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Topic: 2003/04 Cobra front springs (Read 5068 times) previous topic - next topic

2003/04 Cobra front springs

I see that in a lot of posts that when you guys upgrade to newer front springs that you use 99 up Mustang GT springs. I have 2 sets of 2003 Cobra springs that I swapped from a coupe years ago. I think they are 300lb rated springs or something like that. Will these lower my bird plus keep the front stiff? I know my Cobra was not so comfy of a ride but that was not the purpose of owning a Terminator.
1988 Thunderbird Sport. Work in Progress
5.8L swap w/fitech efi, 4R70W swap w/quick 4 controller, 2003 GT rear diff, 5 Lug swap

Bought this car back as an old project car.

:burnout:

Re: 2003/04 Cobra front springs

Reply #1 –
I wish I had the answer. I'm interested in hearing replies. I use 1999 Mustang front springs, great ride and about a 2 inch drop.
'88 Sport--T-5,MGW shifter,Trick Flow R intake,Ed Curtis cam,Trick Flow heads,Scorpion rockers,75mm Accufab t-body,3G,mini starter,Taurus fan,BBK long tube headers,O/R H-Pipe, Flowamaster Super 44's, deep and deeper Cobra R wheels, Mass Air and 24's,8.8 with 3.73's,140 mph speedo,Mach 1 chin spoiler,SN-95 springs,CHE control arms,aluminum drive shaft and a lot more..

Re: 2003/04 Cobra front springs

Reply #2 –
'87 Mustang 2.3L 370 / 160
'87-93 Mustang 5.0 425-530 (progressive) / 200-300 (progressive)
'93 Mustang Cobra 425-530 (progressive) / 160
'93 Mustang Cobra R 750-850 (progressive) / 240-260 (progressive)
'94-95 Mustang Cobra 400 / 160
'95 SVT Cobra R P/N M-5310-R58; 700-850 (progressive) / P/N M-5560-R58; 200-260 (progressive) *Springs were supplied by Eibach
'96-98 Mustang Cobra 400-505 (progressive) / 165-265 (progressive)
'99-04 Mustang V6 OEM 400 / 190
'99-04 Mustang GT OEM 450 / 210
2000 SVT Cobra R P/N M-5310-R00; 800 / P/N M-5560-R00; 750 (IRS) *Springs were supplied by Eibach
2001 SVT Cobra OEM 500 / 470 (IRS)
2001 Bullitt P/N 1R3Z-5310-CA; 600 / P/N 1R3Z-5560-AA; 250
2003 Mach 1 P/N 3R3Z-5310-AA; 600 / P/N 3R3Z-5560-BB; 250
2003 SVT Cobra Conv. OEM 500 / 470 (IRS)
2003 SVT Cobra Coupe OEM 600 / 600 (IRS)

I have not verified these numbers but this list has been on the Mustang board for years and as far as I know it has been vetted.  Would have been great to also have had the new and uninstalled length so you could make a comparison but this is a lot of good info.

83 351W TKO'd T-Bird on the bottle


93 331 Mustang Coupe - 368 rwhp

Re: 2003/04 Cobra front springs

Reply #3 –
So a 600lb rating on the front compared to the 400-ish for the stock Thunderbird. I swapped in a 351W so that may just be the good spring to swap into the bird.
1988 Thunderbird Sport. Work in Progress
5.8L swap w/fitech efi, 4R70W swap w/quick 4 controller, 2003 GT rear diff, 5 Lug swap

Bought this car back as an old project car.

:burnout:

Re: 2003/04 Cobra front springs

Reply #4 –
I'm using the 2003 Mach 1 springs front and back. I ended up putting a 1/4" shim on the front due to tire rubbing on road dips.
11.96 @ 118 MPH old 306 KB; 428W coming soon.

Re: 2003/04 Cobra front springs

Reply #5 –
Quote from: Cougar5.0 – on
I'm using the 2003 Mach 1 springs front and back. I ended up putting a 1/4" shim on the front due to tire rubbing on road dips.

Was it rubbing due to tire/wheel selection or just because it was too low? When you say a 1/4" shim, do you mean wheel spacer or under the spring?

I would like to see a pic of the stance you have.
1988 Thunderbird Sport. Work in Progress
5.8L swap w/fitech efi, 4R70W swap w/quick 4 controller, 2003 GT rear diff, 5 Lug swap

Bought this car back as an old project car.

:burnout:

Re: 2003/04 Cobra front springs

Reply #6 –
Quote from: 86caprirs – on
Quote from: Cougar5.0 – on
I'm using the 2003 Mach 1 springs front and back. I ended up putting a 1/4" shim on the front due to tire rubbing on road dips.

Was it rubbing due to tire/wheel selection or just because it was too low? When you say a 1/4" shim, do you mean wheel spacer or under the spring?

I would like to see a pic of the stance you have.

Yeah, 17x8 wheels with a 235(or 245)/45/15 (I think, whatever ratio get it close to 25-26" tall) were a little wide so it was kissing the inner part of the fender lip sometimes on dips. Yeah, aluminum spacer under the top of the spring - see picture below.

DSCN1957.JPG

This is about what the stance is currently:

DSCF1565.jpg

It may be a little lower in the back to accommodate launching at the dragstrip.
11.96 @ 118 MPH old 306 KB; 428W coming soon.

Re: 2003/04 Cobra front springs

Reply #7 –
I've got 98 GT convertible springs all around with poly isolators and 26" tall tires. My car sits about like Cougar 5.0's. I don't have an issue with the tires rubbing the fenders on bumps but I have an aluminum headed 5.0, which is a bit lighter than a 351W based engine.
88 Thunderbird LX: 306, Edelbrock Performer heads, Comp 266HR cam, Edelbrock Performer RPM intake, bunch of other stuff.

Re: 2003/04 Cobra front springs

Reply #9 –
It looks like it only lowers the car slightly which is good. I see some cars on here with 16" rims and the cars are very low. Almost like no gap between the tire and top of the fender
1988 Thunderbird Sport. Work in Progress
5.8L swap w/fitech efi, 4R70W swap w/quick 4 controller, 2003 GT rear diff, 5 Lug swap

Bought this car back as an old project car.

:burnout:

Re: 2003/04 Cobra front springs

Reply #10 –
Quote from: 86caprirs – on
It looks like it only lowers the car slightly which is good. I see some cars on here with 16" rims and the cars are very low. Almost like no gap between the tire and top of the fender

The SN95 springs (GT, Mach 1, Bullit, Cobra) should lower it just enough to get rid of the 4X4 look but not slam it to the ground.
88 Thunderbird LX: 306, Edelbrock Performer heads, Comp 266HR cam, Edelbrock Performer RPM intake, bunch of other stuff.

Re: 2003/04 Cobra front springs

Reply #11 –
Quote from: thunderjet302 – on
Quote from: 86caprirs – on
It looks like it only lowers the car slightly which is good. I see some cars on here with 16" rims and the cars are very low. Almost like no gap between the tire and top of the fender

The SN95 springs (GT, Mach 1, Bullit, Cobra) should lower it just enough to get rid of the 4X4 look but not slam it to the ground.
And that is what I want. I have some 17" rims to put on her. I like less 4x4 but not slammed. My work has these huge speed bumps that I want to make it over without killing my exhaust
1988 Thunderbird Sport. Work in Progress
5.8L swap w/fitech efi, 4R70W swap w/quick 4 controller, 2003 GT rear diff, 5 Lug swap

Bought this car back as an old project car.

:burnout:

Re: 2003/04 Cobra front springs

Reply #12 –
Not to hi-jack the thread but I heard somewhere long ago that springs from a SN95 convertible were closer to spring rates on our cars? Anyone know if this is accurate? Maybe it’s just the rear springs?
87 Tbird LX w/Factory floor shifter:D   3G upgrade. Tinted Windows...85 Mustang GT steering wheel(non-cruise) 17'' Saleen SC style wheels,Front/Rear TC sway bars/poly bushings & Mustang GT steering rack...'05 Mustang V6 springs...93 Cobra MC & booster, MM adjustable C/C plates,  Work  In  Progress.......  ( On The Shelf---HO computer, 19lb injectors, HO cam, BBK headers, Explorer Intake, Cold Air Intake ,Phantom Gauges, Stinger stainless exhaust pipes )
 S O L D

Re: 2003/04 Cobra front springs

Reply #13 –
Convertible SN95 rear springs are close. They are way shorter though. If you don't have adjustable height rear control arms the rear will be almost riding on the bump stops with SN95 convertible springs and stock control arms.
88 Thunderbird LX: 306, Edelbrock Performer heads, Comp 266HR cam, Edelbrock Performer RPM intake, bunch of other stuff.

Re: 2003/04 Cobra front springs

Reply #14 –
Quote from: thunderjet302 – on
Convertible SN95 rear springs are close. They are way shorter though. If you don't have adjustable height rear control arms the rear will be almost riding on the bump stops with SN95 convertible springs and stock control arms.

I didn’t know that. Maybe a dumb question but why are they shorter on convertibles?
87 Tbird LX w/Factory floor shifter:D   3G upgrade. Tinted Windows...85 Mustang GT steering wheel(non-cruise) 17'' Saleen SC style wheels,Front/Rear TC sway bars/poly bushings & Mustang GT steering rack...'05 Mustang V6 springs...93 Cobra MC & booster, MM adjustable C/C plates,  Work  In  Progress.......  ( On The Shelf---HO computer, 19lb injectors, HO cam, BBK headers, Explorer Intake, Cold Air Intake ,Phantom Gauges, Stinger stainless exhaust pipes )
 S O L D