struts 1986 cougar

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struts 1986 cougar

April 15, 2009, 11:17:35 AM

can fox mustang front struts be used on 86 cougar? i found a set brand new in box on craigslist for $40 for both ($20 each). i wasnt going to do this job until i finished frying some bigger fish, but if they will fit and i can get this inexpensive, i'll do the job now.

struts 1986 cougar

Reply #1 – April 15, 2009, 05:25:45 PM

Fox Mustang stuff is shorter than our cars. If the car is lowered, you may get away with it, but a stock suspended car would be problematic.

struts 1986 cougar

Reply #2 – April 15, 2009, 05:53:16 PM

i got ym struts for $40 a piece from oriellys, i would just spend the extra $40 and be 100% sure they will fit.....

struts 1986 cougar

Reply #3 – April 15, 2009, 06:16:55 PM

Actually a lot of stores list the same part number for aftermarket struts, for both the Fox Mustang and the Cougar/T-Bird. There is technically a difference in the "sweet spot" from the factory between the two types of cars, but apparently in the aftermarket they're both the same.

struts 1986 cougar

Reply #4 – April 16, 2009, 12:53:44 AM

Quote from: 86T-bird;267599

Fox Mustang stuff is shorter than our cars. If the car is lowered, you may get away with it, but a stock suspended car would be problematic.

meh, yes they're different, but. I ran Mustang Konis on my bird for over year, couldn't tell the difference when swapped except that the adjustment tip was different.

struts 1986 cougar

Reply #5 – April 20, 2009, 09:24:33 PM

thanks. I ended up talking him down $12 each. i want to do all the bushings while i have the front apart. what bushing kit(s) should i be considering for street driving (not drag racing)? anything else while the front is apart? other tips regarding bushings / front end? where the sway bar mounts to the frame has alot of rust. funny- the rust is concentrated in those 2 mounting spots. the rest of the front frame seems fine as far as rust.

struts 1986 cougar

Reply #6 – April 22, 2009, 01:31:18 PM

can someone suggest a bushing kit that is an upgrade from OEM ? i'm not doing any racing or or extremely aggressive driving.

struts 1986 cougar

Reply #7 – April 23, 2009, 01:52:49 AM

You can go with rubber (comfort) or urethane (performance). if you go performance, get some grease fittings put in the "hump" in the middle of the retaining strap for the frame a/s bushings.

If you're looking for a specific brand recommendation, I don't know of one distinguishably better than another. Maybe somebody else does.