BBK Linear Springs

[Bullittgts]

Anyone tried these out? I got them for $50 last winter and haven't gotten around to getting good (at least Tokico) shocks and struts for them. Was going to trade them over the weekend for a guy's FMS C springs, but he decided not to show. Anybody think these would be OK on my '95 GTS, or should I try to get the C springs?
If I kept 'em, I'd probably go get some Bullitt struts for the front right away and get shocks later (couple of months). That'll put off my '99 Cobra rims for a while, but that's life!

How's that for a PoMoFo first post?:D

Jeff

[maveRick]

Jeff,

Welcome to the board!

I have no clue on how to begin answering your question.

"How's that for your first PoMoFo answer"? :D


Sorry 'bout that but one of these guys in-the-know will see your post and reply.


Again, Welcome Aboard, (now, if you tell 2 friends about it and THEY tell two friends and so on and so on...you get the idea..)


Rick

[Bullittgts]

I neglected to mention that my goal is to have all of my handling bases covered before I start focusing on power. Long-term goals are to have a car that will really turn, but the money is still a ways down the road (I'm in school too!) so I'm trying to pick low-buck parts that will work better than stock for now.

I'll tell everyone that I know to check the site out. Seems like a fun place to be.

Jeff

[red95gts]

Welcome Jeff...

I had the C-springs on my 95 GTS with Bilstein struts and shocks, and they weren't enough spring IMHO. I had planned to step up to the H&R Race before I sold it all...

The hot setup IMHO would be the H&R Super Race and some Koni Yellow SAs... although that's a ton of $$, too! LOL

As far as your Eibachs, I don;t know the spring rates on them, so it's tough to say, but I'll bet they are in the low 500# range. Wouldn't be too awfully bad with stock struts, but would definitely improve your handling

Good Luck

[maveRick]

This post reminded me of info I should pass on to Chris (well it's KINDA in the same vein).

Those 'new springs' you have are rated at 600# (just recalled from post above) per "Ford Man Ted (if you know/knew him on North side of Houston - FE type guy).

Just an FYI

[Bullittgts]

This is my own dang fault and I know it. I need to be way more precise when I pose a question. I also need to share all of the information that I have to that point while I'm doing so. Let me try this again:

I have a set of BBK lowering springs (the blue ones, if that helps) and BBK says that they will lower the car about 1.5-1.75" in the front and 7/8" in the rear. They are linear rate springs and are 600# in the front and I believe 220# in the rear. Some of the handling folks on the Corral think that since these are approximately the same rate as the springs on the 2001 Bullitt that they will match up nicely with a set of Bullitt struts and shocks. I believe that it would be a good match (rate-wise). My question is about the geometry. Will lowering my SN95 car more than the commonly-thought limit of 1.5" (for decent handling) cause excessive (read: pain in the arse!) bumpsteer and make me regret lowering it this much? I still have a 100% stock suspension and I want the car to handle better and sit lower (still has that 4X4 look that is made worse by 16" pony rims). I'm also trying to keep in mind that I'm going to be getting '99 Cobra rims with around a 265 40ZR 17 tire on them soon. Could lowering it that much could cause interference problems with the wheel/tire combo?

Feel free to fire away with any answers, thoughts, or flames you feel are appropriate, and I'll continue to get my act together! Thanks guys!:D

Jeff

[red95gts]

Jeff,

Well, when I had the C-springs on my car, I ran withough the lower spring isolator (that rubber "sleeve" that covers the bottom coil). That made the drop in the front roughly 1.5" and the rear 1" (one coil cut out of the C-spring rears).

As I'm sure you know, the C-springs are roughly the same specs as the springs you've got. They are 650# fronts. If the Bullitt springs are in the same range (I have no idea) than the Bullitt struts/shocks should match up nicely and give you a nice ride.

As far as bumpsteer, I never had a problem with my setup. And you know how those advertised drops go...seems like they are never accurate. If it were me, I would install both spring isolators to try and limit the drop of the springs. If you're interested, I have half a set of poly isolators I'll let go super cheap. They are the lower isolators for the fronts and rears. The poly will not deflect and help to keep the ride height up some.

I ran 96-97 Cobra wheels (17x8) with a 245/45 front and a 275/40 rear and had no problems with rubbing (the 245/45 on the front is actualler TALLER than the 275/40...if I had it to do all over again...I'd have gone either 245/40 in the front or 275/40 all the way around)

Hope some of this helps...I've got an Automated X-ray Film viewer to go try and fix....woohoo! :P

[Bullittgts]

I hadn't thought about the spring isolators. Now you've got me thinking that I might want to just keep what I have and put isolators on them. Do you think it might be worth it to still trade my BBK's for the FMS C's if it's only an extra 50# difference in the fronts? I'm wondering if I should stand pat with what I have. I don't really want to put the BBK's in to try them because the guy who wants to trade is really concerned about whether or not they look nice (don't ask- I don't have a clue as to why it's important to him) and I know I'll scratch the heck out of 'em somehow.

I checked MM's website and since the whole set is only like $40 I'm going to try out a full set and see what I don't need. If running only the top isolators is what worked best for you, I'll try that and see how it feels on my car. Thanks for offering the lower isolators anyhow!

Guys I really appreciate your responses. Nice to know I'm not in this alone!:D Now all I need is a lift built into my garage!

Jeff

[red95gts]

No problem Jeff...

I really don't think you'd notice an extra 50# in the front. The one disadvantage with the C-springs is that the rears will require cutting to achieve a level stance. I don't believe the Eibachs require the cutting. Are the Eibachs the Sportline or Proline (or something else?)?

One thing to keep in mind with the spring rates is that you need to stay within the limits of your dampners (or visa-versa). Your ride quality is mostly determined by your dampners and partially by your rear spring rate. How much are the Bullitt-spec struts? The deal of a millenium a while ago was the Cobra-R Bilsteins. They could be had from the dealer for something ridiculous like $200/pr. However, I believe Ford has since wised up and starting charging about $275 EACH...LOL If memory serves they were valved to handle up to about 850# springs.. To get that anywhere else, you are lookng at the Bilstein "Race" or the Koni Yellows...both or which are about $750ish for a 4-piece set.

The main reason I only ran the top isolators was to get as much drop out of the springs as possible. I was concerned that the C-springs weren't going to drop the car enough. If you are concerned with too much of a drop...run the tops and bottoms. They'll keep spring noise down to a minimum as well...

Good Luck! Let us know how it turns out!

BTW...for a pic of my car with the suspension and wheels, go to:

www.geocities.com/motorcity/flats/3310/index.html (http://www.geocities.com/motorcity/flats/3310/index.html)

[Bullittgts]

Darrell,

The springs are actually BBK linears. I wonder if they are comparable to the Eibachs. I know that fordpartsnetwork.com is selling the Bullitt struts for like $70/each and the shocks for about $30/each. Great deal! Bilsteins are what I really want, but I'll have to wait to have all of my cake and eat it too.

BTW, what suspension are you running now?

Jeff

[red95gts]

Doh! Lost my head there for a second..haha Not sure where in the hell I got "Eibach"...:)

That is a hell of a deal for those struts and shocks. Priced some Monroe Sensa-Tracs not too long ago and they were $56+ tax ea. And I'm sure they won't handle a 600#/in spring rate...haha

My cur currently has 4-cyl front springs, Lakewood 90/10s, Competition Engineering 3-way adjustable rear shocks, MM C-C plates, and a few poly parts here and there. Car also has Weld Pro-Star big 'n littles rather than the Cobras. I decided it was time to drag race again...LOL

[Bullittgts]

Ah, the notorious 1320 infection eh? One of those things that you think goes away but it just ends up flaring up again later...

Off topic, but the LX looks awesome. What color is that? Looks similar to a House of Kolor Candy Kobalt Blue car I saw yesterday.

I think I may just go ahead and install the BBK's and see what happens. I'll need to blow my $200 Christmas gift certificate to FordSpeed.com to get the struts (I can't believe I haven't spent it yet! I was expecting my clutch to go but it hasn't. I guess it'll only go the week after I spend the GC!:D ), and I'll spring for the shocks out back (pun intended):p

What was your suspension list when you ran the Cobra rims? That's the look I'm going for. Did you just change springs/strut/shock combo or something more? I've got to get the C/C plates ASAP after lowering this thing! It's gonna chew tires if I get it to handle and start driving it the way I like to.

[red95gts]

Thanks for the compliment Jeff...

The LX is DuPont Dark Cloisoinne Metallic. AKA 94-96 Corvette Admiral Blue...not a cheap paint, but it looks awesome when cleaned up.

When I had the Cobra rims, I had the C-springs, Bilsteins, poly end links, MM non-adjustable LCAs, and MM C-C plates. Car really handled well, although I would have loved to have gone for a Panhard Bar/Torque Arm setup! :)

[Bullittgts]

sweet.

[red95gts]

Jeff...found this the other day

Seems like a hell of a price

http://www.fordpartsnetwork.com/specials.html

[Bullittgts]

:D Shnikies! "I'll take one of those, if you please Mr. Ford Parts Network.com". Thanks for the heads up! That's it- I'm done looking!

Jeff