[91CougarLS]

I just put in the vogtland springs in the rear, front is off to be assembled. Two questions. The rubber mount on the bottom seemed to lift up a bit after lowering the vehicle to the ground. The rubber part that's lifted is towards the middle of the car on both springs. Is that normal? I never looked at the stock springs while on the ground if the rubber lay flat or not. It was all flat in the air while the jack compressed the spring upward. Second, I drove it with just the rear springs installed for about 20mins and the first few bumps, and stop and go from a light the springs made a metal (piiiiiiiiiing) noise a few times kinda loud. I kinda got worried but they didn't make the noise after about 3 times. I figured that its just the springs settling, is that right? Thanks.... Off to the front dissasembly.

 

[Trunk Monkey]

They're Here!

My Vogtland springs that I ordered before Thanksgiving finally arrived! 91cougarLS and I have been waiting on these forever. We ordered them around the same time. He got his on Jan 2 (Because he lives closer to California).

Time to put the car back together and see what happens!

The Stock Rear spring and the new Vogtland

The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly
My Stock Front Spring Assemblies next to the new assembiles with one of the new Cobra Bilsteins and the old shocks.

 

[91CougarLS]

I got both front assemblies off they went pretty fast, but not without busting my pinky pretty bad. I didn't realize the top mount had a washer so the shop might need that lol they said they had the nut though. I would bring the old assembly in but my ride flaked out ahhh. I might have to wait until tmrw night to get them in now. off to ice my pinky and see what im gonna do.

ok the guy at Midas called said he got them together, and said the strut washer is not required. Anyways is this true? I don't want them busting out of the spring while driving.

 

[Trunk Monkey]

I personally wouldn't trust those without the top washer.

I ordered a new set of mounting hardware from FordPartsCounter (Jason) for the front. I talked to him this afternoon and he said everything should be ready for pickup tomorrow. Then it's off to the shop to have my new front assemblies put together. I'm leaving the old ones intact and will take them along as a reference.

I will put the rear springs in tonight and reassemble the rear end. The front will take longer since I'm also replacing the UCA's and the swaybar bushings. More pictures to come...

 

[dDUBb]

Those are only a 3/4" Drop ?? They look much smaller than the factory springs, I take it they are much stiffer and dont compress as much ?

- Dan

 

[Trunk Monkey]

I was thinking the same thing. We'll see when I get them on the car. If they're the 1.6" drop springs I won't send them back. I'll be interested to see what the car looks like when I put it back on the ground. They are much thicker. I'll put my dial calipers on them, measure the thickness, do a comparision and post the results here. I'll also measure the unsprung height difference before I put the new springs in.

Edit - Update:

The Unsprung height of the stock rear spring is 13 3/4"
The Unsprung height of the Vogtland rear spring is 11 1/4"
A difference of 2 1/2"

The diameter of the stock rear coil is .670"
The diameter of the Vogtland rear coil is .720"
A difference of .050" or just under 1/16" heavier.

 

[91CougarLS]

well, I looked at them and they seem unsafe like this. Plus they are not compressed all the way and I'm not sure if tightening the nut would work. This is getting frustrating. Im guessing the plastic piece that slides on the shock should be at the top of the mount mine is loose still and the shock bolt is not all the way through. ahhhhh retarted ppl don't know what to do.

 

[Trunk Monkey]

Do you put the more tightly coiled section of the spring (Pictured in post 2) toward the top or the bottom? My guesss is it's the bottom.

 

[91CougarLS]

its just how yours is pictured. the idiot at midas barely compressed mine and just put the nut on to hold it together is all. I have to either find a compitent shop tmrw to mount them right or gonna put the stock ones back on till next week.

 

[Trunk Monkey]

Got it. Thanks for the info. on orientation.

Sorry about your luck with the front ones. At least you can enjoy the rear springs until you can get the front one's fixed right. Do the new front springs have to be compressed so that the assembly is the same Height/Length as the old assembly?

I'm lucky I have another vehicle to fall back on. I'll be taking the old and new assemblies to a local shop tomorrow to get the new one's put together AND I'll have the old one's available as a reference. I should have the rear end reassembled tonight.

 

[91CougarLS]

It has to be compressed at least half way I'd say or else its hard to get them in. Mine ended up being much longer than stock and the alignment mount is way off, plus the fact that the washer isn't on makes me worry how it would hold when fully compressed without the washer. Will tell you what happens tmrw. thx.

 

[Trunk Monkey]

Thanks again. I'll make sure they're at least the same length as the originals. Good luck, I wouldn't have even taken them home without that washer on the top. Hope you finger isn't to bad. I'm going to finish putting mine back together. Talk to you here tomorrow.

 

[91CougarLS]

Finished the fronts got the washer installed. one side didn't line up that great but I used a pry bar to twist it into place. take back what I said it doesn't matter how far they are installed really bc once the weight of the car is down you can tighten the middle nut down all the way. I drove around for a while and they feel good. The body roll has reduced a lot yet they still drive smooth over bumps. The only mishap I have is that the rear spring is making a (clingggg) noise when hitting bumps sometimes. It's not loud but you can hear it. I have no idea what it's from so your guess is as good as mine. Do the rear springs mount either way or is there a top and bottom?

I think I put one of the rear springs in upside down thats probably the noise.

 

[Trunk Monkey]

Sorry to hear you're going to have to pull one of the rear springs again to flip it.

I just finished reassembling the rear end. It looks great. it will probably settle another 1/4" or so once I drive it around and break the new springs in.

I got one of the front shock/spring assemblies put together today. I'll finish reinstalling it tonight. I'm still waiting on a installation kit for the other side (New Hardware) since I'm going to leave the old assemblies intact. Jason (FordPartsCounter) said it should be here Monday. I should have the car ready to drive by Wednesday - My work schedule permitting.

 

[Trunk Monkey]

Update Post 7 with spring dimensions.
Update Post 16 with pictures

 

[91CougarLS]

noise was from the front brake dust shields I had forgot to bend them back

 

[v8pwrdbird]

i have question. i just recently was given a 95 tbird lx 4.6l and somebody at some time had put airbags on this car and the guy that i got it from had them removed and put regular springs inplace of them. he used the eibach lowering springs. anyway, my rear end does not have those black cups that you have pictured in yours and i am afraid these things will pop out as well as i beleive the car is not sitting proper due to not having them. where can i get these top and bottom pieces. thank you

 

[Rolling-Thunder]

Go to the Ford Parts Counter forum, and give Jason a PM or phone call.

Shouldn't be much more than $8-$9 each for those rubber isolators.
They are very easy to install.


EDIT:

As of Sept. 2006, the rear spring isolators were $11.61 ea (retail $16.82 ea)
Obviously, you will need four of them.

 

[v8pwrdbird]

is it a good idea to replace all the springs and are the lx sport good ones

 

[Rolling-Thunder]

Replacing the springs is up to you.

The Sport springs are a good choice, and I had them in my 95 LX.

The rears are easy, the fronts are more of a challenge to swap.