RedHotMark96
Well-Known LVC Member
Well the other weekend I finished the suspension job. In total I converted all 4 corners to the stock height coil kit from American Air suspension. I also had to replace the drivers side front lower control arm. When I was doing the springs I found that the lower strut to control arm bolt wouldn't come out (under any circumstances) so I had to order a new LCA. Putting the new control arm in was fairly simple, took a couple hours and the car was all back together.
With the coil kit, the car feels like it handles a bit better, there is no more wallowing, but at the same time it definitly rides a bit stiffer and I feel bumps more (I'm also running 17" wheels with 225/55 tires). I'm satisfied with the trade off as it doesn't ride any worse than my sister's focus.
I was also getting vibrations on the freeway, which I figured were either due to the driveshaft or the wheels needing to be rebalanced. Turns out the vibes were from the ball joint in the lower control arm, which was damaged a while back when I hit a bad pot-hole. The vibrations are completely gone now. My next project will be a 1 1/8" rear sway bar, which is already in the garage. Compared to this I figure the sway bar will be a walk in the park.
With the coil kit, the car feels like it handles a bit better, there is no more wallowing, but at the same time it definitly rides a bit stiffer and I feel bumps more (I'm also running 17" wheels with 225/55 tires). I'm satisfied with the trade off as it doesn't ride any worse than my sister's focus.
I was also getting vibrations on the freeway, which I figured were either due to the driveshaft or the wheels needing to be rebalanced. Turns out the vibes were from the ball joint in the lower control arm, which was damaged a while back when I hit a bad pot-hole. The vibrations are completely gone now. My next project will be a 1 1/8" rear sway bar, which is already in the garage. Compared to this I figure the sway bar will be a walk in the park.
