Lowering Springs

[greenpony02]

Is it OK to use lowering springs (C springs or B springs) with the stock shocks and struts?

[SpectorV]

with a spring that doesnt lower it much (1 inch or so) the stock ones will be fine. I would recommend getting MM cc plates that raise the strut shaft up a bit to compensate.

[01pooter]

Ive heard people say all sorts of things about this. I personally wouldn't keep the stock ones even for a 1 inch drop. If you plan on doing more racing I would go ahead and get a set of adjustables.

[lowering kit]

of course adjustable CC plates, and adjustable shock/struts would be the way to go if money was not important.
i put an Eibach Pro-Kit Lowering Spring Set on my 01, with the Camber bolts (make sure they are tight), and everything else left stock, got it aligned and it seems to be fine.

[Herbstang]

Quote: Originally Posted by SpectorV with a spring that doesnt lower it much (1 inch or so) the stock ones will be fine. I would recommend getting MM cc plates that raise the strut shaft up a bit to compensate.

[SpectorV]

Its not the end of the world and your car wont blow up if you lower it with stock struts/shocks and the stock CC plates.. if you can actually call them cc plates.... as they dont do shit.

They will just wear out faster~ and your tires will wear uneven with out cc plates.

The MM cc plates let the strut shaft come up a bit more on its pivot point~ and higher up (well as high as it can without hitting the hood which you should check for)

[lowering kit]

droping the car will tilt the wheels, which will make them wear uneven, if this can not be compensated for with the stock setup, you have to goto the bolts, if they cant compensate enough, then you have to go with the adjustable CC plates. The problem is you cant know how much compensation youll need beforehand. I think the springs i got dropped it 1-1.5" and the alignment shop said they were able to align them fine with the bolts and I havent noticed any uneven wear.

[SpectorV]

the stock setup doesnt compensate for crap, there is no adjustment to the stock cc plates.

stock alignment specs are also not always best.

[ChrissyStang02]

hmmm, good question. i've been wondering about that too as the GT is getting lowered soon. is it better to have the springs "cut" vs. getting c springs? i still have my stock shocks and struts for now too.

[lowering kit]

from what i know (which is not much) getting springs cut is a pretty bootleg way to go about it, although a guy i work with has an 87 all modded up, somewhere around 1k horse (strictly track), that he cut the springs in

[SpectorV]

It all depends on what you are looking for. A cut spring will make it have a higher spring
rate so cutting to much will make it have a very bouncy ride. NEVER heat up the spring to lower it, only cut if off with a cut off wheel (that includes a torch to cut it off, dont do that). It works good if you just care about looks and not handling.

C springs are about 650/300 rate vs stock around 400/200-300 so they make a big improvment. If the C springs are uncut I would cut some off them to get a better drop as stock you only get an inch... and well thats a let down after you see what an inch looks like.

[ChrissyStang02]

thanks spec! good to know.

[SpectorV]

one coil on the springs is generally not a big deal and worst case you buy lowering springs anyway~

[Y2E0L0L5OGWT]

on the 05+'s, because ford actually went with an actual "coil-over" macpherson strut setup in the front end, you can get some camber adjustment within factory specs...all you have to do is slot the lower mounting point of the stock strut and use the OEM ford camber bolts which can be ordered through ford to adjust front camber approx. +/- 1-1.5 degrees or so...people claim different amounts...

thats one good thing about the 05+'s as far as auto-x and road-racing...negative camber is a necessity for those types of racing, especially on R-comp tires...and in stock classes, thats the only way to "legally" get camber out of the cars...you can't use any aftermarket camber adjustment methods...only things listed in the factory manual are permitted...

as far as the rear end goes, youre SOL...

[SpectorV]

you can notch the strut on the older stangs just like the new ones. CC plates are just a better option.

[ChrissyStang02]

thanks.

[black98gtvert]

or u can go with the maximum motorsports starter box. it comes with blistein struts and schocks, springs and all the stuff you need to install and adjust. its about 1000 buck but its a great ride and handles like a dream. then weld in some subframe conectors and youre def. set for the street

[trueblue2001]

Quote: Originally Posted by black98gtvert or u can go with the maximum motorsports starter box. it comes with blistein struts and schocks, springs and all the stuff you need to install and adjust. its about 1000 buck but its a great ride and handles like a dream. then weld in some subframe conectors and youre def. set for the street

I want one of those sets so much but i cant afford it right now and something is screwed somewhere in my stock left front suspension so i want to replace the whole set up. I was looking at eibach springs but i don't think that will fix anything so I am really hesitant. I think its my front left strut thats screwed anyway because the car bounces and dives to the left under really hard braking. plus something is vibrating (i can feel it in my feet but not the wheel) and makes this soft rattling/popping noise. I'm assuming i should just replace everything at once so as to not make it worse.

[lowering kit]

throwing parts at a problem is not a good idea esp if your strapped for cash, you need to find out what the pblm is or take it to someone who can figure it out and fix that.

[trueblue2001]

everyone ive taken it to