First Post Here- Suspension help/thoughts

[riley]

First off, hi folks.
Got inherited a 93 GMarq LS. A Real "grandpa (in-law)" car. He didn't die- he's moving to florida and takin the second (2003) with him- 2nd car will be a golf cart! lol

Anyway- car has low miles, always dealer serviced to the extreme- absolutley NOTHING mechanically wrong with it.

BUT- I HAVE to do something about the handling. I've been doing some lurking around here, and want to know the "expert" thoughts on what I'm thinking about doing (for now, lol)

OK- I want to as much as I can right off, so, although some of these ideas may have BETTER solutions- I have an inital budget.
1. Replace shocks with FoMoCo PI Crown Vic shocks
2. Replace sway bars with boneyard PI CV items with new bushings
3. Replace stock pizza cutter tires with Later model Mustang take-offs (w/spacers)
4. Cut a bit on the coils to drop a bit (esp. the rear- WAY too high)

Thoughts on this guys? Be honest I can take it, but keep in mind- I have a budget here, and all of this will fit it right now. All of the work I'm doin myself.

I have to get that floaty ride outa there- think this will do it, or am I going to turn it into a dump-truck ride?

I know it will be firmer/harsher, but I'm not going to race it or anything.

Thanks in advance.

[DuceAnAHalf]

When i had cut police springs in the front, and stock police springs in the rear with Carrera circle track shocks, and PI rear bar, Wagon front bar, the car did not ride too rough.

[Blaze86Vic]

Work your way up to the level you want.

Start with the anti-sway bars off a PI, also do poly bushings and end links on these sway bars as well. These poly bushings and end links make a huge difference.

Then, do shocks all around. Get some nice shocks, not just PI shocks. Ask aroung here and you'll find some good advice. I have cvilian front springs with PI sway bar, but I have QA1 shocks up front. When I put those things on, it was like a whole new far, a completely refined experience.

Then do springs. You can cut if you want. But you can only cut the front. The rear is double pig tailed, no cutting. I would more stronly recomend getting PI springs all around as well.

It sounds like you just want a decent handling daily driver. I think the entire PI package, with better shocks is probably what you are looking for. Personal suggestion, do NOT cheap on the shocks. Get good ones.

[riley]

Work your way up to the level you want.

Start with the anti-sway bars off a PI, also do poly bushings and end links on these sway bars as well. These poly bushings and end links make a huge difference.

Then, do shocks all around. Get some nice shocks, not just PI shocks. Ask aroung here and you'll find some good advice. I have cvilian front springs with PI sway bar, but I have QA1 shocks up front. When I put those things on, it was like a whole new far, a completely refined experience.

Then do springs. You can cut if you want. But you can only cut the front. The rear is double pig tailed, no cutting. I would more stronly recomend getting PI springs all around as well.

It sounds like you just want a decent handling daily driver. I think the entire PI package, with better shocks is probably what you are looking for. Personal suggestion, do NOT cheap on the shocks. Get good ones.

Poly bushings is what I was thinkin of doing- good.
QA1 shocks up front- have a link to some info on them?
Alright- about the rear springs. I would like the a$$ end of the car to sit lower- it's ridin too high IMHO- options on that? IF I get PI springs- what is the comparative ride height of them. I don't want to go any higher- it's already pretty darn high up. I called around and can get a custom set (pair) of springs made for around $300.

The stance on the car is just important to me as the ride, and while I'm doing one, I'm doing the other. I do want decent handling, but It also has to come down some (2") or so.

I wasn't really planning to go cheap on the shocks- I just read on some post somewhere out there that someone recommended highly the plain ole FoMoCo PI shocks, so I figured I'd throw it out here for opinions. Thanks

Any other info you have is appreciated, as is all of the info you have given me so far. Thanks Tons.

[DuceAnAHalf]

For shocks see this thread. http://www.grandmarq.net/vb/showthread.php?t=4003

I have the Carrera street stock shocks in my 97 even at 130 mph the suspension is nice. it does nto bounce arround, it does not feel loose, even though the rest of my front suspension needs to be rebuilt.