Gen 3 suspension changes

[Jim Merriman]

I'd like some feedback on what Gen3 owners are using to replace the SARC systems on their Gen 3s. I had tried the Roush springs with the SARC struts for about two days way back, a long time ago.... Recently, my son and I replaced the '96 SARC struts with KYBs and mated to the same OEM springs. Now my son wants to try the Roushs with the KYBs, or maybe even buy a set of the Eibachs made for the Gen3 SLO, and try those with the KYBs. I've heard Gen 1 and 2 guys complain about the KYB and Eiback and Intax spring combos, likely due to not being able to control the rebound. Therefore, I'm not so sure it's a good idea to try it with the Roush springs either. There's not too much coverage on this subject on V8SHO.com, so I thought I'd ask here.

I'd like as many Gen3 guys to reply on what they did and how the did it so I can get a good "best practices" comfort feeling about changing the suspension any further. Frankly, if I had my way; I'd leave it the way it is... but those damn kids - you know how they are, always wanting to change what ain't broken! lol Thanks guys, I appreciate your input

 

[wuzzzer]

Jim, what's a BWM 540i?

On a serious note, I have the Roush/SARC combo and love it. Been that way for over 4 years now. Why did you only have it like that for a couple days?

 

[Jim Merriman]

A 540i is what dusts the meanest SHO anytime, anyplace! Well, maybe not Carter's... lol Funny, but if Ford had put in the 320HP Cobra SVT engine in the SHO and changed it from a front wheel drive to a rear wheel drive, and then put in a really great tranny - the 540i is what the SHO would have been... oh well And if you think that sounds good, the E39 M5 (2000-2003) 5 series cars with 400 HP stock or 500 HP with Dinan upgrades, are that much better than a 540i Sport!

Anyway, I tried the SARC struts with the Roush springs for a couple of days. But I felt that I didn't have enough strut travel. The SARC strut were always bottoming out. At the time, I had asked a few people that had tried them, but was never able to real figure it all out. I have a feeling that I made a mistake re-using the OEM crush cushions which are placed at the top of the strut to dampen the "end of travel" stops. Maybe I was supposed to cut them down which would have given me another inch or so of travel, I don't know. Maybe I was suspose to relocation the struts further down into the suspension knuckles, or have the threads on the struts cut down and then have the rods threaded some more of the way down the rod so that the rod would be in the neutral zone, etc, who knows... it just didn't work for me, and I felt like I was doing serious damage to the new, at the time, SARC struts. I remember I took special care to remount the SARC sensors so that they were in theeir neutral zone when remounted. So that wasn't the issue.... Anyway... So I went back to the OEM struts and put Roush's away for another day. I'm glad you got yours to work well, but frankly, my son doesn't want to go back to SARC struts either. So I guess we'll find out what guys have to say about their Gen3 suspension changes. Hopefully, some guys will have some great ideas to share.

 

[Jim Merriman]

Hey, you know, your the first to catch the signature too... Good catch!

 

[SHOZ123]

I have the Eibachs and tried the Gabriel struts. Not enough strut. So I went to new SARCs and run them in hard mode only. Personally the Eibachs and I assume the Roush springs are not stiff enough for the V8. It was probably the springs bottoming out not the struts.