend and swaybar question????
Post by: Beau on December 13, 2009, 10:41:08 PM
The rear is most likely a 7.5 if it's from an '87 car. The 10" drums are smooth, while the 9 inchers have fins.
Still, it's possible it will have a trac loc, look for an axle code on the door jamb sticker.
Info: http://www.coolcats.net/tech/general/axleinfo.html

I'd keep the v6 springs, at least on the front, as the v8 weighs more than the 6, so the V8 springs are taller and they're not what you want, unless you're going to a v8 very soon.

Your little girl has a good head about your car lol ;)

Have no idea about the Stang arms, someone else will speak up.:D
Title: Rearend and swaybar question????
Post by: vinnietbird on December 13, 2009, 11:29:05 PM
True.My Bird came with a 7.5,10 inch drums,and 2.73 Traction Lock and the TC sway bars.
Title: Rearend and swaybar question????
Post by: Chuck W on December 14, 2009, 10:58:11 PM
Your questions are pretty vague, and all this stuff is covered here on the forums.

Short answers:
-Rear sway bars will work.
-Rear control arms are the same as the 79-93 Mustang, and thus are too short for the Tbirds/Cougars.
-rear axle assemblies 94-98, same overall width as the 83-88 Tbirds/Cougars, 99-04 are wider. 

Want more detailed answers, hit up the search function and check out the past threads.  There are at least 2 a couple threads dedicated to the rear axle differences stickied already.  One even has a handy chart...
Title: Rearend and swaybar question????
Post by: desotorandy on December 14, 2009, 11:16:37 PM
Thank you everyone,

Yeah,my children are into cars,planes,boats and trains,they got it from me,I got it from my dad and he got it from his father,they loved trains and anything mechanical,my family is orig from Endicott NY and worked for IBM,so they used to go to the races at 5mile point,Fonda speedway and so on,it's a rich family tradition to be mechanically minded,plus it's in the genes lol.

I hope to find info about the 94+ axle housings w/disc brakes being a good fit for a fox bird?

The rear in that Cougar was an axle code 8,w/10in brakes,seems it wasn't a traction lock unit,butI did grab the rear sway bar off of it tho since my bird hasn't got one at all,may get the front as well?
I'm going to keep the V6 springs in till I get the V8 driveline ready to install ect,I don't want to mess things up since I drive it every day.
Title: Rearend and swaybar question????
Post by: V8Demon on December 15, 2009, 02:39:11 AM
I read the first post a couple of times to confirm.

Quote
was looking at some 94-up Stang [SIZE="6"]front[/SIZE][/I][/B] control arms.....will they fit my 87 Bird LX

If you are indeed referring to the front a-arms then they are in fact the same dimensions.  I believe the spring pocket is different, however.  I can't remember if it's deeper or shallower, but you CAN use them.

Hope this helps.
Title: Rearend and swaybar question????
Post by: Chuck W on December 15, 2009, 08:02:38 AM
Quote from: V8Demon;302618
I read the first post a couple of times to confirm.



If you are indeed referring to the front a-arms then they are in fact the same dimensions.  I believe the spring pocket is different, however.  I can't remember if it's deeper or shallower, but you CAN use them.

Hope this helps.


To clarify...they are the same dimensions as the 87-88 cars.  The 83-86 cars use the Fox Mustang front control arms.
Title: Rearend and swaybar question????
Post by: mcb82gt on December 15, 2009, 08:04:45 AM
I believe, from prior searching, the spring pocket is deeper on the stang arms.

I was gonna say also, he's looking at the front arms. LOL
Title: Rearend and swaybar question????
Post by: Chuck W on December 15, 2009, 10:01:42 AM
Quote from: mcb82gt;302635

I was gonna say also, he's looking at the front arms. LOL


Re-read the first post...he also asked about the rear arms...

;)
Title: Rearend and swaybar question????
Post by: desotorandy on December 15, 2009, 09:11:13 PM
Thanks guys,

Yeah,got that,I have a pretty good idea now what I'd like to use ect,thanks everyone for your help.