SICK Of The Monster-Truck Look... Lowering Springs For 265/285 Tires.

[5literPwr]

I am looking to drop the "monster-truck" look that Ford had designed from the factory on my 2003 Mustang GT.

My particular question involves finding the correct set/brand/type/etc of lowering springs that will give me a "sport-car" look, yet NOT rub against my 265 front tires, and 285 rear tires which I currently have on the car.

I am NOT looking for the super-low look at all. I am NOT into the ground-hugging look, BUT I do want my car to look sporty and not like a freaken monster truck.

Of all the different lowering springs out there, can anyone tell me if they happen to have any suggestions here based on my goals? They must not rub at all on my 265/285 tires, yet I want my car looking sporty but not too low. Anyone have any suggestions on this one? I have tried searching for these specific questions but have so far been unsuccessful.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Dark04GT]

For less of a drop and no wheel rub the Ford racing C springs sound perfect. ( Ford Racing Mustang C-Springs (79-04) at AmericanMuscle.com - Free Shipping! ) They tend to have a little less drop than the other springs on the market but place the wheel nice and in the center of the wheel well. (see my avatar) Usually people rub with the front wheels- I have 275 width tires all around with no rub from wheel lock to wheel lock on both sides.

After you install your springs it is mandatory that you get an alignment done. I would suggest getting either steeda or MM cc plates along with your springs so that it is not a PITA to get the wheels aligned. My springs were able to be aligned with the stock units but the tech said it was a pain. In the near future when I replace my shocks/struts I will fix that and put on some decent cc plates.

 

[Maxpowers]

For less of a drop and no wheel rub the Ford racing C springs sound perfect. ( Ford Racing Mustang C-Springs (79-04) at AmericanMuscle.com - Free Shipping! ) They tend to have a little less drop than the other springs on the market but place the wheel nice and in the center of the wheel well. (see my avatar) Usually people rub with the front wheels- I have 275 width tires all around with no rub from wheel lock to wheel lock on both sides.

I also have the C springs at 275 width all around. No issues here. I personally would never go lower where I live (Western PA). I've had my X pipe bottom out a few times.

 

[bullitt 736]

H&R Supersports with 295-35-18's and 275-35-18's. No rubbing here.

 

[Kolby]

Eibach Pros with 285/35R18 + 275/35R18 ... no rubbing. I don't think you're gonna get any rubbing with any popular aftermarket springs.

 

[5literPwr]

Thanks a lot everyone, all excellent input here!!

A quick look into those H&R Super Sport springs show that they seem to lower the car a bit more than the Ford lowering springs, and that amount of lowering does make the car look pretty darn nice from viewing customer photos on the AM site. But it would completely irritate me if decent sized potholes and speed-bumps would cause issues with that amount of drop.

Then there are the Eibachs that I will have to look into as well and see how they compare...

It looks like a have more options than I had thought.

Thanks again everyone!! Guess I have to look over all the available options now and determine the best one.

 

[5literPwr]

HUH?!! FRPP All OVER THE PLACE in ride height...

Upon looking at customer photos on the AM website, I just cannot help but notice that the customer pics show some very significant variances in ride heights on those running the FRPP C-Springs. They look like they are ALL OVER the place in ride height!!

Perhaps some cars have something going on with them or something, but I cannot help but notice that some cars look barely lowered, while some look WAY down near the ground!

I just cannot help but wonder why this is. Anyone have a clue why this is?

So far, the Eibach Pro-Kit is really striking my eye as the nicest looking ride heights judging from the customer photos...

 

[txredgt]

Upon looking at customer photos on the AM website, I just cannot help but notice that the customer pics show some very significant variances in ride heights on those running the FRPP C-Springs. They look like they are ALL OVER the place in ride height!!

Perhaps some cars have something going on with them or something, but I cannot help but notice that some cars look barely lowered, while some look WAY down near the ground!

I just cannot help but wonder why this is. Anyone have a clue why this is?

So far, the Eibach Pro-Kit is really striking my eye as the nicest looking ride heights judging from the customer photos...

As far as the C springs its possibly because of the isolators. I have no iso's on the front and I am thinking about bringing it back up with them since my new bumper is lower than stock. The rear however I would like to be lower to sit even, I'll always take the chance to whore my car up a lil bit

 

[N8Dogg98]

I've got the pro-kit and I'm quite happy with the ride quality and increase in handling. It's not quite as low as the H&R SS springs, but I don't ever scrape my exhaust either even over speed bumps

Here's a couple of pics. I don't have iso's in the front and still have them in the rear. Sometime soon I'm going to remove the rear iso's too though.

 

[007]

If I was doing it over I'd get Ford springs. I had the front utterly slammed with H&Rs. Now I have Roush front springs. Better, but still not enough clearance for the crappy roads up here. Adding some thicker front isolators next...

 

[5literPwr]

Thanks for the photos guys, beautiful cars indeed!!

Neither of you have any rubbing or issues with that amount of lowering? That level of lowering looks great, but I would have assumed going that far would cause issues.

Just wondering if 265/285 tires with that much lowering would cause me any problems.

 

[5literPwr]

Also, isnt the spring isolators a necessity to run with springs? Are isolators removed to lower a car even more, or are there other benefits to running without isolators?

I happen to know nothing at all about isolators, so I was just wondering why they would be removed. Thanks!!

 

[007]

I happen to know nothing at all about isolators, so I was just wondering why they would be removed. Thanks!!

They are just rubber bits on each end of the spring. Some people remove them to get an extra 1/2" drop. I
'm doing the opposite... Putting beefier urethane isolators on the front to gain a little height.

Just pick your springs and re-use the isolators.

 

[GDawg]

I had H&R SuperSports on my car. After installing a blower the front just got too low. So, I switched to Eibach Pro Kit and love them. The drop is nice but not too low.

+1 N8

 

[5literPwr]

They are just rubber bits on each end of the spring. Some people remove them to get an extra 1/2" drop. I
'm doing the opposite... Putting beefier urethane isolators on the front to gain a little height.

Just pick your springs and re-use the isolators.

About how much more height do the beefier urethane isolators add over the stock ones?

So far I think that I am going to go with the Eibach Pro Kit. It is very comforting to know that I can add height via beefier isolators in the event that I do experience any rubbing or scraping once the car is lowered.

Thanks!!!!

 

[N8Dogg98]

About how much more height do the beefier urethane isolators add over the stock ones?

So far I think that I am going to go with the Eibach Pro Kit. It is very comforting to know that I can add height via beefier isolators in the event that I do experience any rubbing or scraping once the car is lowered.

Thanks!!!!

If I were you I'd skip the poly iso's and run the springs with out them. I didn't experience any difference in ride quality or NVH when I removed my poly iso's and it dropped the car another 1/2-1"

I've also taken some nasty quick trips around some cloverleafs and have never rubbed a tire on the fender. Like I said earlier, I really like the balance between ride quality and handling capability the pro-kit has given me. Make sure you get yourself some new shocks/struts, too. I ended up getting a killer deal on the Tokiko HP (blues) about 4-5 years ago.... IIRC I got all 4 NIB for only $200 shipped.

 

[5literPwr]

If I were you I'd skip the poly iso's and run the springs with out them. I didn't experience any difference in ride quality or NVH when I removed my poly iso's and it dropped the car another 1/2-1"

I've also taken some nasty quick trips around some cloverleafs and have never rubbed a tire on the fender. Like I said earlier, I really like the balance between ride quality and handling capability the pro-kit has given me. Make sure you get yourself some new shocks/struts, too. I ended up getting a killer deal on the Tokiko HP (blues) about 4-5 years ago.... IIRC I got all 4 NIB for only $200 shipped.

Nah, I plan on keeping the stock isolators in place as I am not looking to go really low anyways. I am just trying to eliminate the 4x4 monster truck gap between the fender-wells and the tires. Plus I dont want to take chances of running without the isolators and having any noises resulting from not having them there.

Do you happen to have a rough idea of how much more additional height that the beefier aftermarket isolators offer over the stock isolators? Thanks.

 

[N8Dogg98]

Nah, I plan on keeping the stock isolators in place as I am not looking to go really low anyways. I am just trying to eliminate the 4x4 monster truck gap between the fender-wells and the tires. Plus I dont want to take chances of running without the isolators and having any noises resulting from not having them there.

Do you happen to have a rough idea of how much more additional height that the beefier aftermarket isolators offer over the stock isolators? Thanks.

At least 1/4 inch. Don't spend the money on the poly iso's... definitely aren't worth it. If you're set on installing iso's just reuse your stock rubber ones.

 

[puma1552]

God, your car is awesome N8Dogg...btw I thought I remembered you saying somewhere that when you had the stock rims and the car lowered, you ran 1.5" spacers on the rears since they sit so far inward from the quarters...just curious, when you were running those, did the stock 245 tires ever risk rubbing the lip of the quarter panel, or were they still inward enough that that wasn't a problem even if you hit a nasty pothole?

 

[5literPwr]

At least 1/4 inch. Don't spend the money on the poly iso's... definitely aren't worth it. If you're set on installing iso's just reuse your stock rubber ones.

Thanks N8Dogg98. I was only curious about the height of the aftermarket isolators just in case I got lowering springs installed and then realized that they were too low for me because of rubbing or scraping issues.

In the event that the springs made it too low for my liking, then my plan would be to utilize the aftermarket beefier isolators to get a bit of a lift on the springs. But it looks like nobody is having any problems with lowering their cars with the Eibach Pro-Kit which is what I am thinking that I may go with.

Thanks!