lowering springs

98LSC32V

98LSC32V

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What's the deal with using t-bird lowering springs and front shocks to do a coil spring conversion and lower the car? I know some people have done it, it is it pretty straight forward? I'm thinking of the Vogtland springs 1.6' drop all around and some Monroe Sensatracs for the front...
 
NO!!!!!!!!

Seriously though if you are going to spring the dollars to do the tbird stuff and not just a regular Mark conversion why not at least get better struts...
 
They are cheap and they work... I have them in the rear and they are fine... what struts would you suggest?
 
sensatracs work fine for the back, they are HORRIBLE for the front, WAY too soft, youll have the front swaying up and down in no time.........just go Konis all around............ :D


i got your PM, i got pics somewhere.....
 
I have factory plain jane struts in mine and I haven't had any bouncing issues and its been converted to springs and lowered for over a year now. And I abuse it daily. OOOOPS I mean drive it spiritedly everyday.:D

PS: I used H&R springs and they are f%:eek: king awesome.
 
So since my car has the coil conversion done I could order some Eibach Pros for a 95 T-Birs or Cougar and they would fit? Cool beans!!!
I would love to do the Eibachs cause every Stang I have used them in they were superb combo of ride and handling. Back them up with some Tokico HPs and it should make for a nice handling setup. :nice:
 
If you want cheap stiff shocked for the rear, get a set of used ones from 03-04 Cobra , for the front get a set of used ones from T-bird super coupe .
 
What do I need to convert to springs? Are the t-bird springs/shocks a direct fit? I already have the rear shocks with the poly mounts installed...
 
I had Eibachs on my 97 bird with tokicos and all the kenny brown suspension peices and I have H&Rs now and they are hands down better than the Eibachs. At least in my opinion.
97 bird supercharged 2v V8
2mwdyc4.jpg
 
DO NOT BUY THE STRUTMASTERS CONVERSION 1.5 DROP! its absolutly terrible - they openly say they cut the springs to lower them.

If you're doing a coil conversion - just get tbird stuff for sure. I was so fed up with the lowered ride being so crap that I don't even want to deal with lowering the mark - its too heavy to sit low. Unless you have it sensor lowered I guess. 1.5 coil drop with soft coils had me bottoming out - destroyed stuff in my wheel wells and also would bottom my exhaust out when the car would bounce up and down up the street hitting dips in the road. I've owned many lowered cars and I know how your supposed to drive them, I'm just not going to do this with a mark viii - its too big and defeats the purpose of a luxary coupe.

I looked for those Vogtland springs for the Tbird on their website and I didn't see it listed. I just wound up buying Moog stock ride heigth for Tbird. Variable rate - I can't wait to get them on!
 
Never knew how you lowered Mark owners got around. Mine has the coil conversion but at stock height and I still scrape the nose on every damn driveway out there. :mad:
 
ok say if you want to replace the lowered stuff with stock ride heigth tbird springs, thats what I purchased. I know I need a spring compressor for the front springs, but will they be neccessary for the rear ones in there from the old conversion kit?

Also another question if I rent a spring compressor to switch them - i compress the spring on the strut after I have it out of the car - remove the nut, then remove the spring - then what slowly release the spring correct? Then I have to compress the stock ride height fit it on the strut enough to be able to put the nut back on? Right?

Ok the rear one I am just following this - http://www.arnottindustries.com/file.asp?Manual=TRUE&ProductID=131&Size=SMALL

but the part where I would go to drop the A arm down once I remove the sway bar end link and rear shock, do I have to compress the shock before I do all this since there is not an air strut there?

I just want to make sure that I don't injure myself somehow by dropping the A arm down - springs make me nervous!
 
your car must be a little lower with those 245/55 - im rockin 225/70/16 - thats why i wiped out my evap and cruise cable. There toyo Open country - my buddy works at toyo i got them over stock all four for 70 bucks... so i had to take them, kinda hurting for money with my other car project.

I just wanna get back to stock ride heigth and put 245/55/16 on the there, that will sit nice. Lowered I could see it be awesome if the suspension isn't soft. Because the cut lowered springs make the car come up and down too much, heavy car.

sucks my muffler got a whole in it from all the scraping, they should really fix the roads in the pa. If your going low your suspension has to be stiff! or itll be bottoming out left and right.
 
98LSC32V said:
Where can I get the t-bird shock bodies, and I need 4 of them right?
Click to expand...


junkyard, just find a junked TBird with the front shocks still in it.........you just need the fronts, you cut the tops off, drill a hole in the bottom and put the insert in..............

the rears are complete, they bolt on..........
 
just whatever you do don't get the lowered american air / strutmasters kit - just go for the regular ride heigth you'll be wayyy happier trust me on that.
 
shiryu0 said:
left - front inserts, right - rear shocks...........
Click to expand...

So whats your impression of your setup? How much better did it handle? Did the ride get harsh or significantly firmer than stock?
How about they sway bar? I hear it really plants the rear and helps to put the oversteer in check.
 
i have my Konis set to the firmest setting so the ride is VERY FIRM, the reason its not harsh is because of the size of our cars............lol
 
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