Serious suspension help!!

KamiKaziDK · Feb 1, 2009

Ok....so I bought an 87 Mustang GT that took me like an hour to dig out of this guys back yard, half in a ditch and stuff...but started up and runs like a champ....even has MAF and 140mph speedo. Here's the deal, I road my motorcycle down with my g/f to pick the car up and she drove the car back, when you accelerate you can actually see the body of the car moving back and forth over the axle (ie...the tires move out 2" to the right or left") Is it doing this because the suspension is just totally completely shot or what? I'm a total suspension virgin other than putting springs and shocks on, never let a car get to this point. HELP HELP HELP please!!!

Blandnuts · Feb 1, 2009

I'd jack the rear end up and see if the axles are moving in and out.

lang williams · Feb 1, 2009

hopefully it's just the rear control arm bushings I'd take a look at the torque boxes (where the control arms bolt to the car body).

KamiKaziDK · Feb 1, 2009

Axles aren't moving in and out, I could see that riding behind the car. Blown out control arm bushings would cause that? I'm just looking for things to check for at this point, I just got the car back and haven't had time to jack it up yet.

Blandnuts · Feb 1, 2009

Like Lang posted, sounds like it will be a control arm issue (or torque boxes). Check the lower arms and upper arms from rearend to body.

faststang90 · Feb 1, 2009

i would checked the bushings

i would checked the bushings and the boxs. i had a car with bad boxs. i could not drive it they was so bad. check the upper and lower where the rear end bolts to the car. my friends car broke the uppers but it runs 8.20 in the 1/4

KamiKaziDK · Feb 2, 2009

Thanks for the advice so far. I'll jack it up tomorrow when I get a chance and check all the bushings and torque boxes. If the torque boxes are busted I have to order new ones and have them welded in, huh? I'm finding out a lot more about this car too. It used to be an 2.3 LX. So I hope whoever did the engine/tranny/speedo swap put the 8.8 back there too!

Mustang5L5 · Feb 2, 2009

That's the thing with 5.0 swap....you never know what you are gonna get.

Look for torn torque boxes where the arms bolt to the chassis in all 4 locations and also check to see if the bushings are all torn up.

KamiKaziDK · Feb 2, 2009

ok........My right upper torque box has been completely torn out of place, how bad is this going to be to fix? I was thinking of dropping the rear end out so I could replace the shocks and control arm bushings then do I just mock it up and get it welded back into place? I should probably buy some battle boxes to add to it too, huh?

Mustang5L5 · Feb 2, 2009

Wow. Is the other control arm even present?

KamiKaziDK · Feb 2, 2009

haha....yeah....it's down behind the axle, you can't see it in the pic, pretty bad, huh? Funny thing is the one on the drivers side is totally fine, no cracks or anything that I could see

KamiKaziDK · Feb 2, 2009

Here you go.....

Mustang5L5 · Feb 2, 2009

Wow, you sure this car used to be a 4-banger??

KamiKaziDK · Feb 2, 2009

Yep, decoded the vin last night. Someone put some serious time into swapping everything over. Cause as you can see it's got the 8.8 in it too. How dangerous is it to be driving with that thing like it is? I need to get it to my g/fs dads house so I can put it up on stands and drop the rear end out of her

Maryland Stang · Feb 3, 2009

That's the worst one I've ever seen. Somebody seriously, seriously abused that car.

How far do you have to go? If it's more than just a mile or two I'd just be safe and have it towed.

JadeGT · Feb 3, 2009

There are other options depending on how much you have to spend. Go check of the Maximum motorsports page and check out the torque arm and panhard bar. If you install both of these you can remove the upper control arms.

KamiKaziDK · Feb 3, 2009

Ouch....almost $800 for both of those together! I'm just gonna drop the rear end and have the torque box re-welded into place with some extra support welded up with them.

JadeGT · Feb 3, 2009

That is why I have don't have them either.

KamiKaziDK · Mar 15, 2009

Jacked up the car today, dropped the gas tank, pulled off the right side exhaust and unbolted the UCA out of the broken off box. Got most of it hammered into place, tomorrow the welding begins

ID89GT · Mar 16, 2009

Thats gotta suck.

Serious suspension help!!

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