Which coil springs and leaf springs?

streetstang67 · May 10, 2005

I like the stance my car has now, but the coils and leafs are worn out so I plan to replace them. My question is which ones to get that would retain my current ride height and stance? normal height, lowered 1", reverse eye, 5 leaf??????

84convertablegt · May 10, 2005

id say lowered 1" because you already look low. is it just because they're worn out? but the problem with the coil springs is that you may order 1" lower springs and install them and discover you are way higher up front. they may have have to be cut and refitted a few times to get it right. just be aware of that. id also invest in new shocks why you are at it

streetstang67 · May 10, 2005

Well as far as the shocks go, I recently got some plain gabriel gas shocks, so I was thinkin about going the stiff spring/soft shock combo. But now that I think about it, mabye I shouldn't mess with the current coils...do they really need to be replaced just becuase they are old and 'sagging'? I could just get stiff shocks and keep the factory springs. What do you think?

84convertablegt · May 10, 2005

what i did is replace all the shocks. i left the front springs alone and replaced the rear springs. the rear springs present alot less drama than the front springs. and they are easier to mess with. this solved all my problems. i also liked my ride height. as long as the front springs arent broken, then they still will work even if they have started to sag a bit.

streetstang67 · May 10, 2005

That sounds like an easier solution. So mabye KYB shocks up front? What about the rear, should I get stiff springs and keep the shocks or just get normal springs and KYB's? 4 leaf, 5 leaf, reverse eye, mid eye...what do I get?
THanks

Opentracker · May 10, 2005

Adding a rear sway bar with the springs you have will stiffen up the car a bit. Put in some new shocks and you'll have a stiffer ride and the ride height you like. I don't replace springs much in street cars. I leave the stock springs in the car, add front and rear sway bars ( 1 1/8" front and 7/8" rear ) along with adjustable shocks. The cars ride nice and handle great.

John

84convertablegt · May 10, 2005

if i were u, id get stock replacement rear springs if you are gonna get new ones. i think the mid eyes might be the lowering ones. but i wouldnt risk lowering the rear, since if it does end up lower than the front, it will look weird. id say its better to have the rear a littler higher if anything. right now my car is perfectly balanced as long as i dont throw any bricks in the trunk or anything. you could always red neck it and buy some helper springs

HistoricMustang · May 10, 2005

streetstang67 said:
I like the stance my car has now, but the coils and leafs are worn out so I plan to replace them. My question is which ones to get that would retain my current ride height and stance? normal height, lowered 1", reverse eye, 5 leaf??????
QUOTE]

I would suggest you get the car as low as possible to get the center of gravity down. You can start with new standard rear leaf springs and adjust height with lowering blocks, then cut the front coils to the stance you like.

Personally I am not a fan of rear sway bars but one will be OK on your street ride.

HistoricMustang
www.historicmustang.com

84convertablegt · May 10, 2005

hey, 65 stangs didnt come with rear sway bars did they? because i dont have one and i wanted to make sure that i wasnt supposed to or something?

Opentracker · May 10, 2005

Another hot topic around here is the rear sway bar. Some folks like 'em, some don't. I like the way the cars drive with soft springs and big sway bars. The stiff springs are just that, stiff. The rear bar keeps the car flat in the turns. The early cars didn't come with rear sway bars.

John

bnickel · May 10, 2005

personally i think you should get new springs for the front, coils do wear out as do the leafs, usually the leafs can be re-arched but new ones are cheap enough so do both. the gabriels you have now will work fine. for the springs i'd go with a 4 or 4 1/2 leaf with mid-eye in the rear and 620 1" drop up front coils on your car

HistoricMustang · May 10, 2005

84convertablegt said:
hey, 65 stangs didnt come with rear sway bars did they? because i dont have one and i wanted to make sure that i wasnt supposed to or something?

Shelby did not use a rear sway bar in the R-models as they were kicking everyones butt in SCCA and IMHO that still applies today.

You will have to play with the springs (front and rear) to get the ride height desired.

Check out this R-model: http://www.classicdreamcars.com/65RMODEL.html

HistoricMustang
www.historicmustang.com

bnickel · May 10, 2005

HistoricMustang said:
Shelby did not use a rear sway bar in the R-models as they were kicking everyones butt in SCCA and IMHO that still applies today.

You will have to play with the springs (front and rear) to get the ride height desired.

Check out this R-model: http://www.classicdreamcars.com/65RMODEL.html

HistoricMustang
www.historicmustang.com

true but the 69-70 boss cars did

HistoricMustang · May 11, 2005

bnickel said:
true but the 69-70 boss cars did

Yes, a very good point.

I have often wondered at what point track width or wheel base "requires" greater attention to sway bars and suspension components. I have this argument all the time with my "Fox" body friends and am in the camp that the longer wheelbase on the early models helps them to remain somewhat competitive with the late models. Saw this while running with NASA.

Perhaps a good topic for another thread!

HistoricMustang
www.historicmustang.com

Which coil springs and leaf springs?

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