How to improve ride quality?

[stprorolla49]

Ok, before everyone jumps down my throat about having cut springs, save it, I'm not buying new springs. 03 Cobra guys, Bullitt guys, and Mach1 guys all cut theirs and its fine. OK, so my issue is that my ride quality isn't terrible, but I feel like the struts aren't really providing enough rebound for the springs. I was doing some reading on the suspension section of Corral, and it seems that a lot of guys are improving their ride quality but installing better quality struts that provide more rebound for the added stiffness of the springs.

In my old '95, I had Eibach Sportlines, and they were about the same stiffness as my cut Bullitt springs, but it seemed like they didn't have any bounce like my Bullitt springs have. It's not like they are crazy bouncy, but if I go over a large bump or down a really bad road, the car just doesn't feel planted like my old car. The old car, even with the stock 100k shocks and struts with the Sportlines felt more planted on bumps than the B, but the front struts were bottoming out on their travel. I installed Fox-Specific KYB GR-2's in the car and they helped out tremendously.

I guess my question is, I thought the stock Tokico Blacks that came factory on the Bullitt were fairly good dampers. Am I incorrect? Do you think my slight bit of front end bounce can be attributed to the dampers? They are made for a car that is .75" lower than a factory GT, but can they adequately handle a 1.8-2" drop that I now have?

The handling is great with the cut springs and the current Tokico's but on bad roads down here in Savannah, GA, the car just feels terrible. I know the car isn't ever going to ride like a Caddy, but I'd like it to be a bit better.

 

[4tun8]

-Get in car
-Drive car to cliff
-get out before car goes off cliff
-buy Cadillac
-prosper

 

[Kornnut]

it seems that a lot of guys are improving their ride quality but installing better quality struts that provide more rebound for the added stiffness of the springs.

.

Answered it yourself there. Now if you have cut to much off(No idea if you have or haven't) no shock/sturt package is going to work.

 

[stprorolla49]

Answered it yourself there. Now if you have cut to much off(No idea if you have or haven't) no shock/sturt package is going to work.

Ok cool, I figured that was my issue, I guess I just needed some reassurance. My car isn't dumped like crazy at all, I only cut one coil, and it lowered the car about another inch over the stock .75" Bullitt drop.

I guess my question now is what are some good recommendations for some front struts to help remedy this issue. I am a college student and I don't have a ton of money but I am looking for something I guess middle of the road price wise that will help me out.

 

[Kornnut]

I am in the same position as you. I had trimmed drag launch springs on mine and I kept trimming and it looked good.......killed the ride though. I now need new shocks/struts with my sportlines. I am just going to save and get some bilstein hd and h&r SS(maybe). I thought about short term getting some KYB for foxes or something but figured do it right once. My car isn't a daily though so it can sit while I save.

 

[Mel96GT]

Without getting into the math to explain it all this is what happened: When you cut your front Bullit springs one coil you went from a 600#/in rate to approx. 680#/in spring rate. You basically raised the spring rate a lot! Your best bet is to get some new lowering springs under 600# or get some stock GT springs and cut them if you don't have much money. If you cut one coil from some stock GT 450# front springs they will raise the spring rate to approx. 500# and drop it about 1.2" which is quite bearable and it will handle better too. Right now your front springs are almost 700# and your rear springs are almost 300#! I have Mach 1 springs (same rate as Bullits) on my 96 vert and I can't imagine having higher spring rates; the ride would be unbearable. FWIW, the stock shocks wear out by 30k so start with a new set of shocks made for a car lowered 2" like some Fox-body shocks. I myself don't like driving "kidney busters".

 

[joshjwc9]

To each their own. I have Vogtland Springs (which is the manufacturer of Steeda's spring lineup, or so I've been told) and a set of adjustable Tokico D Spec's. This setup is perfect for those liking the firm setup of Pro Kit and budget shocks, or like myself, I love feeling the road, so they are setup on my car closer to stiff almost all of the time except on a long road trip. The Vogtland spring rate is supposed to be the same as Steeda's Sports which is like 620 specific for the front and 260-280 for the rear (in the convertible springs) These Springs were pretty cheap since not many 79-04 guys run them since they are so stiff and an unknown brand.

I had KYB GR-2 struts for the longest time until I just recently got the D Specs. The GR-2's are a great entry level shock for a DD. If I didn't have long term plans of Autocrossing and possible open tracking, I wouldn't have replaced them and spent the money on something else. The GR-2's can handle your cut springs, but I would get the fox part number because of the lesser amount of suspension travel. Also, you should most definitely spend the $20 on MM's pinion snubber. It will give you less bottoming out feelings as your rear suspension droops over bumps and stuff.

Good Luck!

 

[stprorolla49]

To each their own. I have Vogtland Springs (which is the manufacturer of Steeda's spring lineup, or so I've been told) and a set of adjustable Tokico D Spec's. This setup is perfect for those liking the firm setup of Pro Kit and budget shocks, or like myself, I love feeling the road, so they are setup on my car closer to stiff almost all of the time except on a long road trip. The Vogtland spring rate is supposed to be the same as Steeda's Sports which is like 620 specific for the front and 260-280 for the rear (in the convertible springs) These Springs were pretty cheap since not many 79-04 guys run them since they are so stiff and an unknown brand.

I had KYB GR-2 struts for the longest time until I just recently got the D Specs. The GR-2's are a great entry level shock for a DD. If I didn't have long term plans of Autocrossing and possible open tracking, I wouldn't have replaced them and spent the money on something else. The GR-2's can handle your cut springs, but I would get the fox part number because of the lesser amount of suspension travel. Also, you should most definitely spend the $20 on MM's pinion snubber. It will give you less bottoming out feelings as your rear suspension droops over bumps and stuff.

Good Luck!

Ok cool! I guess my question was, are the GR2's gonna handle the cut springs better than the stock Tokico Blacks? If so, I'll order them asap! I had the Fox-Specific ones on my old '95 and they were great I just didn't know if they would be better for me than the stock Tokico shocks and struts. I only auto-x maybe 3 times a year so thats not really a concern. I do DD the car though, so I want the ride to improve a bit. You think the GR2's will improve rebound?

 

[40oz]

I'm missing something. How is it that a poor college student can afford new shocks and struts to work well with cut springs but cannot afford new springs to work well with current shocks/struts?

 

[joshjwc9]

I think he doesn't want to change the springs, because that would be added cost in addition to new shocks and struts. I also think he likes his cars' stance too much! I think he needs the fox specific struts and the stock 94-04 specific shocks to really enjoy the cut springs.

And actually my car is closer to Sportlines/Steeda springs than the Pro Kit in spring rates..thats a typo on my part.

 

[stprorolla49]

I'm missing something. How is it that a poor college student can afford new shocks and struts to work well with cut springs but cannot afford new springs to work well with current shocks/struts?

Because I love the stance right now and I don't have all the tools I need to change them. This is all theoretical I may may wait til May when I graduate. We'll see.

I think he doesn't want to change the springs, because that would be added cost in addition to new shocks and struts. I also think he likes his cars' stance too much! I think he needs the fox specific struts and the stock 94-04 specific shocks to really enjoy the cut springs.

And actually my car is closer to Sportlines/Steeda springs than the Pro Kit in spring rates..thats a typo on my part.

Thanks man! I'm gonna do a bit more research but it sounds like I answered my own question.

 

[SVT32VDOHC]

My 04 Cobra has cut stock springs. My shop is one of the best and they always cut 1/2 of a coil on Terminators. Fox bodies get 3/4 cut since they are lighter. My car rides very nice. I have no complaints.

 

[Kilgore Trout]

It is important to remember that Cobras have linear rate springs and can be cut whereas GTs have progressive rate springs which it is not a good idea to cut.

 

[stprorolla49]

It is important to remember that Cobras have linear rate springs and can be cut whereas GTs have progressive rate springs which it is not a good idea to cut.

If I'm not mistaken, the Bullitt springs are linear rate too.

I got some good info on Corral saying that I have gotten rid of a lot of my strut travel because of the car being lowered 2" without c/c plates, therefore hurting my ride quality. By putting some c/c plates on, I can raise the strut piston an inch or more through the top of the c/c plate to get some of my travel back. I really need c/c plates anyway, so I'm gonna give that a try first before I get new struts.

 

[Kilgore Trout]

If I'm not mistaken, the Bullitt springs are linear rate too.

You are mistaken.

 

[bullitt 736]

According to the chart that Stang Suspension had on spring rates, the Bullitt springs are linear.

 

[stprorolla49]

According to the chart that Stang Suspension had on spring rates, the Bullitt springs are linear.

Yea, thats what I read in a few places.

Check this link: http://www.stangnet.com/mustang-forums/6769909-post1.html

And this: http://forums.mustangworks.com/272783-post3.html

Both are say that the Bullitt springs are linear rate. So Kilgore, I think you might be mistaken. Just look at the design of the springs such as BBK's which are progressive rate. The coils on one end of the spring are closer together which helps in keeping a cushy ride until they are compressed, at which point they stiffen up.

 

[Kilgore Trout]

Yeah I have been wrong a few times. I googled this and I found websites that said both.

 

[stprorolla49]

Yeah I have been wrong a few times. I googled this and I found websites that said both.

It's all good, I'm not trying to start **** with you. In the end you've got my dream car in your garage, and I'm just the n00b with the Bullitt.

 

[Kilgore Trout]

Bullitts are awesome cars bro!