New wheels and tires + lowered (daytime pics)

I had steering wheel creak with stock springs and tires. While it was lowered and on 19s, I put some friction modifier for rear differentials in the power steering resevoir. After a few days it worked it's way through and stopped the noise. There was a TSB or something out about the steering wheel creaking. Ford's solution was to replace the rack if I remember correctly.
 
Andrizzle said:
I know I am bumping my oldish thread, but I thought I would give a little review on what I thought of the springs/wheels so far.

Look-wise: It is perfect. I love how it sits and I think the wheels look great, gave my car totally new character. Also the new lowered look is amazing.


Feel-wise: I can definitely feel the stiffer springs, and going from stock tire size to low profiled 19s obviously is going to give a little rougher ride. I would say I was not expecting it to be THIS different, but I am still fine with it as in general it is still great, but on bumps you can definitely feel them probably 2-3 times more than with stock setup.

Additional Comments: This is more of a question rather than a comment, but ever since I put on the new wheels/tires and springs - my steering wheel has a very slight whine and/or friction feeling to it in a few spots when turning, it seems to be @ about a very wide angled turn or when switching lanes, it sounds like it comes from the actual steering wheel. I am going to set it up on stands this weekend and to some testing with the wheels in the air, but did anyone else get a steering wheel noise with the lowered car?


Overall: If you're willing to sacrifice some ride quality to gain visual quality, I say new springs and wheels are a definite must. I am re-in love-love with my LS, I already loved it, now I love it even more. I cannot wait to get the new bumper and hood on and get this thing cleaned up!



Thanks for reading if you did; and any comments about the steering wheel would be appreciated.
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I just put Springtechs on my 04 Ultimate, nothing different in the steering wheel for me. Mine has always made little noises when its cold, over three years running for my car with no issues.

Keeping with the stock wheels, I am COMPLETELY happy with the ride quality. For me, I dont think I sacrificed anything. This thing still rides better than most of my friends cars... and with the additional bonus of the car no longer feels like it is floating all over the road.
 
My power steering is topped off, it doesn't really sound like a pump issue, It sounds like friction. But it was non existent until the springs and wheels.


NYCLS8, what is that stuff called exactly and could I pick some up @ autozone? Sounds like my problem exactly, it sounds/feels like the actual steering components, not suspension - cuz I can feel almost a frictiony feeling when it happens.

05 LS8, the sound/friction happens on very light turns, like I would say turning the steering wheel a 45 degreeish turn can pass through the spot where the noise happens, on going both left and right.

TNSilverLS, the offset is 45mm

EDIT: added

smdandb2, yea I think my difference in ride comfort is more with the wheels/tire change than the actual springs. I love the stiffer feel, but the bumps could get on someones nerves if they hated them enough.


Thanks for the input guys.
 
Andrizzle said:
My power steering is topped off, it doesn't really sound like a pump issue, It sounds like friction. But it was non existent until the springs and wheels.


NYCLS8, what is that stuff called exactly and could I pick some up @ autozone? Sounds like my problem exactly, it sounds/feels like the actual steering components, not suspension - cuz I can feel almost a frictiony feeling when it happens.

05 LS8, the sound/friction happens on very light turns, like I would say turning the steering wheel a 45 degreeish turn can pass through the spot where the noise happens, on going both left and right.

TNSilverLS, the offset is 45mm

EDIT: added

smdandb2, yea I think my difference in ride comfort is more with the wheels/tire change than the actual springs. I love the stiffer feel, but the bumps could get on someones nerves if they hated them enough.


Thanks for the input guys.
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And right now I am rocking snows, haha.

I am sure once I put the summer tires back on, my tune might change.

Oh well! The appearance change was worth it completely for me.
 
haven't felt that in the steering wheel. Maybe it's got to do with a bit different steering in 03-06 models.
 
I didn't use the Ford stuff, just the generic stuff found at AutoZone. Came in a toothpaste looking tube. I figured I'd try the cheap stuff first and if that didn't work, I woulda went another route. If you do use it, give it a few days to work it's way through. That's about how long it took mine to quiet down.
 
I used to put that modifier in my mark 8's tranny to stop the infamous shudder. I was amazed how well it worked.
 
Awesome I will have to check some of that out this weekend. Thanks for the tip!
 
WOW!!!!!!!!!!:eek:


That looks sweet. Great choice of wheels. The springs sure were a great deal. Gives the LS a very nice stance.
 
Andy, I can guarantee you that the bumps being more pronounced are more the tires than the springs. I have my stocks on with taller sidewalls for winter, and it's a night and day difference.

And damn, I like those wheels so much. I'm almost regretting buying the fondmetals. Although they wouldn't look nearly as nice on a light color like mine.
 
I think they would. You have a kind of black theme going on with ur LS in accents anyways.
 
Hey those wheels on your car look great!

Those wheels look very familiar. I think their is some Puerto Rican with similar wheels.
 
That Puerto Rican has 18" Falken Koblenz. 38 or 35 offset IIRC.
 
Yea I was actually originally going to get 20" Gunmetal Koblenz. But the place that carried them, no longer does. So now the few places you can get them in our size are outrageously priced.

These are a good alternative, and I think they actually turned out looking better than the Koblenz could on my car.
 
Andrizzle said:
UPS just came by:


15739504.jpg







And one of the items was damaged:



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28086736.jpg
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Looks like me and you are on the same page. The only thing that I need to get are the fog light brackets, that chrome trim piece, lse grill and the header panel for the 03 headlights. Do the brackets come with the necessary screws to attach the lights and brackets to the car?
 
Probably, but I am sure it pends where you buy the brackets.

I bought all of this off of LSK, it came with all the hardware for mounting the brackets and such.
 
Yea I bought the fog light form parts.com which got them from Ford. So when do you plan on putting everything on? I'm going to wait until get a couple more things because I'm going to get my car repainted when I put everything on. Also I'm still debating whether not I want to put Angel eyes in the headlights.
 
As soon as I get the hood, both pieces are going in for paint. I am sure I will put them on right when they r done lol.
 
Silver_LS said:
Sell your wheels to me Pete... :D
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You know what sucks, is I've been thinking about it lately. I see them nice and polished, sealed, and sitting in a nice stack in my rec room/bar, and can't help but think that's money sitting right there.
 
pektel said:
You know what sucks, is I've been thinking about it lately. I see them nice and polished, sealed, and sitting in a nice stack in my rec room/bar, and can't help but think that's money sitting right there.
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Just let me know if you decide you want to move on to something different.
 
Looks good. let me know when the car is up and running. I would like to lower mine, but I dont want anything that is too hard. If you dont mind, I would like to see how it rides before I decide what to do with mine.

I do like the way that your car is set up!
 
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