Lowering Springs, 5-lug and noise questions?

25thmustang

Mustang Master
Sep 5, 2003
2,021
85
99
Montgomery, NY
Alright so I finished up my 5-lug set up (94/5 spindles, calipers, rotors, and a rear disc set up from the same year) as well as tossed in my Saleen springs. Got the car running enough to move it around to bring it to and from paint. After moving it around, I didnt really notice much but both my dad and the paint guy said there is some nasty clunking sounds coming from the front end. I have yet to jack the car up and see if I can locate the issue, but right now it is just depressing to be a year and a half into a project to have these stupid issues. Anyone who had similar issues let me know what the problem and solution was...

Thanks in advance!
 
Did you make sure everything was Torqued as you were installing and did you double check everything as it might be something simple as an overlooked fastner? When I did mine, I made a checklist and stuck it on the windshield so that I could check off each thing along the way.
 
Not trying to jack the thread but what spacer are you refering to? i am fixing to be doing the swap and sounds like i overlooked something.


Its a 0.330" tall spacer, this is needed to properly fasten the crown nut on the lower control arm ball joint (the fox ball joint is about 1/2 taller than the SN95s and you will run out of threads
balljoints.webp


If you are buying new tubular A arms, get them with the SN95 ball joints. Here are pics of a homemade one.

homemade_spacer.webp


That came stright from:
http://mjbobbitt.home.comcast.net/mustang/5lug.html
There is a lot of good info on that site.

I didn't feel comfortable using the spacer so i went ahead and updated my balljoints to sn95 joints.
 

Attachments

  • balljoints.webp
    balljoints.webp
    15.1 KB · Views: 143
  • homemade_spacer.webp
    homemade_spacer.webp
    6.1 KB · Views: 91
Using the spacer is not a problem. I used two hardened washers on each side to raise my crown nut upward. Just place the spindle on the FOX joint and then place the two washers on top of the spindle, then tighten the nut down. I have had 4,500 trouble free miles and counting!!!! I bought these at Lowe's Home Improvement for like 2 or 3 dollars.

As far as the noise, you didn't happen to lose a spring isolator did you?? That might cause a funny noise...(metal to metal) Check the bolts too!

Did you say it was coming from the front or rear?? If it's the rear, check the backing plates that bolt to the axle that hold the caliper brackets, that could have been overlooked.
 
Well I didnt hear the noise I am going by my dad and the painter. They say its when turning while going backwards only, and from the front end. I pulled the drivers side wheel and check the bolts and they all seem tight. I also did use the spacers like you said. I checked and the isolators are in there, but for some reason the drivers side sits lower, even on level ground???

I will check the passenger side for obvious things tomorrow, then take the car into the driveway and back it around and listen. Hopefully its something easy I just over looked!
 
Friend of mine did the swap and used 99 up calipers. He had a clunking in reverse only when we hit the brakes.....we were checking everything...couldn't find anything....Turns out the top caliper bolt worked its way out, and the calipers was hitting the wheel!!!!!!! oops!!!!