• Mustang Forums
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-

Suspension Overhaul

  • Thread starter Thread starter 64Rudster
  • Start date Start date Aug 28, 2017
  • 1
  • 2
Next
1 of 2 Next Last
6

64Rudster

New Member
Aug 28, 2017
4
0
1
Aug 28, 2017
#1
  • Aug 28, 2017
  • #1
I have a 93 LX 5.0 Convertible and the 25 year old suspension needs some rejuvenation. I'm looking to replace the parts, should I go with the standard OEM replacements or upgrade the suspension for better handling at the same time. my end goal is to have a really nice riding car for cruising not so much for racing.
 
9

9deucegt

5 Year Member
Aug 23, 2017
2
2
13
Aug 28, 2017
#2
  • Aug 28, 2017
  • #2
I went with a bunch of stuff from MM and glad I did. The car is a street car with no racing, but the MM components I bought give a really nice ride, nothing harsh. The best thing that I found was to contact the vendor you are buying from and ask a bunch of questions. I did with MM and I am really glad I did. They gave me their best opinion and the parts that I received lived up to what they claimed. Really happy with the ride these parts have given me on my '92 GT.
 
Reactions: Davedacarpainter and 64Rudster

fredfifty

5 Year Member
Nov 23, 2011
318
57
59
SF Bay Area
Aug 28, 2017
#3
  • Aug 28, 2017
  • #3
go after market, its probably better and cheaper. cant go wrong with those sve components from lmr. atleast go springs, shocks, and struts.
 
Reactions: 64Rudster
6

64Rudster

New Member
Aug 28, 2017
4
0
1
Aug 28, 2017
#4
  • Aug 28, 2017
  • #4
9deucegt said:
I went with a bunch of stuff from MM and glad I did. The car is a street car with no racing, but the MM components I bought give a really nice ride, nothing harsh. The best thing that I found was to contact the vendor you are buying from and ask a bunch of questions. I did with MM and I am really glad I did. They gave me their best opinion and the parts that I received lived up to what they claimed. Really happy with the ride these parts have given me on my '92 GT.
Click to expand...

im definately a newbie....what is MM
 
6

64Rudster

New Member
Aug 28, 2017
4
0
1
Aug 28, 2017
#5
  • Aug 28, 2017
  • #5
fredfifty said:
go after market, its probably better and cheaper. cant go wrong with those sve components from lmr. atleast go springs, shocks, and struts.
Click to expand...


Again newbie here....what is LMR
 

mikestang63

SN Certified Technician
Aug 27, 2012
11,606
8,859
214
In the garage
Aug 28, 2017
#6
  • Aug 28, 2017
  • #6
mm= maximum motorsports
LMR= late model restoration
 
Reactions: 64Rudster

General karthief

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair
20+ Year Stangneter
Aug 25, 2016
27,960
10,602
203
polk county florida
Aug 28, 2017
#7
  • Aug 28, 2017
  • #7
Go to the vendors forum and look for discount codes.
 
Reactions: 64Rudster

Davedacarpainter

Chicks can make things hard if they’re inspired...
SN Certified Technician
Nov 28, 2015
11,833
11,633
203
Discordia
Aug 28, 2017
#8
  • Aug 28, 2017
  • #8
There is so much you can do. Maximum Motorsports is pricier, but for a reason, they sell really nice quality stuff.

I wouldnt necessarily recommend SVE stuff unless you want a level just above stock.

Things to get, go with safety first, either upgrade your brakes, or at least buy MM's brakes for a stock fox body.

Then get a set of subframe connectors. This will do wonders for how your car feels. They will tighten everything up.

New shocks, Bilstein, Koni, lots of choices out there. Lots of variations in prices.

New springs, lower your mustang an inch or so. It'll look better and handle better with a lower center of gravity. This will lead to needing to change your outer tie rod ends to level out your steering (avoiding bumpsteer).

New bushings would help a lot with immediate slop.

If you want to go hog wild you can replace your k-member and front control arms. You can get coilovers too. Caster/camber plates will help with alignments, especially if you lower your mustang.

There's lots you can do, you need to decide what you can spend.
 
Reactions: 90sickfox and General karthief

Gunny87

Active Member
Nov 29, 2015
50
8
28
Murray Utah
Aug 28, 2017
#9
  • Aug 28, 2017
  • #9
I don't recommend the SVE from LMR
After 6 months the bushings in the upper control arms were shot on mine
And yes i greased them with the appropriate grease
 

Attachments

  • 20170715_093007.webp
    139.1 KB · Views: 155
  • 20170715_093015.webp
    142.7 KB · Views: 165

Mstng93SSP

You have a nice rear end there Dave.
15 Year Member
Nov 29, 1999
2,993
3,500
184
Mililani, Hawaii
Aug 29, 2017
#10
  • Aug 29, 2017
  • #10
I love the eibach pro kit. Have it on 2 of my 3 cars. The third car I have maximum motorsport springs. I prefer the ride and handling of the eibach springs.
 

TOOLOW91

If you're the village idiot what's that make me?
20+ Year Stangneter
Nov 29, 1999
8,497
8,748
234
S.I.NY
Aug 29, 2017
#11
  • Aug 29, 2017
  • #11
fredfifty said:
go after market, its probably better and cheaper. cant go wrong with those sve components from lmr. atleast go springs, shocks, and struts.
Click to expand...
Sorry but no . The SVE suspension stuff is prob some of the cheapest made stuff you can buy .

UPR, Maximum Motorsports, Team z all make great stuff
 
Reactions: 64Rudster, a91what and Davedacarpainter

CarMichael Angelo

my rearend will smell so minty fresh,
15 Year Member
Nov 29, 1999
10,641
8,909
234
Birmingham, al
Aug 29, 2017
#12
  • Aug 29, 2017
  • #12
What you'll find is that there is a fine line between where the parts you add to gain any handling benefit affect the ride, and add noise as a consequence.
SF connectors:
SF connectors stiffen the chassis. These cars have no frame...(they have "subframes"). The floor itself ties the front and rear subframes together, and that has proven to be a weak link as these cars age. The end result of not having those SF's tied together is excessive body twist, rattles, creaks and groans.

Adding SF connectors have no down side...they do not impact ride quality negatively, and they do not add any noise.

LCA/RCA's:
Your front and rear control arms will always be a topic of conversation here.
But they are the next area to focus on, as they are directly contributable to sloppy handling. All aftermarket brands use a different type of bushing other than the rubber versions that were stock on that car, and consequently the stiffness of those bushings is measured against stock as a reference. Replacements range from new rubber, to a stiffer rubber, to a polyurethane, eventually to aluminum as you progress through the options depending on what your goals are with this car.

Stock, or a stiffer rubber bushings will yield "new,or better than new" handling character back to the car, w/o any added ride harshness and can be added to your existing factory pieces, but swapping out those rubber bushings in the stock arms is a arduous task. The old bushings need to be burned, or drilled out, and the new units beat, or pressed back in. Several opinions will tell you to completely replace the arms as units because of this,..but the entry level replacements are junk more often than not, are typically Chinese, and poorly made with extremely stiff polyurethane bushings. After that, the quality pieces (from MM, UPR, Griggs and several others ) will ultimately cost significantly more money.

Ball joints:....replace them.

Shocks/struts:

Yours will need replacing. This is another "name your poison" topic. As there will be many recommendations for brand preference here. Several guys have Bilstein, some Have KYB, some have Koni, which all have a performance benefit with regard to adjustability, or at least a more performance leveraged shock valving. Other than that, you have the din of stock replacements out there...IMO,..unless you have any intention of going after "significantly other than stock" handling, a stock replacement set of shocks/struts is all you need here.....Guys that street drive a set of Koni's get no benefit from that shock other than the warm and fuzzy they get from the knowledge that they have them. A set of dampers intended to increase handling performance, ALWAYS contribute to a stiffer ride.

Springs:

Lowering springs will ALWAYs have a negative consequence in ride quality. The car looks better w/ a lowered stance, but the consequence of a shorter spring that keeps the car properly suspended is additional stiffness. That stiffness is a desired quality when talking about handling, but sucks ass when driving over a rutted road. Lowering springs open the can of worms,......as that changes suspension geometry in the front end. The correction requires caster camber plates (not necessary if you didn't lower the car). A lowered car requires that the tie rod angle be dealt with, as "bump steer" becomes an issue. Bumpsteer occurs when the car hits a bump and because of the change in front suspension height, the intersect point geometry has changed, and now the tires "steer" as they travel through that arc radius. ( Again, not necessary if you didn't lower the car).

Low profile tires:

A 17" or 18" wheel will dramatically affect handling characteristics over the stock 15-16" wheels the car came with.
As the rim size increases in diameter, the tire sidewall decreases in height. The shorter the sidewall, the less impact absorption the tire is capable of dealing with. Again, just like a lowered stance, a larger wheel looks better on these cars, and there will be a handling benefit gained from adding a set. But again at a trade off.

These 6 things all need to be addressed if you want to return or improve the car's handling/ride quality.
 
Reactions: BobbyT, George7, General karthief and 1 other person
6

64Rudster

New Member
Aug 28, 2017
4
0
1
Aug 29, 2017
#13
  • Aug 29, 2017
  • #13
madmike1157 said:
What you'll find is that there is a fine line between where the parts you add to gain any handling benefit affect the ride, and add noise as a consequence.
SF connectors:
SF connectors stiffen the chassis. These cars have no frame...(they have "subframes"). The floor itself ties the front and rear subframes together, and that has proven to be a weak link as these cars age. The end result of not having those SF's tied together is excessive body twist, rattles, creaks and groans.

Adding SF connectors have no down side...they do not impact ride quality negatively, and they do not add any noise.

LCA/RCA's:
Your front and rear control arms will always be a topic of conversation here.
But they are the next area to focus on, as they are directly contributable to sloppy handling. All aftermarket brands use a different type of bushing other than the rubber versions that were stock on that car, and consequently the stiffness of those bushings is measured against stock as a reference. Replacements range from new rubber, to a stiffer rubber, to a polyurethane, eventually to aluminum as you progress through the options depending on what your goals are with this car.

Stock, or a stiffer rubber bushings will yield "new,or better than new" handling character back to the car, w/o any added ride harshness and can be added to your existing factory pieces, but swapping out those rubber bushings in the stock arms is a arduous task. The old bushings need to be burned, or drilled out, and the new units beat, or pressed back in. Several opinions will tell you to completely replace the arms as units because of this,..but the entry level replacements are junk more often than not, are typically Chinese, and poorly made with extremely stiff polyurethane bushings. After that, the quality pieces (from MM, UPR, Griggs and several others ) will ultimately cost significantly more money.

Ball joints:....replace them.

Shocks/struts:

Yours will need replacing. This is another "name your poison" topic. As there will be many recommendations for brand preference here. Several guys have Bilstein, some Have KYB, some have Koni, which all have a performance benefit with regard to adjustability, or at least a more performance leveraged shock valving. Other than that, you have the din of stock replacements out there...IMO,..unless you have any intention of going after "significantly other than stock" handling, a stock replacement set of shocks/struts is all you need here.....Guys that street drive a set of Koni's get no benefit from that shock other than the warm and fuzzy they get from the knowledge that they have them. A set of dampers intended to increase handling performance, ALWAYS contribute to a stiffer ride.

Springs:

Lowering springs will ALWAYs have a negative consequence in ride quality. The car looks better w/ a lowered stance, but the consequence of a shorter spring that keeps the car properly suspended is additional stiffness. That stiffness is a desired quality when talking about handling, but sucks ass when driving over a rutted road. Lowering springs open the can of worms,......as that changes suspension geometry in the front end. The correction requires caster camber plates (not necessary if you didn't lower the car). A lowered car requires that the tie rod angle be dealt with, as "bump steer" becomes an issue. Bumpsteer occurs when the car hits a bump and because of the change in front suspension height, the intersect point geometry has changed, and now the tires "steer" as they travel through that arc radius. ( Again, not necessary if you didn't lower the car).

Low profile tires:

A 17" or 18" wheel will dramatically affect handling characteristics over the stock 15-16" wheels the car came with.
As the rim size increases in diameter, the tire sidewall decreases in height. The shorter the sidewall, the less impact absorption the tire is capable of dealing with. Again, just like a lowered stance, a larger wheel looks better on these cars, and there will be a handling benefit gained from adding a set. But again at a trade off.

These 6 things all need to be addressed if you want to return or improve the car's handling/ride quality.
Click to expand...

MadMike,
Thank you for all of the information. I have a 93 Convertible that I'm looking to improve ride quality more than performance. I have 16's on the car now and am happy with them. At 23 years old everything suspension wise is pretty much wore out and will need to be replaced is pretty much worn out and will need to be replaced eventually.
 

fredfifty

5 Year Member
Nov 23, 2011
318
57
59
SF Bay Area
Aug 31, 2017
#14
  • Aug 31, 2017
  • #14
TOOLOW91 said:
Sorry but no . The SVE suspension stuff is prob some of the cheapest made stuff you can buy .

UPR, Maximum Motorsports, Team z all make great stuff
Click to expand...
ahhhh ok, i dont know what your budget/quality preference is. i would not go sve myself.
 

89SportVert

Active Member
Jun 29, 2002
283
13
29
Vancouver, WA
Sep 2, 2017
#15
  • Sep 2, 2017
  • #15
When I first bought mine, 89 5.0 LX Vert, I decided that I would build a strong foundation for any mods I were to make. I installed a Kenny Brown Extreme Matrix System (Frame Connectors, Matrix Brace and Jacking Rails). I also added a front lower subframe brace and an upper strut tower brace. Neither of these are for sale any longer but I believe other manufacturers now sell them. These chassis stiffening items made a huge difference in ride and handling of my vehicle. Would do it again in a heartbeat if the opportunity arose.
 
Reactions: BobbyT

92Apocalypso

Well-Known Member
Mar 7, 2017
217
62
58
Sep 2, 2017
#16
  • Sep 2, 2017
  • #16
Davedacarpainter said:
There is so much you can do. Maximum Motorsports is pricier, but for a reason, they sell really nice quality stuff.

I wouldnt necessarily recommend SVE stuff unless you want a level just above stock.

Things to get, go with safety first, either upgrade your brakes, or at least buy MM's brakes for a stock fox body.

Then get a set of subframe connectors. This will do wonders for how your car feels. They will tighten everything up.

New shocks, Bilstein, Koni, lots of choices out there. Lots of variations in prices.

New springs, lower your mustang an inch or so. It'll look better and handle better with a lower center of gravity. This will lead to needing to change your outer tie rod ends to level out your steering (avoiding bumpsteer).

New bushings would help a lot with immediate slop.

If you want to go hog wild you can replace your k-member and front control arms. You can get coilovers too. Caster/camber plates will help with alignments, especially if you lower your mustang.

There's lots you can do, you need to decide what you can spend.
Click to expand...

more specifically, what will subframe connectors do for ride quality?
 

92Apocalypso

Well-Known Member
Mar 7, 2017
217
62
58
Sep 2, 2017
#17
  • Sep 2, 2017
  • #17
my LX had bone stock suspension a couple of months ago. I ordered new Koni orange shocks and struts, moog front lower control arms, steeda lowering springs, bbk spring bushings, and even tho it was a big improvement, I still feel everything in the road man. everything. I'm sure lowering springs didn't help that lol. not sure exactly what else I can for a better ride at this point.
 

Davedacarpainter

Chicks can make things hard if they’re inspired...
SN Certified Technician
Nov 28, 2015
11,833
11,633
203
Discordia
Sep 2, 2017
#18
  • Sep 2, 2017
  • #18
92Apocalypso said:
more specifically, what will subframe connectors do for ride quality?
Click to expand...
The obviously notable effect wil be found in cornering. The body will be more rigid and allow for a more precise feeling. The suspension will feel different as well since it isn't having to correct for body flex, of course if you haven't upgraded some basic things like shocks and bushings, you'll notice their deficiencies moreso.
 

Davedacarpainter

Chicks can make things hard if they’re inspired...
SN Certified Technician
Nov 28, 2015
11,833
11,633
203
Discordia
Sep 2, 2017
#19
  • Sep 2, 2017
  • #19
92Apocalypso said:
my LX had bone stock suspension a couple of months ago. I ordered new Koni orange shocks and struts, moog front lower control arms, steeda lowering springs, bbk spring bushings, and even tho it was a big improvement, I still feel everything in the road man. everything. I'm sure lowering springs didn't help that lol. not sure exactly what else I can for a better ride at this point.
Click to expand...
Depends on what you mean by a better ride at this point. Do you mean more cushy were you don't feel the inconsistencies in the road so much.

Feeling everything in the road is exactly what some people are after. Feeling it and being in control of it.

A new suspension will deliver what it says it will, you just got to get the correct suspension for what your asking it to do.
 
Reactions: BobbyT

92Apocalypso

Well-Known Member
Mar 7, 2017
217
62
58
Sep 2, 2017
#20
  • Sep 2, 2017
  • #20
Davedacarpainter said:
Depends on what you mean by a better ride at this point. Do you mean more cushy were you don't feel the inconsistencies in the road so much.

Feeling everything in the road is exactly what some people are after. Feeling it and being in control of it.

A new suspension will deliver what it says it will, you just got to get the correct suspension for what your asking it to do.
Click to expand...

my bad, by feeling everything in the road, I mean, I hit a small bump, or pothole, and BAM! feels like the dash is about to come out of the car. it hurts, it's loud, I clinch up hahaha. it got a lot better, but I was expecting more. I just wanted a street car. almost daily driven.....
 
  • 1
  • 2
Next
1 of 2 Next Last
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

N
Fox Street Suspension Build Advice
  • NYFox
  • Jan 25, 2026
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
Replies
3
Views
332
1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk- Jan 28, 2026
Noobz347
Progress Thread 91GTstroked 90 7 up convertible build
  • 91GTstroked
  • Apr 18, 2026
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
Replies
8
Views
338
1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk- May 22, 2026
91GTstroked
Fox Fuel Pump Issues After Replacement/Upgrade
  • Ryu
  • Jun 23, 2026
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
  • 2
Replies
23
Views
647
1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk- Jul 5, 2026
Ryu
Opinions on a possible project car w/ pics
  • Teen'93stang5.0
  • Mar 29, 2026
  • 2.3L (N/A & Turbo) Tech
Replies
10
Views
308
2.3L (N/A & Turbo) Tech Mar 30, 2026
Teen'93stang5.0
S
Upgrade Advice on an 89 GT Convertible NJ
  • SteakDad
  • Apr 17, 2025
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
Replies
10
Views
917
1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk- Apr 18, 2025
limp
Share:
Bluesky Email Share Link
  • Mustang Forums
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
Menu
Log in

Register

  • Forums
  • What's new
  • Media
  • Resources
  • Contact
  • Sponsor
X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?

X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?