View Full Version : She handles like she's on RAILS!!! Eibach springs and sway-bar install/pics
Today, I must say that I improved the handling and response of the Marauder DRAMATICALLY. I had the Eibach front springs, Dennis’ “beefy” sway bar and the Kenny Brown dead-pedal installed. And while we were at it, I had the complete axel assembly replaced under the TSB for the early builds.
Eibach springs - I can’t say enough how dramatically better this car handles with these springs. It lowers the front SIGNIFICANTLY. Stiffens the ride, and makes it handle MUCH “sportier” than I had even imagined. There is NO HARSHNESS in the ride. I took several “twisties” this afternoon and the front-end tracks perfectly. I was even a little skeptical (before the install) that it might make the ride a little harsh so I purposely went through several areas with lots of bumps, manhole covers that stick up and those huge steels plates that they put over potholes before fixing them and it is so stiff and true now, it feels like it does when you drive away from having a new set of tires put on that were long overdue. I CAN’T recommend this mod enough. And as far as the looks…I’ll post some before and after pics below. I made just a slight adjustment to the rear (I actually liked it with no adjustment at all, but Scott talked me into lowering it just ¾ of an inch). It REALLY fills out the wheel wells (see below) and IMHO gives the car a GREAT look.
Dennis’ sway bar – Even if you’re not sure about the springs…you MUST do this as your next mod! This sway-bar eliminates virtually all the body roll, plants the rear-end firmly to the road and makes the entire car track MUCH flatter and surer. I feel this coupled with the springs make the handling package more like the sports cars I used to drive. Agile, sure footed and quick to respond. Call Dennis and order this NOW!
Kenny brown dead-pedal - All I’m going to say is I’m an idiot for waiting this long to put this in. All of you that have done it were RIGHT!
Check out the pics below and let me know your thoughts. I tried to be careful in making sure the car had the same angle, background and position for both shots.
NOTE:I lightened the profile images to see more definition in the wheel wells.
More pics in the "Photo Gallery"
Good job! Did the springs affect the alignment?
jgc61sr2002
07-26-2003, 05:05 PM
Todd - Your MM looks great. Nice report and pics. Thanks.:up:
Originally posted by Zack
Good job! Did the springs affect the alignment?
Actually Zack...that's part of the story I forgot. We aligned to the original specs (as suggested by Eibach)...but, what was interesting and VERY helpful/informative...the guys had me climb up and get into the car, hold the wheel as straight as I'd like to see it and aligned it with ME in the car!
At 285lbs, it was interesting to see that when I'm in the car, I effected it a couple of degrees. (insert jokes here) And since 95% of the time, it's just me in the car, I think it was a great idea. We locked it down according to the specs and with me in it and that's where it is.
To also answer your question...YES...there is a SIGNIFICANT alignment adjustment needed especially to the camber (which is quite a process with those stupid clips over the adjustment). This thing is REALLY lowered.
Petrograde
07-26-2003, 07:34 PM
WOW! That looks nice! You said it doesn't effect the quality? Holy crap! lol Well, I gues I know what my first mod will be! Along with the swaybar.
Bigdogjim
07-26-2003, 08:33 PM
[QUOTE]Originally posted by TAF
...the guys had me climb up and get into the car, hold the wheel as straight as I'd like to see it and aligned it with ME in the car!
At 285lbs, it was interesting to see that when I'm in the car, I effected it a couple of degrees. (insert jokes here) And since 95% of the time, it's just me in the car, I think it was a great idea. We locked it down according to the specs and with me in it and that's where it is.
I will make no joke about this! At 365lb I had my MM "adjusted" right after I took delivery. That much weight can and will effect any cars front end. I first did this in the early '80's.
Good move TAF!:D
MI2QWK4U
07-27-2003, 03:27 AM
What did I tell you Todd!! The improvement is stunning. I am really glad you liked them, for once I was happy to be the guinne pig to have a mod done first.
Originally posted by MI2QWK4U
What did I tell you Todd!!
Dave,
I've tried to PM you to thank you for your help and guidance a few times, but your PMs are full!!!
So THANKS!!! It's even better than you described.
Todd
Todd;
Where / who did the work for you? You've got 4.10's, right? How did this go w/ the rear axle swap? And just what IS the TSB for the rear axle swap? The only one I'm looking forward to having taken care of is the OLD one for the carpet peeling off my door pockets!
-Jim
Hello Jim!
I (along with about 8-10 other Marauders) ONLY get our work done at TeamFord of Marietta. Thanks to Dennis, he referred me to the BEST tech there who has become the "Marauder Guru" for a bunch of us.
The second post in this thread will give you the info you need on the TSB of the axel.
http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=3677&highlight=TSBs
Aha!
You've told me about TeamFord up there in May-retta before. I guess I'll have to trek up there. Anyone in particular I should speak to when I make an appointment? Frankly, I was going to install the springs and swaybar myself, but heck, if there's other work to be done on the axle, might as well handle it all at once.
Speaking something that's not the windows... Anyone know of a GOOD place to get th windows on my Mo tinted? Took 3 tries (3 different places) to get the windows on my wifes M Coupe even "decent" and I grew weary of looking for someplace else....
-Jim
Petrograde
07-27-2003, 11:20 AM
lemme get this straight. After installing new springs you have to get an alignment?
Also, by lowering the car that much have you run into any wheel clearance problems? Turning lock-to-lock or bottoming out?
Billatpro
07-27-2003, 01:08 PM
yes, I too would like the answers to petro's questions, dennis seems to think the springs ruined the ride! anyone else feel this way?
Originally posted by Petrograde
lemme get this straight. After installing new springs you have to get an alignment?
Yes...of course. When you lower the car an inch and a quarter, you're changing some of the geometry up front...specificly your camber changes significantly. You must get an alignment. The good news is, it's to the standard alignment specs.
Also, by lowering the car that much have you run into any wheel clearance problems? Turning lock-to-lock or bottoming out?
None at all. If you look at your stock setting, it's quite high (at least for my taste) and the low-profile tires make it seem even more so. I was just in my neighborhood and decided to go over some speed-bumps (big ones about 8-10" high at a little speed...no bottom out, frankly not even a hard jolt...just a firm hit and over. (I don't make a practice of this...just curious myself)
Originally posted by Billatpro
dennis seems to think the springs ruined the ride! anyone else feel this way?
Bill...I think the firmness of ride and handlinng can be a very subjective and preferential thing (not unlike speaker choice). I can only tell you that I drove around again for a while today and this car has NEVER felt this solid. When breaking hard...there is NO nose dive and it corners like a Porsche I once had (some of that credit goes to the stiffer rear-end from Dennis' sway-bar, as well)
TripleTransAm
07-27-2003, 02:52 PM
It depends on whether the suspension uses equal length control arms or unequal length units. I believe the MM uses unequal length control arms.
If you look at the following scan from the service manual, you'll see how the spring (10) passes through the upper control arm (1). I think it's with unequal length arms that you will see the arc made by the upper control arm be tighter than the one made by the longer lower arm.
http://www.tripletransam.com/mm/mm-susp-frt.jpg
Item (3) is the knuckle (or spindle, depending on the manufacturer) and this keeps the distance between the upper and lower control arm end points constant at all times. If the arms were equal length, the knuckle would always remain at 90 degrees to the horizontal, but with a shorter upper arm, the top of the knuckle will tuck inward as the arms swing upward, and this results in negative camber.
As everyone mentioned, the camber does change as you go over bumps and as the height of the car changes (ie. with driver in the car, etc.). So lowering springs would also result in a little more negative camber at rest, so you need to adjust for that.
Here's a little simplified sketch of what the front suspension looks like from the front, if it had equal length arms (well, sort of equal... I'm no artist). In this case, as item (3) (the spring) compresses and/or shortens, item (4) remains at 90 degrees to the pavement. But with a shorter item (1), the upper arm, item (4) will swing inwards at the top as the spring compresses. (which isn't a bad thing... a little extra camber on the outside wheel as you're burning into a turn is a good thing...)
edit: a little extra NEGATIVE camber...
http://www.tripletransam.com/mm/mm-susp-frt2.jpg
Steve,
What you have posted is true in most all respects. The one additional item is the difference in the stiffness of the Eibach springs. Which, by the way...are NOT progressive springs...they are linear(meaning normal springs). However, the spring rates on the Eibachs are MUCH stiffer to the tune of about 30%. See email response below from Eibach...
Todd, the front springs are not progressive, they are linear with a rate of
463 LB / IN (OE is 303 LB / IN). The springs will give the car more of a
sporty not harsh ride.
Tech Support
Eibach Springs, Inc.
TripleTransAm
07-27-2003, 03:06 PM
The higher spring rates would lead me to believe one would be better off with a slightly more negative camber than stock, since you'll get less "added" negative camber as you cook into a turn. This is, of course, my opinion and only that... can anyone confirm?
Marauderman
07-27-2003, 03:10 PM
OK --Looks good --I think-- not sure until I get a chance to drive my man's Todd's MM-- But on another feature note-
During last weeks Charlotte Meet--a few of the members noticed my MM 's tire clearence (front) to be quite high over theirs--- a quick measurement and WHOOOO--My MM is a good 1 and 1/4 inch higher than Butche's and MARAUDER 1's ...even checked against dok's silver---the same thing---now what does that mean you suppose--whose is correct or a problem..hummmmmm
Any help out there ..since we're talking springs...not sure what to make of this.....
Agreed Steve...and that was one of the neat things about them performing the alignment with me in the car. You are exactly right, we discussed that and compensated for it.
Just another thing i've meant to say...
This is NOT a "DIY" project!!!! I had 2 of the best Ford Techs in the Southeast doing mine and they said it was NOT like changing springs on a Mustang. They had to remove the entire front strut assembly and utilize a hydrolic press to remove the OEMs.
NOTE: Good news for you ATL guys that may be interested...once again I was the "guinea pig" and they NOW know how to do it much faster than mine.
Originally posted by marauderman
OK --Looks good --I think-- not sure until I get a chance to drive my man's Todd's MM-- But on another feature note-
During last weeks Charlotte Meet--a few of the members noticed my MM 's tire clearence (front) to be quite high over theirs--- a quick measurement and WHOOOO--My MM is a good 1 and 1/4 inch higher than Butche's and MARAUDER 1's ...even checked against dok's silver---the same thing---now what does that mean you suppose--whose is correct or a problem..hummmmmm
Any help out there ..since we're talking springs...not sure what to make of this.....
Take them "22s" off that thing, tom :lol:
Actually 2 things:
1) I just answered a post on another thread about tSBs and one of the threads that I supplied a link for had a TSB on the front-end height.
and 2)...you bet your sweet bippy you're going for a ride in mine 1 week from tomorrow as I'll be up in CLT again!!!
(You're going to LOVE this thing, Tom!!!)
martyo
07-27-2003, 03:32 PM
Nice work Todd!!
Steve is right (from what I understand) about the increasen negative camber improving handling in the twisties.
Petrograde
07-27-2003, 08:09 PM
Thanks for the info Obi-Wan,.... er,... I mean TAF. lol
martyo
07-27-2003, 08:11 PM
Originally posted by Petrograde
Thanks for the info Obi-Wan
That's O-belly-Wan.....
Originally posted by martyo
That's O-belly-Wan.....
"Are you talkin to me?"
"Yeah...you...are YOU talkin to ME??!!"
martyo
07-27-2003, 08:18 PM
Originally posted by TAF
"Are you talkin to me?"
"Yeah...you...are YOU talkin to ME??!!"
Listen Krispy Kreme boy, it takes one to know one! Now pass the donuts and shuddup!!!
LincMercLover
07-27-2003, 10:45 PM
Just one of those weeks...
MI2QWK4U
07-29-2003, 03:40 PM
"This is NOT a "DIY" project!!!! I had 2 of the best Ford Techs in the Southeast doing mine and they said it was NOT like changing springs on a Mustang. They had to remove the entire front strut assembly and utilize a hydrolic press to remove the OEMs."
Like Todd said, the Marauder springs were not as easy as the mustangs. Mine was the first one Lidio did, and his guys took their time to get it done right. Just be prepared for that 'awwww *****' look from mechanics that are hoping this was the going to be as easy of a job as the mustang springs!!
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