Suspension mods while maintaining ride quality

[nw_mr2]

My SHO is my daily driver. I want to put a little money into the suspension to make it feel a little better, but I already have a car that rides like crap so I don't need that from the SHO.

I'm thinking about a 26mm rear sway (I have a 92, so 24mm front right?) and rear strut bar anyway.

As far as SFCs go, how much does those decrease ride quality? They definitely sound like they improve handling but I still want the car to ride soft. If you guys can think of anything else I'm missing feel free to correct me. :thankyou:

 

[Toul]

Cant see any way SFCs could decrease ride quality, anything that stiffens up the chassis in my oppinion is great, cars body flexes and makes all sorts of squeaks and groans after 17 years otherwise.

 

[LOUDSHO92]

Seems good to me but if your struts and springs are worn out I would at least replace them with the Monroe Quick struts to bring them back to stock.

 

[Eric VerValin]

Actually... if everything you have isn't all that bad, you'd be really suprised what a set of poly bushings will do! If it feels a "little loose" a lot of that flexing is in those old rubber bushings more than likely.

 

[ultimatesho]

Actually... if everything you have isn't all that bad, you'd be really suprised what a set of poly bushings will do! If it feels a "little loose" a lot of that flexing is in those old rubber bushings more than likely.

+1 ........1 million wrapped up in suspension parts, but worn out bushings still r gonna = a crappy ride

 

[bubba]

bushings in the one thing you will need. TPR is what I'm going with. I just wouldn't put rubber back in there. I hear poly needs oild

 

[ryein7]

you might try this thread http://www.shoforum.com/showthread.php?t=87089
there is alot of good info in there. just because TPR is the forum standard doesn't make it mean it is the best.

 

[bubba]

you might try this thread http://www.shoforum.com/showthread.php?t=87089
there is alot of good info in there. just because TPR is the forum standard doesn't make it mean it is the best.

good stuff I'm going to reread everything. good to know before I drop a bunch of money in bushings.

 

[nw_mr2]

Thanks for the posts everyone!

 

[itwonder]

I went with the "forum standard" TPR, and I'm not happy with the results, at least for the strut rods. They seem to take a set and become loose quickly. I have noise in the rear after installing TPR. I will eventually get rid of them.

 

[Mels]

My SHO is my daily driver. I want to put a little money into the suspension to make it feel a little better, but I already have a car that rides like crap so I don't need that from the SHO ...but I still want the car to ride soft.

Not for nothing, but you're pretty vague in the details relative to your question.

How does your car ride now?

What exactly is it that you're unhappy with?

What would you be happier with?

What are the roads like up in NW Washington?

I have the Intrax/Koni combination in my old ('89) jalopy. At 44 years of age, with a body that is absolutely shot and after numerous surgeries and chronic lower back problems, I find my suspension setup to be the cats ass on the highway, and not untolerable on the secondary and back roads, which, as any New Englander can tell you, are pretty darned rough.

"Soft" it's not. But I just don't see the harshness so many others whine about.

If you're looking for a soft ride, perhaps a Town Car is in your future. The SHO Taurus should be kept a sporty platform, IMO.

 

[nw_mr2]

Well I love the ride quality as is (Stock). The only things I don't like are the creaking going over speed bumps and what not (Sub frame connectors?) And numb rear end. I guess my number one thing would just be that the rear fees non-existant. There's a guy in my apartment complex with a 94 SHO on Intrax... Maybe I'll ask for a ride and see how I like it

 

[JEM]

Ride quality - Gen 3 front subframe.

Short of that - 16in wheels and something near stock-size tires. Keep the wheel/tire combo light and keep lots of tire sidewall height.

No solid (delrin or aluminum) subframe bushings, stock bushings at the front of the front tension rods, rubber at one end (at least) of the rear tension rods. Energy Suspension urethane tension-rod bushings are softer than the Moog TPR, might not be a bad solution for ride quality.

 

[shobote]

Sub frame connectors and front and rear strut tower braces made a big difference in getting rid of all the creaks and moans, improving handling, reducing torque steer, and improving ride quality. I have 150k on my '89 and have no noises or rattles going over bumps or uneven surfaces; the handling is much improved and ride is smooth and quiet with the new Bridgestones on 17 x 7's. Tire selection also is a big factor in ride quality
I would say go with Monroe sensatracks and Eibachs, but not quickstruts, as they raise the ride height. 96 sub frame bushings will also improve things. The 26mm rear bar will also help.

 

[SolidState]

I went with the "forum standard" TPR, and I'm not happy with the results, at least for the strut rods. They seem to take a set and become loose quickly. I have noise in the rear after installing TPR. I will eventually get rid of them.

I find TPR wears really really quickly. I went through a set of front strut rod and sway bar in 3 months this past winter.

 

[ryein7]

i am going to be using poly strut rod bushings. i installed them in the rear strut rods and the car is much more stable and solid now! look at my sig. I think my setup is very very good. The only thing i have left is to replace the front lower control arms, do the front strut rod bushings in poly and get my tubular control arms made. I might do gen3 subframe bushings too. Ride quality is not bad. The car feels stable and solid which is what i like.

 

[somedude_001]

+1 subframe connecters makes the car feal much shorter in the corners
+1 for alum subframe bushings. Significantly improved turn in. (best bang for the buck mod in the taurus world hands down.)

I have intrax springs and find them to be very soft. I bottom out a lot at autoX when I get on the brakes hard but I also have a automatic so I am heavier then what they were designed for. The do deliver a excelent highway ride. Koni struts are awesome from the cars I have riden in. If I could do it again I would have eibach springs (or stock), koni struts 20mm front bar 26 rear, ALSFB's full length sub frame connectors, and a rear strut bar.

 

[JEM]

+1 subframe connecters makes the car feal much shorter in the corners
+1 for alum subframe bushings. Significantly improved turn in. (best bang for the buck mod in the taurus world hands down.)

The aluminum subframe bushings are a classic example of an aftermarket modification enabling a tradeoff the original manufacturer could never get away with.

There's no question they tighten up the steering response.

There's also no question they degrade the ride quality an equal amount.

So, you pay your money and you take your choice. All depends on what matters to you.

Part of the reason I did the Gen 3 front suspension conversion is that I could no longer tolerate the NVH impact of the aluminum subframe mounts.

 

[St Louis SHO]

My Gen 1 with Subframe connectors, aluminum subframe bushings, Koni's, ShoShop Linear springs, and Strut tower bars feel no worse than my dad's Silver ATX with KYB/Moogs...... Honestly

- James

 

[St Louis SHO]

My Gen 1 with Subframe connectors, aluminum subframe bushings, Koni's, ShoShop Linear springs, and Strut tower bars feel no worse than my dad's Silver ATX with KYB/Moogs...... Honestly

- James

EDIT: Keep in mind I'm running a 225/50/16 also