wagon suspension help needed

[CaptainKRM]

so i followed the "Recipe" for speedway springs here. bought 925s for the front and 175s for the rear. problem is, the ass end of this wagon sits real low now, the car has a slight rake to it. any amount of weight in the rear seat or rear cargo area and the car scrapes hard on bumps and inclines, driveways, etc. i upgraded the rear shocks to Monroe 58568 units like here; http://catalog.monroe.com/monroe/par...8568&viewCode=

i've thought about putting in spring helpers in the rear but frankly it seems like i should just buy stronger springs. question is - which ones?

[Lincolnmania]

if i remember correctly, mrltd is running stock wagon cargo coils on his wagon with 99 f150 2wd rear shocks.......it works real well. i've driven and ridden in his car

i installed the rear speedway motors springs in toms 87 vic and i noticed they sat a little loose when the suspension is hanging

[Freshmeat]

Stock wagon coils are something like 14" and 185#. Your new springs are 12" and 175#, which guarantees a lot of drop and less support. I'm going with a 200-225 in my wagon once I get around to new springs.

[gadget73]

What he said. The Speedway springs are intended to lower a sedan. Station wagons got higher rate springs because they weigh more. You might want to just stick the stockers back in there for now to get the rear ride height where it belongs.

stock wagon spring specs:

Product Specs
Part Number 8795
Inside Diameter 5.000
End Type 1 Pigtail
End Type 2 Pigtail
Bar Diameter 0.625
Install Height 12.69
Load in Pounds 790.0
Spring Rate 182.0
Free Height 17.04
Rear Coil Springs

By comparison, these are stock sedan springs. Note the much lower spring rate, but not a big difference in installed height:

Product Specs
Part Number 8649
Inside Diameter 5.050
End Type 1 Pigtail
End Type 2 Pigtail
Bar Diameter 0.531
Install Height 11.63
Load in Pounds 630.0
Spring Rate 107.0
Free Height 17.27

specs from here: http://www.grandmarq.net/vb/showpost...94&postcount=7

[Freshmeat]

Okay- so has anyone dropped a wagon with the Speedway springs?

[CaptainKRM]

Originally Posted by Freshmeat

Okay- so has anyone dropped a wagon with the Speedway springs?

yes i have its terrible and thats why i'm posting here. anyone want pictures of how idiotic it looks. if the actual spring had some support, i would not mind the drop. looks rad until even one human adult takes a seat in the rear then its low rider central.

in terms of factory, are there cargo VS standard springs? i guess the factory ones are going back on but with the speedway springs up front i'm concerned its going to look and drive like a drunk pig.

[87gtVIC]

I'd like to see a picture. I may even want to take them off of your hands if you dont plan on keeping them.

[Freshmeat]

The cargo coils have a 200# spring rate. I think if you put Speedway's 200-225# springs on there you'd be cooking with fire.

[CaptainKRM]

Originally Posted by Freshmeat

The cargo coils have a 200# spring rate. I think if you put Speedway's 200-225# springs on there you'd be cooking with fire.

right but they have a lower installed rate than the stock wagon ones so the car would still, in theory, sit real low in the ass end. unless i'm totally wrong, which i'd be ok with because i'd really like matching spring brands front and rear!

[Freshmeat]

After hearing your situation I'm planning the 250s in the rear of my wagon. The Speedways are 3" shorter so you'll want stronger springs to help limit rear sag. Stock is only around 185 on the rear so a 250 should work out well. Post a picture of yours, though- I'm curious how it looks.

[CaptainKRM]

Originally Posted by 87gtVIC

I'd like to see a picture. I may even want to take them off of your hands if you dont plan on keeping them.

you got it man, i'll do that tomorrow for you

[87gtVIC]

According to Tom's Readers Ride page these are what 925 fronts and 225 rears look like:



So in theory then, the 175 rear springs would sit even lower?

[Freshmeat]

That's on a two door. Wagons are much heavier in the back.

[87gtVIC]

I still believe the question I asked is quite a universal one.

[Freshmeat]

A 175 would likely sit slightly lower than a 225, yes... But it also has a lot to do with how much weight is on the springs. I don't think the sedans and coupes have enough sprung weight on the rear to make a huge height difference between 175s and 225s.

[85crownHPP]

Id just put sedan variable rates in the rear to slightly lower a waggin

[Freshmeat]

I just ordered mine. 925/225. I meant to switch to 250s for the rear but in the process of doing it on my iPhone I forgot to switch them over. I guess we'll see what 225s look like on a wagon soon.

[gadget73]

Originally Posted by 85crownHPP

Id just put sedan variable rates in the rear to slightly lower a waggin

spring rate is probably a bit low. 160ish vs the 175. Not a big deal unless you haul stuff.


David: assuming the same spring height, yes a 175 in/lb spring would sit lower in the same vehicle as a 225 in/lb would. If the spring height is not the same, then it may not be so.

[87gtVIC]

hmm decision, decisions.

[gadget73]

Tom's car is close to stock height in the back. It actually handles very well with that particular spring combo, and it rides far better than I'd have expected it to. Its stiffer than stock, but not objectionably so.