New suspension

Topic: New suspension (Read 1554 times) previous topic - next topic

New suspension

December 18, 2005, 04:35:05 PM

So If any of you guys surf TCCoA you might know that I was the raffle winner. Well I've talked to Will about my prize, and I want to get a new suspension. Since I have a Fox, and the suspension package was originally made up for an MN12, he asked me to put together a list of parts that'd work with my bird. i already read the spring thread in the Hits and Tips section, it was however related pretty much to springs. So I already know a few things, but need info on basically shocks and struts.

I know that the FRPP springs for the fox mustangs will work, and are a nicer alternative to stock so if that's the case, then I am going to assume the Eibach's for the fox mustang will work as well.

I am going to be getting the CHE control arms.

So that leaves me with shocks and struts. I've heard that the mustang shocks will not work without modifying the mount, but I have never heard anything about struts. Are there any good performance ones out there still in production? I know that some people have coil-overs. Are there any cons to this setup, or is it a good overall way to go?

Also is there a general bushing kit for our cars, or do I need to order them all seperately?

Thanks for your help. I'll do more reading and research as well, but I'm literally trying to learn all the aspects of our cars at once.

Paul

New suspension

Reply #1 – December 18, 2005, 05:14:23 PM

I wouldn't use Fox springs...the rear ones are way too short (even factory height) and the front ones may not be quite enough. SN95 springs would be a better idea.

What exactly are you allowed to get? You should be able to use any Mustang strut as the mounting points in the camber plates should all be the same. I think it's just the camber plates themselves that are different. Caster/Camber plates wouldn't be a bad idea.

As for bushings what kind are you talking about?

New suspension

Reply #2 – December 19, 2005, 05:51:58 PM

Ok, so SN95 springs it is. I'm not 100% sure on what my spending limit is, but I think the original package was somewhere in the 750.00 dollar range.

Bushings, I just wnat something that's long lasting and effective. This will be the first time the suspension has had anything replaced on it besides rack and pinion, so I'm sure a lot, if not all of the "disposables" are going to need to be replaced.

I was thinking about C/C plates as well. So any mustang plate will work as long as the struts I get are for the same year/type?

New suspension

Reply #3 – December 19, 2005, 06:40:32 PM

Well, from my understanding, the c/c plates are not the same between Mustangs and Thunderbirds. Maximum Motorsports sells c/c plates specifically for '83-88 Thunderbirds so I'd recommend picking those up (not to mention the fact that MM's stuff is really nice). Actually, they have a "cosmetically blemished" set of t-bird plates on the website right now for $175 (reg $190...check the "sale items" section, http://www.maximummotorsports.com), if they aren't sold yet.

For the SN95 springs, I really don't know if you would want stock heigh springs or lowering springs. I've heard of guys with Turbo Coupes taking stock height SN95 springs and putting them on their cars, and they lower the car around an inch or so. I have a set of stock SN95 coils but I haven't gotten around to doing anything with them yet. One thing about doing this, now I don't know about V8 thunderbird springs, but Turbo Coupe factory (front and rear) are a higher rate than stock SN95 springs and even a lot of aftermarket lowering springs, so I don't even know what kind of ride you would get with them.

Oh and about the bushings, I know Energy Suspension and maybe Prothane sell complete bushing kits for '87-93 Mustangs that would work on our cars. However, a complete bushing kit is kind of a waste really...generally they come with endlink bushings, swaybar bushings, control arm bushings, and maybe steering rack bushings but I don't know. You won't need the rear control arm bushings (since you're getting the CHE arms), and from what I've heard the front control arm bushings are a royal PITA to install. You might be better off to just get some aftermarket endlinks & swaybar bushings.

Or, if you don't have one, perhaps you could look into an aftermarket front swaybar package?

New suspension

Reply #4 – December 19, 2005, 06:58:17 PM

if you notice fox mustang strut towers mounts are "flipped" meaning of the 3 holes for the strut, 2 are in back and one is in front on one side, and 2 holes are in front and one is in back on the other.

New suspension

Reply #5 – December 19, 2005, 10:05:48 PM

Most excellent, things are becoming much clearer now. I'm only interested in lowering the car about an inch to begin with, so those springs sound like they would be good. Plus I want them to be firm, but not rock solid, so I won't worry about the TC springs.

I bought a set of TC swaybars off Manson, so that is actually taken care of. I think the money order actually went out on teusday Manson, sorry for the delay.

Manson, are you saying that if I get mustang struts they will have to go in backwards? Or will they not work at all without re-drilling or something?

Thank you guys for being sooo helpful. I really truly appreciate it, and it's comforting to know that people on this board actually care about helping others.

New suspension

Reply #6 – December 19, 2005, 11:01:38 PM

You probably won't like it, but here is what I'd do with $750. Actually, it'll take way more than $750 to get your suspension up to snuff.

1 - MM CC Plates - $199.99
2 - Ford SN95 LCAs - $189.95
3 - MM Rear LCAs - $269.95
4 - Rear LCA axle bushing - $59.99
5 - Ford Rear UCAs - $109.68

Total - $829.52

This still leaves you with springs/dampers. Forgot about coil-overs unless you want to dump another $500 per corner.
Basically, my list gives you all new front/rear bushings/bushings. No doubt, the ones on your car now are worn out.

I recommend Ford UCAs over CHE because urethane has no place the UCA position of a 4-link. Bind-bind-bind. I like MM over CHE lowers just because MM is a proven quantity.

More expensive? Yes
Less NVH and better performance? I'd bet so

New suspension

Reply #7 – December 19, 2005, 11:09:18 PM

Quote from: DakotaEpic

are you saying that if I get mustang struts they will have to go in backwards? Or will they not work at all without re-drilling or something?

The things that have to be turned around "backwards" were the mustang caster camber plates. As was stated before, Maximum Motorsports makes a set specific to our cars, so there's no need to worry about that part. The big deal with Mustang struts is that they are shorter than T-bird/Cougar struts. They should in theory bolt up, and "may" be long enough to work in a lowered application.