99-04 springs / isolators opinions needed

**Troll** · 02-27-2008, 12:32 PM

I know I've harassed a few of you via PM, but I'd just like to get everyone's opinion on this. I don't want to do it two more times and I'd like to get it lined up ASAP.

TO THE POINT:
I have Ford C-springs already installed on the car. I installed them and left ALL the isolators in. Well, it's not low enough for me. I've researched this on other stang forums and I've seen 20 different opinions. Some peeps say take all the isolators out. Some say just take the top ones out. front, back, top, bottom etc. so forth and so on.

If I tear it apart again, I'm about 90% convinced that I'm going to take ALL of them out. But, being from the Pittsburgh area (crappy roads and weird parking lot and driveway angles) and having the longtubes installed now, I'm a little bit scared of scraping.

What do y'all think?

Thanks.

**scott5** · 02-27-2008, 12:35 PM

i haven't seen your car in a while, dunno if it settled down any since i last saw it but i say take them all out.

**PunisherStang** · 02-27-2008, 12:39 PM

i have eibach sportlines and i have hooker longtubes, i was real afraid of it being low an scraping but to tell you the truth i dont scrap unless its a crazy speed bump or hill but i try to avoid those. i dunno about taking isos out never heard too much about it

**Troll** · 02-27-2008, 12:41 PM

On the rear: from the floor to edge of fenderwell is 27 3/4"
from the top edge of tire to edge of fenderwell is 4" (there is a slight angle here because the tire sits inward somewhat so maybe 3 1/2" is more realistic)

On the front: from the floor to edge of fenderwell is 27 1/4"
from the top edge of tire to edge of fenderwell is 3"

I like the rake so I'm not going to cut any dead coils.

I'll post a pic when I get home. (as long as Viper Ed promises not to photochop "buy a Cobra" onto the side of it) :p

**venom** · 02-27-2008, 01:11 PM

i tried the bottom isolator removal on my 03 GT when i put my sportlines on. my only complaint is when im going slow and pulling in my driveway i can hear the spring shifting around in the a-arm. not a big deal, but it does sound bad at times. ill try to get measurements and post them up.

i think im going with H & R race springs soon w/o isolators. that setup seems to slam the car.

**Troll** · 02-27-2008, 01:15 PM

this might sound totally stupid, but what if I put a bead of Permatex on the spring between the body/a-arm. would it actually form a thin cushion or would it scrape off in 3 miles?

**zxtuner98** · 02-27-2008, 01:46 PM

Originally Posted by Troll

this might sound totally stupid, but what if I put a bead of Permatex on the spring between the body/a-arm. would it actually form a thin cushion or would it scrape off in 3 miles?

It would wear off.

**J-rod** · 02-27-2008, 03:44 PM

remove them all. 3 of my 4 stangs i removed them all. to help with squeek i actually used black electrical tape ( its not redneck....it was reccomended by some people on corral)

forgot the LT's.....how much clearance do you have now with the LT's and ground?

either way id still remove them all...C's are not a huge drop anyways

**mineralrob** · 02-27-2008, 03:52 PM

i think u will be happy once u take them out .its not going to make a dramatic diffrence but it will make enough of a diffrence when u take take them out.i say take them out.

**yellowstang03** · 02-27-2008, 04:06 PM

i got h and r's and no isolators

but i have not been able to drive it yet due to the weather.

**Troll** · 02-27-2008, 05:51 PM

Originally Posted by mineralrob

i think u will be happy once u take them out .its not going to make a dramatic diffrence but it will make enough of a diffrence when u take them out.i say take them out.

So, Rob... you really think I should take them out?

from the floor to the bottom front edge of the header is 4 1/2"

**Troll** · 02-27-2008, 06:08 PM

in the first pic, the driveway kinda slopes away from the passenger rear so the gap's not that big in the rear. The other side is about 1/2 that space when it's parked in that spot.

**J-rod** · 02-27-2008, 06:13 PM

Remove Them!!!

**mineralrob** · 02-29-2008, 07:08 AM

Originally Posted by Jared

Remove Them!!!

:D I agree.

**mineralrob** · 02-29-2008, 07:09 AM

Originally Posted by Troll

So, Rob... you really think I should take them out?

from the floor to the bottom front edge of the header is 4 1/2"

Also i like the sig lol

**da9k1ne** · 03-05-2008, 11:38 PM

i have steeda sport springs with all the front isos out. with the isos in, i think its a little lower or a drop than you have. so with all mine out its probably a good bit lower than yours now. you should be fine. i know my driveway is crazy and i have to go in at an angle but i dont scrape. and thats the closest i've ever come to scraping was my driveway.

**Rodeheaver's** · 03-06-2008, 11:03 PM

yah, those isos suck, i never use em unless some winey customer really wants em in..

**Troll** · 03-08-2008, 05:59 PM

wish I could put some hard miles on it and settle them down some more.

new measurements:

On the rear: from the floor to edge of fenderwell is 27 1/2"
from the top edge of tire to edge of fenderwell is 3 3/4" (there is a slight angle here because the tire sits inward somewhat so maybe 3 1/4" is more realistic)

On the front: from the floor to edge of fenderwell is 27"
from the top edge of tire to edge of fenderwell is 2 3/4"

So, overall it's only 1/4" lower all the way around, but it's only been on the ground for 10 minutes, so we'll see what happens.

This is the end of adjustment for these C-springs, so I guess I'll live with it.

**J-rod** · 03-08-2008, 07:07 PM

good deal!

thats how i ran all my C springs

**Troll** · 03-08-2008, 07:15 PM

In the mustang world directions, it doesn't mention anything about tightening the rear suspension with the weight of the car on it. I didn't do that before... I just cranked everything down with the jack stands on the subframes.

Today, after I just snugged the strut/shock, I put the jack under the rear-end and put the jack stands under the axle tubes, then I let the car down to put some weight on the suspension then I torqued the quads and struts down.

Does this actually make any difference at all ?