How to drop front, or raise back to level ride height?

[Kevin]

Bruce made an observation about how my car sits last weekend at Sparta, the front either should be dropped a bit, or the back should be lifted up a bit.

The car has Eibachs, but still has a 'nose-up' stance, would like to get rid of that.

What do you guys advise?

[SkunkWorks]

last resort.. cut half a coil or a whole coil maybe...

maybe jack the car up and put some of the little thick rubber spring spacer things you get from Canadian tire in-between a could or 2 in the rear maybe..?

[tbirdsc357]

Stance looked fine to me :confused:

[fast Ed]

Kevin, the air bags sold by www.airliftcompany.com are used by many MN-12 owners. They are great for holding up the back of the car, especially if you have it loaded up with stuff. Also useful for reducing wheelhop at the dragstrip. A slighty saggy rear seems to be fairly common with the Eibachs installed in the MN-12 cars.

cheers,
Ed N.

[Kevin]

Do you know of MN12'ers that use these Ed? They look promising, and I don't think they'd cost too much. Also installation would be alot easier than removing the front to chop a portion of the spring off.

Steve, it doesn't look obvious, but it's definately there. It's what bugs me about the Tbird/Cougar, the nose-up stance most seem to have, regardless of model or spring choice. Maybe I need a bigger/heavier motor ;).

Cam, your idea with the rubber (or poly) inserts got me thinking too, a thicker spring perch might work, there are poly ones available from somebody in the MN12 community. But I like Ed's idea better :D.

Thanks guys, am going to look into the bags.

[fast Ed]

Kevin, I've been using them myself for around 4 years with no problems. I can load my SC up with 4 wheels & tires, floor jack, tool box, spare parts, and two days worth of stuff for me, and still keep the car level with the air bags. Without stuff in the car, 5 - 10 psi in the bags keeps my car from being a droopy butt.

Try a search for more opinions in the main forums too, lots of SCCoA guys are running them. Quite a few over on TCCoA as well. Selling price on them up here is in the $120 range for the kit with a pair of bags, and the fill lines.

cheers,
Ed N.

[Kevin]

Ed, I'm definately going to go that route then, stuff in my trunk varies from one trip to the next, some times it's heavy - other times light. Even when light it still sags a bit in the back.

$120 is a good fix, and hopefully it'll help to quell the wheel hop issue at the track.

Thanks for the advice!

[lazybird4pt6]

Kevin, you might want to take a look at one little thing first - what is the SOURCE of the problem? Was the observation made when you had 200 pounds of "junk in the trunk", or empty? Also, things like the condition of your suspension (bushings, arms etc.), whether or not you alignment is good (can make a difference of up to 1"!!!) and other obvious things like missing/broken spring insulators should be observed.

Not trying to say don't buy the bags, but find out WHY it's like this first. Wouldn't it suck when you've spent $120 on bags only to find, when installing them, that you had a broken bushing or two ..... which would need to be replaced anyways????

Check out my website for installation stuff on these bags. Look at "Jim G's shock and spring install". It's a snap. ;)

[Ira R.]

Kevin, you might want to take a look at one little thing first - what is the SOURCE of the problem? Was the observation made when you had 200 pounds of "junk in the trunk", or empty? Also, things like the condition of your suspension (bushings, arms etc.), whether or not you alignment is good (can make a difference of up to 1"!!!) and other obvious things like missing/broken spring insulators should be observed.

Not trying to say don't buy the bags, but find out WHY it's like this first. Wouldn't it suck when you've spent $120 on bags only to find, when installing them, that you had a broken bushing or two ..... which would need to be replaced anyways????

Check out my website for installation stuff on these bags. Look at "Jim G's shock and spring install". It's a snap. ;)

Interesting. I can see how that would work. Installation looks doable as well. Question though; when I went to the airlift web site I was unable to identify the parts in question.

Which airbags, or airbag kit I guess, were they exactly??

Ira R..

[lazybird4pt6]

Ira - well, the way it works is that the same kit used for the Birds also works on some Chrysler (and GM?) applications. I can't say for sure which specific vehicles share the kit#, but that's not the important part. For the important part you'll need to ask "Jim Gravelle" or "Fast Ed N". They'll have the kit# "handy".

For anyone interested in doing this, please note - when you install these things be SURE you have the bags hooked up independantly of each other. You have the option to either have the hose run to both bags together, or seperately. Hook them up seperately - it'll work better with your suspension..... and properly during high speed turns. ;)

[lazybird4pt6]

Okay, I spent a minute and checked myself - it's there. I'm not gonna give you the link, Ira. You're gonna have to work for it.

Go to the Airlift site.
Select Airlift Traditional Products
Select Passenger Cars
Select Products for Passenger Vehicles
Select Airlift 1000
Select Product for Specific Vehicle
Select YOUR vehicle's specifics (year, make, model etc)
Voila!

All the Birds and Cougars (regardless of engine) should have the same kit# (I think).


























Okay, I lied - it's Airlift 1000 kit #60776. :D Order it from Ed Nicholson @ Fines Ford or Canadian Tire. Can't say an exact price, but it'll be around $120-$140.

[SeanMatteson]

...All the Birds and Cougars (regardless of engine) should have the same kit# (I think).

...Not true. There are two different kits for the MN12's 'Birds. I think it has something to do with the fact that some cars have different rear LCA's than others, or some cars have bumpstops and some don't. I think the bags were of different length.

Unfortunately, I can't be more helpful than that here. I can't recall exactly which kit I used on my car, but I specifically recall that there were two possibilities, and I had to be careful to get the correct one.

Wait... I remember that Bill McNeil has some info. on his website for this. He lists the 60776 kit as for all '92-'95 T-Bird SC's. I had to use the other kit on my car.

Good luck!

Cheers,

Sean

[Kevin]

So will the above kit # be the right one for a 92 XR7?

[SeanMatteson]

So will the above kit # be the right one for a 92 XR7?

I think so, Kevin. However, when I bought mine, I did so through C.T.C. because the kit was carried in the Keystone catalog. They were able to confirm for me which kit was listed as correct for my car. I would suggest you might want to give them a call to see what they list, and perhaps get a price from them too.

Good luck!

Sean

{EDIT} I just looked on the AirLift Company website, and the kit they list for my car is numbered "60789". It shows the other kit (that Andrew mentioned previously) as the correct kit for all '92 T-Bird and Cougars, regardless of model designation. {/EDIT}

[Kevin]

OK, thanks Sean.

Andrew, there could possibly be broken/worn suspension components in the rear suspension, but this car has always had the nose-up stance - even when it was alot younger.

Typical MN12 though, look closely and you'll notice that too.

[lazybird4pt6]

Not really (typical). I've seen a LOT of LX's that have a level stance. I've also seen a lot of SC's that are level, too. Actually, my car has a bit of a "rake" to it (tow-truck rake as some call it). Regardless, when you put the air bags in i'm sure you'll have a closer look for any other bits and pieces that may require attention. It's all good.