Another Lowering Springs Question

bigdavetalldave · Dec 20, 2012

I'm wondering, if I lower my car with the ford b springs, will the stock shocks be detrimental to the car? I'm trying to get rid of the wheel gap. I'm not trying to drag the car on the ground, just bring it down a little. I'd like to replace the shocks eventually, just not until summer. I'm running 235 45 tires. Is it safe to assume I won't have rubbing? I've read some threads on it, but I'm having trouble finding a straight answer.

I lifted my old jeep myself, so I thought I'd give lowering a car a shot.

Onefine88 · Dec 20, 2012

Years ago my first suspension mod to my '88 vert was the FRPP B springs. Ran them for a long time with the stock shocks and struts. I've since spent alot of money under there now.
It should be fine with the 235/45's up front as I run 245's. Do yourself a favor and get new "urethane spring isolaters" as well with the new springs.

You will enjoy the stance with the B springs.

bigdavetalldave · Dec 20, 2012

How lon

89SSC18 said:
Years ago my first suspension mod to my '88 vert was the FRPP B springs. Ran them for a long time with the stock shocks and struts. I've since spent alot of money under there now.
It should be fine with the 235/45's up front as I run 245's. Do yourself a favor and get new "urethane spring isolaters" as well with the new springs.

You will enjoy the stance with the B springs.

how long did it take you to put them on?

Onefine88 · Dec 20, 2012

I helped my best friend who is a mechanic do it. It took us about an hour.

ratio411 · Dec 20, 2012

89SSC18 said:
I helped my best friend who is a mechanic do it. It took us about an hour.

That's fast.
Your mechanic friend must have done many before.
My first time dealing with springs took about 4 hours by myself.
There is a learning curve to overcome.

boostfrk · Dec 20, 2012

ratio411 said:
That's fast.
Your mechanic friend must have done many before.
My first time dealing with springs took about 4 hours by myself.
There is a learning curve to overcome.

This is about what it took me. I'm running the FRPP 'B' springs and really like the stance. I'm running 245/50/16's and don't have any rubbing issues. I's also running stock replacement shocks and don't have any issue. Not the smoothest car I've ever ridden in, but it is 22 years old. Here's a pic as well.

88LX5.Oh · Dec 20, 2012

boostfrk said:
This is about what it took me. I'm running the FRPP 'B' springs and really like the stance. I'm running 245/50/16's and don't have any rubbing issues. I's also running stock replacement shocks and don't have any issue. Not the smoothest car I've ever ridden in, but it is 22 years old. Here's a pic as well.

I like how yours sits. How much lower does the B springs make your car?
I can't just go out and buy a whole spring kit, because I have coil overs up front. So I'm going to have to buy JUST back ones (and I can through Summit) but I need to know which amount of drop I need.

bigdavetalldave · Dec 20, 2012

boostfrk said:
This is about what it took me. I'm running the FRPP 'B' springs and really like the stance. I'm running 245/50/16's and don't have any rubbing issues. I's also running stock replacement shocks and don't have any issue. Not the smoothest car I've ever ridden in, but it is 22 years old. Here's a pic as well.

Can you still fit a regular floorjack under the car?

Onefine88 · Dec 20, 2012

ratio411 said:
That's fast.
Your mechanic friend must have done many before.
My first time dealing with springs took about 4 hours by myself.
There is a learning curve to overcome.

He's changed a bunch of them over the years. Once we get the car up on jack stands, I remove the wheels and he's right behind me with the springs. We help each other with our cars. He's a mechanic and I paint so we keep each other busy. LOL
I rode on the B springs for a few years but they were a bit on the stiff side and I didn't mind. But my wife drives the vert from time to time and she was complaining about the ride. LOL
So, last year George and I tackled it again and swap the B's for a set of Saleen Racecraft springs that we had previously removed from my SSC. The Racecraft springs are notorious for sagging in the rear over time so I had replaced them with Eibachs.
We cut a half coil off the front springs to compensate for the sag in the rears and reinstalled them on my vert. I looks (and rides) real nice now.
Sits perfect, don't you think?

madspeed · Dec 20, 2012

why not coilovers rear too?

Maryland Stang · Dec 21, 2012

bigdavetalldave said:
Can you still fit a regular floorjack under the car?

I have B springs too. I cannot get a standard floor jack under the front of my Mustang. If you get 2 short lengths (1 foot each) of 2X10 lumber and drive up on them, then my car can be lifted with a standard floor jack from the front.

Onefine88 · Dec 21, 2012

I've got an old 7000 lb floor jack. Oddly enough it slides right under my Fox cars with no problems. That included 3 cars, one with B springs (sold), one with "cut" Racecrafts (pic), and one with Eibach Pro-Kit.
However, if they were a 1/2" lower my jack would not work.

Guess I got lucky

2000xp8 · Dec 21, 2012

An hour for a noob? No way in hell. More like a whole day.

I agree with said above about using new isolators (i consider it a must), but the issue will be they raise the car about a quarter of an inch. B springs and energy suspension isolaters may not give you much of a change.

Me personally i feel you can't go wrong with the eibach pro lowering springs.

Onefine88 · Dec 21, 2012

2000xp8 said:
An hour for a noob? No way in hell. More like a whole day.

I agree with said above about using new isolators (i consider it a must), but the issue will be they raise the car about a quarter of an inch. B springs and energy suspension isolaters may not give you much of a change.

Me personally i feel you can't go wrong with the eibach pro lowering springs.

Agreed! If OP wants to spend a little extra money, the Eibach Pro Kit is money well spent in stance and ride quality.
For reference, here's my SSC with the Eibach Pro-Kit with Maximum Motorsports isolaters.

Onefine88 · Dec 21, 2012

OP, here's one more pic for reference. This an old pic I found from back in the day (late 90's) when my car was sitting on the B springs. Still had period popular mods for the time, including LX taillights, Saleen wing, and '95 Cobra R replicas. LOL

I know, I'm a pic whore.

boostfrk · Dec 21, 2012

I can't get a regular jack under there. Driving up on the couple of short 2x4's as mentioned will make the difference.

I have a low profile jack though so I can get underneath the Subaru when it's driven on 2x4's...it barely fits under the Fox with the 'B' springs installed and without using the 2x4's.

boostfrk · Dec 21, 2012

88LX5.Oh said:
I like how yours sits. How much lower does the B springs make your car?
I can't just go out and buy a whole spring kit, because I have coil overs up front. So I'm going to have to buy JUST back ones (and I can through Summit) but I need to know which amount of drop I need.

It was around 3/4" - 1". I've barely got 1 finger gap in the front and a little over 1 in the back.

88LX5.Oh · Dec 21, 2012

boostfrk said:
It was around 3/4" - 1". I've barely got 1 finger gap in the front and a little over 1 in the back.

Thank ya! Now I know how low I should go.

boostfrk · Dec 22, 2012

Let me know if you want/need some more pictures!

TOOLOW91 · Dec 24, 2012

89SSC18 said:
Agreed! If OP wants to spend a little extra money, the Eibach Pro Kit is money well spent in stance and ride quality.
For reference, here's my SSC with the Eibach Pro-Kit with Maximum Motorsports isolaters.

I have the pro kit in my car with no lower iso in the front and poly iso s out back and tockico front and rear shock and struts and i love it.

Another Lowering Springs Question

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