98 mustang springs/shocks

[Xycose]

I have a 1998 Mustang v6 3.8l.

I bought the car with Eibach sportlines on it that lowers the car 2".

When I bought the car, It also had 18" rims on it with 225/40 tires.

Not sure on the shocks/struts. Look kinda OEM, but the car has 135K on it, so I would hope not. They seem to pass the bounce test just fine and I don't see any oil leaking, but during hard breaking the car does nose dive a bit.

The ride in my mustang is very uncomfortable =(

1) I'm thinking I want to replace my sportlines with other springs that will only drop the car between .75-1.25" instead of 2". Do you guys have any recommendations? Although I love good handling, I'm going to have to lean my preference to springs that will be more comfortable over good handling.

2) I want to replace the shocks/struts also. I was thinking Topico blues, but do you guys have any better recommendation for something more comfortable or cheaper?

3) Do you think spings/shocks are my biggest issue, or do you think that most of the crappy ride quality is from the 225/40/18 tires?
I'm thinking about trading my chrome rims for some 16" rims.

Thanks for the help, guys.

 

[ChingonStang]

uncomfortable ride as in how?

I would change out the struts and shocks first before anything. You will need to adjust what size because of the drop of course.

 

[Xycose]

I wanted to do the springs too because i end up slamming my car half the time on any big speed bumps, which my school happens to be filled with.

Uncomfortable as in every small dip and rock in the road feels like your driving off a curb.(okay, maybe a little bit of exaggeration...but you get the point.)

How do I know what shocks/struts to get for different drops? :o

thanks for the help =)

 

[ChingonStang]

Not sure but I would check with a shop that works on modified Mustangs. A long while back I acquired a mini truck that had been lowered and they never changed the shocks. So every big bump my shocks would bottom out which felt like I was hitting the ground. I took it to a shop that works does modifications and customizes trucks and I believe they measured the drop and springs and recommended a shock for it. It really helped the ride.

 

[Skymarshal]

Your springs are the problem. The Eibach Sportline springs are not progressive rate, which means that the entire spring has the same rate ("springiness") and thus gives a much stiffer ride. They are primarily intended for track use, where consistent and predictable suspension behavior is preferable to a comfy ride.

Several companies make progressive rate springs, where a portion of the spring has a softer rate for ordinary driving, and the rest of the spring is stiffer for more aggressive driving. I have the BBK progs on mine, and I'm very pleased with the ride. The car rides as well as stock, and the mild drop got rid of the 4x4 look. I think the BBK kit advertises a 1" drop, which is about the most you should go. Dropping the car 2" runs the risk of tire clearance issues, alignment problems if you don't have caster/camber plates, and as you already found out- dragging the car's undercarriage on just about everything!

Keep in mind also that a car with low-profile tires will always have a stiffer ride than one with more conventional tires, as the tires' sidewalls provide the first stage of the car's suspension.

 

[doc4444]

Just get FRPP "C" Spring and some Bilsteins and be done with it. Around 1" drop and quite driveable. The Bilsteins are worth the high price, believe me.

 

[jrod2423]

on the same guide lines, i've changed my struts and now im starting on my springs but i want springs that don't drop the car at all because of the terrain and messed up roads i drive. and every time i look for a set of springs i can only find lowering springs. so what would i type into search boxes when i look for some springs for my car that don't lower the car?