Coil over opinions....

[Dark Knight GT]

If you guys are running coil overs, let me know what size spring and spring rating you are running for both the front and the back, and be sure to tell how you like them. How do they handle on the road ? How do they handle at the track ? Does the setup you're using give good turning ? Also, does anyone know what the size and rating the stock springs are ? Thanks.

 

[Dark Knight GT]

Wow. That is some great advice. I don't know what I would do without such great responses. So, it is your opinions that coil overs are.......hey, wait a second.

There doesn't seem to be any replies. 18 views, and not a one person replied ? I guess this just further enforces the belief that Stangnet is definately not a Monday crowd.

 

[tomustang]

Sorry can't help ya, i don't have CO's yet, I'd just recommend a MM coil-over kit with the bilstein shocks/struts

 

[blacknblue2002]

I'm runnin mm's coilover setup and I don't have any complaints. My car hasn't made it to the track yet with the new setup cuz i'm still waiting for everything to settle. My only gripe is that it's a hassle to adjust everything all the time, but that's also the fun. And, yes, you will definately notice some serious changes in your cars handling, especially if you go with a good manufacturer. I listened to the guys here and went with Maximum Motorsports, but there are others. You can find good deals if you search. I went through www.stangsuspension.com

 

[blacknblue2002]

sorry i couldn't answer your question fully....i went with the recommended spring rates from Maximum motorsports, and I can't remember what they were....i just told them my car was a daily driver, but I wanted it to handle like I was driving on a road course every day...and they did the rest

 

[hotmustang331]

Ok, I did some searching before buying mine...actualy alot lol. I went with PA racing (although they use QA1s COs ) 14 inch 175LB springs W/ tocoko illuminas drag shock on setting 3 of 5. 5 being hardest. They are great and ride good...but its definatly no corner carver if you get my drift and you do feel and hear every sudden bump in the road. A bridge where it suddly jumps up, sounds like before hitting a big pothole..that loud CLUNK that shakes your dash. And if you live down anysort of a rough road your dash will be shaking. I think this is due to there being no rubber between the spring/coilover and the body so 100% of the shock is transfered.

If you like drag racing then do what i did...if you like corner carving then go with 200Lb springs (not sure on length...probably the same) and some koni yellows. It would probably be insane, but I dont want to even imagine the ride LOL.

 

[Dark Knight GT]

Thanks for the responses. I appreciate it. I have QA1 12 way adjustable struts that will be going in. So, I'm sure I'll find some level of adjsutment I'm happy with. My biggest dilema is picking a spring that will give good handling on the road, but not too bad for that in-line weight transfer. I'm guessing since I'm swapping the stock k-member, a-arms, and springs out, it will lighten the weight of the front end to give better weight transfer anyway. I'm curious about ride height. I know the 14in spring is what most use for stock ride height, but it looks like I'll be going with the 12in series for the front. What I'm wondering is how much will this lower my car ? A full 2in ? I know you get adjustable ride height with coil overs, but you cant adjust it to be taller than what the coil spring is. Thanks for all the replies, I appreciate it.

 

[hotmustang331]

Well, my 14 inch are about fully extended when jackup so i dont know if I could lower it any more. But look at my avatar...it dropped it a good 1 1/2-3/4. I COULD drop it 2 more inchs but the spring would get loose if it came off the ground. I could also put in the bigger spacer in the CC plates...would make it about a 2 inch drop total. Get either I guess, but im close to having issues with speed bumps...and have issues with rather big ones. Im also sure that if you stiffen up the shock..it will raise the high a little.

 

[Dark Knight GT]

A drop is really what I'm worried about. I have long tube headers, and I don't feel like bashing them into every little bump in the road. The roads around here aren't exactly "flat" either. I wonder if there is any way to get a stiff spring rate than 175lb rating for a 14in spring ? I've checked, but most only carry up to the 175lb rating.

BTW, anyone have any idea regarding rear coil overs ? I'm looking into the Granatelli motorsports kit, as it is compatible with the QA1 adjustable shocks I have. The ones I"m looking at have a 10in spring. I'm willing to make a bet that is going to lower the car, isn't it ?

 

[tomustang]

Don't get granatelli anything

 

[Dark Knight GT]

Ok. Then what would work with a set of QA1 Adjustable shocks ? This is not the shocks that are meant for coil overs, they are the standard shocks. I need something that will work with them.

 

[hotmustang331]

I was looking at the rear coilovers and all I could find was one for like $569. I would rather...WAY rather just cut a rear coil spring..or half of one anyways.

 

[Dark Knight GT]

Yeah, well, I've already invested in the QA1 adjustable shocks, and if I'm going to bother with chaning out the front suspension to a coil over setup, I might as well do the rear while I'm at it. No sense in having unbalanced handling. Thanks for all the input guys, and keep it comming.

 

[wms004]

Wow. That is some great advice. I don't know what I would do without such great responses. So, it is your opinions that coil overs are.......hey, wait a second.

There doesn't seem to be any replies. 18 views, and not a one person replied ? I guess this just further enforces the belief that Stangnet is definately not a Monday crowd.

I wanted a very stiff, yet daily driveable spring rate, so I talked it over with the guys at MM and this is what I ended up with (an MM front kit of course):

1. 10" (length), 2.5" (width) 350# Hypercoil Springs
2. Cobra R Bilstein Front Struts (but they would recommend the 03 Cobra bilsteins struts over mine)
3. MM Caster Camber Plates

I love the combo

Wade

 

[stangman]

click 'my mods' in my sig. it has my suspension setup in it. i'm very happy with it, it transfers weight well at the track, but still handles very well on the street.

 

[tomustang]

I wonder if there is any way to get a stiff spring rate than 175lb rating for a 14in spring ? I've checked, but most only carry up to the 175lb rating.

Hypercoil has a 200lb/in in 14 inch too

 

[Dark Knight GT]

Hypercoil has a 200lb/in in 14 inch too

I some how think I'm going to need a bit mroe than a 200lb rating to get decent handling on the street. I don't feel like every time I go to take a turn, I have to slam on the brakes or everytime I lightly roll over a pot hole, the whole front end shakes like it's falling apart lol.

Anyone know what the stock springs are rated at ?

 

[tomustang]

Also, does anyone know what the size and rating the stock springs are ? Thanks.

Don't know sizing but the rates are Front 450, Rear 210. What you have to know is coil-over don't run the same type of rate as a standard spring, they use Wheel Rate Question 3 can answer better than i could

http://www.maximummotorsports.com/coiloverFAQ.asp

 

[tomustang]

Anyone know what the stock springs are rated at ?

i was looking for the link

 

[Dark Knight GT]

Ok. Thanks for the link Tomustang. I guess what I learned from that is when gauging coil compression weight, wheel weight (the weight coil overs are rated at) is 1/4 that of stock spring location rated weight. However, the coil overs have a 90 percent load efficiency, so the true spring rate of a coil over measured at wheel weight is 90 percent of its rating. Thus, a 200lb coil over spring would have a true spring compression rate of 180lbs. In turn, that would transfer into approx. 720lbs compression with the weight at which the stock springs are measured. Hmmmmm.

I guess this means that a 14" 175lb spring would actually handle just as good, if not better than the stock springs, and you can adjust the stiffness via the adjustability of the struts. I don't know though if I trust a 175lb rating. I still like to hit the corners quick sometimes, and I like to have a bit of a firm ride. I also read on that site that if you go too stiff, your turning capabilities will suffer, as too stiff will result is less bump steer usage. This is really beginning to be a PITA, but an educated PITA none the less.