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  • SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech

can someone explain 87-93 strut, not same old?'s

  • Thread starter Thread starter hotstang_46
  • Start date Start date Jun 9, 2007

hotstang_46

Member
Apr 11, 2007
481
4
18
Charlotte NC
Jun 9, 2007
#1
  • Jun 9, 2007
  • #1
First let me say I've searched and not found answers to my questions. So I'm going to order myself up some shocks/struts.....I know the whole 87-93 front struts subject has been visited a million times but I can't find an answer to my specific question.

I understand why one would want to run the shorter strut on a lowered car (like mine 1.8 or so), but being that the strut was designed for a car of a different weight wouldn't the internals of the unit be different.....valving, oil weight, or whatever (don't know technical stuff on shocks/ struts)?

If i were to take say a tokico blue or whatever designed for a 87-93 and swap it for the designated model for my year would i notice any difference in ride at all?
 

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell
Mod Dude
Feb 18, 2001
43,225
17,909
224
Massachusetts
Jun 9, 2007
#2
  • Jun 9, 2007
  • #2
The weight difference is not all that much between a Fox and a Sn95. It seems a big difference if we take the lightest fox (no option 5.0 coupe around 3000 pounds) and the heaviest SN95 (03.04 cobra vert around 3800 pounds) and compare those. But most Foxes and SN95's are within a few hundred pounds.

The springs are more affected by the weight more than anything. The struts simply dampen things.

The main difference is the fox body strut is shorter due to the Fox spindle having it's strut mounting holes slightly higher than the SN95's.
 

hotstang_46

Member
Apr 11, 2007
481
4
18
Charlotte NC
Jun 9, 2007
#3
  • Jun 9, 2007
  • #3
thanks for the reply.......I'm thinking I'll go with the 87-93 for the struts....I just wasn't 100% sure
 

1992 2.3LX

New Member
Dec 5, 2002
885
0
0
Ky
Jun 10, 2007
#4
  • Jun 10, 2007
  • #4
hotstang_46 said:
thanks for the reply.......I'm thinking I'll go with the 87-93 for the struts....I just wasn't 100% sure
Click to expand...

it's what maximum motorsports says to do. And they are the best of the best when it comes to suspension.
If you e-mail them they may be able to explain in more detail.
But what 5L5 says is my thinking aswell.
 

EPIK

Member
Jul 3, 2004
796
1
16
LEFT COAST
Jun 10, 2007
#5
  • Jun 10, 2007
  • #5
Why not just buy some Bilsteins for a 94-04?
 

Bluffing024

Active Member
Mar 15, 2006
0
2
48
Somewhere
Jun 10, 2007
#6
  • Jun 10, 2007
  • #6
EPIKGT said:
Why not just buy some Bilsteins for a 94-04?
Click to expand...

+1
 

Shiroelex

There's nothing worse than aut
Founding Member
Aug 23, 2001
728
1
27
Westland, MI
Jun 10, 2007
#7
  • Jun 10, 2007
  • #7
I always thought that you wanted more suspension travel in the front, and less in the back for better launches at the track. Wouldn't reducing the size of the struts in the front prevent the car from lifting as much on launch?
 

triggz

Founding Member
May 15, 2002
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Gadsden, AL
Jun 10, 2007
#8
  • Jun 10, 2007
  • #8
Shiroelex said:
I always thought that you wanted more suspension travel in the front, and less in the back for better launches at the track. Wouldn't reducing the size of the struts in the front prevent the car from lifting as much on launch?
Click to expand...

The strut does nothing to determine ride height or travel, and has to be matched within the range of the suspension movement. If you use a normal-height strut on a very low car, the strut will be pre-compressed by as much as the car is lowered leading to it bottoming out and failing prematurely.
 

EPIK

Member
Jul 3, 2004
796
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16
LEFT COAST
Jun 10, 2007
#9
  • Jun 10, 2007
  • #9
So since my car is about 2 inches lowered, does that mean my Bilsteins are gonna wear out prematurely?
 

Bluffing024

Active Member
Mar 15, 2006
0
2
48
Somewhere
Jun 10, 2007
#10
  • Jun 10, 2007
  • #10
EPIKGT said:
So since my car is about 2 inches lowered, does that mean my Bilsteins are gonna wear out prematurely?
Click to expand...


Bilsteins have a lifetime warranty don't they?
 
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