New suspension bits installed

[wesman]

Today I had the Metcos and the Eibachs installed. I got the watts link and the control arms. The change in ride is nothing short of astonishing. Good if you're hustling, bad if you're cruising. Maybe I have the rear set too low, but it feels like its set in concrete. I want it to handle like a bastard for autoX but I think I am going to get some complaints from the family on the next road trip. If I raise the rear up a bit will it smooth out the ride? Also I guess the poly bushings will work in with time.
Some pics:
http://www.msprotege.com/members/Wesman%20II/1a/Picture%20019.jpg
http://www.msprotege.com/members/Wesman%20II/1a/Picture%20008.jpg
Front drop
http://www.msprotege.com/members/Wesman%20II/1a/Picture%20011.jpg
Rear drop
http://www.msprotege.com/members/Wesman%20II/1a/Picture%20009.jpg
http://www.msprotege.com/members/Wesman%20II/1a/Picture%20010.jpg
Metcos installed
http://www.msprotege.com/members/Wesman%20II/1a/Picture%20016.jpg



I ended up with -2.6 degrees of camber. Good for autoX, bad for tire wear. I will change it after the season is over in about a month.
http://www.msprotege.com/members/Wesman%20II/1a/Picture%20001a.jpg

[wesman]

Addcos are on the way.

[stevengerard]

nice stance, can't wait to lower mine.

[FiveO]

Nice.... :up:

[bigslim]

Didn't take long for you to start modding your car. I will be doing the Metco stuff next year.

[wesman]

Didn't take long for you to start modding your car. I will be doing the Metco stuff next year.
Truth be told I ordered the Addcos before I signed for the car. I ordered the metcos & springs the first week. Summit was backordered so they only just shipped the bars. I put in the KB dead pedal this week too.

[wesman]

Can anybody with a lowered car tell me does the ride get better if you raise the rear?

[blacksnake]

You ever get any flack for that Dixie flag on your front end? You're mighty far north to be flying those colors.

[wesman]

You ever get any flack for that Dixie flag on your front end? You're mighty far north to be flying those colors.
Never, but I will be the first to put a foot in their arse if they do. I love the south. Road Atlanta & VIR are there.

[LCpl Retired]

With the Eibachs on, the roads I had to drive on around here made the ride too annoying for my taste. I removed them and I went with the 3/4 of one coil cut out on the factory springs. The rear I picked up equally to maintain the rake. The car still looks lowered and eye catching (different) but not quite as dramatic as w/ the Eibachs. The handling is not quite as good as with the Eibachs, but again there is a decent improvement from stock. The ride is now fine. The little difference in additional height helps. Will do the links eventually. I have read on here that some who cut only the 3/4 would go with the entire coil cut off the next time. When I move south I may do that, but it is fine for the NE this way. The handling with the Eibachs is impressive, but there is a ride quality difference that is fine for some, and not so good for others.

[wesman]

Some better pictures of the drop.

http://www.msprotege.com/members/Wesman%20II/1a/dropped1.jpg
http://www.msprotege.com/members/Wesman%20II/1a/dropped7.jpg

[wesman]

Some huge pics of the drop.

http://www.msprotege.com/members/Wesman%20II/1a/dropped3.jpg
http://www.msprotege.com/members/Wesman%20II/1a/dropped4.jpg

[gdmjoe]

http://bellsouthpwp.net/g/d/gdmjoe/Thumb.gif

[Glenn]

I have the Metco control arms installed and they are great for launching, handling and look great, but my ride is rougher. I am going to lower my air suspension to give the rear air shocks more ability to absorb road bounces (i.e. more give in the bags). Right now the air bags are rock solid and the rear will hardly move down at all. Raising the rear should increase the harshness??? Hopefully this will fix the ride.

Glenn

[Donny Carlson]

Can anybody with a lowered car tell me does the ride get better if you raise the rear?The rear of your car seems a bit low. This isn't the best shot to compare with, but here is how my car looks with a similar setup to yours, this shot taken at Indy.

http://www.mercurygallery.net/mmnet/data/3024/1136DSC01096.JPG

Keep in mind, you ride will improve as your springs settle. My ride was extremely harsh at first, but now it's just fine. I really need to lower my rear just a bit now with the Metcos and my Eibachs settling. I think you would probably see some improvement if you raised the rear a bit. Also, you may want to adjust your tire pressures.

[wesman]

The ride sucked so bad with the rear high or low, I took out the Eibachs. I cut the stock fronts 3/4 of a coil, its much better. With the addcos in it handles better too, nice and flat.

[Donny Carlson]

The ride sucked so bad with the rear high or low, I took out the Eibachs. I cut the stock fronts 3/4 of a coil, its much better. With the addcos in it handles better too, nice and flat.
It's your car, money, and time, but IMO you didn't give the Eibach's a fair chance. Ride is softer because the OEM springs aren't as stiff as Eibachs, but you still have reduced shock travel. The Eibach's would have settled and ride improved.

That said, I am looking forward to the new coilover shocks that have been installed on Evil Knevil, which look like the answer for those of use who want the lowered look, but not the harsh ride. Adjustable, too.

[wesman]

It's your car, money, and time, but IMO you didn't give the Eibach's a fair chance. Ride is softer because the OEM springs aren't as stiff as Eibachs, but you still have reduced shock travel. The Eibach's would have settled and ride improved.

That said, I am looking forward to the new coilover shocks that have been installed on Evil Knevil, which look like the answer for those of use who want the lowered look, but not the harsh ride. Adjustable, too.
I had them on for about 1500 miles & one autocross, and they did settle. They got a lot lower later on. The thing is we took a family trip to Montreal which has some of the worst rutted roads in Canada. The last thing I need is a big "what the HELL did you do to your car?" from a crappy ride. Besides, it drove me nuts. I didn't want to drive all the way to Wisconsin through Detroit bobbing up and down like Uncle Buck. The settling wasn't the issue, the shocks weren't able to keep up, especially in the higher rate section of the progressive spring. You hit a small bump and it absorbed it. You hit a big bump and the floating began. There are tons of big bumps up here on our frost battered roads. I am looking forward to the Knevil suspension too.

[martyo]

I didn't want to drive all the way to Wisconsin through Detroit bobbing up and down like Uncle Buck.

Who is Uncle Buck? :confused:

[martyo]

Who is Uncle Buck? :confused:

And, why is he bobbing up and down? :confused:

[TAF]

Who is Uncle Buck? :confused:
http://www.wlaciccia.it/famosi/images/candy1.jpg ORhttp://www.mercurygallery.net/mmnet/data/500/1136DSC01419.JPG

[martyo]

http://www.wlaciccia.it/famosi/images/candy1.jpg ORhttp://www.mercurygallery.net/mmnet/data/500/1136DSC01419.JPG

Nah, John Candy is much thinner!!!

[Donny Carlson]

This is my uncle buck:


http://www.monitor.ca/monitor/issues/vol10iss12/uncle%20buck%202.jpg

[maraudernkc]

Looks great but I love the stock highway ride but I bet your handles bad a$$




Today I had the Metcos and the Eibachs installed. I got the watts link and the control arms. The change in ride is nothing short of astonishing. Good if you're hustling, bad if you're cruising. Maybe I have the rear set too low, but it feels like its set in concrete. I want it to handle like a bastard for autoX but I think I am going to get some complaints from the family on the next road trip. If I raise the rear up a bit will it smooth out the ride? Also I guess the poly bushings will work in with time.
Some pics:
http://www.msprotege.com/members/Wesman%20II/1a/Picture%20019.jpg
http://www.msprotege.com/members/Wesman%20II/1a/Picture%20008.jpg
Front drop
http://www.msprotege.com/members/Wesman%20II/1a/Picture%20011.jpg
Rear drop
http://www.msprotege.com/members/Wesman%20II/1a/Picture%20009.jpg
http://www.msprotege.com/members/Wesman%20II/1a/Picture%20010.jpg
Metcos installed
http://www.msprotege.com/members/Wesman%20II/1a/Picture%20016.jpg



I ended up with -2.6 degrees of camber. Good for autoX, bad for tire wear. I will change it after the season is over in about a month.
http://www.msprotege.com/members/Wesman%20II/1a/Picture%20001a.jpg

[jspradii]

Today I had the Metcos and the Eibachs installed. I got the watts link and the control arms. The change in ride is nothing short of astonishing. Good if you're hustling, bad if you're cruising. Maybe I have the rear set too low, but it feels like its set in concrete. I want it to handle like a bastard for autoX but I think I am going to get some complaints from the family on the next road trip. If I raise the rear up a bit will it smooth out the ride? Also I guess the poly bushings will work in with time.
Some pics:
http://www.msprotege.com/members/Wesman%20II/1a/Picture%20019.jpg
http://www.msprotege.com/members/Wesman%20II/1a/Picture%20008.jpg
Front drop
http://www.msprotege.com/members/Wesman%20II/1a/Picture%20011.jpg
Rear drop
http://www.msprotege.com/members/Wesman%20II/1a/Picture%20009.jpg
http://www.msprotege.com/members/Wesman%20II/1a/Picture%20010.jpg
Metcos installed
http://www.msprotege.com/members/Wesman%20II/1a/Picture%20016.jpg



I ended up with -2.6 degrees of camber. Good for autoX, bad for tire wear. I will change it after the season is over in about a month.
http://www.msprotege.com/members/Wesman%20II/1a/Picture%20001a.jpgYou want a 1/4 miler? You want an Auto X'er? You want a family car? In my experience, you can't have all of them. You have to decide on which combination you want and try to "adapt" to those conditions. You can't do 12's on the drag strip, fine quarters in the AX and carry your family of five in the same car and have the best of all worlds. My kids don't mind the rougher ride when I can give them a little "oomph" on the on ramp or straight-away. But I built my car to do low 11's in the 1/4. It doesn't ride like a Lincoln or even a Grand Marquis on the freeway. I don't expect it to.

[Glenn]

Just to pass some interesting information on concerning the rear suspension from Steve Babcock, Mercury Marauder Project Manager. "The OEM control arms do flex and have softer bushings then Metco's". Lowering the air springs should help soften the ride alittle along with decreasing the rear tire pressure to 30#." "The 35# tire pressure for 2004 is strictly for gas mileage and NOT to improve tire wear." The MM was designed to run 32# of air in all tires and 30# in the rear for a softer ride should not hurt the tires."

I too noticed a firmer ride from the Metco C/A's, but have learned to enjoy the much better handling and control, not to mention the much improved launch.

Glenn

[wesman]

You want a 1/4 miler? You want an Auto X'er? You want a family car? In my experience, you can't have all of them. You have to decide on which combination you want and try to "adapt" to those conditions. You can't do 12's on the drag strip, fine quarters in the AX and carry your family of five in the same car and have the best of all worlds. My kids don't mind the rougher ride when I can give them a little "oomph" on the on ramp or straight-away. But I built my car to do low 11's in the 1/4. It doesn't ride like a Lincoln or even a Grand Marquis on the freeway. I don't expect it to.
I want it all, and I want it now.

[TAF]

I want it all, and I want it now.
Me too.......

http://www.mercurygallery.net/mmnet/data/500/83IMG_1833-med.JPG (http://www.mercurygallery.net/mmnet/showphoto.php/photo/5849/size/big/password/263233a0dd0b5fe0053e90d33d4b6b a0/sort/1/cat/500)