Suspension Questions...

[bullitt]

So, I'm thinking about lowering the car...more asthetics and tighten things up than anything (not crazy into autocross or anything).

I was thinking about getting some Maximum Motorsports "Street Performance" spring kit. The guy at MM was telling me they based them on the H&R's. Anybody have any experience with these?

What kind of struts and shocks should I go with? Bilstein? Tokico? Would I really need to change out them with 34k on the car?

Are CC plates a must for this kind of drop? (~1.5")

Anything else I really need? Isolators?

Thanks.

Jake

[ScotWithOne_t]

1.5" is quite a substantial drop. You'd be better off lowering is .75" to 1".
I have the H&R race spring in my car, and it has just about the right ammount of drop (looks-wise).
Stock to H&R comparo:


With as much as 1.5" drop you should be looking at bump-steer kits, and maybe some offset rack bushings too.

[bullitt]

I was just taking a stab at the drop. The guy at MM said that the MM sport springs would have a little less of a drop than the H&R springs.

Yeah, your car looks real good. How do you like those H&R's on the street? What struts and shocks are you using?

[ScotWithOne_t]

I was just taking a stab at the drop. The guy at MM said that the MM sport springs would have a little less of a drop than the H&R springs.

Yeah, your car looks real good. How do you like those H&R's on the street? What struts and shocks are you using?

Struts & shocks are Bilstein HD's. The ride is definitely firmer than before, but not bad at all...probably because the springs are progressive rate, so the little bumps get absorbed before the spring gets really stiff. Handling is much improved over stock...most noticable is the huge reduction in nose-dive during braking.

[bullitt]

Are you running CC plates?

[Fosters]

if you just want a decent drop with most of the ride characteristics of stock; i'd suggest either B or C springs from ford depending on what shocks you're gonna use (stock or aftermarket). plus, they're cheap as hell.

[ScotWithOne_t]

Are you running CC plates?

not yet. I got a little bit of negative camber just from the drop, leaving the stock caster and camber untouched.

[ScotWithOne_t]

if you just want a decent drop with most of the ride characteristics of stock; i'd suggest either B or C springs from ford depending on what shocks you're gonna use (stock or aftermarket). plus, they're cheap as hell.

I was looking at the FMS kit that gives you Mach1 springs, shocks, struts and swaybars. It's only like $400 brand new. I was going to get that package until I got a realy good deal on used H&Rs and Bilsteins. The Mach1 spring rate is about 600lb/in in the front, vs 450 stock.

[Gear Slammer]

I've had great experiences with Maximum's products. They are top of the line. I suggest the Tokico Illumina's since it sounds like you do a little of everything. I've got them and are easy to adjust from softer ride to all out CD's skipping at every expansion joint in the road. I've also got the Ford Racing 'C' rates and am happy with the ride for the dollar. Nose dive almost disappeared with the combo. I'd run CC plates so you can get the car aligned right. Tires cost more to replace, and handling suffers. I run .5 degree negative camber and 3.5 degree postive caster on the street, put on the 94-95 tierod end per Maximum's recommendation, no offset bushings, and the thing has abbsolutely no bump steer.

Just my 2 cents,
Luke

[muckstang]

I too wanted to lower my '95 mainly for looks without losing ride quality. I went with Eibach's Pro-Kit springs and Tokico HPs. They lowered the car 1.5 and it handles better without much if any ride comfort lost. As far as cc plates, I have heard that you may not need them, but I figured as long as I was replacing the other items, why not.