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69 Mach 393

New Member

Jan 28, 2004

76

0

0

SW Missouri

Apr 18, 2004

#1

• Apr 18, 2004

• #1

This is a weekend driver not a race car, a ballance of ride quality and handling is what I am looking for. Monday I am going to order front suspension Springs,Bushings,maby stabelizer,for sure balljoints.tie rod ends ect.Do I need to replace upper and lower control arms ,or just if they are damaged. I want to lower front and rear 2".What weight springs and witch rear spring do I need.Would you buy a kit? Help me do it right the first time Please.I will be here to answer any questions.

 

1

10secgoal

Active Member

Dec 1, 2003

2,801

3

49

San Diego

Apr 18, 2004

#2

• Apr 18, 2004

• #2

I haven't had alotta experince but for me, I would say what ever you do, don't get kyb-gas-adjust. I consider myself a rare one in what I will give up for performance, and they hanlded great but the ride SUCKED. I thought a few times I ruptured a disc. I would say you could go with a 620 or even 720 up front depending on the shock.

 

sixtynine Mach

Member

Apr 18, 2004

53

0

6

California

Apr 18, 2004

#3

• Apr 18, 2004

• #3

Hi, I have the same question, also i'm wondering what's a good tire size on mag500's 15x7 up front, 15x8 rear. Is two inches too much? I would prob cut 620 springs and use 2" lowering block in rear if possible. Thanks.

 

NorCal66

New Member

Aug 12, 2003

334

0

0

Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA HOME

Apr 18, 2004

#4

• Apr 18, 2004

• #4

Well I just finished swapping my suspension out, but I am by no means an expert, especially with a 69 mach, but here goes. The more leafs you have on your rear suspension the stiffer the ride is going to be and thus the better it will handle. Standard eye leafs will keep the ride stock height, mideyes lower about an inch and reverse about an inch and a half I believe. Then there is always the option of adding lowering blocks to that. As far as front coil springs go, 620s are the ones most people go with for a fair comprimise of handling and ride. 620s are lowering springs and should put your front end down about an inch, but if you want two inches your most likely going to have to cut part of the coil off. I believe urethane bushings will also make the car stiffer than rubber, I'll be able to tell you for sure in a few days

Replace your control arms if you wish, but they can be very expensive. Unless there's somethin pretty wrong with em, leave em.

For even better handling consider sway bars and subframes to help elimate roll in turns.

Anyways, thats the my knowledge on the subject, Good Luck.

 

F

Fomocohipo

New Member

Feb 3, 2004

128

0

0

Apr 18, 2004

#5

• Apr 18, 2004

• #5

NorCal66 said:

The more leafs you have on your rear suspension the stiffer the ride is going to be and thus the better it will handle.

Click to expand...

I thought too stiff and the springs wont stay in contact with the gound, and that the less deflection in bushings is the way to go. well thats what I got out of the suspension n handling

 

J

jesserose17

New Member

Aug 21, 2003

219

0

0

Southern CA

Apr 18, 2004

#6

• Apr 18, 2004

• #6

Fomocohipo said:

I thought too stiff and the springs wont stay in contact with the gound, and that the less deflection in bushings is the way to go. well thats what I got out of the suspension n handling

Click to expand...

Actually, the stiffer, the better for high speed handling. When it's soft and going over rough roads especially at high speeds, it will bounce so much that it would not stay in contact with ground and lose control... that's why race cars have much stiffer suspension.

 

6

69 Mach 393

New Member

Jan 28, 2004

76

0

0

SW Missouri

Apr 19, 2004

#7

• Apr 19, 2004

• #7

Is it best to just rebuild Controll arms instead of replacing them. Why are they always in the kits.Do all 620# coils drop Ride 1". Mach 1's already have sway bars do I need to go bigger.

 

J

jesserose17

New Member

Aug 21, 2003

219

0

0

Southern CA

Apr 19, 2004

#8

• Apr 19, 2004

• #8

69 Mach 393 said:

Is it best to just rebuild Controll arms instead of replacing them. Why are they always in the kits.Do all 620# coils drop Ride 1". Mach 1's already have sway bars do I need to go bigger.

Click to expand...

It's far best to replace the control arms - it comes ready with new bushings and ball joints. Also additional benefit, those old control arms may have metal fatigue, so it's better just to replace them - that's primarly the reason why rebuilt kits have them. I don't know if all 620 coils are generally 1 inch lower, but it seems to be that way. 1" sway would do fine if you are not into road racing.

 

F

Fomocohipo

New Member

Feb 3, 2004

128

0

0

Apr 19, 2004

#9

• Apr 19, 2004

• #9

I thought the theory was that too stiff wont move enough to follow the contours of the gound thus not wanting a super stiff spring, but I guess they wouldnt make such a spring to be too stiff for the road. But only stiff enough to get good traction with a crappy ride. then theres the whole spring rate thing too.

 

J

jesserose17

New Member

Aug 21, 2003

219

0

0

Southern CA

Apr 19, 2004

#10

• Apr 19, 2004

• #10

Well, as we know, Caddys and Lincolns have soft suspension and sporty cars usually have much firmer ride... it is just a matter of personnel preferences, depending what kind of ride & handling they want in their car. Progressive springs are good choice, giving a good nice ride, but gets stiffer when going into curves at higher speed.

 

6

69 Mach 393

New Member

Jan 28, 2004

76

0

0

SW Missouri

Apr 19, 2004

#11

• Apr 19, 2004

• #11

Do you know what the original spring rate was.

 

F

Fomocohipo

New Member

Feb 3, 2004

128

0

0

Apr 19, 2004

#12

• Apr 19, 2004

• #12

I agree stiff is better than super soft, But not like the stiffer the better so if a 620 is good then some thing crazy like a 1000 would not be even better.

 

69 302/351c

Founding Member

May 29, 2001

1,147

0

36

Walkertown NC, originally Western Mass

Apr 19, 2004

#13

• Apr 19, 2004

• #13

620s may lower the front but if your original springs are worn and sagging, you may actually go up. That was my case so i had to cut 1/3 of a coil off.

 

Max Power

Active Member

Jul 31, 2003

1,774

1

36

St Paul

Apr 20, 2004

#14

• Apr 20, 2004

• #14

""Hi, I have the same question, also i'm wondering what's a good tire size on mag500's 15x7 up front, 15x8 rear. Is two inches too much? I would prob cut 620 springs and use 2" lowering block in rear if possible. Thanks""

I am running 235/60 in front and 255/60 in the rear. Fills it out pretty nicely and no rubbong to speak of, after lowering 1" all around.

 

6

69 Mach 393

New Member

Jan 28, 2004

76

0

0

SW Missouri

Apr 21, 2004

#15

• Apr 21, 2004

• #15

I think the Mach 1's have a 7/8" Sway bar. Will 1" make that much diffrence to the average driver.