Since I have the fenders off, I thought it would be a good idea to go ahead and do the front end. Is there a "best" vendor or manufacturer to use.I don't plan on racing or corner carving. I just want to have the car safe when I put it on the road. The suspension was rebuilt back n the early 80's. Then only 20-30k miles put on it. The car has basically sat since 86. I thought about just a bushing kit, but I don't think the upper A arms were ever replaced.
Best front suspension kit
- Thread starter BACKINTANG
- Start date
Cobain03
Active Member
unless someone talks me out of it im gonna getthe peformance susp. kit from Mustangs + its like 500 bucks but i want to be able to tkae a corner and not worry buot tipping over!
no personal experience with LM, but their kits look good and are pretty comprehensive as well. i would go ahead with one of those. one thing i would recommend though is a set of opentrackers roller spring perches as they not only help the car handle better but they also improve the ride and NVH qualities of the car at the same time. i think he usually gets around 175-200 bucks for a set but for the benefits i think it's probably well worth it. i'm going to make a set of them for my car at some point, or at least something very similar that can be more easily rebuilt later in the future
Cobain03
Active Member
I recently purchased Laurel Mountains master front suspension kit, 620 springs, and sway bar. One of the new control arms was built with an incorrect fastener. I also had more trouble with sway bar fitment than most. Currently waiting on LM to send me a replacement stud. Everything else fit well, suspension works like its supposed to. Honestly, if you are looking at a stock style kit, they are all the same, just buy the one that costs less.
Having done it both ways I'd recommend replace entire arms (upper and lower) rather than even considering buying bushings/bearings/ball-joints/etc.
I think that 95% of the vendors get the same parts, so as long as you are not finding some really good price "bargain" and you use one of the vendors that has been around the block for a while you shouldn't be too worried about quality.
A "stock" rebuild with gas shocks, stiffer springs and poly will wake up a driver in a big way.
I think that 95% of the vendors get the same parts, so as long as you are not finding some really good price "bargain" and you use one of the vendors that has been around the block for a while you shouldn't be too worried about quality.
A "stock" rebuild with gas shocks, stiffer springs and poly will wake up a driver in a big way.
Edbert said:
wake up as in a bad way or make the car more responsive and better road feel?
I am not sure when the suspension was rebuilt but it looks good other then dirt.
Was figuring on replacing the shocks and springs at a minimum but it looks like a good deal, that LM as nearly everything is included, front and back, at a reasonable price.
Wake up as in refresh, make new, bring back to life 
Unless the car was stored with all four wheels dangling since the last rebuild the shocks and springs are probably in need of replacing, didn't you say the '80s? I don't think you are looking for a high performance suspension but with some aftermarket peices like the ones I named you can make the soft and vague factory suspension feel more responsive and precise without turning it into a race car or breaking the bank.
Another thing to look at for bringing back the road-feel is the steering box. You can change all the tie rods you want but if your worm gear is worn then it will still be vague and wander on the road.
Unless the car was stored with all four wheels dangling since the last rebuild the shocks and springs are probably in need of replacing, didn't you say the '80s? I don't think you are looking for a high performance suspension but with some aftermarket peices like the ones I named you can make the soft and vague factory suspension feel more responsive and precise without turning it into a race car or breaking the bank.
Another thing to look at for bringing back the road-feel is the steering box. You can change all the tie rods you want but if your worm gear is worn then it will still be vague and wander on the road.
LMan
Founding Member
ddonaca351
Active Member
Two notes, neither here nor there....
1- I run the 620's on my 70' and they are good, but after getting the 750s for my 5.0.... I want 750s for my fastback too!!!!!
2- I sent LMM an e-mail the other day and asked a question about one of their kits, they sent a reply the next buisness day, very polite. Not sure if all their customer service is that way, but it did leave a good first impression.
Dave-
1- I run the 620's on my 70' and they are good, but after getting the 750s for my 5.0.... I want 750s for my fastback too!!!!!
2- I sent LMM an e-mail the other day and asked a question about one of their kits, they sent a reply the next buisness day, very polite. Not sure if all their customer service is that way, but it did leave a good first impression.
Dave-
My problem with the kits is that most if not all are made up of over seas parts. If I was looking to replace everything with stock parts I would still have shopped around for parts from venders like Moog or Trw there are also places that remanufacture the UCA and LCA using ford parts. The aftermarket parts on my car are thinner than stock and it is my belief that this is what lead to the parts being bent.
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