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Topic: Front end game plan. (Read 1610 times) previous topic - next topic

Front end game plan.

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?
Old Grey Cat to this.88 Cat, 5.0 HO, CW mounts, mass air, CI custom cam, afr165's, Tmoss worked cobra intake, BBK shorty's,off road h pipe, magnaflow ex. T-5,spec stage 2 clutch, 8.8 373 TC trac loc, che ajustables with bullits on the rear. 11" brakes up front. +

Front end game plan.

Reply #1 –
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?

Front end game plan.

Reply #2 –
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?
2005 Subaru WRX STi|daily driver

Front end game plan.

Reply #3 –
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.
Old Grey Cat to this.88 Cat, 5.0 HO, CW mounts, mass air, CI custom cam, afr165's, Tmoss worked cobra intake, BBK shorty's,off road h pipe, magnaflow ex. T-5,spec stage 2 clutch, 8.8 373 TC trac loc, che ajustables with bullits on the rear. 11" brakes up front. +

Front end game plan.

Reply #4 –
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.

Front end game plan.

Reply #5 –
How low do you think TC springs wiil lower the front?
Old Grey Cat to this.88 Cat, 5.0 HO, CW mounts, mass air, CI custom cam, afr165's, Tmoss worked cobra intake, BBK shorty's,off road h pipe, magnaflow ex. T-5,spec stage 2 clutch, 8.8 373 TC trac loc, che ajustables with bullits on the rear. 11" brakes up front. +

Front end game plan.

Reply #6 –
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.
2005 Subaru WRX STi|daily driver

Front end game plan.

Reply #7 –
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.

Front end game plan.

Reply #8 –
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.
2005 Subaru WRX STi|daily driver

Front end game plan.

Reply #9 –
Can't use the ball joints!  that defeats my Idea for the arms ,need a new game plan thanks for the info.
Old Grey Cat to this.88 Cat, 5.0 HO, CW mounts, mass air, CI custom cam, afr165's, Tmoss worked cobra intake, BBK shorty's,off road h pipe, magnaflow ex. T-5,spec stage 2 clutch, 8.8 373 TC trac loc, che ajustables with bullits on the rear. 11" brakes up front. +

Front end game plan.

Reply #10 –
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

Front end game plan.

Reply #11 –
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.
Old Grey Cat to this.88 Cat, 5.0 HO, CW mounts, mass air, CI custom cam, afr165's, Tmoss worked cobra intake, BBK shorty's,off road h pipe, magnaflow ex. T-5,spec stage 2 clutch, 8.8 373 TC trac loc, che ajustables with bullits on the rear. 11" brakes up front. +

Front end game plan.

Reply #12 –
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.
.
1984 Thunderbird V8

Front end game plan.

Reply #13 –
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.
2015 Mustang GT Premium - 5.0, 6-speed, Guard Green - too much awesome for one car

1988 5.0 Thunderbird :birdsmily: SOLD SEPT 11 2010: TC front clip/hood ♣ Body & paint completed Oct 2007 ♣ 3.55 TC rear end and front brakes ♣ TC interior ♣ CHE rear control arms (adjustable lowers) ♣ 2001 Bullitt springs ♣ Energy suspension poly busings ♣ Kenne Brown subframe connectors ♣ CWE engine mounts ♣ Thundercat sequential turn signals ♣ Explorer overhead console (temp/compass display) ♣ 2.25" off-road dual exhaust ♣ T-5 transmission swap completed Jan 2009 ♣
 

Front end game plan.

Reply #14 –
1 ? why are Sport & LS stock.All the same part #.For springs?
Old Grey Cat to this.88 Cat, 5.0 HO, CW mounts, mass air, CI custom cam, afr165's, Tmoss worked cobra intake, BBK shorty's,off road h pipe, magnaflow ex. T-5,spec stage 2 clutch, 8.8 373 TC trac loc, che ajustables with bullits on the rear. 11" brakes up front. +