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Thread: 84 SVO Front Suspension Problems

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    84 SVO Front Suspension Problems

    I realize this is a well worn subject; however,I don’t feel I can find enough information for my scenario so I’ll ask for some patience. In sizing up my new purchase I noticed that my SVO’s ball joints are worn and the previous owner installed a super low springs, which I hate. My question is has anyone swapped the lower control arms from the SN-95 using the Maximum Motorsports SVO spindle adapter and keeping the SVO brakes and Koni’s? And if so what springs did you use, and did the wheel stay in the same location?

    http://www.maximummotorsports.com/store/....products_id=444



  2. #2
    Some Boost
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    Plenty of info in various posts....for example see http://www.svocop.com/forum/showthre...Spindle-A-arms

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    Half Boost Raven855's Avatar
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    Yes and no. The problem you will have is the ball joint. The shaft on the joint is just not long enough to engage the nut. You will be lucky to get 2 or 3 threads into the nut. Too dangerous to drive with. You can install the X2 ball joints with the adapters. The current adapters will allow you to do this the last time I check. The very first version of the X2(by Steeda?) would not allow you to do that, it had a short shaft like the standard ball low friction ball joint.

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    Thanks for the link with great information, unfortunately the question I still have is what spring gets used with SN95 lower arms with everything else stock SVO? The Maximum Motorsport information specifically says a non-SVO spring must be used. I saw no mention of that reading through the thread, other than someone saying that SVO and SN95 springs are close enough, which is not what MM claims.
    Last edited by fxps02; 01-28-2013 at 09:23 AM.

  5. #5
    Half Boost Raven855's Avatar
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    Spring Rates: Fox Body 79-04
    updated 3/1/2012 by Raven

    Rate(lb/in) Drop(in.)
    Useage PartNo. front rear front/rear

    '79 -92 Mustang non-V8 370 160
    '93 Mustang non-V8 400 160
    '79 Mustang Heavy duty/GT 395 160
    '79 Mustang TRX 425 175
    '80-81 Mustang HD/GT 370 160
    '80-81 Mustang TRX 395 175
    '82 Mustang HD/GT 395 160
    '82-84 Mustang TRX 410 175
    '83-84 Mustang HD/GT 410 160
    '84 1/2-86 Mustang HD/GT 425-525 200-300
    '84-86 Mustang SVO 410 200
    '84-86 Mustang SVO Comp Prep 370 200
    '87 Mustang 2.3L 370 160
    '87-93 Mustang 5.0/LX 400-500 165-265
    '87-93 Mustang GT 425-530 200-300
    '94-04 Mustang V6 OEM 450 210
    '94-04 Mustang V6 convertible 400 190
    '94-04 Mustang GT OEM 450 210
    '94-04 Mustang GT convertible 400 190
    '93 Mustang Cobra 425-530 160
    '93 Mustang Cobra R 750-850 240-260
    '94-95 Mustang Cobra 400 160
    '95 SVT Cobra R M-5310-R58 700-850
    M-5560-R58 200-260
    '94-04 Mustang V6\GT 450 210
    '96-04 Mustang convertible 400 185
    '96-98 Mustang Cobra 400-505 165-265
    1999 SVT Cobra Coupe 500 470 (IRS) 1999 SVT Cobra Convertible 500 470 (IRS)
    2000 SVT Cobra R (Eibach) M-5310-R00 800
    M-5560-R00 750 (IRS)
    2001 SVT Cobra Coupe 500 470 (IRS) 2001 SVT Cobra Convertible 500 470 (IRS)
    2003/04 SVT Cobra OEM 600 600 (IRS)
    2003/04 SVT Cobra Convertible 500 470 (IRS)

    This will have to do for now. Above are the spring rates. When you install an SVO spring with an SN95 control arm, the car will sit about a 3/8" higher compared to a sn95. This is because the spring cups are positioned on the arms at different heights. If you choose to use the X2 ball joints than you can lower the car using them. Here is a pic of Fords racing X2 vs a standard sn95

    ford racing X2s.jpg

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    You could use the spindle adapters to re-use your spindles with the SN95 control arms, remember you will not be able to hook up the front fox swaybar to the SN95 stock a-arms. The problem will be with springs. The spring pockets on the SVO are lower than all the other lower control arms. If you try to re-use your springs while not using an SVO lower arm, the car will look like a 4x4. If you use the V8 springs in the non-SVO arms, there will also be a problem with finding the correct ride height, as your 2.3T is not as heavy as the V8. (or it will be super low if using the SVO arms with V8 springs)
    This is what I got from MM via email.

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    Red Captain MikeFleming's Avatar
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    3/8" is NOT looking like a 4x4 truck.
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    Moderator Meotchh's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by fxps02 View Post
    I agree, are they just trying to up-sell me or am I missing something?
    I think you are missing something. They are giving you their honest opinion of what they think it will look like. They didn't say you cannot do what you want to do. They did not say 4x4 truck, they just said 4x4. Around here Subarus are a typical 4x4 vehicle.

    If they were trying to upsell you, they would have suggested you get rid of all the stock suspension & buy all new MM suspension bits. They suggested to you the easy way & an affordable work around your problem.
    There's nothing more to see here, now move along...

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    Half Boost Raven855's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Meotchh View Post
    They suggested to you the easy way & an affordable work around your problem.
    With M&M the quality of the information is only as good as the experience of the person you are talking too. This is a very good example. The list of the springs shows how close the spring rates are between the 4 cylinder, 6 and V8. But the main reason is that to use the sn95 arms with the SVO spindle you need the X2 ball joints or you will be unable to turn. The Koni strut is different on the SVO. If you look at the SVO strut and compare it to other struts you will see that the tang that wraps the strut and bolts to the spindle is higher from the bottom of the cartridge. The body of the strut hangs lower and will contact the sn95 arm. If you have a replacement strut or even different Konis you will not have this issue.
    Last edited by Raven855; 01-28-2013 at 07:07 PM. Reason: updated info

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    I’m going with a coil-over kit as part of the fix. What spring rates have shown to be best for mostly street use? I’m thinking 300 lb/in.

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    Red Captain MikeFleming's Avatar
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    I run 350 #/in front and 200 rear on my red baron. Note that it weights in at 2800 Lbs total.
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    Quote Originally Posted by MikeFleming View Post
    I run 350 #/in front and 200 rear on my red baron. Note that it weights in at 2800 Lbs total.
    How hardcore is the "Baron?"

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    Red Captain MikeFleming's Avatar
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    Depends on your definition of "hardcore". Except for all the associated solid-suspension joint rattles, it rides very much like a stock SVO.
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    Quote Originally Posted by MikeFleming View Post
    Depends on your definition of "hardcore". Except for all the associated solid-suspension joint rattles, it rides very much like a stock SVO.
    I understand that it’s subjective. If you had to choose between #300 or #400 would you step up or down for mostly street use?

  15. #15
    Red Captain MikeFleming's Avatar
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    For a stock weight car I would stay in the 325-350 range on the front.
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    Half Boost Raven855's Avatar
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    This is where you contact jack and tell him what you are doing. He will ask the vehicle weight, springs in back, what the intention is on driving, ect. He has the software and experience to tell you that you need this range of spring with this strut.

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    Animated Italian Gigolo blueboss's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by fxps02 View Post
    I realize this is a well worn subject; however,I don’t feel I can find enough information for my scenario so I’ll ask for some patience. In sizing up my new purchase I noticed that my SVO’s ball joints are worn and the previous owner installed a super low springs, which I hate. My question is has anyone swapped the lower control arms from the SN-95 using the Maximum Motorsports SVO spindle adapter and keeping the SVO brakes and Koni’s?


    Yes, I have this exact setup. It installed without issue and aligned perfectly.

    Quote Originally Posted by fxps02 View Post
    And if so what springs did you use, and did the wheel stay in the same location?
    I used the Motorsport "B" springs. Technically, installing springs doesn't move the wheel, as much as it raises the car. Semantics.....I know. I digress. These springs with stock lca's lowered the car about 1" give or take. After the sn95 lca swap, it raised the front a little. Now, it sits level-ish. The back is about 1/8 - 1/4" higher than the front. Not even noticeable. Also, the sway bar bolted right in with no modification to the lca.

    Quote Originally Posted by fxps02 View Post
    I’m going with a coil-over kit as part of the fix. What spring rates have shown to be best for mostly street use? I’m thinking 300 lb/in.
    Bring your checkbook. It's not as easy as slapping on a set of coil overs. There are other issues that require addressing.
    "Some trannys can operate both types of gearboxes but manual gearboxes with clutch pedals are more difficult to operate with heels on."

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    Quote Originally Posted by blueboss View Post

    Yes, I have this exact setup. It installed without issue and aligned perfectly.
    What did you use for a ball joint, stock or X2?

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    Animated Italian Gigolo blueboss's Avatar
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    Stock. More than acceptable for daily driver duties. Hella cheaper too.
    "Some trannys can operate both types of gearboxes but manual gearboxes with clutch pedals are more difficult to operate with heels on."

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    Quote Originally Posted by blueboss View Post

    Yes, I have this exact setup. It installed without issue and aligned perfectly.
    What wheel & tire set-up are you running?

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