modified struts & suspension

I removed the pictures from last night & got these to show the stance as-is... I think
I really like the rake, it looked more wimpy & wagonish before the rake, were talking
maybe 1/4"-3/8" difference only, but it makes a difference visually I think...


now it's really pretty damn good & can stay like this for a while really. I think one
thing that I might do later is to try & swap out the front stut cartridge to a bilstien or
koni fully adjustable insert in the front & add a heavier sway bar in the front now too.
these 2 things may balance it better than if I just tried to raise the front springrate
now, but its pretty sweet as-is


I really wanna resist the urge to go lower than this, don't want to be like an anorexic
chick that always thinks she's too fat no matter how skinny she is, but I still kinda
don't think it looks too low yet either, almolst can take another 1/2" really all around,
maintain same rake & stance though


127324a70e5a78993a.jpg




127324a70e5a746f10.jpg





127324a70e5a5a40c8.jpg
 
looking good (low).

I bet when parked next to another FX, be it a stock or lowered one, you will definitely see a huge difference.

I was thinking of swapping the stock front sway bar bushing to a Energy Suspension one (I think the clamp will need to be changed also). it would definitely be stiffer.

---------- Post added at 06:58 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:56 PM ----------

do you know if the AWD swaybar is the same as the RWD? looks like from infinitiparts, they have two kinds. I know it wont make a difference for you but for RWD ... maybe

---------- Post added at 07:19 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:58 PM ----------

I remeasured using the posted method ...

since I have AXIS wheels, I kinda centered it on the "X and I", also measure the wheel cap (7 inches) and divided by 2.... both measurements outputted 16 1/4.


So thats where I am with the fronts. hopefully doing the rear mount will bring the rear closer to the front. I will order some rear lower mounts (they are actually cheaper than the upper mount!)
 
I'm getting used to the height of my fx, when I was at the meet standing next to some of the stockers I felt like i was standing next to a horse or something... it's noticably lower than even the dropped ones though for sure


yes the lower mounts are cheaper & much easier to just pop in, & will provide a bit more drop than the cut too...donno exactly but maybe 3/4" or so? havent done a back to back for any measurements so you'll be able to tell us better.


so, are you happy with the total drop in the front? is it low enough for you? told you it was ~16 1/4" :wink::rofl:


now pelon, what spring are you running in the front? is it cut?
 
Last edited:
the front is going to be as low as its going to be with uncut H&Rs .... so ya Im happy with it. the rears will come in soon... (just worried about the shock bottoming out, even with the shock mod)

I especially enjoy have the front and rear springs having the "engineered" spring rate.

I am totally open once (and if) Intrax releases there FX springs.
 
I wouldn't use the stock shocks at all if I was you... I have a few other choices that are a little shorter & better suited to this lowered height & better shocks too...
 
that's the temptation of eibachs, little over 1/4" lower than h&r on average in the drop. :tongue:


now another question, the rear is 16 1/4" , is the upper mount & everything back there stock?
 
I think you should engineer some sort of thing in the wheel well so you can slam it all the way down, and the tires can rub on the well, but it doesn't cause any issues. Like some sort of lubrication system, but then have scrubbers that clean the tire before it contacts the pavement again. I'd like to see that, haha.
 
turbocad6 said:
I wouldn't use the stock shocks at all if I was you... I have a few other choices that are a little shorter & better suited to this lowered height & better shocks too...
Click to expand...

ok cool, guess I will have some new rear KYBs for sale soon.

---------- Post added at 11:40 AM ---------- Previous post was Yesterday at 11:56 PM ----------


quote=turbocad6: I wanted to try a more heavy duty shock more suited to the weight of the fx so I tried a gas magnum for a ford pickup truck, much much better shock for the job
Click to expand...

what year and model Ford Pickup, and part number for the Monroe Gas magnums . thanks

let me know what rear shocks you would recommend. I want to get the rears done
 
Last edited:
Okay guys, I've read the entire thread. Props to you all who went ahead and did this. My question now is, I am interested in doing this mod. I have Eibach springs, and want to know if I can move the front brackets more than 3/4" for a lower drop? I am AWD. For the rears, I'm thinking about either shaving the rear upper mounts a 1/2" or do what Turbo did and use the lower mounts in place of the uppers. Eibachs sit a little lower in the back. I want my end result to have a raked stands with fronts lower. Thanks!
 
front 3/4" is the most you can go with stock diameter tire, I was able to go an extra 1/2" cause my tires are 1" less overall diameter... for maximum drop you'd have to use a shorter tire... if your willing to use a 29.5" tire then you can do my setup & do 1 1/4" front strut mod. variying diameters you can add or subtract from the 3/4" baseline at the ~30.5" stock diameter. what size tires are you running?

check pelons results, from what I see the eibachs are low enough in the rear that you can just drop the front with the modded struts & that's it, judging by pelons measurements he looks like he's got nice rake as-is... maybe it could use to come down though very slightly too, we really need a good shot of pelons stance as a reference here, if you get a chance pelon a few 3/4 shots & a side view would be helpful :smile:

if you do the lower seat as upper then it will probably go back to having a low ass & sit at the same angle it does now & not have a rake. might be a case where a slight spring seat adjustment would be better. basically what were doing is adjusting the stance just like a set of coilovers would allow, but without the convienience of having the adjustments... I'd do the front then look at & measure the rear to see the stance...

wanna try something experimental that I think should work really well & make the handling & ride really great? use a rear h&r spring instead of the eibach rear, with the upper seat replaced with a lower , then the same coilover I have now in the rear as the shock. I think that combo would be perfect with a stock eibach spring in the front & a 3/4" strut mod to a new kyb strut.

should ride like my fx does now but just not as low by about ~1.2" total. handling is way improved since I did the rear coilovers, the rear feels dead solid but comfortable, should be a pefect match to the front eibach. if you tried this with the rear eibach though I think it might wind up a bit too stiff in the rear.

I think that combo should wind up around the perfect height, but since this is not 100% confirmed keep in mind that after this setup you may need to make a minor height adjustment in the rear too to get a perfect stance, which would probably be best done by then modding the rear lower spring bucket at that point. were talking tailor made suspension here though :tongue: I wish you could feel my fx now, before if I traveled at 40mph in a straight line & then cut the wheel quickly left & right, the whole body would kinda sway slightly right then left & return. now, if I do the same, it's wild how it just feels like the front just goes left or right without affecting the body much at all, it just turns left & right with no roll. the steering feels much more precise, the whole thing feels more stable....
 
I'm running 285/35/22 on the tires. Does that translate into 29.5"? Turbo, that sounds a like more work than what I'm willing to go thru. Plus, not having you on the westcoast to help out I don't know if shops here will do a good job. If I can do the 1 1/4" mod like you, then I think I can shave 1/2" from the rear upper mounts and have either a leveled or raked stands. I really don't think the rear is 1 1/4" lower.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top