Quest for suspension improvements

dubbsix

Member

Oct 18, 2006

347

2

19

Katy,TX

Oct 22, 2006

#1

• Oct 22, 2006

• #1

Guys,

Im new to fox's and have to ask you all a question:

Im looking to upgrade the suspension on my newly acquired 89 LX 5.0. The bushings are in good condition so im looking for a nice spring/strut/shock combo that will give me improved handling over stock and fair well at the drag strip. Im looking for a nice blend of high speed handling and weight transfer.. does such a combo exist?

Also, could anyone recommend a good suspension combo/kit?

 

bubba-dough

Active Member

Dec 28, 2004

1,044

2

38

Indiana

Oct 22, 2006

#2

• Oct 22, 2006

• #2

What kinda budget are you on? If it doesn't have them already get subframe connectors reguardless. Then I would upgrade the rear upper and lower control arms. I found you can't go wrong with Eibach springs (they makes all sorts of applications for the Fox). Keep in mind if you want to lower the car that lowering it will hurt the drag strip times.

 

Snikt89GT

New Member

Sep 6, 2006

264

1

0

Deland, Florida

Oct 22, 2006

#3

• Oct 22, 2006

• #3

I'm going with the bullitt suspension kit (M-5400-A), MM C/C plates, MM bump steer kit, FMS/Steeda X2 ball joints, and 94-95 5-lug conversion.

The bullitt suspension kit itself is pretty cheap (420$ shipped) and comes with springs (FMS C Springs) and tokiko (sp) struts/shocks to match the springs.

 

Snikt89GT

New Member

Sep 6, 2006

264

1

0

Deland, Florida

Oct 22, 2006

#4

• Oct 22, 2006

• #4

If you don't have subframe connectors get those first, absolute required. A strut tower brace would help too.

I've done both of those recently and I was supprised how much more solid and stable the car feels. Even just crusing at 70 on the interstate.

 

dubbsix

Member

Oct 18, 2006

347

2

19

Katy,TX

Oct 23, 2006

#5

• Oct 23, 2006

• #5

My budget is right about 500 for the spring/strut combo. I definitely plan on going with sub frames.. and lower control arms.

 

Snikt89GT

New Member

Sep 6, 2006

264

1

0

Deland, Florida

Oct 23, 2006

#6

• Oct 23, 2006

• #6

dubbsix said:

My budget is right about 500 for the spring/strut combo. I definitely plan on going with sub frames.. and lower control arms.

Click to expand...

Sounds like the bullitt suspension fits perfectly then

 

dubbsix

Member

Oct 18, 2006

347

2

19

Katy,TX

Oct 23, 2006

#7

• Oct 23, 2006

• #7

Did i miss the link? Can someone send a link to the Bullitt system please?

 

Snikt89GT

New Member

Sep 6, 2006

264

1

0

Deland, Florida

Oct 23, 2006

#8

• Oct 23, 2006

• #8

I just ordered mine today from Summit. It's the cheapest I could find


http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?autofilter=1&part=FMS%2DM%2D5400%2DA&N=700+115&autoview=sku

 

dubbsix

Member

Oct 18, 2006

347

2

19

Katy,TX

Oct 23, 2006

#9

• Oct 23, 2006

• #9

Oh that is freaking awesome. Im going to order that myself. Thanks for the heads up people!

 

dubbsix

Member

Oct 18, 2006

347

2

19

Katy,TX

Oct 23, 2006

#10

• Oct 23, 2006

• #10

Uh oh... wait a minute.. will these components fit a 89 LX 5.0 ?

 

Snikt89GT

New Member

Sep 6, 2006

264

1

0

Deland, Florida

Oct 24, 2006

#11

• Oct 24, 2006

• #11

dubbsix said:

Uh oh... wait a minute.. will these components fit a 89 LX 5.0 ?

Click to expand...

I'm doing it on my 89 but i'm putting on 94-95 spindles. I know the struts/shocks for 87-93 and 94-04 are different, but I'm not sure exactly what is changed. The springs are the same, they are just FMS C springs in that kit.

Someone with more knowledge of the spindle/strut changes in SN cars should be able to answer this question. I think the only question is will 94-04 struts fit 87-93 4-lug spindles.

(I'm assuming you still have 4-lug)

 

Snikt89GT

New Member

Sep 6, 2006

264

1

0

Deland, Florida

Oct 24, 2006

#12

• Oct 24, 2006

• #12

I did some searching since i'm curious. The general consensus seems to be that SN95 struts have less travel and won't work very well on lowered (which that kit would do) 87-93 spindles.

They do work fine on lowered 94+ spindle cars because the strut mounting location is different. I found a few people doing what i'm doing (bullitt suspension on 87-93 cars with 94-95 spindles and it's working well).

So I guess I wouldn't go with that kit if you have stock 4-lug stuff. I would just piece together some FMS B or C springs with some KYB struts or something for cheap.

 

notch22

Member

Aug 24, 2004

22

0

17

Katy, TX

Oct 24, 2006

#13

• Oct 24, 2006

• #13

Looks like this will be going on mine when the 5-lug is done. 94-95 swap here too.

 

duner

Mr. Warmth

Jul 21, 2003

1,756

3

0

Oregon

Oct 24, 2006

#14

• Oct 24, 2006

• #14

I suggest that you read the information on this page. It contains some excellent information and is a great place to start.

http://www.protoworks.com/cgi-bin/C-C_Wiki.pl?PlasticSpoon

 

dubbsix

Member

Oct 18, 2006

347

2

19

Katy,TX

Oct 24, 2006

#15

• Oct 24, 2006

• #15

Well lowering my ride is not a high priority. I'd much rather improve suspension performance without having to slam it. Hey thanks for that site.. i"ll read it more.

 

88gt

Founding Member

Aug 2, 1999

794

0

0

Drillers cabin

Oct 24, 2006

#16

• Oct 24, 2006

• #16

dubbsix said:

Uh oh... wait a minute.. will these components fit a 89 LX 5.0 ?

Click to expand...

Yes they will...see car in sig...they fit it...


Jim

 

Shakerhood

20+ Year Stangneter

Oct 28, 2004

3,356

208

114

Ohio

Oct 25, 2006

#17

• Oct 25, 2006

• #17

Snikt89GT said:

I just ordered mine today from Summit. It's the cheapest I could find


http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?autofilter=1&part=FMS%2DM%2D5400%2DA&N=700+115&autoview=sku

Click to expand...

The best place overall to get that kit is from PPI as they still had Original Bullitt pieces and not stuff thrown together from Mach 1s and Cobras. I have the Bullitt stuff on my car along with the SN95 Cobra Brakes, it lowered the car almost an inch up front and about 3/4" out back, the ride height came out perfect for the kind of roads here.

 

Snikt89GT

New Member

Sep 6, 2006

264

1

0

Deland, Florida

Oct 25, 2006

#18

• Oct 25, 2006

• #18

Shakerhood said:

The best place overall to get that kit is from PPI as they still had Original Bullitt pieces and not stuff thrown together from Mach 1s and Cobras. I have the Bullitt stuff on my car along with the SN95 Cobra Brakes, it lowered the car almost an inch up front and about 3/4" out back, the ride height came out perfect for the kind of roads here.

Click to expand...

PPI has them for 399$ right now but they want like 50-60$ for shipping. Summit has them for 420$ with free shipping.

 

Snikt89GT

New Member

Sep 6, 2006

264

1

0

Deland, Florida

Oct 25, 2006

#19

• Oct 25, 2006

• #19

Shakerhood said:

The best place overall to get that kit is from PPI as they still had Original Bullitt pieces and not stuff thrown together from Mach 1s and Cobras. I have the Bullitt stuff on my car along with the SN95 Cobra Brakes, it lowered the car almost an inch up front and about 3/4" out back, the ride height came out perfect for the kind of roads here.

Click to expand...

Did you do the M-3075-A control arms on your car? I decided just to go with those instead of worrying about buying the balljoints and bushings and pressing/having them pressed in. Summit had the control arms for 220$ shipped.

I ordered new control arm bolts/nuts and the .330 balljoint spacer from breeze automotive.

This damn 5-lug/suspension project changes every time I turn around. I think the only piece i'm not replacing in the suspension is the K-member and rear UCAs.

 

Shakerhood

20+ Year Stangneter

Oct 28, 2004

3,356

208

114

Ohio

Oct 26, 2006

#20

• Oct 26, 2006

• #20

Snikt89GT said:

Did you do the M-3075-A control arms on your car? I decided just to go with those instead of worrying about buying the balljoints and bushings and pressing/having them pressed in. Summit had the control arms for 220$ shipped.

I ordered new control arm bolts/nuts and the .330 balljoint spacer from breeze automotive.

This damn 5-lug/suspension project changes every time I turn around. I think the only piece i'm not replacing in the suspension is the K-member and rear UCAs.

Click to expand...

Yes while I had my Suspension apart I went ahead and got the M-3075-A Lower A Arms. The reason I recommended PPI for the Bullitt Pieces is because they have actually Bullitt Suspension pieces, the kit from Summitt is just going to be stuff that is pieced together from Mach 1s, Cobras, and probably just Bullitt Swaybars which you cant use anyways.