Fairmont spring questions.

[Chuck W]

How similar are the non-wagon Fairmont/Zephyr rear springs to those of the Mustangs?

I'm looking to see if I can use some of the stuff I have to replace some of the soft old springs in the '80 Z.

[Marz]

If your tossing the springs in a Futura coupe or an 4 dr sedan (no wagons for the rear springs) you can use the springs from a 1985 LTD LX (the FOX LTD). The LTD had 600lb springs up front and 275 (non-progressive) in the rear. They are very stiff.

Moog has these springs...

[Chuck W]

I've got a couple sets of decent springs, I'm just trying to get an idea of how the stockers compare (mainly in regards to height and load rating).

I deal with the Fox Tbirds/Cougars all the time and know the ins and outs of the rear spring issues with them, but I'm not familiar with the Fairmont stuff. I'm not planning on buying anything new unless I have to. I have a decent stash of some good take-offs.

I guess when I'm swapping rear sway bars/shocks I'll pull a spring out and compare it to what I have.

[Marz]

The stock Fairmont/Zephyr (F/Z) springs were never intended for performance use. I have no idea what the ride hight and load will be on the stock F/Z springs or the other non-mustang FOXes. The Front springs form a Mustang will work. I've read that T-coupe springs are good. But, from experiance... the LTD LX springs are just as good as the FRPP "C" rated springs. The only differance is that the C rated springs are supose to lower the Mustang... The Rear C rated springs will not work on the F/Z due to it's heavier rear. The LTD LX springs will not lower the car (Fairmont inlcuded) ... but will give it a good stiff ride. Also, the rear LTD LX springs could raise the rear of the mustang up too high.

[FoxChassis]

FYI: Fairmont springs were also OE in pre-'84½ V8 Mustangs and Capris AND the '93 SVT Mustang Cobra (only, not the "R" model).

[Chuck W]

Well, I thought the thing about the rear C-kits would hold true for the F/Z as they do for the T/C. I've been telling folks for years not to use the C-kits in the rear of Fox T/C's...but of course there are those who don't listen :P I thought the F/Z's were lighter though overall ...than even the Mustangs.

The fronts are a non-issue, I knew that.

I've already dug out a couple sway bars to replace the pieces of spaghetti that are on there. I think it has like a 1" front bar on it....that's GOT to go

[Chuck W]

Well, I swapped in some "new" rears springs I had over the weekend as well as installed the 99GT shocks and the 24mm rear bar.

I didn't have the right bushings for the 33mm front bar, but I'll be picking those up this week.

As far as springs go, as an aside, the rear springs I had to install were from an 99+ V6 Mustang....they were exactly the same as whatever I took out of there (which were pretty old and rusted). The spring isolators were toasted, but I'll get a set of poly ones and be set. In the front, I'm probably going to use the FRPP "C"-Kits.

[Marz]

Well, I swapped in some "new" rears springs I had over the weekend as well as installed the 99GT shocks and the 24mm rear bar.

I didn't have the right bushings for the 33mm front bar, but I'll be picking those up this week.

As far as springs go, as an aside, the rear springs I had to install were from an 99+ V6 Mustang....they were exactly the same as whatever I took out of there (which were pretty old and rusted). The spring isolators were toasted, but I'll get a set of poly ones and be set. In the front, I'm probably going to use the FRPP "C"-Kits.

Just keep in mind that the rear springs from the FRPP "C" kit will not work with a Fairmont.

Edit: After re-reading the article he wrote... I thought he used the "C" rated springs... but anyways... he used springs for a mautang... which didn't work. You may want to get a pair of rear springs for a 1985 LTD LX.

The link below will take you to a friend of mine who is building up a 78 Futura... page down to the sagging rear end... where he tried the FRPP rear "C" rated springs. Also... the whole project is an interesting read.

http://www.geocities.com/motorcity/3573/FZ/Aprl04.html

[Chuck W]

I hadn't planned on using the C-kits in the rear....I've been preaching that story for years on the TBird/Cougar forums.. Those springs are only good for Fox Mustangs...and light ones at that.


I've seen that site before...good reading.
Your buddy does misquote though

Look how squished the HR 650 lbs springs are.

Those are not 650# springs. 250# or 350# maybe, but not 650#. It's not really a big deal thought, just though I'd point that out. You're rarely, if ever, going going to find a 650# spring on the rear stock location of a fox body...

In my application, the 99+ V-6 springs with the larger rear bar will be a good mix with the C-kits and the 33mm bar in the front. I have the rate at home, but they are identical to what I pulled out of there in regards to height, # coils, wire diameter, etc. Just one of the many take-offs I aquired in my years at KB.