Coilover H A L P

[SHOwishuwood]

Howdy y'all, fellow SHOwner here renovating "Larry" into what I hope to eventually become a "Kanjo"-style racer when all is said and done.

I've been searching high and low for some help with Coilover installation and have found bits of info but nothing concrete enough for me to have confidence in what I'm doing.

Any pointers are appreciated as well as any observations, questions, or concerns but I would mostly want a crash course on what makes a full install from after getting the stock strut assembly out.

The only thing I know I'm missing are the camber/caster plates but if there's anything else I need to be aware of, please let me know.

Thanks all, hope everyone had a great Xmas spent in the warmest of companies and will have it be an even greater segway into 2020!

 

[luigisho]

This looks like most coilover kits I've seen. this is for later year taurus but the concept should be the same

https://www.ebay.com/i/192468970381...vvK6k93r_fDMzHWL8gvTqyiNiqJ0DSLxoCczAQAvD_BwE


https://www.carid.com/ksport/kontro...n0IROfMS6iDnELetk394FqvvkuHW4yahoCAWcQAvD_BwE

 

[SHOwishuwood]

This looks like most coilover kits I've seen. this is for later year taurus but the concept should be the same

https://www.ebay.com/i/192468970381...vvK6k93r_fDMzHWL8gvTqyiNiqJ0DSLxoCczAQAvD_BwE


https://www.carid.com/ksport/kontro...n0IROfMS6iDnELetk394FqvvkuHW4yahoCAWcQAvD_BwE

This looks like most coilover kits I've seen. this is for later year taurus but the concept should be the same

https://www.ebay.com/i/192468970381...vvK6k93r_fDMzHWL8gvTqyiNiqJ0DSLxoCczAQAvD_BwE


https://www.carid.com/ksport/kontro...n0IROfMS6iDnELetk394FqvvkuHW4yahoCAWcQAvD_BwE

If you just sent that for a picture reference, it looks like all I'm missing are those darn camber/caster plates.

If not, though I still appreciate that input, I've already got SHOsource coilovers. I'm just looking for help on installing them after I've removed the OE assembly.

I've not found any place on this forum or elsewhere that specifically covers said content.

 

[luigisho]

I would actually shoot shosource an email. I used to know a few who ran the coilovers but I can't remember anymore.

Also K sport made them and you could find info over there. https://ksportusa.com/

Here is a thread from last year and you can hit up a member or two that have them installed
https://shoforum.com/index.php?thre...mount-issue-solved.136004/page-3#post-1491906

 

[SHOwishuwood]

I would actually shoot shosource an email. I used to know a few who ran the coilovers but I can't remember anymore.

Also K sport made them and you could find info over there. https://ksportusa.com/

Here is a thread from last year and you can hit up a member or two that have them installed
https://shoforum.com/index.php?thre...mount-issue-solved.136004/page-3#post-1491906

Thanks so much for your help!

That thread you referenced was great to look at and I feel a little more secure about the installation of at least the rears.

Gonna try and do some more research though.

As far as SHOsource themselves, I have been on and off with them on communication as I can imagine they're busy and probably pretty cold.

I'll keep this post alive indefinitely until "Larry" is on his feet again.

 

[luigisho]

Members are usually very helpful. If you reach out to a few you should be able to get the info you need. Alot have probably moved on but they may still respond to direct messaging. You use the start a conversation function from your inbox. It will send them a message on this board and also sent a notice of a message to the email address listed when they signed up.

I'll send you a test one to see how easy it is.

 

[SHOwishuwood]

Members are usually very helpful. If you reach out to a few you should be able to get the info you need. Alot have probably moved on but they may still respond to direct messaging. You use the start a conversation function from your inbox. It will send them a message on this board and also sent a notice of a message to the email address listed when they signed up.

I'll send you a test one to see how easy it is.

Yeah I've managed to reach out and as you've said I'm getting some much needed assurance from the SHO brethren here on the forum...

More to come hopefully soon!

 

[LOUDSHO92]

SHO Source made the caster camber plates so I would check there.

KSport never made coilovers for the SHO.

 

[luigisho]

KSport never made coilovers for the SHO.

My bad. I thought I read that somewhere. Been around too long with too much info rolling around the brain.

 

[SHOwishuwood]

Hello all! After much hiatus I've returned with more positive news on the install.

A few hiccups through the installation process but as with almost all things with my SHO, it remains understood that moon missions take time haha.

I've got the rears all mocked up now and I'll drop some side notes.

- The strut rod that attaches from the knuckle to the chassis was a stubborn SOB. I needed to drop the exhaust to make room and get my cordless Milwaukee "fuel" ½ inch impact with a deep impact socket in there (can't remember bolt size, 18, 19, 22mm?). I clamped a vise-grip HARD onto the flat part of rod and spun it until the handle was against the chassis floor. Full blast with the impact and started seeing sparks before anything was moving.

- Enter SeaFoam "Deepcreep"! (This stuff is the funk and I highly recommend!)

- Soaked for two days and finally after about 15 seconds of Tony Montana the nut came off!

- Reassembled with TPR bushings and anti-seize on the rod threads.

- I slightly pryed open the sleeve that goes over the bottom of the strut and also lightly greased it with bearing grease. I had stripped one of the bolts that secures it BECAUSE I NEVER THOUGHT anyone used 18mm heads and I had removed it's stubborn self with a 19mm.

- I tried getting replacement bolts at the auto parts store but those didn't seem to work. The originals were tapered at the ends and sought something more similar.

- Ended up going to a Ford dealer and getting a few bolts with a slight taper to which I had my doubts but they ended up working. I now have a 18mm bolt on one knuckle and a 16mm on the other.

Whatever, it works!

- I noticed on the original strut assembly that they were slightly (castered?) forward towards the front of the car and made sure that I had installed the coilovers the same way.

I will post more as I get everything else going.

Still have the fronts with the 95 knuckle/spindles, 11.6 brakes, strut tower bar, and hood strut relocation to go and will probably feature that here as well as long as the devs are cool with it!

Stay safe everyone, the SHO must go on!

 

[luigisho]

Good write up. Suspension work on old corrosion cars gets interesting. I've used sledge hammers, cutoff wheels, pints on my own blood...
The coilovers look nice!

 

[SHOwishuwood]

Good write up. Suspension work on old corrosion cars gets interesting. I've used sledge hammers, cutoff wheels, pints on my own blood...
The coilovers look nice!

Thanks amigo!

Yeah it's rough and hopefully doing it this one time will make future ambitions much less ambition-ey. I nearly considered hacking off a strut rod and putting in another haha!

I can hardly contain my excitement as the car comes slowly together

Wash those hands!