Technical => Suspension/Steering => Topic started by: Squatch69 on July 18, 2015, 12:28:36 AM
Title: 1984 thunderbird suspension help please advise..
Post by: Squatch69 on July 18, 2015, 12:28:36 AM
If read up a little on the suspension forums and I would like others opinions.i have a like new set of springs off my 94 mustang gt laying around.will they fit and what type of lowering will I see by having them installed on my 84 tbird.and also what dampeners do y'all recommend?im probably going w 10 holes or weld draglite said or such.definately 15 inch rim/tire combo.the suspension in my 84 rides awesome buts it's real sloppy and I just want to firm it up a little but go budget also.any help would be awesome and thank you in advance.
Title: 1984 thunderbird suspension help please advise..
Post by: ISTLCRUZ on July 18, 2015, 06:22:31 AM
Im not sure on the 94 Stang springs. Others may chime in on that. You can do a search on here as the spring topic has been discussed....ALOT! lol.... You may want to grab sway bars from a Turbo Coupe ( or fox body GT) That alone will be an improvement over stock. While at it replace the bushings with poly units...Also your steering rack can be swapped with a TC or foxbody GT unit.. All depends on what you want .Keep us posted.
Title: 1984 thunderbird suspension help please advise..
Post by: V8Demon on July 18, 2015, 08:26:00 AM
There's probably a few of variants on the springs, both front AND rear, for a 1994 Mustang GT. The end goal of the Ford Engineers was to have every car roll off the assembly line with essentially the same ride height regardless of options. THis necessitates different springs for different combinations. Are the part # tags still on the springs?I know on the S197 and S550 there is a spring code located on the door tag for the fronts and rears. I'm not sure on older model, but I don't believe they had that so your best bet is if the springs still have the part # sticker still wrapped around a coil....
Title: 1984 thunderbird suspension help please advise..
Post by: Squatch69 on July 18, 2015, 09:04:00 AM
Thank you so much for the info.i hate being a newbie at this but you guys are like family and took me right in.i love the car and look forward to many more.it just sucks it took me so long at 41 years old to move up from the mustang.
Title: 1984 thunderbird suspension help please advise..
Post by: Haystack on July 18, 2015, 10:05:19 AM
They sell replacement springs with different ride heights and spring rates for a pretty reasonable price. Personally, i am probably gonna swap the front springs with a sn-95 set i have and leave the rear alone.
Title: 1984 thunderbird suspension help please advise..
Post by: Aerocoupe on July 18, 2015, 11:07:03 AM
This has been talked about a lot here so a quick search would probably get you a ton of info. Couple of quick ones here:
Title: 1984 thunderbird suspension help please advise..
Post by: Squatch69 on July 18, 2015, 11:20:37 PM
Quote from: Haystack;449828
They sell replacement springs with different ride heights and spring rates for a pretty reasonable price. Personally, i am probably gonna swap the front springs with a sn-95 set i have and leave the rear alone.
Why not go with the sn95 all around?what would I achieve by doing just the fronts like you or should I go all 4 corners and do up recommend a shock/strut..thank you
Title: 1984 thunderbird suspension help please advise..
Post by: ISTLCRUZ on July 19, 2015, 06:16:52 AM
Some guys have found that sn95 springs drop the back TOO much. Again it depends on the rate of the spring and what they were removed from. Some have had good luck with coils from convertibles . So far as shock/struts again that depends on what you want ( performance or comfort) Monroe Sensatrac work well if you want comfort.
Title: 1984 thunderbird suspension help please advise..
Post by: TheFoeYouKnow on July 19, 2015, 10:03:21 AM
What engine has your car got, and what did the Mustang have? If both have/had 5.0L, you should be alright. Without knowing your specifics, I can say you'll drop by around 1 1/4 to 1 3/4 inch. Because your rear wheel arches aren't the same shape as the front, it will appear that the rear is lower, but if you measure your frame height at the pinch welds along the bottom of the rockers, usually the drop is equal to slightly less in the rear. Try it. Depending, you may want something slightly higher in the back, usually guys will use springs from a convertible in the back because they give just a little less drop. Don't mix your stock rear springs with the Mustang front springs. That look is not becoming on these cars.
Title: 1984 thunderbird suspension help please advise..
Post by: Squatch69 on July 19, 2015, 05:01:26 PM
The motor in my bird is 5.0 everything is stock so far on the car.aode trans.the mustang that springs came off is a 4.6 and I lowered the stand w a set of b springs so I have the stock 94 springs in the box.i can buy others but I am trying to go budget.thank you for the input and information.
Title: 1984 thunderbird suspension help please advise..
Post by: Squatch69 on July 19, 2015, 05:04:33 PM
Quote from: ISTLCRUZ;449853
Some guys have found that sn95 springs drop the back TOO much. Again it depends on the rate of the spring and what they were removed from. Some have had good luck with coils from convertibles . So far as shock/struts again that depends on what you want ( performance or comfort) Monroe Sensatrac work well if you want comfort.
I've been seeing that others are going w just the fronts.i would like comfort but a little tighter suspension.its to bouncy type now.the shocks seem to be ounce ok though.
Title: 1984 thunderbird suspension help please advise..
Post by: TheFoeYouKnow on July 19, 2015, 05:04:40 PM
If your Mustang has a 4.6, you'd better recheck the year. 94 and 95 still have a 5.0, 4.6 came to Mustang starting in 96.
Title: 1984 thunderbird suspension help please advise..
Post by: Squatch69 on July 19, 2015, 05:10:48 PM
Quote from: TheFoeYouKnow;449873
If your Mustang has a 4.6, you'd better recheck the year. 94 and 95 still have a 5.0, 4.6 came to Mustang starting in 96.
I just rechecked yes my 94 has 5.0 but you were right as I just remembered the springs are off my 96 w 4.6 pro charged.
Title: 1984 thunderbird suspension help please advise..
Post by: Haystack on July 19, 2015, 06:26:44 PM
What's wrong with alittle bit of rake? Most of our cars suffer from saggy rear springs anyways. Im leaving the stock rear springs because i eventually want to go to cargo coils. I routinely put several hundred pounds of weight in the trunk.
My buddy has an old 4 runner. I used to hate riding in that little thing. It had virtually no suspension at all. He had a 3" lift and the recommend shocks on it. He kept breaking off shock mounts and everytime a shock mount broke it was better riding. He has beefed up his shock mounts and threw some 10 way adjustable shocks in there. The one setting and it rides like a caddilac. 3 or 4 and it has a very nice firm ride with very little bounce.
Title: 1984 thunderbird suspension help please advise..
Post by: Squatch69 on July 19, 2015, 08:05:56 PM
Quote from: Haystack;449875
What's wrong with alittle bit of rake? Most of our cars suffer from saggy rear springs anyways. Im leaving the stock rear springs because i eventually want to go to cargo coils. I routinely put several hundred pounds of weight in the trunk.
My buddy has an old 4 runner. I used to hate riding in that little thing. It had virtually no suspension at all. He had a 3" lift and the recommend shocks on it. He kept breaking off shock mounts and everytime a shock mount broke it was better riding. He has beefed up his shock mounts and threw some 10 way adjustable shocks in there. The one setting and it rides like a caddilac. 3 or 4 and it has a very nice firm ride with very little bounce.
I agree..
Title: 1984 thunderbird suspension help please advise..
Post by: TheFoeYouKnow on July 19, 2015, 08:45:06 PM
I also agree, but with stock rear springs and SN-95 front springs, we're not talking about a little rake, we're talking "rat fink" rake, and that look went out in the 70's. Without C/C plates, that setup sets you at just about 0 degrees caster, and that makes for an itchy steering wheel and no on-center feel whatsoever.
Title: 1984 thunderbird suspension help please advise..
Post by: Squatch69 on July 20, 2015, 02:53:15 AM
Lol that's why I'm confused on what to do.should I leave it alone and stick the aftermarket rims and tires on and just ride it as is or shoot a set of shock and springs on too.someone put me in the right direction.i have 5-6 weeks until I drive it due to my foot healing from surgery Tuesday so I have a lil while to gather parts or have stuff delivered.and enjoy it for a couple months and probably turn around and sell it instead of storing it or storing it and coming out with my 85 procharger stand that I can't drive now due to my clutch foot healing lol.
Title: 1984 thunderbird suspension help please advise..
Post by: ISTLCRUZ on July 20, 2015, 05:26:48 AM
If you think you may sell it maybe just go with the 10 holes & tires, shock/struts and see how it feels at that point.
Title: 1984 thunderbird suspension help please advise..
Post by: Squatch69 on July 20, 2015, 02:36:06 PM
Quote from: ISTLCRUZ;449881
If you think you may sell it maybe just go with the 10 holes & tires, shock/struts and see how it feels at that point.
I agree.is there a size tire you recommend for the 10 holes like the 235/60 some are saying and what shock setup ruts do you think(Oem,aftermarket)thank you
Title: 1984 thunderbird suspension help please advise..
Post by: cj750 on July 26, 2015, 01:14:39 AM
FWIW, here are the changes I've made to my '85 Cougar: Fox Mustang ('87-'93) GT sway bars, SN95 Cobra springs ('98, I think.) Fox Mustang GT steering rack. SN95 K-member brace, KYB front struts, Motorcraft gas-charged rear shocks. I was a little concerned that the shocks/struts would be too soft, but they work OK. Along with 225/55/R16 tires on TC rims, the handling has been transformed. Ride is still very comfortable, but the soft floaty feel is all gone. It hustles nicely through corners now. 3.45:1 rear gears and a limited slip differential (from a Ranger P.U.) are not strictly suspension improvements, but work together with them to make the car more pleasant to drive. Bigger brakes are next on the list. P.S. 225/60/15 is the stock size tire for the 10 hole rims, but 235s will fit and put a bit more rubber on the road. Really just a matter of personal preference.
Title: 1984 thunderbird suspension help please advise..
Post by: Squatch69 on July 26, 2015, 10:30:20 AM
Quote from: cj750;450077
FWIW, here are the changes I've made to my '85 Cougar: Fox Mustang ('87-'93) GT sway bars, SN95 Cobra springs ('98, I think.) Fox Mustang GT steering rack. SN95 K-member brace, KYB front struts, Motorcraft gas-charged rear shocks. I was a little concerned that the shocks/struts would be too soft, but they work OK. Along with 225/55/R16 tires on TC rims, the handling has been transformed. Ride is still very comfortable, but the soft floaty feel is all gone. It hustles nicely through corners now. 3.45:1 rear gears and a limited slip differential (from a Ranger P.U.) are not strictly suspension improvements, but work together with them to make the car more pleasant to drive. Bigger brakes are next on the list. P.S. 225/60/15 is the stock size tire for the 10 hole rims, but 235s will fit and put a bit more rubber on the road. Really just a matter of personal preference.
Thank you so much for the info..
Title: 1984 thunderbird suspension help please advise..
Post by: Haystack on July 26, 2015, 06:05:01 PM
Try finding 225/60's on a 15" rim. They wanted $450 for two. That's why i went with 235/60's. They were about 100.a piece.
Title: 1984 thunderbird suspension help please advise..
Post by: cj750 on July 27, 2015, 07:51:16 PM
Quote from: Haystack;450096
Try finding 225/60's on a 15" rim. They wanted $450 for two. That's why i went with 235/60's. They were about 100.a piece.
I'm not sure where you normally shop for tires, but you can get 225/60/15s shipped to your door for 75 bucks a piece, FWIW. These are what I run on my '85 Cougar (in size 225/55/16) and they work great. http://www.discounttiredirect.com/direct/findTireDetail.do?ra=searchTiresBySize.do&fl=&pc=17353&counter=0&ar=60&rd=15&cs=225
Title: 1984 thunderbird suspension help please advise..
Post by: Squatch69 on July 28, 2015, 04:37:48 PM
Quote from: cj750;450136
I'm not sure where you normally shop for tires, but you can get 225/60/15s shipped to your door for 75 bucks a piece, FWIW. These are what I run on my '85 Cougar (in size 225/55/16) and they work great. http://www.discounttiredirect.com/direct/findTireDetail.do?ra=searchTiresBySize.do&fl=&pc=17353&counter=0&ar=60&rd=15&cs=225
Thank you for the research.i like discount tire direct.i will definitely look into the tire and size difference