I'm about halfway through the front end rebuild on my 84 and thought I would share the info.
I've found Mustang guides extremely useful. The suspension on the fox body is the same on almost all applications.
It was a world of difference when I redid the rear with KYB and ES bushings, can't wait to be done with the front. The front is way more work though. Putting in new ball joints and tie rod ends while I'm in there, OE ones feel solid but they are >30 years old and have 80k on them.
I got the springs out without a compressor and I plan to put them back in without a compressor, too, using the back of the A-arm jack method. We'll see how it goes.
Most parts from Rockauto:
- KYB 235002 GR-2 Struts $56/ea
- KYB SB103 Strut Boots, $11/ea, using the polyfoam bump stop instead of the rubber bump stop that came with the strut mount kit
- KYB SM5054 Strut Mounts $27/ea, not sure on the order for the sleeve and bearing, hope it doesn't matter? Universal instructions don't tell you much.
- Ball Joints Moog K8259 $33/ea
- Tie Rod Ends Moog ES2150RL $20/ea
- Spring Isolators ES 4.6102R $34
- Tie rod boots ES 9.13130R, these do NOT fit. They are listed in a few places but they are way too loose on the tie rod and way too small for the ball joint. Only wasted $6, will try and return them.
- LCA Bushings ES 4.3132R $45, came with shells but I don't want to press the old ones out since I didn't when I did the rear rebuild. Going to put the bushings in the OE shells. Should have saved $10 and gone with the Prothane 6-205 kit. Oh well.
Springs, re-using stock (same as rear)
Going to re-use the OE bolts but put on new Class 10 M16x2.0 nuts, as recommended.
Could have shaved off quite a few bucks by going Mevotech Supreme and Gabriel, but I don't trust how cheap those parts are... I know the KYBs are quality and made in Japan. The other stuff is probably made in China.
A few links I found useful:
http://natomessageboard.com/ubbthreads.p...ber=224299
https://fordmuscle.com/archives/2000/12/.../index.php
http://forums.corral.net/forums/2811393-post14.html
I've found Mustang guides extremely useful. The suspension on the fox body is the same on almost all applications.
It was a world of difference when I redid the rear with KYB and ES bushings, can't wait to be done with the front. The front is way more work though. Putting in new ball joints and tie rod ends while I'm in there, OE ones feel solid but they are >30 years old and have 80k on them.
I got the springs out without a compressor and I plan to put them back in without a compressor, too, using the back of the A-arm jack method. We'll see how it goes.
Most parts from Rockauto:
- KYB 235002 GR-2 Struts $56/ea
- KYB SB103 Strut Boots, $11/ea, using the polyfoam bump stop instead of the rubber bump stop that came with the strut mount kit
- KYB SM5054 Strut Mounts $27/ea, not sure on the order for the sleeve and bearing, hope it doesn't matter? Universal instructions don't tell you much.
- Ball Joints Moog K8259 $33/ea
- Tie Rod Ends Moog ES2150RL $20/ea
- Spring Isolators ES 4.6102R $34
- Tie rod boots ES 9.13130R, these do NOT fit. They are listed in a few places but they are way too loose on the tie rod and way too small for the ball joint. Only wasted $6, will try and return them.
- LCA Bushings ES 4.3132R $45, came with shells but I don't want to press the old ones out since I didn't when I did the rear rebuild. Going to put the bushings in the OE shells. Should have saved $10 and gone with the Prothane 6-205 kit. Oh well.
Springs, re-using stock (same as rear)
Going to re-use the OE bolts but put on new Class 10 M16x2.0 nuts, as recommended.
Could have shaved off quite a few bucks by going Mevotech Supreme and Gabriel, but I don't trust how cheap those parts are... I know the KYBs are quality and made in Japan. The other stuff is probably made in China.
A few links I found useful:
http://natomessageboard.com/ubbthreads.p...ber=224299
https://fordmuscle.com/archives/2000/12/.../index.php
http://forums.corral.net/forums/2811393-post14.html
Thunderbird Turbo Coupe, Bright Canyon Red TuTone, Desert Tan Interior; 1 of 7 in this combo in 1984 according to Marti. 1 of 13,361 TCs in 84.
Rebuilt, 3-Angle Valve Job, SYB37 "OE/Small" Slider Cam
Full 3" Stinger Exhaust to Flowmaster 40, Gnari FMIC/Recirc/BPV, MBC @ 18psi, RF-E6 Manifold, Remote-Mount TFI, PC1 and Flowed 35# Injectors, Inline Walboro 255HP, Kirban AFPR
Rebuilt Suspension -- KYB & Energy Suspension
Rebuilt, 3-Angle Valve Job, SYB37 "OE/Small" Slider Cam
Full 3" Stinger Exhaust to Flowmaster 40, Gnari FMIC/Recirc/BPV, MBC @ 18psi, RF-E6 Manifold, Remote-Mount TFI, PC1 and Flowed 35# Injectors, Inline Walboro 255HP, Kirban AFPR
Rebuilt Suspension -- KYB & Energy Suspension