Help me decide

[StrykerV8]

Heres the deal. I bought my 95 a year ago and while looking at it saw it had already had the regular height coil conversion done. I thought whatever... now I wont have to worry about air ride problems. Except now I realize the car must be lowered. What do I do? Cut a coil off each spring? Buy aftermarket springs? Go back to air ride? I would love to go back to air ride but Im sure that would be kinda expensive. About how much would I be looking at? 2 front air struts, 2 rear air bags, compressor is what I would need right? The sensors are still there. I cant decide what to do!!

 

[k9t8m]

Just buy the lowered coil conversion kit and be done.

You never really know why the previous owner did away with the air ride, bad compressor, bad lines, etc.. You might open up a whole can of worms by switching back.

I would reccomment NOT cutting the coil springs. 1 coil off each spring will more than likely be alot lower than your looking to go.

I know coilsprings.com can make custom coil springs for almost anything, they are actually pretty reasonable too.

 

[chicken]

any lowered springs for a tbird will work

 

[StrykerV8]

I would reccomment NOT cutting the coil springs.

Thats another thing... everywhere I read people say don't cut springs, don't cut springs, don't cut springs and I know this to be true. BUT, isn't the 1.5 lowered kit just that? 1 coil chopped off on each spring?

 

[k9t8m]

I could be wrong but I thought the lowered kits were more of a progressively wound spring.

 

[mespock]

If you really want to know about the springs being cut and the difference I'd call or E-mail Eddie at American Air Suspension he'd have the answer.

But I'd buy the 1.5 lowered conversion ... and just to let you know that sucker is low, I mean low. I have both sitting in my drive way right now and there is a big difference in the height .

 

[playboy4aday]

Lowering springs have a different spring rate and if you get H&R springs you will not tell a difference in ride quality but you will in ride control. H&R is 10 times better as compared to my old Eibach pro kit springs.

 

[StrykerV8]

If you really want to know about the springs being cut and the difference I'd call or E-mail Eddie at American Air Suspension he'd have the answer.

But I'd buy the 1.5 lowered conversion ... and just to let you know that sucker is low, I mean low. I have both sitting in my drive way right now and there is a big difference in the height .

I did a while ago, and I believe that is what he said. I don't really feel like spending 400-500 on a new set when all it takes it chopping off a coil. About it being low, good . Ive seen pics of them and it looks great.

Lowering springs have a different spring rate and if you get H&R springs you will not tell a difference in ride quality but you will in ride control. H&R is 10 times better as compared to my old Eibach pro kit springs.

Very interested, care to give me some more info? Like where you got them from, what you ordered them for, etc. Thanks.

 

[Staffamerica74]

get the eibach or h&r springs for the t-birds. Remember to get shorter endlinks for your sway bars when lowering it and also a new alignment.

 

[baggedtaco]

I think shox.com has the most competitive prices on springs and shocks around. Worth a look

Brad

 

[playboy4aday]

Ebay is your friend. I got them for a 97 down Thunderbird. When you buy the kit it comes with new bushings for the rear stabilizer bar. Other kits like Eibach don't come with these and the factory pieces actually push the rear end up even though its lowered. H&R makes sure the rear end stays planted the way it should. But like I said I have had both kits and this one is by far superior in every way to me. Plus my wife couldn't tell a difference in ride quality, still rides like a luxury car should but handles like a sports car. The cost on both kits is pretty close.

 

[cdymyd]

Is there any spring kits that let you lower/raise the height?

 

[kustomizingkid]

Is there any spring kits that let you lower/raise the height?

It's called air ride...

 

[ladenblowfish]

I emailed Eddie last year about the difference in the 1.5" lowered springs and stock springs. He said cut 1 full coil off and thats the only difference between the two. Same spring just shorter.

 

[luxuryrules]

I could be wrong but I thought the lowered kits were more of a progressively wound spring.

That would be ideal, but unfortunately not. I have used both standard and lowered coil conversion kits. Both were linear rate springs, both rode ok but handled like garbage. My end solution was to use SuperCoupe springs with Tokico dampers - this kept me at stock ride height, but handles better than the air ride did but at a degredation in ride quality compared to the air. My decision to remain at stock height revolves around the roads in PA being overall crap and the fact that I scraped everything every day when I was lowered. And my decision to move away from the air ride is still one I regret - but, as already cited, since you don't know why the previous owner converted, you run the risk of a very expensive job converting back.

It looks like the H&R springs are getting some positive reviews, that would the direction I would lean. However, find out if the H&R ones are progressive and, if not, have custom springs wound.

 

[playboy4aday]

Is there any spring kits that let you lower/raise the height?

Yes they are called coil overs but they are a pita, and ride quality sux.