Roller spring perch users
- Thread starter sparky
- Start date
One of the best mods one can make to their classic Mustangs suspension.
http://www.opentrackerracingproducts.com
They get two thumbs up by your Stangnet Moderator :SNSign:
http://www.opentrackerracingproducts.com
They get two thumbs up by your Stangnet Moderator :SNSign:
thehueypilot
Active Member
I got mine to improve my 60' time but it did not help. The only benfit I can see is the front end sqeaks are gone. I don't road race so I can't say if they improve exterme handling. I use the car now for car shows and limited cruzin and I don't notice any difference from the original equipment.
Opentracker
20+ Year Stangneter 
- Feb 4, 2004
- 516
- 0
- 16
One set I know of has over 50K of street miles on them so they do last a good long time. They made a big change in our cars. I put a set in my wifes '61 Ranchero and she loved it.
John
John
I put a pair in along with a set of new springs, blue moon upper control arms, and adjustable strut rods. The difference in handling is incredible, but I can't say exactly how much is due to the perches. I do know the car locates very nicely in turns - it used to fight me, wanting to roll out; now it stays right in there.
BTW, when I took the original upper arms off, the old spring perches were frozen solid.
BTW, when I took the original upper arms off, the old spring perches were frozen solid.
4MuscleMachines
Member
Sparky, Here's a review I wrote when I installed Opentracker roller perches last June. I have over 2000 miles on them now, and have absolutely no complaints on the ride quality. I think you'll find my experiences are similar to most other peoples'. This is a bit long, but may help you with installation, too. 
Daniel
PS: Thanks again, Opentracker. Thanks SilverblueBP for helping with the install, too.
DanielPS: Thanks again, Opentracker. Thanks SilverblueBP for helping with the install, too.
Overview: Fits well after a small mod to clear the shock bolts. This makes a night and day difference to my car! I would recommend anyone to buy or make ones to add to their car. It’s that different. I won’t need any re-alignment, either. The difference is dramatic, but may be the same with brass ones too. This is the only mod I’ve made recently and is well worth the $180 or so I paid for it.
Driving impressions: Wow!
I bought roller spring perches back in March/April from "Opentracker" after reading other online review of them and after researching the benefits of them versus stock (rubber), polyurethane and brass (like the 65s had) and oil-impregnated brass bushing like those sold by Cobra Automotive and others. I chose to have them made for me as I didn't have time, experience nor equipment to make them properly., but they are simple to make and he'll supply a list of parts you can buy to make your own (or he'll sell you the parts). I installed them last night at a buddy's house and was able to test them last night. I knew why I was replacing the perches when I removed them. Not only did the stock ones not pivot, they were stuck at an angle where the spring had forced them to sit.
The product: The spring perches are just like the pictures in Opentracker's website. They are welded well and finished with a black enamel paint.
Installation: Installation requires removal of the wheel, the shock cap, shock, spring and old spring perch. You will need 2 jack stands, a good jack (you'll use it several times on each side to lift the wheel up to gain access to spring perch bolts), a spring compressor, a half inch open wrench, several sockets (1/2" deep and 1/2" standard and 9/16" short)and a 3/8" ratchet or equivalent and a short extender and long extender. The process is simple and straight forward, but helps with few tips... The old spring perch bolts are pressed in and don't unbolt from the top--there are castle nuts that unbolt from below. It helps to jack the wheel up a bit to access the underside of the upper A-arm. Total installation time (including the mods listed below) was about 2-3 hours, including R&R of everything including tires.
Modifications needed: Because the center shaft housing is larger in diameter than the originals, Opentracker crimps the center to clear the two shock bolts. I had to give each side a good whack with a wide flat screwdriver where the crimp is to give me a bit more room. The sockets just wouldn’t fit otherwise. Basically, you need to test fit the shock end bolts on the spring perch before installing. If you are able to fit two deep ½” sockets on to both bolts at the same time, you should have enough room. Another tip: Put the rubber grommets and washers on to both shock bolts before tightening down either top or bottom of the shock. Install the back bolt on first, too. You need enough play in the shock base to do this. You might also need to grind the front washer flat to have an easier installation time. You don’t have a lot of room to play there. After the bottom bolts are tightened, you can tighten the shock tower caps and the upper bolts.
I hope this description help any of you that were thinking of this modification. If there are any other angles I haven’t covered but you want to know about, let me know.
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