100K mile suspension refresh

[CTX-SLPR]

I'm very happy with my 03 LS V6 but it's time to do some 100K mile maintenance on it. It still has the factory orginal strut/shocks on it and it's a base model so I'm debating my options on what to do with it.

A good part of me wants to buy new OEM sport shock/struts and pair them with a set of new sport bars with OEM rear bushings (looks like they come seperate still). However this route is nearly $1K.

I've been pretty happy with the base level shock/struts so I was thinking about pairing a new set with a set of V8 sport bars from the junkyard with ES poly front bushings and OEM rear bushings. How well do you think this would work?

I guess the middle option is get a proper 32mm V6 sport bar from the yard and add the ES poly bushings to it with either Sport or standard shock/struts.

General thoughts on the ES bushing vs OEM long term and the pairing of sport bars with standard shock/struts?

Thanks,

 

[Hawk03]

I am finishing up my suspension work, I have 125,000 miles on a non-sport 2000 V8. I've owned the car for 8yrs and wanted to upgrade and add a different feel. I had quite a few noises going on and things needed to be replaced, my shocks were chewing up my rear tires (sagging the back end down). I changed both rear upper control arms, front and rear end links, installed Eibach springs and Motocraft sport shocks. I also installed new Energy Suspension bushings. The front ball joints rattled the sway bar and rotted out the ones I installed a couple of years ago. This weekend I will be installing two front knuckles to replace the ball joints then will be getting an alignment for it to be road worthy. I will also be installing a hub, the other one was replaced last year. I also replaced the rear toe links last year.

One of the reasons I went with Eibach and the sport shocks were that they were cheaper than the oem springs and non-sport shocks. I've only driven it a few miles but I think I will really like the difference in ride. Its more stiffer than what I had on there and seems to be more tight. Granted my suspension has been crap for the last year but the difference is nice.

I don't think you will notice all that much of difference if you just change your sway bars to sport bars. If you install the Energy Suspension bushings make sure you get the black greaseable ones, they self lubricating and if you need to add more you can grease them. Any set-up you install will be fine. Are the V8 and V6 bars interchangeable? If they are and you install a 03 up front sport bar, the bushing come welded on to the bar, which you would have to cut them off if you ever need to replace them.