OE replacement springs

[SHOtimer]

I have a 95 ATX with 150k on it. The suspension has never been touched. I wanted to do Ebaichs and such but with college approaching I don't have the $ right now. I am in the process of purchasing a set of stock springs off a 93 SHO with 40k on them (they were removed in '98). I am going to replace my struts with OEM. Will these springs be a direct replacement for mine, or wsa there a difference in the 93-95 yrs? Also, I assume that swapping out 150k springs for ones with 40k on them will be an improvement? I'm not looking for performance just an improvement. Thanx,
Doug

 

[shojuan]

If it were me I would just wait until I could afford Tokicos/Eibachs. Do it right, do it once. Don't forget to figure in more money for new strut bellows/stop bumpers, strut mounts and front strut mount bearings (the rears don't have bearings). Your front strut isolator pad is probably fine, I reused mine and it looked almost new after I cleaned it up. New rear strut isolators would probably be a good idea. The best bet would be to figure out what diameter poly isolator tubing from energy suspension would fit, like Dave Ladely always advocates (but never says what size he got!!) and get a bulk length to cut the upper and lower pieces from. It's a ripoff buying those from Ford and the energy suspension poly is at least as good. I reused mine. Apart from the dirt they seemed fine but when I sprayed them with silicone spray to ease installation onto the new Eibach springs I noticed a lot of small cracks forming where the silicone spray started squeezing out of.

If you really insist on going the stock spring/strut route you might want to consider the KYB GR-2 struts as an inexpensive alternative to the Motorcraft units. But again, if it's Eibachs and Tokicos that you really want just wait until you can afford them IMHO.

 

[SHOtimer]

Well, I can afford them, but at this time next year I will be finished with Hartnell and going off to school. So, I want to fix my suspension but, at the same time I need to start stock piling $ for school. So, I can afford it but, that would take 500$ away from school. I figure that if I replace all the bushings and worn out pieces of the suspension with quality aftermarket and use motorcraft struts I won't be bad, it just won't be performance. Which will take me through school then I can improve it.

Would their be anyprob putting low mileage springs from a 93 on my 95? I'm assuming they are the same spring, just mine have 150k and those have 40k, which would oviously be an improvement.
Doug

<small>[ September 08, 2003, 09:57 PM: Message edited by: SHOtimer ]</small>

 

[Mr Anonymous]

The stock springs from the '93 should fit perfectly without any problems. You don't mention what you're paying for the used springs, but beware of what anyone selling used parts says about the true mileage. Do some more research first, there may be other options available for the same price or slightly more.

Here's one option for you to consider...

Go to http://www.rockauto.com and look up part #'s CC858 ($41.89/pr front) and CC859 ($52.79/pr rear) Moog cargo coil springs which are the equivalent of brand new stock springs for $94.68 + shipping. With these springs you could go to an off-the-shelf retail strut like Monroe or Gabriel, but you will see more of a SLO ride quality. If you want to maintain a moderate performance suspension, try http://www.shox.com for a set of 4 KYB's ($205), which are less than OEM Motorcraft struts and provide better dampening. With some generic front/rear mounts and front bearings, you could have an entirely brand new suspension under you for less than $500 if you do the labor yourself.

 

[pjtoledo]

All of the factory springs have tags on them with the load rating codes. You want to compare them first, might be the same, or very little difference. It's been a while, but the codes are posted someplace, maybe Shotimes. The factory front strut bearings are different between 93ATX and 95MTX. That I know for sure. There are short and tall strut bearings. The wrong combination will raise the front of the car. See Sho-Nut website for details on that.

Perry

 

[SHOtimer]

Chris, would those springs work with the SHO, or are they made for a SLO? I basically want the suspension back to factory, I'm gonna put OEM struts on it and I want to bring it to original. The price of those Moog springs is the same as I can get these used from a 93 ATX. But if the moogs are made for a SLO I don't want them, if they are made for a SHO I would definetly choose them over used.
Thanx, Doug

 

[SHOtimer]

I went to Rockautos website and looked under 1995 SHO, and it did not have coil springs listed. So, where did you get those numbers? Are they for a SLO? Thanx, Doug

 

[pete c]

I just bought a set of moogs for the rear. They are an improvement over stock shos as they are progressive. When it comes to finding the springs, there is a thread in the stock suspension forum. It states that you will not find part numbers if you do a search by car type. Find that thread, it lists both moog and napa part #s.