Fox T-Bird/Cougar Forums

Technical => Suspension/Steering => Topic started by: Kitz Kat on February 28, 2007, 07:27:10 PM

Title: Front end game plan.
Post by: Kitz Kat on February 28, 2007, 07:27:10 PM
I'm converting to 11" brakes.I need to do other work and was goin to use,new FRPP-M-3075-D control arms,94 stang,TC coil springs,plus I'm changing the rack.Does this sound like it should work?or are there some pitfalls to my plan?
Title: Front end game plan.
Post by: Ifixyawata on February 28, 2007, 08:24:18 PM
I'm doing suspension work at this time, too.  I have an '85 so, I'm pretty sure I already have the shorter control arms just as a Mustang does.  I'm still a n00b to the suspension thing, but let me ask you this, what are you getting the 11" rotors and spindles from?
Title: Front end game plan.
Post by: Ether947 on February 28, 2007, 09:06:15 PM
If your going to be changing the rack then you might as well upgrade your rack bushings to polys or solids. And what Ifixyawata asked, which brakes are you using?
Title: Front end game plan.
Post by: Kitz Kat on February 28, 2007, 10:20:47 PM
There 87-93 stang,the ones fordguy's selling.I already got polly bushings from CHE reg.ones not offset.not sure if I will need offset.
Title: Front end game plan.
Post by: Ifixyawata on February 28, 2007, 10:23:43 PM
I think if your car's been lowered more than 2" then you need offset bushings.  Basically if the tie-rod ends are pointing at too much of an upward angle when the car is sitting on level ground.
Title: Front end game plan.
Post by: Kitz Kat on March 01, 2007, 04:09:59 AM
How low do you think TC springs wiil lower the front?
Title: Front end game plan.
Post by: Ether947 on March 01, 2007, 09:01:15 AM
Keep in mind that you will need to change the balljoint with those control arms. If you were using SN-95 brakes it wouldn't be an issue. TC springs won't lower your car that much, if at all. Don't use offset rack bushings!

Here's some reading from MM on offset rack bushings

Quote
Why offset rack bushings are a bad idea for stock K-members
         
Although sold by many as a supposed cure for bumpsteer, installing offset steering rack bushings on a stock K-member make an acceptable situation far worse than if you had done nothing at all. How do we know this? Because we did testing. We measured the bumpsteer, both with and without offset rack bushings. Our test results were first published in the July 1993 issue of Super Ford. See "here" for more about bumpsteer.
Title: Front end game plan.
Post by: EricCoolCats on March 01, 2007, 09:16:02 AM
Quote
TC springs won't lower your car that much, if at all.

They lowered mine over 2"...went back to stock and things are much better. TC springs are probably good for V6 cars but after my experience I cannot recommend them for V8 cars. Unless you like sing the lower air dam everywhere.
Title: Front end game plan.
Post by: Ether947 on March 01, 2007, 09:23:50 AM
Quote from: EricCoolCats;131920
They lowered mine over 2"...went back to stock and things are much better. TC springs are probably good for V6 cars but after my experience I cannot recommend them for V8 cars. Unless you like sing the lower air dam everywhere.

Hmmm... I was under the impression that Sports used TC springs. Since that is not the case, ignore my previous statement. Thanks for the clarification.
Title: Front end game plan.
Post by: Kitz Kat on March 01, 2007, 09:40:11 AM
Can't use the ball joints!  that defeats my Idea for the arms ,need a new game plan thanks for the info.
Title: Front end game plan.
Post by: EricCoolCats on March 01, 2007, 09:44:01 AM
Oh, no problem...I just don't want people to get the impression that the TC spring is the almighty savior or anything. Granted, the stock V8 springs on the convertible have always made the car sit perfectly, with any size rim (14", 15", 16" and the current 17"). I found a dude selling the TC springs from a car he was parting. He measured them both in the car and out, to make sure they were the same height; they were within 1/8" uncompressed of each other. So those particular springs were not the issue. The convertible is heavier than an otherwise stock Cougar, but in the back, not the front. And I even took out the a/c system and air pump. All things being equal and optimal, the car dropped over 2". It looked badass but there was no way I could keep the car that low. The tires sed the tops of the inner fender liners every time I hit a bump. And I had a lot of close calls with roadkill too. I didn't see a need to change the ride height over what the stock springs gave, so I put those back in and have been happy ever since.

For my particular situation it was the right decision. Only you can determine what is "right" or "too low" for your own vehicle. YMMV
Title: Front end game plan.
Post by: Kitz Kat on March 01, 2007, 10:18:39 AM
No thats what I needed to know,2" is more than I want.I don't want to do it twice,I'm running out of time to get it done now.I"ll be back to 6-7days of work soon.
Title: Front end game plan.
Post by: 46Tbird on March 01, 2007, 12:38:56 PM
Cut a coil and a half out of your stock springs.  It will lower it a little more than an inch and increase the spring rate too.
Title: Front end game plan.
Post by: Thunder Chicken on March 01, 2007, 08:24:19 PM
Quote from: EricCoolCats;131920
They lowered mine over 2"...went back to stock and things are much better. TC springs are probably good for V6 cars but after my experience I cannot recommend them for V8 cars. Unless you like sing the lower air dam everywhere.

I'm actually thinking of pulling the TC springs out of mine as well. It dropped the car a good 2", and as you said, it looks badass.

Practical, it ain't. My air dam with the TC bumper sits about 3" off the garage floor. A dead squirrel on the road would probably tear it off.
Title: Front end game plan.
Post by: Kitz Kat on March 02, 2007, 06:49:05 PM
1 ? why are Sport & LS stock.All the same part #.For springs?