Progress Thread Daily Driver.... 89 GT - Front suspension rebuild

TIGGER said:

Thanks, she did a nice job on both cars.

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TIGGER said:

Been driving the car pretty much daily since it has been back together. A couple months ago, the wife signed up both our foxbodies for a car show that was last weekend. The front suspension was tired when I got the car with 212K. Car now has almost 224K. Needless to say the drive quality and handling has been getting worse and worse. Memorial weekend I decided to start cleaning the cars for the show so out came the pressure washer. I cleaned the engine compartment and front suspension in preparation for the front end rebuild even though I did not plan on doing that till later this summer. Well after the cleaning, the front end squeaked after about 5-10 miles of driving which drove me crazy. I had everything to do the rebuild but new front struts so I decided to start on it. Unfortunately, I just could not swing the extra money right now since I just spent $700 for a phaser kit for my wife's truck. So the KYB's, which are still in good shape, will have to do for a while longer.

I couple months ago, I rebuilt the original control arms off my Saleen so I could just swap them when I was ready. Moog ball joints and TRW bushings. I bought a set of MM camber plates a couple years ago but they would not work with the MAC strut tower brace that came with the car. Local guy had a MM that was just used for mock up that I picked up last summer. I also found a set of Saleen racecraft springs locally last summer that were cheap so I picked those up. The sway bar end link bolts were all bent up so I picked up a set of energy suspension ones as well as the D bushings. New rack bushings, inner tie rod ends, and a MM bump steer kit round out the parts list. Oh I also put all new wheel bearings in the front. The original ones looked like they have got hot a time or two.

After lots of hours, working in the evenings, I got the car all back together and aligned early last week so we could go to the show this past weekend. Car is about 1.25" lower now

Here are a couple pics from the show last weekend. The wife was nice enough to wax both cars

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TIGGER said:

While I do not mind pony's they are unfortunately are not my favorite wheel. However they are light years better than turbines which is definitely my least favorite wheel.




Thanks, yes I owe her. For some reason she enjoys waxing cars

As for 5 lug, I like the wheel choices better plus I want better brakes since this is my daily driver for now. There are lots of impatient drivers here with all the construction that has been going on the freeway I commute on. I see people pulling out of moving traffic all the time and i want to be able to stop as best as I can so I do not have to find another body shop. I estimate there is at least another 3 years or so before they are all done with the constriction. My wife's 96 GT with the front PBR calipers stops pretty darn good in my opinion. I want as close as I can to that stopping power on this car.




Thank you, the car has come a long way since I got it. Still have a little ways to go to get it where I want it but so far I am happy with it.

Yes the turbines were caked on with brake dust when I got the car. It probably took a couple hours per wheel to clean up. Since then, I try to keep them clean. I use a dollar tree toilet bowl cleaner to scrub on them. It fits pretty good into the openings unless it is one where the caliper is at. It is a little time consuming but they stay looking decent. As I said above, these are my least favorite wheel but have to tolerate for the time being. They definitely look better clean. When they are dirty I wash the car.


So next up is going to be swapping out the fuel tank. The baffle is broken in this one and the gas gauge reads double. Half tank on the gauge is 1/4 of fuel. Not that I mind the gauge being off so much but the rattle from the baffle does bother me. After that it will probably be charging the AC and then a clutch. This car does not shift well. It is hard to get into gear from a dead stop and there is no speed shifting. Some days are better than others but for the most part it is not super fun to drive. I want it to shift like my Saleen does. That car is fun as hell.

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