Opinions on this suspension setup

[iSpyder]

EvolutionAte-

I don't know if this helps your situation but I just had all 4 corners done with Eibach's and my mechanic didn't say anything like this (had other issues but that's another story). I told him up front these struts weren't for my car and afterwards asked him if he noticed anything different or unusual about them. He said aside from their being no mount for the ABS line on the front struts (I believe it was the ABS) he could see no difference. Now I do have a 99 and I don't think it had the SARC system so maybe that is why he saw no difference. But having said that I'm running them without issue (only been a few days). Also according to the alignment sheet he was able to bring the rear into spec even after lowering without any additional modifications. So unless someone with a SARC'd Gen III says something to the contrary I think you should be OK.

I will also say this is such an improvement over 90+k mile system that was on there. I still need to do the end links and sway bar bushings but believe once those are done it will be even better. Thanks to everyone here for their help here an in other posts

Erik

 

[EvolutionAte]

EvolutionAte-

I don't know if this helps your situation but I just had all 4 corners done with Eibach's and my mechanic didn't say anything like this (had other issues but that's another story). I told him up front these struts weren't for my car and afterwards asked him if he noticed anything different or unusual about them. He said aside from their being no mount for the ABS line on the front struts (I believe it was the ABS) he could see no difference. Now I do have a 99 and I don't think it had the SARC system so maybe that is why he saw no difference. But having said that I'm running them without issue (only been a few days). Also according to the alignment sheet he was able to bring the rear into spec even after lowering without any additional modifications. So unless someone with a SARC'd Gen III says something to the contrary I think you should be OK.

I will also say this is such an improvement over 90+k mile system that was on there. I still need to do the end links and sway bar bushings but believe once those are done it will be even better. Thanks to everyone here for their help here an in other posts

Erik

I talked to the mechanic again and he keeps insiting that the SARC struts are 2 in longer and he doesn't think the 2002 SES struts will work, it may change the ride height, which will make it fail inspection etc..

The state of MD has the biggest PITA state inspection requirments. The whole thing is a racket so that auto shops can make money for failing cars on very questionable things. I was failed for a leaking rack and pinion, rear strut, rear sway bar end links, front brakes, and a windshield which had a repaired minor ding. They wanted $2000 to fix everything, this is to put a 13 year old car that cost $3500 on the road!!! I have never once had a car pass inspection on the first try.

I tried to save money by buying my own parts, compared with what the shop wanted for parts, so now I think they are trying to give me hard time again and rake me over the coals for labor now, or insisting that I buy the $260 ea rear SARC struts.

 

[SuperHO]

tell your mechanic he's an idiot and he just needs to do the work and give you your car. if the struts he has in his hands are two inches short, then he's holding the wrong strut. laid side by side, the new struts were only a little shorter after installation due to the lowering springs i installed. tell him to show you the difference, get part numbers from him, and have him show you the struts side by side. and get us pics. the pic of the red SHO in my post above is a 98 that used to have SARC struts. the only reason it's lower is because of the eibachs.

 

[EvolutionAte]

tell your mechanic he's an idiot and he just needs to do the work and give you your car. if the struts he has in his hands are two inches short, then he's holding the wrong strut. laid side by side, the new struts were only a little shorter after installation due to the lowering springs i installed. tell him to show you the difference, get part numbers from him, and have him show you the struts side by side. and get us pics. the pic of the red SHO in my post above is a 98 that used to have SARC struts. the only reason it's lower is because of the eibachs.

Ok, thanks, I didn't think I was loosing my mind. I double checked the part numbers and they are correct. I ordered the parts, had them delivered to my house and then dropped them off at the shop, so I have no idea what the mechanic is looking at than. The part number I used was AST52 which is the rear shock for the 2002 Taurus, I also got the Strut brackets in the same order from Tasca. I will stop by the shop after work have a look for myself, snap some pics and send an update. For right now I just told him to install the damn things and be done with it. BTW, the red show looks very good dropped with the Eibachs and 2002 struts!

 

[EvolutionAte]

Well I stopped by the shop after work and they continue to try and talk me out of installing the 2002 Struts, saying that the rear end of the car will sit too low. Even after I tell them to just install the freaking parts already. I did look at the old SARC strut next to the new 2002 strut and it is about 2 in longer (this was with the coil spring still on the SARC strut). Also found out the springs were cracked so I have to replace those now as well. I am between a rock and a hard place here because I need the state inspection done to have legal tags on the car, so I really can't even drive the car to another shop now, plus they have it all torn apart. The shop is also trying to have me install a new windshield because of a small rock chip that has already been repaired!!!

 

[SuperHO]

mention three little letters and they'll be eating out of the palm of your hand..


B.B.B.


If they insist on screwin over a customer just because they think they can, tell em you're just gonna give your local Better Business Bureau a call and file a complaint. Any time I've done that, I've gotten exactly what I wanted in a very short amount of time.