Eibach Springs/Bilstein Shocks Installation

[SeanMatteson]

Well, this evening Jason Wild and Bill McNeil joined me in pulling apart the suspension on my SC. We managed to get the front changed, and I'll hopefully get the rears done by tomorrow afternoon.

Here's a pic of my crew mates for this little adventure...

[SeanMatteson]

Here's a shot from fairly early in the night, when we had the stock shock and spring assembly loose, but just couldn't seem to get the clearance to pull it from beneath the car.

We chatted with Dave Dalke (XR7 Dave) via MSN Messenger, and later with Andrew Vengust on the phone before we found out that we needed to unbolt the sway bar end links in order to be able to drop the lower control arm and spindle assy enough to get the parts outta there.

[SeanMatteson]

Here's a pic of the driver's side all back together with the brand new Eibach 1.5" lowering springs, and the almost new Bilstein shocks. You may also notice the brand new upper mount. I was able to obtain a pair of these from PartSource for $43.00 each, and they came with new lock nuts.

[SeanMatteson]

It was almost funny how fast the passenger's side came apart since we had learned quite a bit from doing the driver's side. Here's a shot of a pretty desolate fenderwell after disassembly was complete.

[SeanMatteson]

And here's one last shot, showing the passenger's side after reassembly.

I should point out that we were able to employ Dave Dalke's advice for a method of installing these springs without requiring the use of a spring compressor. We did need a spring compressor, and we used Jason Wild's, but only for disassembling the stock spring/shock combo for harvesting some hardware that we needed, like the dust shield and the rubber spring seat/insulator.

[Jason Wild]

vary SEXY:p

[T1Bird]

Sean! you got such a nice clean engine bay, exterior and interior it makes me jealous, but your wheel wells~! it looks like you been going 4x4ing.. clean those suckers up... ive found out that tire cleaner on that black fender cover works best..

looking good, love the eibachs, makes the car look 100% better, and taking on ramps and off ramps at 90 is always fun too

[SeanMatteson]

Yeah, Bruce, I know. It's one of those things where there are so many other things that are visible all the time that I want to get done first, that the fenderwells don't get much attention. It's not the kind of car that you enter in a show with mirrors laying on the ground so that people can see underneath it, and I doubt it will ever be that way.

...I can't wait to go carve some twisties with the new suspension, once I've got the alignment done! :)

Cheers,

Sean

[T1Bird]

get your alignment done, then drive the car.. like you stole it, dont baby it just becaues of the new suspension.. after about a month or 2 of driving it.. take it back for another alignment as the components will have settled by then and found thier "groove" so to speak.. just to insure proper wear on your tires and perfect handeling

[SeanMatteson]

Here's a pic of where we left off last night.

[SeanMatteson]

I didn't get a heck of a lot done today. I couldn't get to sleep last night, and was awake until around 4:00 AM, so I slept in till about 10:00 AM, and didn't even go out to the garage until around 12:30 PM. Once I got moving, I was making pretty good progress. I met with a snag at about 1:30 PM, when I found that my large three-jaw puller was busted (apparently from removing supercharger pulleys!!!), so I couldn't press the half-shaft out of the hub. That warranted a trip down to Princess Auto for a replacement. By the time I got back, it was too damned hot outside to work in the garage (What happened to the rain that was in the forecast?!), so I accompanied Alecia and the kids over to my sister-in-law's place for a swim. We came home around dinner time. It was around 8:00 PM when I went back out to the garage, and this wasn't so bad because at least it was cool enough that I could work with the garage doors closed, so I didn't get eaten alive by the bugs like Bill, Jason and I did last night.

Anyway, to make a long story even longer, here's a pic of where I left off. You'll notice the stock spring is out of the way. I've removed the knuckle and the upper control arm. The stock shock is already disconnected from the lower control arm, but I've still got to unbolt it from inside the trunk to drop it out of the car. I think I underestimated how long this project was going to take, as I've still got a lot of work to do just to replace the knuckle bushings and stuff.

[SeanMatteson]

Have any of you had experience with putting air bags in an '89 to '91 SC? I've got what is supposed to be the right kit for the job (from Air Lift Co.), but what's different about these early cars is the stupid little rubber bumpstop affixed to the underside of the top spring perch. This requires a shorter bag than the '92+ cars. The instructions from the bags (yeah, I know, laugh all you want but sometimes I do read instructions) call for trimming the bottom of the bumpstop such that only about 1/2" is left. I'm wondering if it's possible just to remove the whole bumpstop, including the metal part that somehow connects to the bottom of the spring perch. Anyone know if or how this can be done?

Here's a pic of what I'm talking about.

[lazybird4pt6]

Sean, the 403 is a breeze with the combo you're installing. You NEED sway-bars! And tires. Okay, screw the bars, just get some rubber, man! Wait a week before you get the first alignment, trust me. Then go back after about a month. If your only driving the SC a few times a week then double those numbers. I'm sure you'll hear different opinions about this. The important thing to remember is that this break-in should really be viewed from a driven-distance stand-point, NOT a time stand-point. Lower, drive 500k, then align, then give it about another 1500 - 2000 km and do another alignment. It's kinda like breaking-in a new motor. Know what I mean?!

Also, with regards to our phone conversation...check your EMAIL. I can take care of it for you.

[lazybird4pt6]

Okay, timing issues, you posted that last pic right before I did.

I'm not sure about the earlier cars, but I think you should just be able to saw through the rubber, yes/no?? Does the bump-stop screw in or is it one that is pushed in using a flare in the rubber? Sorry, just taking wild guesses. Realistically, if you have an air-bag in there I wouldn't keep the bump-stop.

[Jason Wild]

Sean,
I think the rubber pices in the end of the bump stop will just turn out in some way at least I did have one out from the parts car.
hope that helps.

[Jason Wild]

I'm glad you had no bugs tonight sean my legs are all coverd in bits from them:(

[SeanMatteson]

...I'm still at it. I broke one of the rear upper control arm bolts, at the eccentric bushing. Guess what?! Ford has discontinued those special bolts! :mad:

Getting closer...

Cheers,

Sean

[Bill McNeil]

Sean,

I'm sorry to hear of all the trouble you've run into as of late. I know this must be frustrating. Gotta love Ford discontinuing chit that we really need. Don't you wish we knew someone that worked for Ford? ;)

Anyway, I can come out on Wednesday if you still need help. Let me know ASAP so I can make concrete plans. You've made me dread doing my knuckle bushings, but hopefully it will be easier on a 1993 car full of undercoating. Who knows.

As for your pictures, all I can see is your exhaust...personally! :p

[Jason Wild]

Sean,
It's on the way you will see it some time tomorrow will see it by 4pm. buddy

[SeanMatteson]

I called around this evening, and CTC wanted a couple hundred bucks to 'hammer' my bushings into place. Eastgate Ford said they'd need anywhere from one to two hours labour (approx. $130).

...That just convinced me to try again to remove all of the old bushings, and find a way to press in the new stuff.

Here's the results:

1. Upper control arm with new eccentric bushing

[SeanMatteson]

2. New poly bushings in the knuckle.

[SeanMatteson]

...And so here is a shot of the driver's side all back together. Hopefully, once I receive a replacement bolt for the upper control arm on the passenger's side, I'll get the rest of the job done, and take the car out for a test drive.

Cheers,

Sean

[Bill McNeil]

Sean,

That looks great!!! I'm so glad you were able to make progress last night. Does the poly kit come with that inner bushing for the upper control arm also? I haven't checked mine, but I assume it does.

Jason and are going to tackle the rear ebrake cables tonight, and then I'll be in business to start with the Bilsteins and poly knuckle stuff sometime next week.

Talk to you soon....and good luck with the rest of it!

[SeanMatteson]

Bill,

The poly knuckle bushing kit does not include the inner bushing for the upper control arms. I had to buy those separately from Ford through Ed. I think they were about $90 for the pair.

If you're just replacing the knuckle bushings, then you shouldn't have much trouble. The knuckle is fairly easy to remove without having to deal with the spring, shock, or upper control arm.

Hopefully, the car will be done tonight. I'll keep you guys posted.

Cheers,

Sean

[RedFox]

Any pics of the finished car and how it sits?

[SeanMatteson]

Well, unfortunately, I just got in. I was finishing off the air lines for the bags and only wrapped up at about 10:20 PM tonight. Then I took the car for a test drive to make sure everything was OK. The only shot I've got so far is this one, and you can't really see much, especially of the rear tire to quarter-panel clearance...

[SeanMatteson]

The car still needs an alignment, but generally it's riding fine now. It doesn't pull, or shimmy at all. It seems like the rear tires are out the worst, but I guess I'd expect that since all the bushings were replaced, including the upper control arm inner eccentric bushings.

Anyway, so far it's unbelievable how nice the car is riding!!! I'm really looking forward to doing a little driving with it again.

Thanks again to everyone who helped out with this swap, both in lending a hand and in sharing experiences and advice, including Dave Dalke, Andrew Vengust, Bill McNeil and Jason Wild. A special thanks to Jason who came through for me when I needed a particular piece of hardware that like so many other pieces has been discontinued by Ford. Also, thanks to Ed who set up the group purchase on the polyurethane knuckle bushing set, and supplied me with the inner control arm bushings. In fact, I think it was Ed who originally posted about the big sale at Performance Improvements on Eibach springs, which is when I got mine. Ed's always been a great help in so far as looking up part information, and seeing that we get a good deal on Ford replacement parts. Again, thank-you, Ed.

Best regards,

Sean

[RedFox]

Sean,
When you get more driving time, let's hear some comments on the ride.

Red

[SeanMatteson]

You can count on it! :D

[SeanMatteson]

I brought the car to work today in an effort to log some km's on it to settle in the suspension.

...Man, I'm falling in love with it all over again! :p

It's riding like what I imagine the car did when new. For all I know, it may be better than new with the Bilstein shocks in there. I always drove around on FIRM, so I really like the road feel I'm getting now.

...I'll update you as I get more driving done. :D

Cheers,

Sean

[tbirdsc357]

Good to hear that it all went well and that you are happy with the results. Remember .....the car will also settle more in a few months and look even lower. Makes for a better look. :)

[Jason Wild]

Sean I'm glad you got it all done and are loving it.