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Suspension... or wheels / tires?

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Johnny_P

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
Which would be a better "first mod?"
My SEdan is 100% stock right now. After reading some of these threads, my head hurts. There are so many options out there. Basically, this is what I am looking for:
- I need to be able to go over speed bumps, plain and simple
- I think the ride height of the car now is pretty good.. not too low, just a tad high. So, 1.5" drop max
- Want to really lay it down in the corners. Right now, the car tends to nose dive and sway through a turn, rather than flat out stick it. (Possibly light autocrossing in the future).
- I take long trips, so I don't want it to be rock hard.
- Don't want to break the bank on this one (no coilovers, and adjustable suspension is probaby out)

So it came to this. Since this is a year long project... I was wondering what would be a better first mod.
1) get rid of springs, shocks and swaybar, and buy a sportier suspension, or
2) get new wheels and tires (probably Rotas or Kazeras with Yokohama tires)

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#2 ·
Suspension. Plan and simple. Then, when you do get a new set of wheels and tires, they will be put to better use.

My. 01

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Discussion starter · #3 ·
Ahh.... I guess that makes sense. I already know that I am going to do suspension and handling mods before I do engine work.
Any suggestions on spring / strut combos? I was looking at the Eibach pro kit, but with all the people flaming the Eibach systems...
 
#4 ·
I certainly can't speak for everyone, but it seems to me that in most of these type of suspension threads, the SVT suspension swap almost always seems to be the way to go.

<ul type="square"> [*]Lowers the car from stock at most about .75"
[*]Retains basically all of the stock drivability (is a factory suspension after all) [*]Handles quite well for a stock suspension setup [/list]

In my opinion, a perfect setup would be the SVT shocks, SVT struts/shocks and SVT or H&R swaybars.

I know I like how my stock SVT rides, it could just use slightly stiffer swaybars (leaning towards the H&R's as previously mentioned).

For the price it just seems like the SVT setup is hard to beat.
 
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#5 ·
The SVT suspension is awesome, cheap, and exactly fits the needs that you listed.
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If you feel that a little bit more of a drop is necessary (1.5"), the Eibach Pro-kit Plus is probably the setup for you. However, keep in mind that it'll cost more than twice what the SVT suspension will, and will perform only a little bit better.
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#6 ·
Ahh.... I guess that makes sense. I already know that I am going to do suspension and handling mods before I do engine work.
Any suggestions on spring / strut combos? I was looking at the Eibach pro kit, but with all the people flaming the Eibach systems...
Click to expand...
I wonder who is flaming it. I think it rides better the the H&R. I would recommend the pro-kit. Plus you get another 3/4" drop over the svt swap.
 
#7 ·
Suspension first. If your goal was strictly autocross in a stock class, then tires would make all the difference...


- I need to be able to go over speed bumps, plain and simple
- I think the ride height of the car now is pretty good.. not too low, just a tad high.
- Want to really lay it down in the corners. Right now, the car tends to nose dive and sway through a turn, rather than flat out stick it. (Possibly light autocrossing in the future).
- I take long trips, so I don't want it to be rock hard.
- Don't want to break the bank on this one
Click to expand...

I did suspension first, and since I use my car on the street as well as for road trips, my modification theme is 'Road Car' using all Ford part numbers...(SVT brakes are 50% procured).

As pitch said, the SVT suspension fits your description to a 'T'. SVT, that is...
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I love the way my car feels now that I have it installed, and the neat thing is you can tune yaw rotation with the rear bar. The stocker, depending on model year and trim level is 18 or 20mm (mine), the SVT rear bar is 21mm and I think the aftermarket offers 22, 24, 25 and 26 mm diameters. Total tunage...

If you decide in the future to go huge w/ the rear bar (I would, but only in the summertime or on a closed course; the rotational characteristics are pronounced
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), then see this thread:

http://www.focaljet.com/ubbthreads/showf...ge=0#2416610899
 
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#10 ·
just as a word of caution, suspension modding leads to more parts and time. one change forces another.

but the SVT is the least troublesome as it isnt as severe and is of course OEM.
 
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#11 ·
I agree with TXFO. Modding seems to cause a mental disorder for me. Sometimes thinking about what i'll do next for modding my car is the only thing that puts me to sleep lately. But then again im just a weird freak that loves the focus.
 
#12 ·
Sometimes thinking about what i'll do next for modding my car is the only thing that puts me to sleep lately.
Click to expand...
LOL! This is a universal affliction affecting all car people that want to improve their cars, and in my opinion, is how the best choices are ultimately made and how the best cars are built.
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#14 ·
That's because you are HURTING; you're in utter AGONY because you are such a HACK...

You see, those of us who do things well fall asleep into a blissful slumber...where we continue in our dreams to further ponder the magnificent ideas we have for our caars...
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Sucks to be you!
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...jk; you know I am, BRO...
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#17 ·
I can't believe the mood I was in early this morning...
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Anyway; I still think of things to do to the Focus, think about the Focus, etc. but not quite as much as when I was really building my '63 YankTank...that car needed a lot of work to make it the car it turned out to be. A lot of work and a lot of money...

I've learned a couple of things over the years about high perf. modifications and the thing is, when it comes to cars that have license plates and registrations, and cars that have to be driven to work and sit in traffic, less is more. Believe me.

On the other hand, if one is building a track-only machine, then your wallet's the limit, and quite frankly, I would probably not sleep at all thinking about everything it needed...
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Discussion starter · #18 ·
Yeah... This is my only car, and driven all the time on long trips, short runs to the grocery store, and to work and back every day. So, that's why I didnt want a huge drop or anything.

But I still stay up at night thinking about it
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