Technical Lowering 1957 Ford Thunderbird - Shock Absorbers?

Hello out there in HAMB land,

I want to lower my car. Based upon what I've read here and on some other blogs, I'm going to use the Aerostar springs. I haven't found any advice on what shocks to go with if I lower the car. Recommendations welcome, hopefully based upon experience from lowering one of these.

Thanks,

Dave

 

You can use the stock length shocks as long as you don't remove the bump stops or change the travel of the a-arms so that they compress further then the originals. The only thing you are doing by changing the springs is moving where the vehicle typically rides within the suspension travel arc.

 

Glad to see someone is doing something other than stock with the 5,6,7 Birds...

 

Once done you should jam up some before and after pics.

 

If I put stock length gas shocks on the car to improve ride and handling, will those raise the car? The Aerostar springs should give me somewhere around a 2 1/2" drop and I don't want to be higher than that.

 

Shocks don't raise or lower a car. The springs carry the weight and thus set the ride height. ***uming the length is the same, heavier rate springs will raise a car, lighter rate will lower it. The shocks simply control the dampening and rebound. They prevent the car from oscillating up and down after every bump.

 

Thanks Frozen! I had heard that gas shocks could give extra lift... Don't want that. I do want a better handling car. New springs, gas shocks and sway bars are going on. Also thinking about going with disc brakes. I will post before and after pictures along with what I hope is a performance improvement post.

 

I've got Aerostar springs in my 55. If you want to see what they look like, I'm in Modesto. They lowered it, but probably only about an inch. Gas shocks can give a little lift on a light car, but on the Thunderbird its not significant. I didn't notice any on mine when I put them on with stock springs.
If you are thinking about discs, I believe Granada spindles are a good way to go.

You might want to go to y-blocksforever.com and do a search.

Don

 

Thanks Don! I may reconsider my spring choice, as I'm looking for a 2 - 3" drop. Did you like the ride and performance better with the Aerostar springs?