New shocks and struts :D

astronut1885

Founding Member

Jan 31, 2002

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Assonet, MA

Apr 23, 2008

#1

• Apr 23, 2008

• #1

Hey guys. I recently bought a set of FRPP Bullit/Mach shocks and struts brand new for 125 shipped from a guy on here. They came in today, and I installed them ASAP. All I can say is: Goodbye pogostick, hello rails! I had no idea how much the stockers sucked at life. Bumps near my house that would kick the rear end out in corners are now barely noticeable. The ride is a tad more stiff, but it's alot better than the big bounce I had going. I like a snugged up car anyway. I can only imagine what guys experience when they go to some top-end stuff like Bilstein, which some day I plan on doing. As far as I can tell, they are working well with my BBK progressive rate springs, and my control arms help keep the rear in place anyway, but overall I am impressed. I can't wait for the back roads to work in the morning

 

joshheat25

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Nov 8, 2004

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Delaware

Apr 23, 2008

#2

• Apr 23, 2008

• #2

Where did you get those shocks from?

 

astronut1885

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Jan 31, 2002

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Assonet, MA

Apr 23, 2008

#3

• Apr 23, 2008

• #3

A guy in the classifieds was selling the whole FRPP handling package, which is basically Mach shocks and struts along with Mach springs. He had bought it for his 5.0, then realized it wouldn't work. He listed the whole package, but I already had springs, so I made him an offer and he accepted. Check out Ebay, the Mach1Registry classifieds, and StangNet's classifieds for low mile take-off Bullit or Mach shocks and struts, and try to score a set. Worth the money if you get 'em cheap. I'll still go to Bilsteins one day, but for now, it's 100% better than my stockers. They were probably toast anyway, 40k on the odo, and the last 10k with my lowering springs and hard driving on crappy roads.

 

BurningRubber

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Dec 6, 2004

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Apr 23, 2008

#4

• Apr 23, 2008

• #4

Man id love to replace mine, almost 130k on what I can almost promise you is stock parts...

Sounds like a good improvment.

 

astronut1885

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Jan 31, 2002

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Assonet, MA

Apr 23, 2008

#5

• Apr 23, 2008

• #5

Look into 'em man. It's a great budget upgrade. You'll get all excited when you feel your car handle like that. It's awesome, and I know it can get so much better. I love handling corners. Eventually, I want total flat tracking across any corner, just maximum grip and stability.

 

LaserSVT

Got FB banned again for saying nards

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Nov 29, 1999

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Apr 23, 2008

#6

• Apr 23, 2008

• #6

I was within a knats ass of getting thoes but went with the Eibachs. Nice score mang

 

astronut1885

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Jan 31, 2002

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Assonet, MA

Apr 23, 2008

#7

• Apr 23, 2008

• #7

Thanks. I figure for now they'll do nicely while I do more power and chassis work, and then when I get back to up my suspension to the next level, they'll probably be worn a bit and I'll jump to Bilsteins. But overall, I'm impressed, and I know they'll last a while seeing as they're brand new, and made for lowered stangs.

 

astronut1885

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Jan 31, 2002

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Apr 23, 2008

#8

• Apr 23, 2008

• #8

And for anyone who didn't know this, they're actually made by Tokico in Japan for Motorcraft. Not sure how they stack up to say, the Tokico blues, but they look far more sturdy than the stockers.

 

LaserSVT

Got FB banned again for saying nards

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Nov 29, 1999

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Apr 23, 2008

#9

• Apr 23, 2008

• #9

They are pretty much the blues and I have had good luck with them. I had Bilstiens and they wouldnt replace them.....life time my ass The Eibachs are about halfway between MM tuned Bilstiend and Tokico Blues Best riding shock I ever felt in a Stang

 

EPIK

Member

Jul 3, 2004

796

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LEFT COAST

Apr 24, 2008

#10

• Apr 24, 2008

• #10

Congrats... Good shocks/struts are a night & day difference over stockers, especially worn ones...The Tokicos that came on my Mach felt great for stock. I wouldve kept em' if I didnt already have Bilsteins to replace them with....

 

40th GT

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Apr 7, 2004

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Lawrenceville, GA

Apr 24, 2008

#11

• Apr 24, 2008

• #11

BurningRubber said:

Man id love to replace mine, almost 130k on what I can almost promise you is stock parts...

Sounds like a good improvment.

Click to expand...

Yeah I swapped out my stockers for some KYBs at 26k miles and the stock shock/strut bushings were SHOT.

 

astronut1885

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Jan 31, 2002

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Apr 24, 2008

#12

• Apr 24, 2008

• #12

I had KYB GR-2s on my 87, and they were pretty nice for a budget setup, but I already find these superior, considering they're kinda OEM-ish lol. One day I'll have a suspension to rival Epik's...

 

BurningRubber

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Apr 24, 2008

#13

• Apr 24, 2008

• #13

astronut1885 said:

Look into 'em man. It's a great budget upgrade. You'll get all excited when you feel your car handle like that. It's awesome, and I know it can get so much better. I love handling corners. Eventually, I want total flat tracking across any corner, just maximum grip and stability.

Click to expand...

I think I will. My car has always felt tight to me since I was previously used to 4x4's. But then I put the Roush springs in and that even made a huge difference. I would love to feel some fresh shocks/struts.

40th GT said:

Yeah I swapped out my stockers for some KYBs at 26k miles and the stock shock/strut bushings were SHOT.

Click to expand...

Thats scary... id hate to see mine. I can tell you right now my quads are a little banged up and the rear shocks have seen prettier days, haha.

 

astronut1885

Founding Member

Jan 31, 2002

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Assonet, MA

Apr 24, 2008

#14

• Apr 24, 2008

• #14

I'm glad you remember the feeling you had when you got springs, because it's gonna be dejavu when you get the shocks and struts. Honestly, it takes like 2 hours to do the swap if you know what you're doing, and that's with a jack and hand tools. If you've got a lift or air tools, it could be done in an hour.
Front: Remove the wheels, jack up the A-arm a tad (just enough to take some weight, I know the end links for the sway bar would hold it up, but no need to stress the bar or it's mounts), remove the two lower strut bolts from the spindle. Now go under the hood. Remove the top center nut (use a big flathead screwdriver perpendicular to the slot in the top of the strut) from the strut, and drop it out. Don't mess with the other three bolts in the factory mount/ cc plates. Swap over your stock bushings and covers over to the new ones, and bolt it back in. Since you don't mess with the factory c/c plates, your alignment is unchanged. It's literally a 3 bolt job in the front once the wheels are off.
Back: remove inner trunk panels, get a small wrench (forgot size) to secure the top of the shock threads, and then remove the nuts. Jack the car up, get a 18 and 15 mm wrench, and undo the bottom bolt. Install old ones in the reverse order of the above steps, and go have some fun with your car!