Pin Drive Front Suspension - Does This Look Correct?

[tundra2050]

I've had the hardest time finding pictures or installation information on the Pin Drive width IFS with adapters and the FFR SN95 spindles. The most recent was Mike Bray's install, but it looked like he cut his adapter and I want to avoid anything like that. Plus it's hard to tell from that angle as well. Turns out my pics may not be the best, but the setup looks solid. For added information, I plan on 15" wheels to keep the period correct look.

I used all the hardware supplied by FFR. I also found some instructions about what holes to use on the adapter from the MKIV Base Manual Revision 3X. Finally, FFR did not supply flange bolts for the spindle as you can see. Is it recommended I use washers or is the bolt on the hardened steel sufficient? Thanks again! James

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[Stangrob]

Hopefully Mike Bray or one of the other pin drive guys will chime in. I checked out Mike's thread on this and he seems to have it figured out.

I'm surprised that FF doesn't have more detail to share on this - having the front suspension correct is a big deal, and they did the engineering. Again, very odd.

BTW you did get the spindles with your pin drive front suspension, right? Mike mentioned that he had to buy his separately. I'm still waiting on mine so I'm curious....

Rob

[tundra2050]

Mike is an engineer I think and a very good builder. I hope my setup looks as good as his. But I think he has 17" wheels.

I agree with you on FFR not having more detail. Everything on the IFS is supplied by F5. In fact, I don't have anything supplied by other vendors yet.

Other than the really tight ball joint on one of the UCAs which I muscled in and having to enlarge the holes for the LCAs, the LCAs, spindles, adapters, and shocks went in pretty easily compared to something like struts.

[Jphoenix]

Read this post about the pin drive installation: https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/showthread.php?49616-289-USRRC-build-in-Seattle&p=564002&viewfull=1#post564002

[tundra2050]

Thanks Jim. F5 sent me a completely different spindles and the adapter. But I originally requested the pin drive kit. I was also able to set the UCA geometry to what was shown in the manual for power steering without having to make cuts. However, there is very little room for adjustment on the back side of the UCA. Maybe a little over 1/8" on either side of the jam nuts. Despite the tilting of the adapter in relation to the spindle, it looks like I am getting positive caster.

[StangRacer]

Hopefully Mike will see this... I am running pin drives with 15" wheels and Mike was BIG help getting it set up. I have not done an alignment yet, but everything looks good and I don't anticipate any issues.

Before you go any further, check to see if your hubs will fit the spindle snout. The hubs are supposed to be a slip fit. My spindle snouts were slightly bigger, and the hubs would not fit. I ended up getting a set of OEM Ford spindles. Later a when I was talking with a buddy of mine, he told me he could have corrected the FFR spindles by putting them on a crank grinder... anyway, just something to check.

I have the same SN95 spindles and adapter. My understanding from Mike is for pin drive wheels the adapter is supposed to bolt to the spindle through the first and third hole. This will require cutting the adapter to remove the lower hole to be able to bolt it onto the spindle. You will also need to trim the links of the upper control arms so there is enough adjustability for your alignment.

Here is a good link that goes through much of this: https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/showthread.php?49975-Pin-drive-setup-thread-for-289-and-427s&highlight=pin-drive

[Mike.Bray]

I'm here! lol

I had a heck of a time doing the pin drive when I built mine a few years ago. First thing was FFR tried to talk me out of it, even said pin drive wheels were illegal to use on the street. I know better than that. Then they said they didn't sell the narrowed front end setup anymore. I sent them a video of Dave Smith on FB saying they would sell it if anyone wanted it. They finally agreed but no one knew what to supply. I had an old Factory Five brochure that had it listed so I sent them the part number. Took them two months to find a BOM for that P/N.

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Once I had the parts in hand I can tell you I was truly on my own. I felt like Moses wondering in the desert.

Okay, first thing I'll suggest is removing the coilovers and blocking the lower control arm so that its level. Then you can build the system as it needs to be.

My first attempt.

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Next I rigged up a camber/caster gauge to see where the spindle needed to be.

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This lead me to understanding the upper control arm has to mount on the upper set of holes in the frame bracket. And the spindle adapter bracket needed to go in the lower position. I also ended up flipping the upper ball joint mount over to get the angle to better match the spindle adapter.

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I ended up cutting quite a bit off of the upper control arm sleeves to get the alignment numbers I was looking for. Ended up with about 7 degrees of caster from memory. I also had to cut quite a bit off of the steering rack arms. But in the end the alignment came in and the car drives nicely.

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Hope this helps some.

[tundra2050]

Thanks Mike for the great information. It was difficult searching for install instructions. Some have the pin drive with shortened LCAs with the F5 spindles. Which looks completely different, but works. I originally requested and received the pin drive kit in my order. The only think I hadn't received at the time were the LCAs.

So, I found in the manual for the base kit, the 94-04 SN95 spindles (supplied by F5) used the 2 and 4 holes on the bracket. With that and the pin drive LCAs on the front hole as in the manual, I got the correct geometry on my UCA as stated in the manual without any cutting. There's just little room for too much adjustment. At least I hope it's correct. Once all finished, I plan to take it to a professional to get it aligned.

I sent pictures to Dan at F5 and expressly stated my intent to use 11" supplied rotors and 15" wheels just like the 289 in the show room. According to him, everything looked mounted correctly. We'll see. I'm hoping to order from Vintage Wheels once the 289 style wheels start coming in.

Thanks again all, your experience is invaluable.

[Stangrob]

As I’m waiting on my pin drive parts, I second Tundra2050’s thanks! I’m still amazed that there isn’t any official documentation on this, so having this tribal knowledge on how to do this is invaluable. I’d happily buy you guys a beer (or beverage of your choice) if you were in Jersey. But when this is all done it’ll look and perform great, and it’ll be worth the effort!

Rob