rear lower control arms and springs

[ricobrafan]

Hello Fellow Cobra Fans,

I recently purchased an MKII with the need for a few upgrades. I was wondering what people were doing for control arms and spring rates to enhance what is now a stock 1988 mustang solid axle 8.8? I was looking at the maximum motorsports HD non-adjustable lower control arms because they can be odered without a sway bar bracket. Not sure if there are any clearance issues. Thanks
Photos to follow

[CraigS]

Not sure from your post but if you still have the stock mustang springs in there get coilovers. For now forget spending money on LCAs, unless money isn't an issue, then naturally get both. FFR has their konis but I am suspect of their spring rates so talk to some who have them. I have experienced the VPM Carrera setup w/ both 200 and 250 springs. The 200 give a really surprisingly nice ride for a solid axle car and the 250s are just a little stiffer. And then Breeze has two varieties of adjustable QA1s.
http://www.vintageperformancemotorcars.com/
http://www.breezeautomotive.com/home.php?cat_id=35

[frankeeski]

Craig is spot on. Coil overs first. I would get the FFR Koni's for this reason, you can also have them supply you the adapter brackets needed for the attachment to the rear axle. If FFR will supply the coil overs without the springs it would be great but I don't think they will. So do this, get them with the supplied 350 lbs. springs and sell the springs in the classifieds here on the forum. Order a set of springs from Eibach with 250 lbs. rating. You will be much happier with the Eibach springs.

[ricobrafan]

Thanks for the info so far but I like the idea of keeping a more stock set up. Had a lengthy talk with Mike at Maxiumum Motorsports and they have a strong argument for their product especially the extreme duty version. Look forward to more discussion and will keep everyone posted on my progress. On another note, install the Proform Perfect Launch rear diff over and it is a great product. Easy install and good looking to boot. Thanks

[mike w]

Not sure from your post but if you still have the stock mustang springs in there get coilovers. For now forget spending money on LCAs, unless money isn't an issue, then naturally get both. FFR has their konis but I am suspect of their spring rates so talk to some who have them. I have experienced the VPM Carrera setup w/ both 200 and 250 springs. The 200 give a really surprisingly nice ride for a solid axle car and the 250s are just a little stiffer. And then Breeze has two varieties of adjustable QA1s.
http://www.vintageperformancemotorcars.com/
http://www.breezeautomotive.com/home.php?cat_id=35

Craig,
I am also looking to go this route and I am leaning toward the VPM Carrera setup. Which spring rate do you have in your car? Would you recommend the 200 over the 250? I don't plan on road racing the car. I primarily use it to go to shows and summer cruises.

[CraigS]

Mike, my experience w/ the VPM is actually in a friends car that I have ridden in several times. For your use I would go w/ the 200s. The nice thing about this setup is that they have a very nice progressive rubber bump stop. this allows the use of a softer spring w/o any problems w/ bottoming out.Of course you can always change springs later for <$100 a pair.

[ricobrafan]

In talking with the ford dealership the OEM rear springs from a 85-92 mustang (my donor was an 88) were progressive 200-250. 93-98 cobra mustang springs are linear 160. I did order the Maximum Motorsports extreme duty rear lower control arms with a spring perch and no sway bar mounts. They recommend using the stock upper control arms as long as the rubber bushings are good. Will be removing the quad shock for improved tire clearance. Thanks for the discussion it has been a long winter.

[CraigS]

That's interesting as I had never heard rates for stock springs before. Remember though that there is a motion ratio involved w/ the stock spring location since the spring sits maybe 2/3 the length of the control arm. So those rates would be cut by as much as 40% in actual use. This compares to the coilover location which has no motion ratio involved so the spring rates don't get reduced in action.

[mike w]

Mike, my experience w/ the VPM is actually in a friends car that I have ridden in several times. For your use I would go w/ the 200s. The nice thing about this setup is that they have a very nice progressive rubber bump stop. this allows the use of a softer spring w/o any problems w/ bottoming out.Of course you can always change springs later for <$100 a pair.

Craig,
Thanks for the information. Do you know if your friend is still running the quad shocks with the VPM's?

[ricobrafan]

Update - went with maximum Motorsports extreme duty lower control arms with the spring seat and no sway bar mount. Kept the stock springs. Followed that up with a set of Bilstein HD shocks. Removed the axel dampers/quad shocks. Will post some photos and results of the road test once the weather gets better. Enjoy the ride!