I'm hoping to start working on my 53 Customline again soon, took some time off to finish school. I've been reading on here about using the aerostar springs without any modifications needed. I've also seen the use of the Granada spindles to lower it a few extra inches. If I swap out the spindles what other mods will I have to make, if any? Thanks for your help.
Put Aerostar springs in search here,one of the members has the install in pictures and step by step instructions for doing the swap you will also see before and after pics of cars that have done the swap.
i done aerostar springs and torino spindles om my 55 . my 55 uses ball joints. dose the 53 use pins or joints ?
The '49-'53's use kingpins, 1954 was the first year for IFS and the first OHV V-8's for Ford.If the kingpins are in good condition and kept lubed the combination of Aerostar springs and modern gas shocks and radials will make for a much improved ride and handling you probably would not notice any difference between kingpins and balljoints.
well then if it uses king pins, you cant simply swap on regular ball joint spindles like the granada or torino as they wont fit. i agee with jeff on the upgrade of gas shocks radials springs and sway bar bushings and keep those pins greased
This brings a question to my mind after all this talk of ball joints and radials. Are radial wide white walls the better choice when using the aerostar springs? I have a '54 customline and soon the whole front suspension will be ripped apart to replace all the bushings and the ball joints.
54HotRod,I have a real good link that shows step by step with pictures and text of a '54 Ford front end rebuild,but before you buy ball joints you may not need them as Ford made them very beefy and they seldom need replacement so first lube them then check for play.The bushings should be replaced if you see a lot of cracking around them after installing the new ones give them a coat of silicone spray on a quarterly basis to preserve them.You can get replacement boots for the tierod ends from Energy Suspension in polyurethane as well as the sway bar end links and bushings,they are listed by size not application so check with me when you get ready to order them as they will improve handling for about the same price as a stocker but they also have grease zirks.The radials will make the ride better and minimize the wandering effect common with bias ply tires.
I run 4-ply bias ply on my '53 2-door with Aerostar and 3" lowering blocks. Rides like a Caddy ... and I know ... a Caddy is my DD! Not sure I'd add Granada spindles to the mix with the lowering springs. See my gallery for pics after the spring swap ... much lower and I wouldn't get out of my driveway!
I might be the one referred to that put up the step-by-step on how to install the aerostar springs...I posted it anyway. I just used standard factory length replacement shocks as well. HAve had ZERO problems and have hit a couple REALLY hard dips in the road...no banging, no clunking...just smooth sailing. I also am running P215/75/15 Wide White radials on the original 5" rims...damned thing steers and corners like a DREAM! No body roll, nice and tight...it's a VERY nice driver! Even my wife was surprised at how nice it rides. All pics referring to all of this are in my profile.
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