1952-59 Ford Aerostar Coil Springs on My 54

I have the Monroe 5821 shocks in my car. I had to slot the holes, hope they don't pull out. If so, I'll look something up in a shock catalog.

 

KYBs here.

 

When I was running Monroes, I had to modify the bottom mount on the shock as well.

With the KYB's, you need the adapter plate for the bottom shock mount since it's just the single stud.

However, I prefer the KYB type-setup as it is a lot easier to install IMHO.

 

KYB 5514 works well for me on my '53

 

My stock shock has the 2 bolts from the bottom. The 5821 shock holes were too close together, so I slotted the shock holes. If it does not hold, I'll machine up an adapter plate for it.

 

There seems to be a variable depending on brands,my old original Motorcraft shocks were about 2" longer than the Gabriel's I replaced them with (I have not lowered the car) Fronts are Gabriel 82026 and rear 81270 what brought me to check length was I couldn't get the rear tire on after I changed them and they looked like they were too extended for travel,my fix was adding Mr.Gasket 2' shock extensions to get the tire in on the rear.

 

I'm back after a 3 day road trip to Colorado..sure glad I resisted the urge to take the '57...LOT'S of snow up there.
On my new ride height...First, I'm surprised my new KYB shocks seem to be working for both the old and new ride heights, but that may change. As RustyFords said, his dropped another inch, and if mine drops any more at all after driving, The front springs will have to be changed again. I just hope it is at least driveable with caution until I can afford another set of springs. Hopefully today before SB50 starts, I'll get it out again. Most of the driving I did the other day was highway, and I need to find some roads less friendly to suspension problems.
Jeff....about changing or removing the info you've posted...IMHO as I've been trying to point out, the info you've posted maybe just needs the common advertising fine print...."YOUR RESULTS MAY VARY". It's as much about the weight of the drivetrain as it is about the vehicle

 

Truth be known, I'm not overly crazy about the extra inch my car dropped after it settled in.

One quick solution to this might be to add 1" thick upper spring pads from Energy Suspension. I put in new, stock rubber upper pads when I did the swap, but I don't mind pulling it all apart again to add the other pads.

Texas57, I think you used the Mr. Gasket pads....is that correct?

 

Here's how my car is sitting now

 

Yes, Mr Gasket # 1285, they are 1" thick.
Took mine out yesterday for some more test driving. This time I had a pasenger and the car bottomed out a few times at intersections. I haven't measured to see if the car actually dropped any more, but it doesn't make any difference..it's gonna have to be changed again. These were not particularly drastic dips the car was bottoming out on, nor was I driving too fast when I crossed them. SHEEEEEET!
BTW, we don't have storm drains in most of Amarillo except on the main streets, the streets are designed to act like rivers for water diversion, thus the dips at many street intersections.

 

Makes me glad I saved my OG coils... may just whack 1 coil or 2 out of those, paint 'em black and use them. Sell The aerostars for what I paid for them.

 

The Aerostars are a progressive coil spring so ride and handling will be better if you need a little lift use the spacers http://www.energysuspensionparts.com/universal-coil-spring-isolators.asp Cutting a stock spring will worsen the ride because you are also reducing it's load capacity also stock springs are non-progressive.

 

Yeah, if you don't know what you're doing it could be an issue. You have to know what spring you have and be able to calculate what you take off into the resulting spring rate. Old springs lose some of their rate over time. Lopping off a coil or so may bring it back to a stock rate.

 

I might be beating a dead horse here so to speak but this topic of shocks has me really scratching my head too. I'm in the process of rebuilding the front suspension on mine as well as adding the Aerostar coils and like many on here, got the KYB #KG4503 as per the sticky. I know a lot of fellas have used these without complaint with the shorter coils but I have to question the use of these. Here's why;
The stock shocks (don't know what brand) I removed from my car had a compressed length of (approx) 8 1/2" and an extended length of (approx) 11 3/4". That was with stock coil springs. The recommended KYB shock for a 1954 Ford with stock coil springs are the #KG4503. These are almost a full 3" longer (extended) than the stock shock and a little over 1" longer when compressed. Logic tells me this is the wrong direction to go in if we install a shorter spring. Pheaton193 used #KG5514 on his '53 (with Aerostar coils) because he had issues with the KG4503's. That was definitely a step in the right direction and gave him better performance. But looking at the chart below, I'm thinking the use of #KG4528 might be a better choice. Since we are going with a much shorter coil, logic would dictate (to me anyway) that you have to go with a shorter shock absorber. Now, I'm no shock expert and if I've missed something in my logic here, please point it out. Thoughts?

 

What year aerostar springs will work in a 56? How much drop with just these springs? Why not just cut a coil off the stock ones as was done back in the "day"?

 

Nice ****ysis. Although what you propose appears logical, I didn't try the 4528s based upon the advice of KYB Tech support to use the 5514s. What I can say is the 5514s cured my problems and there was no need to go further. However, if there is a good supplier like Summit Racing (very close to me) close by, various shocks could be tried. KYB also advised that 5514s the will ride a bit softer and I like that.

 

Moog CC850. The drop you get varies from 2 1/2"- 4" depending on who you talk to and what engine you have. No reason you couldn't cut the old ones like they used to but, like some have pointed out, that may also change your spring rate.

 

I think thats great! My concern was installing these and having the car riding on already bottomed or nearly bottomed out shocks. Their intended performance wouldn't be there. I didn't call KYB tech support but rather took a look at their product chart and compared size data. Are you saying their tech support advised you to use the 5514's and did they know you were using a shorter spring?

 

Yes. Looks like we both used different shocks. However both worked. Wonder if 52-53 & 54 suspension differences enter the discussion and then a heavier engine? Are you pleased with your shock choice?

 

Cool! I haven't got the 4528's yet, still have the 4503's that I'll probably swap them for. I'm going to wait until I have everything together and pull a tape measure on it to make that call.

 

The 5514 had been mentioned in other threads as the best option as well. I was going to put my coils in the other night only to find the lower shock mount on the drivers side had been welded to the control arm and it was too late to be grinding away at it.

 

Good idea..

 

What's the best place/price to find the KYB shocks?
Thanks
Jim

 

Does anyone have the part # for the KYB KG5514 adapter plate to take it from 1 bolt to the 2 bolt style like the lower in my 56? I can't seem to find it.

 

I got mine on Amazon. They were about $20 cheaper than the local parts house and about $5 cheaper than Rockauto plus I got free shipping.

 

Is this what you're looking for?http://www.macsautoparts.com/ford_m...ket-for-front-shock-absorber-ford-386973.html

 

I got mine on ebay real cheap. I think the fronts cost me around $30 for the set and the rears were less than that. And they were brand new.

 

Summit Racing is reasonable with excellent return privileges.

 

Ordered up a set of Energy Suspension Coil Spring Isolators and got one of them installed this evening after work.

I wanted something better than the stock, thin rubber isolaters. Plus, the car was sitting just a little bit too low for my taste. I like to fill up the wheel-well, but not the slammed look (at least not for this car).

So...I went with the Energy Suspension 9.6120. It fits the coil spring and the upper pocket perfectly. Now to get the other side installed and test drive it.

http://www.energysuspensionparts.com/9.6120

 

Here's a shot from last night...this is exactly how I want it to sit.