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Author
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Topic: What does lowering your upper a-arm do to your suspension? does it really help?
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FASTFORD
Gearhead Posts: 105
From: USA
Registered: Aug 2002
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posted 10-04-2002 02:31 PM
   
I want to lower my upper a-arms. I'm not sure what it does, but I think it gives you negative camber.?. I also heard that if you do that, your tires will rub on the fender...I have P215/70R15 tires, will they rub? Is this really gonna help my handling?------------------
1967 Mustang coupe
originally a c-code 289 with a c-4 tranny, I added holley 600cfm 4bbl, edelbrock performer intake manifold, hooker competition headers, and dual 3 chamber flowmaster exhaust
exterior is acapulco blue with black vinyl top
interior is stock with a kenwood cd player
goal is to have a streetable muscle car that can run with a late model cobra mustang [This message has been edited by FASTFORD (edited 10-06-2002).]
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Jeff
Gearhead Posts: 306
From: Moore, OK USA
Registered: Mar 2001
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posted 10-04-2002 04:43 PM
Doing the Shelby drop keeps more of the tire patch in contact with the road during high speed turns hence you can increase sideforces ("g" loads) before the tires break loose. It doesn't reduce the height of the car noticeably, i.e. perhaps 1/4" inch or so. Should not impact the tire size you use unless you also lower the car by changing springs or cutting the ones you have. If you lower the car beyond a certain point, somewhere over 1", the angle of the ball joints starts creeping to the inside limit of travel. When you are near the limit and hit bumps you can hear cracking of the ball joint or get bump steer. Bump steer is a property of the steering where the geometry of the tie rods no longer tracks the geometry of the "A" arms. The effect is to introduce a steering component (jerk) in the steering when you hit a bump.
What this means is you can lower the car about 1" without expecting problems but if you want more, then expect to have to add ($) correction kits to prevent ball joint bind and bump steer.
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FASTFORD
Gearhead Posts: 105
From: USA
Registered: Aug 2002
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posted 10-04-2002 05:09 PM
Thanks for the help...one more question: If I cut my coil springs a inch or two, how can I correct the ball joint problem?
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1967 Mustang coupe
originally a c-code 289 with a c-4 tranny, I added holley 600cfm 4bbl, edelbrock performer intake manifold, hooker competition headers, and dual 3 chamber flowmaster exhaust
exterior is acapulco blue with black vinyl top
interior is stock with a kenwood cd player
goal is to have a streetable muscle car that can run with a late model cobra mustang
IP: Logged |
FASTFORD
Gearhead Posts: 105
From: USA
Registered: Aug 2002
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posted 10-04-2002 06:08 PM
One more thing...I've heard that tire clearance will be a problem on '67-70 models. Just to be safe, I will "roll" my fender. How do I do that??------------------
1967 Mustang coupe
originally a c-code 289 with a c-4 tranny, I added holley 600cfm 4bbl, edelbrock performer intake manifold, hooker competition headers, and dual 3 chamber flowmaster exhaust
exterior is acapulco blue with black vinyl top
interior is stock with a kenwood cd player
goal is to have a streetable muscle car that can run with a late model cobra mustang
IP: Logged |
460-67Stang
Gearhead Posts: 289
From: Southern Ohio, USA
Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 10-04-2002 08:24 PM
I lowered my upper A-arms on my '67 and think it's one of the best handling improvements I made. You can see the resulting ride height at www.472ci-67mustang.com . Keep in mind the springs are '72 Torino w/429, and my engine is a 490.Brian
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Mpcoluv
Gearhead Posts: 1271
From: Charlotte NC usa
Registered: Apr 2001
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posted 10-04-2002 10:09 PM
quote:
Originally posted by FASTFORD:
One more thing...I've heard that tire clearance will be a problem on '67-70 models. Just to be safe, I will "roll" my fender. How do I do that??
How large a tire do you want to run?
I have 225/50/16s on the front of my '69 and it seems like I could fit 245s in there
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FASTFORD
Gearhead Posts: 105
From: USA
Registered: Aug 2002
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posted 10-06-2002 04:48 PM
215/70R14------------------
1967 Mustang coupe
originally a c-code 289 with a c-4 tranny, I added holley 600cfm 4bbl, edelbrock performer intake manifold, hooker competition headers, and dual 3 chamber flowmaster exhaust
exterior is acapulco blue with black vinyl top
interior is stock with a kenwood cd player
goal is to have a streetable muscle car that can run with a late model cobra mustang
IP: Logged |
FASTFORD
Gearhead Posts: 105
From: USA
Registered: Aug 2002
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posted 10-06-2002 11:28 PM
Will my tires rub the fender?
Will I run in to any other problems with this mod?
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Calcat
Journeyman Posts: 75
From: Los Angeles, CA
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 10-07-2002 12:59 AM
FastFord just my .02, but it makes no sense to me to go through the time and money to improve steering and suspension only to run 60's tires. Those 205/70/14 should be 24.4". There are several combo's you can run with modern design tires and upgraded rims that will compliment the work you do with your front end. Just something to consider.
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MrWesson22
Gearhead Posts: 1280
From: Dacula, GA
Registered: Sep 2000
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posted 10-08-2002 08:16 AM
I was running 225/70R14s on the old stock wheels on my 69. No clearance problems at all. https://mustangsandmore.com/ubb/MrWesson22.html
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Neal 69 Gulfstream Aqua Grande
351C/4sp
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