springs?

[SCroots]

Hey, I was looking at the members cars, and they all look lower than mine. even the ones with stock springs and rims/tires. I have 235/45-17s on the front, so it should actually be (less then an inch) lower than stock SCs.

Did the SCs have different springs than other birds that made them lower?

DO I HAVE THE WRONG SPRINGS?

[analog_fog]

SC's had heavy duty progressive rate springs. I am unaware if these are similar to the springs on regular Thunderbirds. Perhaps your shocks are not stock?

[SCroots]

to my knowledge, everything is stock. but ill look into it. thanks

[fast Ed]

SC springs are different than other Birds, but the ride heights specs are the same or slightly higher for some reason. And shocks don't hold the car up, just the springs. The only exceptions to that of course are air shocks, coil-over "helper" style shocks, and in some cases high-pressure gas shocks like KYB units will sometimes give a car a 1/4 or 1/2" lift.

Have you parked your car beside another SC, or are just judging from photos of other cars ? Often a car with smaller than stock diameter tires will appear higher, an optical illusion because of the increase in the gap between the tire and fender opening. Your 235-45-17 would be about 1-1/4" shorter than stock, which would lower the car about 5/8" (they're smaller on the top and the bottom, not just the bottom), but the Birds have BIG wheel openings, so a shorter than stock tire with factory springs ends up looking very small in the wheelwell. That's one reason why I have 255-45-18 tires on my car, about 1/3" taller than stock, the fender gap is perfect all around with 1-1/2" drop Eibachs (and the price was fantastic on them).

cheers
Ed Nicholson
SCCoO

[Tazer999]

I dunno, but want to see somethin spooky? Here is someones car that has stock sized tires and stock springs on it. Looks pretty damn low eh? Its lower then most sc's that have aftermarket springs and low profile tires on em..

http://members.tccoa.com/tazer999/july_20/Dsc00032.jpg

Here is a comparison to a nicely lowered car.

http://members.tccoa.com/tazer999/july_20/Dsc00059.jpg

[fast Ed]

Must be the weight of all that shiny stuff on Miles' car that is pulling it down to the ground !! :D


cheers
Ed N.

[Tazer999]

Haha. Seriously though. When I first met Miles and stayed at his house I parked in the driveway with him and was amazed. He didn't have any mods on it then and he was still a good 2" or so lower then my car.

Makes me depressed, :( I need some eibachs with a couple coils cut off of em, :D

[Deep6]

PUt lowering springs on the car? Or maybe his spring isolators are pretty shot?

Just some ideas? Also parking an SC on the grass makes the car's look lower to the ground than they really are.

I thought cutting springs was bad, especially progressive springs?

[Tazer999]

Nah, he was original owner, and I don't think his isolators would have failed within 40,000 kilometers of the cars life.

Cutting springs is bad yes, but many have done it with the aftermarket springs and have reported no ill effects (or at least the ones with ill effects never posted, :D)

[SCroots]

I realize that the gap from the tires to the fender was going to increase with the tires i chose. when i bought the car it had 245 50 16s on it, and it still had a huge gap.

and yes, i am just judging by pics, cause there are no other SCs in my area that i know. I met a guy at my gym with a 91 (i think), but i havent seem him since.

last night i parked mine next to my friends 94 lx, and it seemed only that 5/8 lower. then i had my other friend get his moms 96, and mine was ALOT lower.

basically, i think all this is in my head, cause my last two cars have been alot lower than the SC. I just need to get some eibachs. have anybody had a problem with coil clash on the eibachs? i had that prob on my Stealth TT, and it was SOOOO annoying.