Title: 2003/04 Cobra front springs
Post by: 86caprirs on November 03, 2019, 08:32:08 AM
Post by: 86caprirs on November 03, 2019, 08:32:08 AM
I see that in a lot of posts that when you guys upgrade to newer front springs that you use 99 up Mustang GT springs. I have 2 sets of 2003 Cobra springs that I swapped from a coupe years ago. I think they are 300lb rated springs or something like that. Will these lower my bird plus keep the front stiff? I know my Cobra was not so comfy of a ride but that was not the purpose of owning a Terminator.
Title: Re: 2003/04 Cobra front springs
Post by: vinnietbird on November 04, 2019, 07:25:02 AM
Post by: vinnietbird on November 04, 2019, 07:25:02 AM
I wish I had the answer. I'm interested in hearing replies. I use 1999 Mustang front springs, great ride and about a 2 inch drop.
Title: Re: 2003/04 Cobra front springs
Post by: Aerocoupe on November 04, 2019, 01:50:50 PM
Post by: Aerocoupe on November 04, 2019, 01:50:50 PM
'87 Mustang 2.3L 370 / 160
'87-93 Mustang 5.0 425-530 (progressive) / 200-300 (progressive)
'93 Mustang Cobra 425-530 (progressive) / 160
'93 Mustang Cobra R 750-850 (progressive) / 240-260 (progressive)
'94-95 Mustang Cobra 400 / 160
'95 SVT Cobra R P/N M-5310-R58; 700-850 (progressive) / P/N M-5560-R58; 200-260 (progressive) *Springs were supplied by Eibach
'96-98 Mustang Cobra 400-505 (progressive) / 165-265 (progressive)
'99-04 Mustang V6 OEM 400 / 190
'99-04 Mustang GT OEM 450 / 210
2000 SVT Cobra R P/N M-5310-R00; 800 / P/N M-5560-R00; 750 (IRS) *Springs were supplied by Eibach
2001 SVT Cobra OEM 500 / 470 (IRS)
2001 Bullitt P/N 1R3Z-5310-CA; 600 / P/N 1R3Z-5560-AA; 250
2003 Mach 1 P/N 3R3Z-5310-AA; 600 / P/N 3R3Z-5560-BB; 250
2003 SVT Cobra Conv. OEM 500 / 470 (IRS)
2003 SVT Cobra Coupe OEM 600 / 600 (IRS)
I have not verified these numbers but this list has been on the Mustang board for years and as far as I know it has been vetted. Would have been great to also have had the new and uninstalled length so you could make a comparison but this is a lot of good info.
'87-93 Mustang 5.0 425-530 (progressive) / 200-300 (progressive)
'93 Mustang Cobra 425-530 (progressive) / 160
'93 Mustang Cobra R 750-850 (progressive) / 240-260 (progressive)
'94-95 Mustang Cobra 400 / 160
'95 SVT Cobra R P/N M-5310-R58; 700-850 (progressive) / P/N M-5560-R58; 200-260 (progressive) *Springs were supplied by Eibach
'96-98 Mustang Cobra 400-505 (progressive) / 165-265 (progressive)
'99-04 Mustang V6 OEM 400 / 190
'99-04 Mustang GT OEM 450 / 210
2000 SVT Cobra R P/N M-5310-R00; 800 / P/N M-5560-R00; 750 (IRS) *Springs were supplied by Eibach
2001 SVT Cobra OEM 500 / 470 (IRS)
2001 Bullitt P/N 1R3Z-5310-CA; 600 / P/N 1R3Z-5560-AA; 250
2003 Mach 1 P/N 3R3Z-5310-AA; 600 / P/N 3R3Z-5560-BB; 250
2003 SVT Cobra Conv. OEM 500 / 470 (IRS)
2003 SVT Cobra Coupe OEM 600 / 600 (IRS)
I have not verified these numbers but this list has been on the Mustang board for years and as far as I know it has been vetted. Would have been great to also have had the new and uninstalled length so you could make a comparison but this is a lot of good info.
Title: Re: 2003/04 Cobra front springs
Post by: 86caprirs on November 09, 2019, 07:28:59 AM
Post by: 86caprirs on November 09, 2019, 07:28:59 AM
So a 600lb rating on the front compared to the 400-ish for the stock Thunderbird. I swapped in a 351W so that may just be the good spring to swap into the bird.
Title: Re: 2003/04 Cobra front springs
Post by: Cougar5.0 on November 09, 2019, 06:42:00 PM
Post by: Cougar5.0 on November 09, 2019, 06:42:00 PM
I'm using the 2003 Mach 1 springs front and back. I ended up putting a 1/4" shim on the front due to tire rubbing on road dips.
Title: Re: 2003/04 Cobra front springs
Post by: 86caprirs on November 11, 2019, 07:18:51 AM
Post by: 86caprirs on November 11, 2019, 07:18:51 AM
I'm using the 2003 Mach 1 springs front and back. I ended up putting a 1/4" shim on the front due to tire rubbing on road dips.
Was it rubbing due to tire/wheel selection or just because it was too low? When you say a 1/4" shim, do you mean wheel spacer or under the spring?
I would like to see a pic of the stance you have.
Title: Re: 2003/04 Cobra front springs
Post by: Cougar5.0 on November 11, 2019, 10:25:25 AM
Post by: Cougar5.0 on November 11, 2019, 10:25:25 AM
I'm using the 2003 Mach 1 springs front and back. I ended up putting a 1/4" shim on the front due to tire rubbing on road dips.
Was it rubbing due to tire/wheel selection or just because it was too low? When you say a 1/4" shim, do you mean wheel spacer or under the spring?
I would like to see a pic of the stance you have.
Yeah, 17x8 wheels with a 235(or 245)/45/15 (I think, whatever ratio get it close to 25-26" tall) were a little wide so it was kissing the inner part of the fender lip sometimes on dips. Yeah, aluminum spacer under the top of the spring - see picture below.
This is about what the stance is currently:
It may be a little lower in the back to accommodate launching at the dragstrip.
Title: Re: 2003/04 Cobra front springs
Post by: thunderjet302 on November 11, 2019, 03:10:44 PM
Post by: thunderjet302 on November 11, 2019, 03:10:44 PM
I've got 98 GT convertible springs all around with poly isolators and 26" tall tires. My car sits about like Cougar 5.0's. I don't have an issue with the tires rubbing the fenders on bumps but I have an aluminum headed 5.0, which is a bit lighter than a 351W based engine.
Title: Re: 2003/04 Cobra front springs
Post by: TheFoeYouKnow on November 13, 2019, 06:28:45 PM
Post by: TheFoeYouKnow on November 13, 2019, 06:28:45 PM
Those look like the shims that come with Steeda X2 balljoints I put on during mt SN-95 brake job.
Title: Re: 2003/04 Cobra front springs
Post by: 86caprirs on November 15, 2019, 06:46:48 AM
Post by: 86caprirs on November 15, 2019, 06:46:48 AM
It looks like it only lowers the car slightly which is good. I see some cars on here with 16" rims and the cars are very low. Almost like no gap between the tire and top of the fender
Title: Re: 2003/04 Cobra front springs
Post by: thunderjet302 on November 16, 2019, 10:53:35 AM
Post by: thunderjet302 on November 16, 2019, 10:53:35 AM
It looks like it only lowers the car slightly which is good. I see some cars on here with 16" rims and the cars are very low. Almost like no gap between the tire and top of the fender
The SN95 springs (GT, Mach 1, Bullit, Cobra) should lower it just enough to get rid of the 4X4 look but not slam it to the ground.
Title: Re: 2003/04 Cobra front springs
Post by: 86caprirs on November 17, 2019, 07:54:48 AM
Post by: 86caprirs on November 17, 2019, 07:54:48 AM
It looks like it only lowers the car slightly which is good. I see some cars on here with 16" rims and the cars are very low. Almost like no gap between the tire and top of the fender
The SN95 springs (GT, Mach 1, Bullit, Cobra) should lower it just enough to get rid of the 4X4 look but not slam it to the ground.
Title: Re: 2003/04 Cobra front springs
Post by: ISTLCRUZ on November 18, 2019, 08:35:13 PM
Post by: ISTLCRUZ on November 18, 2019, 08:35:13 PM
Not to hi-jack the thread but I heard somewhere long ago that springs from a SN95 convertible were closer to spring rates on our cars? Anyone know if this is accurate? Maybe it’s just the rear springs?
Title: Re: 2003/04 Cobra front springs
Post by: thunderjet302 on November 18, 2019, 11:29:10 PM
Post by: thunderjet302 on November 18, 2019, 11:29:10 PM
Convertible SN95 rear springs are close. They are way shorter though. If you don't have adjustable height rear control arms the rear will be almost riding on the bump stops with SN95 convertible springs and stock control arms.
Title: Re: 2003/04 Cobra front springs
Post by: ISTLCRUZ on November 19, 2019, 10:09:25 PM
Post by: ISTLCRUZ on November 19, 2019, 10:09:25 PM
Convertible SN95 rear springs are close. They are way shorter though. If you don't have adjustable height rear control arms the rear will be almost riding on the bump stops with SN95 convertible springs and stock control arms.
I didn’t know that. Maybe a dumb question but why are they shorter on convertibles?
Title: Re: 2003/04 Cobra front springs
Post by: thunderjet302 on November 20, 2019, 12:56:24 AM
Post by: thunderjet302 on November 20, 2019, 12:56:24 AM
Convertible SN95 rear springs are close. They are way shorter though. If you don't have adjustable height rear control arms the rear will be almost riding on the bump stops with SN95 convertible springs and stock control arms.
I didn’t know that. Maybe a dumb question but why are they shorter on convertibles?
The SN95 coupe and convertible rear springs are both shorter than the stock Thundercat springs. I tried putting the 98 GT convertible springs on my car with the stock control arms and the rear was slammed. I run Maximum Motorsports rear control arms and they have an adjustable spring perch. I've got the spring perch about a third of the way up to get the car to sit like it does.
Title: Re: 2003/04 Cobra front springs
Post by: Aerocoupe on November 20, 2019, 03:40:48 PM
Post by: Aerocoupe on November 20, 2019, 03:40:48 PM
So is Vinnie's car just lower than yours? I know he is running SN95 springs but I have no idea if he has adjustable spring perches on his LCA's.
Title: Re: 2003/04 Cobra front springs
Post by: thunderjet302 on November 20, 2019, 08:02:18 PM
Post by: thunderjet302 on November 20, 2019, 08:02:18 PM
So is Vinnie's car just lower than yours? I know he is running SN95 springs but I have no idea if he has adjustable spring perches on his LCA's.
I know Vinnie has CHE arms, but I'm not sure if they are adjustable or not.
I should have taken a picture with the 98 GT convertible rear springs next to the stock rear springs from my LX. The GT springs were noticeably shorter. I popped the GT springs in the rear with poly isolators on the stock rear control arms and the car was waaay down compared to the front (which also has 98 GT springs with poly isolators). I needed the adjustable spring perches on the Maximum Motorsports rear control arms to level the car out.
Title: Re: 2003/04 Cobra front springs
Post by: Cougar5.0 on November 21, 2019, 10:21:34 PM
Post by: Cougar5.0 on November 21, 2019, 10:21:34 PM
I have the adjustable CHE rear arms with the Mach1 springs. Had to jack them up this much:
Title: Re: 2003/04 Cobra front springs
Post by: thunderjet302 on November 22, 2019, 02:37:01 PM
Post by: thunderjet302 on November 22, 2019, 02:37:01 PM
I have the adjustable CHE rear arms with the Mach1 springs. Had to jack them up this much:
The adjusters on the Maximum Motorsports rear arms on my car are up about that high with the 98 GT convertible springs.