fabricating rear lower control arms

Topic: fabricating rear lower control arms (Read 4013 times) previous topic - next topic

fabricating rear lower control arms

January 28, 2008, 09:38:24 AM

Anyone have any info or experience? I'm looking to make my own, this is for an 88 t-bird turbo coupe, so they are a little longer than a mustang piece. I have converted my rear suspension to coil-over, so I don't need spring perches or sway bar attachments, just a rod end on one side and a poly bushing on the other. Wondering where to find the ends and which ones exactly to use?
Something like this:

http://www.cheperformance.com/cartgenie/prodInfo.asp?pid=279&cid=9

Trying to save a few bucks, and I take pride in making my own pieces

fabricating rear lower control arms

Reply #1 – January 28, 2008, 10:41:57 AM

can I see some pics of your coil over kit I want to do this mod baaad!!!! sorry I don't have any info to trade

fabricating rear lower control arms

Reply #2 – January 28, 2008, 12:48:52 PM

I've been slacking and haven't got out to my shop to get any new pics yet, the only one I have is of the front wheel.
http://picasaweb.google.com/horton678/TurboCoupeStuff/photo#5156551486640620562
You can see using the Griggs K-member and A-arms how far it pushes the wheel forward in the wheel well. Granted this may change a little once everything is back together and aligned. It's not exactly a coil-over kit either, just a set of koni DA struts with 350 lb springs in front and koni SA shocks with 250 lb springs in the rear.
As soon as I get more pics I'll post them.

Rear Control Arms

Reply #3 – January 29, 2008, 09:00:25 PM

I have looked around and I have decided to purchase some Mustang uppers and lowers, then have them modified to fit my cougar. I am getting the mustang arms cheap. My fabricator uses a TIG welder and is very skilled at custom fabrication. CHE makes some inexpensive control arms if you decide to save some time.

fabricating rear lower control arms

Reply #4 – January 29, 2008, 09:10:34 PM

Are the cougars rear set up different from the birds because I bought hotchkis lowers and Jegs uppers for a mustang and they fit with no modification.That was like the only mustang part that fit without having to modify it to fit, Ford makes this spit too darn hard for us.:hick:

fabricating rear lower control arms

Reply #5 – January 29, 2008, 09:47:45 PM

As mentioned dozens of times before, Tbird/Cougar rear control arms are longer than the Mustang ones.

The lowers are 1/2" longer and the uppers are 1-1/8" longer....

fabricating rear lower control arms

Reply #6 – January 29, 2008, 10:28:20 PM

cheperformance.com sell tubular upper and lower rear control arms for cheap.
Awesome quality and full hardware.

fabricating rear lower control arms

Reply #7 – January 30, 2008, 12:23:59 AM

Quote from: Chuck W;200857

As mentioned dozens of times before, Tbird/Cougar rear control arms are longer than the Mustang ones.

The lowers are 1/2" longer and the uppers are 1-1/8" longer....

thanks, but I asked if the cougar was different then the bird and also sorry I have not been a member since 2004

chuck you must be in customer service lol.:D

fabricating rear lower control arms

Reply #8 – January 30, 2008, 01:45:06 AM

you should be able to get the arts to do this from a hardware store. or http://www.speedwaymotors.com sells the swedge tubes and fittings to do tubular suspension for late models you should be able to convert this over to your need.

fabricating rear lower control arms

Reply #9 – January 30, 2008, 12:25:41 PM

Quote from: 347Thunder;200907

thanks, but I asked if the cougar was different then the bird and also sorry I have not been a member since 2004 chuck you must be in customer service lol.:D

And I answered your question, if you could put 2 and 2 together.

I never said anything about Mustang ones not bolting in...but your pinion angle would then be all to pen 15 due to the different lengths.

I could have told you to just use the search function...now THAT is customer service.

Oh, and I've been a member since '99....... :p

fabricating rear lower control arms

Reply #10 – January 30, 2008, 10:55:27 PM

fabricating rear lower control arms

Reply #11 – January 31, 2008, 01:10:49 AM

I made my own control arms for my car from scratch but I can't seem to find the pictures of them but all I did was make a simple fixture so my new conrol arms were the same length as the factory ones and used dom tubing with 1/4" wall thickness which was quite overkill but they do the job. I used spherical bearings on both ends so there is no binding at all when the axle is articulating but there is some road noise transfered into the car but I don't mind. I had everything tig welded at work and had them powder coated siver. The spherical bearings were purchased from here http://www.stockcarproducts.com/susp3.htm
After installing these all my wheel hop was eliminated.

fabricating rear lower control arms

Reply #12 – January 31, 2008, 10:15:06 AM

Quote from: Chuck W;200977

Oh, and I've been a member since '99....... :p

fabricating rear lower control arms

Reply #13 – January 31, 2008, 07:57:05 PM

I don't get it. You will lay out the cash for the Griggs front but will not buy their LCA's for the rear? Talk about reinventing the wheel but I guess I can understand wanting to build them yourself. I just get tired of fabricating all the stuff for my 83 so I take advantage of parts someone else has already engineered.

Darren

fabricating rear lower control arms

Reply #14 – January 31, 2008, 09:06:44 PM

I've got the CHE's lowers. They went in great and are high quality.

I haven't moved them to the new bird yet. So if you need measurements PM me and I'll take them for you.