Swappin in the Suspension

NorCal66 · Mar 9, 2004

I can't take the squeeking and the scraping anymore, so it's time to get rid of that sagging suspension. I'm goin with the Mustang's Plus Street Heat, figure might as well go all out (on a budget "all out" )for an extra hundred bucks. I've searched to get as much info as I could, but I still have a few questions.
1. Are there any performance disadvantages to the stiff 5 leaf, 620 setup? I don't mind a stiff ride at all, as long as it doesn't scrape and handles well I'm fine.
2. What do you guys recommend on the sway bars? I've heard too big of a rear bar can produce massive understeer. I don't see any road racing in the near future, but there's no doubt I'm might get going pretty good on a windy country road.
3. I know this is going to be very difficult to answer, and I'm not looking for exacts, but compared to the picture \/ \/ how will the ride height be? I'm kind of partial to how it is now, noticable rake, but nothing dramatic. I liked the way dodgestangs FB looked on another post (Other Post ) should I go mideye as well? I do have stereo equip in the back and don't want the back tires to scrape
4. Besides the things I've already learned from search (poly everywhere but strut bars, rent spring compressor, sawzall might be needed for leafs, ride height will change after driving it for a bit) do you have anything else to add?

Sorry I know it's a beaten subject, just doin the homework before I spend the money. Thanks in advance guys.

Zooted_plus · Mar 9, 2004

It's about time I attended to my suspension too, the stock ride just isn't cutting it anymore. Only problem is I'm gonna want some vintage 45s or torqers like you have after that. I'm also thinking about the street heat package from M+... let me know how you like it.

Personally, I was thinking 4 or 4.5 leaf in the back, I think 5 might be overkill...and mideye is also what I was thinking. With the sway bars I always figured bigger is better, and never heard about too big of a rear bar causing a lot of understeer.

Lswhat · Mar 9, 2004

i have the 620s and the 5 leaf with air shocks so i have no scrape issuses and have a real noticeable the 620s will lower one inch in the front. the 5 leafs will be real stiff for a while but will wear in i also have a 3/4 inch rear sway bar and the car seems to handle fine but it might understeer i dont want to push it after smacking a bus stop sign sideways wasnt pretty. i think i have a 1 inch sway i the front but it might be a 1 1/4. i have torque thurts on mine with w 195 60 tire in the front and 235 60 in the rear which adds to the rake but it looks mean. umm and that stang has an awsome stance that i wish i could duplicate. but overall i like the way mine sits wish i had a pic other than on the back of the tow truck to show u but what the hey.

66fastblack · Mar 9, 2004

im also looking to upgrade my suspension. ever since i put the 16x8 wheels on last summer, its been rubbin in the back when i hit bumps hard, my leafs are shot, as well as my shocks. I want something stiff, i will be driving alot of mountain roads.

jscar1968 · Mar 10, 2004

I'm running almost the same setup as Lswhat, I had a bone stock suspension and just finished rebuilding the front end, did the rear end about two months ago with 5 leaf mid eye. My car sets about the same as yours, its just stiff. Not too stiff, but nice. I have 620 coils with a 1 inch drop, and the mid eyes with a one inch drop. I have air shocks in the rear and kyb's in the front. 1 inch frt sway bar, and 3/4 in the rear. It handles sweet. right now my car sits a little high for my taste, but it doesn't have the interior or glass in there. So it should sit nice. Hope that helps. Send me your email to jscar1968@yahoo and I'll give you a couple shots of it if you like

bnickel · Mar 10, 2004

if the 5 leaf is too stiff you can take out the extra spring and make it a 4 leaf, most 5 leaf springs are designed so that you can do that, i think it has an extra overload spring but i can't remember exactly

HistoricMustang · Mar 11, 2004

All the stuff under my butt is the Mustangs Plus "Magna" series. Good choice.

HistoricMustang
www.historicmustang.com

SandSprite · Mar 11, 2004

A rear bar will add oversteer (back end wants to come around), not understeer (push).

SandSprite · Mar 11, 2004

double post.

anyone know how to delete a post?

NorCal66 · Mar 11, 2004

Thanks for the info guys! Thanks for clearing that up as well sandsprite.
Only question still left...to keep a stance close to what I have now (rear not too low), should i use standard or mideyes?
Thanks a lot guys, I'll be ordering the parts this week.

SandSprite · Mar 11, 2004

I need new rear springs as well and am debating standard vs. mideyes. Since the 9" rear that is going in has the 3" tubes (not 2.5" tapers like my 8"), this will lower the car slightly. I think I may go with the standard 4 (gt) or 4.5 leaf setup and lowering blocks. If mideyes were to be too low, you can't "add" height. I still may end up with mideyes though-- just have to find someone locally with them and compare.

NorCal66 · Mar 11, 2004

SandSprite said:
If mideyes were to be too low, you can't "add" height.

Think the safest bet would be to go standard and get lowering blocks if needed? Not a lot of other guys around to compare to...most people around here either drive big trucks or euro sports cars...not a whole lot of the classic stuff.

SandSprite · Mar 12, 2004

yea, I hear that's how it is up there. I actually have/had friends in the area, but they don't have mustangs. you can find pics online as well as measurements from the ground to the fender. www.mustangsteve.com has a Ride Height page wit that info. Keep in mind tire height as well. I can not use my car to compare as my fenders have been flared. If you want it lowered, the mideyes will probably be fine. For my setup, I only have reservations based on my choice of rear axle. With blocks, you may have to shim the rear end to get the proper angle, but it is supposed to be fine with mideyes-- not sure how true that is-- just is what I have read.

67GTA-FB429 · Mar 12, 2004

If you are using the 620s remember that they are lowering springs. But if your suspension is tired, the 620s may actually raise the front a little.

If the rear does not work out, too low....you can always use differnt shackles. Also you can cut part of the coil out and that will lower the car but it will increase spring rate.

Go with the mideyes and 620s

Swappin in the Suspension

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