Howda-Ya-Do-It Lowering Question-Macpherson struts

Howza Bruthas-

So what is the low down(literally) of lowerin a vehicle that has Macpherson struts?

I have attacked with success older Fords this one is new to me.
Is it as simple as cutting coils or is more involved?

Thanks as always.

 

You can cut the springs or lower the bottom spring seat.

 

I heard that you can really almost do this by not removing the springs.

seemed crazy to me.

 

Gimme some help here!

 

Some use shorter shock cartridges to go with shorter springs.
Others relocate the lower shock mount on the strut.

You can also relocate the upper mount higher,relative to the body.

 

Plenty of cheap drop springs on the market for cars equipped with these. For 2in or less drop you should be able to use the stock struts without issue.

A coilover conversion is a good and easy way to go as well.

 

Awright good info-

Here is why I ask-

 

That's an LTD II, which I believe is a FOX platform based car. Mustang front suspension upgrades should work for pretty much everything.

 

Actually it is a 1982 Granada wagoon.

66,000 original miles never smoked in and is like new inside and out.

Not really a traditional car here, but it will enable me to save some dough for upgrades on the slEdsel and maybe get another roadster project gathered up.

This thing needs a lowering job seriously.

 

Last question.

Will this harm the ball joints when I drop the lower A arm?

Any other concerns?

 

Depends on the balljoint design.

Take out the spring,and see how far it lower arm can travel without binding.
Then you know for sure.

 

Hmmmmm, okay, I just have to do something to make this daily driver a bit kewler.

With minimal coin available of course.

 

Should be able to get lowered Mustang springs that will work.

 

Just about everything looks better slammed ........just about everything.

I think i'd just drive it as is. I don't think there is much hope for getting to cool.

 

MacPherson... I think I went to school with that guy.

 

His sister Elle NEVER returns my calls...

 

I know, I KNOW!

It was just damned geek-tastic(c), that I couldn't resist it. That and I cannot find a decent Falcon or Comet wagon up here.

Well, on it goes and I will submit pics when it is done.

Not that it is traditional by any means, but it is a step to a different drummer and I am known for that.

 

Everything is out there, ready to bolt on for that platform. It's a fox chassis. You can get lowered struts or lowered springs or you can cut your springs.

Old ball joints rarely like lowering. They've become accustomed to working in one range of motion and you're gonna give em a new range. Don't be suprised if they fail within 20K miles.

There's a million mustang forums with all your answers.

You can't put lipstick on a pig and make it miss america. Lowering a car like that screams "trying too hard".

 

It's off topic for here, but I cut the coils on my '87 Volvo 245 whilst still on the car. I used good spring clamps to compress the lower part of the spring meaning that the part I was cutting was not under tension. Then, I went for it, carefully!
The springs on that car were cut in half all round and it was fine for the two years that I drove it before selling it on.


If you do cut springs, make sure that they seat properly in the mountings after cutting. Our car testing authority frowns upon cut springs if they appear to be damaging the spring cups from bad cutting.