83 Tbird rides like a rock? And other fun stuff

Topic: 83 Tbird rides like a rock? And other fun stuff (Read 2645 times) previous topic - next topic

83 Tbird rides like a rock? And other fun stuff

November 24, 2009, 02:32:37 AM

I have finally had enough of the stiff suspension in the bird. The previous owner put it there, and it was great for years when I wanted a race car, but know I'm starting to feel like it's going to shake the car apart because it's TOO stiff.
I have blue coil springs(No clue what they are if they aren't FRPP) and the shocks are supposed to be KYB up front and Monroe Sensa-Trac in the rear. Need something softer!~ Any suggestions are appreciated.

Also, deleted the 20Lb HR980 Pancake AC compressor today when I upgraded the motor accessories. That was 8 hours worth of fun.

Sooo tired!

83 Tbird rides like a rock? And other fun stuff

Reply #1 – November 24, 2009, 03:38:31 PM

Any chassis stiffening on the car? You'd be amazed at what allowing the suspension to actually work instead of the chassis flexing can do for ride and feel.

KYBs can be a bit rough though, too.

83 Tbird rides like a rock? And other fun stuff

Reply #2 – November 24, 2009, 08:15:29 PM

Stiffening such as Subframe connectors? I think those are a little too involved for me, but it does seem like the chassis is creaking/flexing an awful lot when I hit bumps. I'm definitely considering getting rid of the KYB's for sure, I just don't know what to go with to replace them. The factory ones are pretty soft aren't they?

83 Tbird rides like a rock? And other fun stuff

Reply #3 – November 24, 2009, 09:36:30 PM

ANY suspension that is on the car will work better with a stiffer platform.

83 Tbird rides like a rock? And other fun stuff

Reply #4 – November 24, 2009, 11:19:01 PM

Quote from: Chuck W;300123

ANY suspension that is on the car will work better with a stiffer platform.

i agree!
my 86 drag car stang has over the last two years got rougher and rougher to ride in. it to the point, that I don't want to drive it. when I built the car in 2001 to 2003. it rode great on the street.
last week while driving, I some how watch the door flex up and down at the latch side about 2 inch's. thinking that not good. I had to see why. well I have rust at every factory seem, to the point it causing the the body to flex.

83 Tbird rides like a rock? And other fun stuff

Reply #5 – November 25, 2009, 01:16:00 AM

I replaced everything in the suspension and it rides great. Turns out 22 years and 130,000 miles kinda wears out the stock bushings.

83 Tbird rides like a rock? And other fun stuff

Reply #6 – November 25, 2009, 01:45:40 AM

Well, I have receipts from the previous owner for a full poly bushing set and the shocks....

I guess I should plan on SFC's then. So you guys don't think softer springs would help?

83 Tbird rides like a rock? And other fun stuff

Reply #7 – November 25, 2009, 08:48:40 AM

Hard to tell what springs those are. They could be very stiff.

I imagine doing some MOOG stock replacement springs and getting stock type struts and shocks would help alot, like monroe sensa tracs etc.

I had kyb on my mustang with ford b lowering springs and it rode pretty stiff.

83 Tbird rides like a rock? And other fun stuff

Reply #8 – November 25, 2009, 10:03:04 AM

If you have poly bushings in the front control arms and you have delicate sensibilities, you will be unhappy.

Poly front control arm bushings are probably one of the biggest detractors from ride quality in a Fox car.

83 Tbird rides like a rock? And other fun stuff

Reply #9 – December 09, 2009, 02:45:49 AM

:hick: So I figured out what my creak was.. I have the back end apart for a new rearend and I undid the control arms...."Creeeaaaak"! The combined groaning of the rear arm bushings makes one hell of a racket!

So...Next time the money tree comes around, poly bushings for me!

I have no idea what I'll end up doing for the front, I will breach that wall when I get to the front brakes.

I did pick up some poly coil spring isolators, as mine were trashed, and I gotta tell ya, those feel very slippery.

Chuck - I'll have to go through my receipts and see what exactly the previous owner bought, although I don't recall(It's been a week) having any issues with the front end, which delicate sensibilities are you thinking of?

83 Tbird rides like a rock? And other fun stuff

Reply #10 – December 10, 2009, 08:48:12 AM

Quote from: jrad235;301813

Chuck - I'll have to go through my receipts and see what exactly the previous owner bought, although I don't recall(It's been a week) having any issues with the front end, which delicate sensibilities are you thinking of?

Just referring to the fact that you will feel just about everything in the road that you drive over with poly front CA bushings.

83 Tbird rides like a rock? And other fun stuff

Reply #11 – May 14, 2010, 10:33:02 AM

Quote from: Chuck W;300176

If you have poly bushings in the front control arms and you have delicate sensibilities, you will be unhappy.

Poly front control arm bushings are probably one of the biggest detractors from ride quality in a Fox car.

Chuck, I believe you, but shouldnt that be dampend out by your spring and shock/strut choice??

83 Tbird rides like a rock? And other fun stuff

Reply #12 – May 14, 2010, 10:50:13 AM

If my chain of thought is correct, since the wheel is attached to the spindle, then directly to the control arm, and from there through the bushings to the K-member, and thus bolted directly to the chassis, the stiffer the bushing, the more NVH that gets transmitted to the driver. The spring/strut combo only effects the ride height/body roll and some bump absorption for the chassis.

83 Tbird rides like a rock? And other fun stuff

Reply #13 – May 14, 2010, 10:56:32 AM

Quote from: mcb82gt;321834

Chuck, I believe you, but shouldnt that be dampend out by your spring and shock/strut choice??

Quote from: jrad235;321837

If my chain of thought is correct, since the wheel is attached to the spindle, then directly to the control arm, and from there through the bushings to the K-member, and thus bolted directly to the chassis, the stiffer the bushing, the more NVH that gets transmitted to the driver. The spring/strut combo only effects the ride height/body roll and some bump absorption for the chassis.

jrad has got it.

The bushing isolates the chassis from road "noise". Poly bushings negate that isolation.

83 Tbird rides like a rock? And other fun stuff

Reply #14 – May 14, 2010, 11:00:05 AM

OK, makes sense, thank you.

Are the polygraphite bushings just as bad as the polyeurethane, in harshness? Just less squeaks?