Author Topic: Suspension upgrades  (Read 2988 times)

Offline Cuda_451

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Suspension upgrades
« on: October 16, 2016 - 04:40:47 PM »
Im nearly done reviving the Cuda and it's time to ditch the 30+ year old  air shocks and front shocks. I'm looking to get a softer ride and it's like a rock right now. I'm running 15x10 in the rear and 15x7 in front. The wheels are old slot style wheels and am thinking of upgrading that too. Any preferences on shocks or wheels. Car is Rallye Red.
1970 Plymouth Barracuda
1995 Dodge RAM 1500 SLT
2006 Ford Mustang V6 Supercharged




Offline Chryco Psycho

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Re: Suspension upgrades
« Reply #1 on: October 16, 2016 - 05:16:52 PM »
Bilstein or Double adjustable such as QA1 are what you need for shocks
 I love the old slot wheels , there are very few good choices for 15" tires though , Cooper Cobras , drag radials such a Nitto & MT , stay away from BFG
 if you go the 17 or 18" wheels there are far more choices

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Offline 1 Wild R/T

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Re: Suspension upgrades
« Reply #2 on: October 16, 2016 - 07:40:10 PM »
As mentioned Bilsteins...
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Offline Cuda_451

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Re: Suspension upgrades
« Reply #3 on: October 16, 2016 - 07:54:52 PM »
I love the look of them but mine are all scuffed up and everything right now, are the bilsteans adjustable? How about price damage?
1970 Plymouth Barracuda
1995 Dodge RAM 1500 SLT
2006 Ford Mustang V6 Supercharged

Offline dfrazz

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Re: Suspension upgrades
« Reply #4 on: October 16, 2016 - 10:12:42 PM »
I love the look of them but mine are all scuffed up and everything right now, are the bilsteans adjustable? How about price damage?

 Not adjustable - about $110-120 per. Get on PST's mailing list and Look for a coupon in the back of the PST catalog.

Offline Cuda_451

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Re: Suspension upgrades
« Reply #5 on: October 16, 2016 - 10:38:49 PM »
Will I be able to keep the current wheel set up?  Right now I have to air the shocks a little bit for clearance on the fender.
1970 Plymouth Barracuda
1995 Dodge RAM 1500 SLT
2006 Ford Mustang V6 Supercharged

Offline dfrazz

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Re: Suspension upgrades
« Reply #6 on: October 16, 2016 - 11:16:58 PM »
If the air shocks have to be jetted up for the tires to clear then no, but your are hammering the shock mount. I would inspect for cracks when you replace the shocks and get tires that fit. Check the wheels/tires section on here, many combos that work.

Offline BIGSHCLUNK

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Re: Suspension upgrades
« Reply #7 on: October 16, 2016 - 11:28:40 PM »
Devil's advocate.... air shocks..... how's your springs?
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Offline Cuda_451

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Re: Suspension upgrades
« Reply #8 on: October 16, 2016 - 11:49:35 PM »
My passenger spring has a weird bend to it. Kind of hard to describe. Any idea?
1970 Plymouth Barracuda
1995 Dodge RAM 1500 SLT
2006 Ford Mustang V6 Supercharged

Offline HP2

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Re: Suspension upgrades
« Reply #9 on: October 17, 2016 - 10:17:12 AM »
A lot of vintage 15x10 slots only have 3.25-3.5" of backspace and a lift is required to avoid wheel opening contact. Your use of air shocks seems to suggest to me this may be the case in your application. This, combined with a bent leaf, and the rock hard ride, suggests you have other items to consider before simply changing out your shocks.

First would be a wheel change to get the tire all inside the well opening. You didn't mention what size tire you have, but I assume its a minimum of a 295. To do this with a 10" wide wheel will require 5-6" of backspace, which will require moving the springs inboard. Inboard kit will run a couple hundred bucks and labor to install, weld, bolt up.

To avoid moving the springs in would require a new rear wheel. If 15", then a 15x8 with 4.25-4.5" of backspace is the ticket. If you want to stick with the classic dish style, American Racing does make a 17" diameter version. Get one in 8" wide with a 275/50r17 and you can have an old school look with a new design tire. Whether or not you change all 4 is up to you, the look you want, and how you use it. This change can run from a few hundred dollars for some used wheels to a few thousand depending on wheel and tire selection.

With a bent leaf, you will want to replace the springs. You could try putting a single leaf pack on it, but then you  will most likely have mismatched springs side to side, which is a hazard unto its self. So you're looking at new springs sets. $200-300 here.

Then you can address ride quality with shocks. Bilstein or Fox are the best non-adjustable units out there and will run $100-180 per shock. Great if you prefer a set it and forget it arrangement. If you don't want to pay for high end shocks and you are retaining your stock t-bars and leaf springs, you can get away with gas charged Monroe Magnums or similar. I'd suggest avoid KYBs though due to their high pressure nitrogen charge.  If you want to tinker with shock settings, then you want to look at some adjustable units. These will run $100-1000 each depending on the brand, materials, single, double, or triple adjustable modes and other features.

As is often the case, one thing leads to another on these cars. This is a classic example.


Offline Cuda_451

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Re: Suspension upgrades
« Reply #10 on: October 17, 2016 - 11:12:06 AM »
Could the curvature on the spring be caused by a bad bushing? As far as I know these are the factory ones. 
1970 Plymouth Barracuda
1995 Dodge RAM 1500 SLT
2006 Ford Mustang V6 Supercharged

Offline dfrazz

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Re: Suspension upgrades
« Reply #11 on: October 17, 2016 - 11:36:23 AM »
If they are 40+ years old, its time for new springs.  www.espo.com has the best ones IMO, and you will get new bushings, bolts, shackles (if needed).  You can stick with stock, go with 440/Hemi to add extra on the right side for TQ, and even add +1" or so to give your car some rake.

Offline HP2

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Re: Suspension upgrades
« Reply #12 on: October 18, 2016 - 09:09:29 AM »
Could the curvature on the spring be caused by a bad bushing? As far as I know these are the factory ones.

Unlikely, but possible. After 40 years, its hard to say what has been done to these over the years. Depends on what the bend looks like and where it is.  Could have been incorrectly adjusted traction bars, a misplaced jack location, a dork with a hammer, who knows.
« Last Edit: October 19, 2016 - 10:31:50 PM by HP2 »

Offline 72bluNblu

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Re: Suspension upgrades
« Reply #13 on: October 20, 2016 - 06:38:30 PM »
Unlikely, but possible. After 40 years, its hard to say what has been done to these over the years. Depends on what the bend looks like and where it is.  Could have been incorrectly adjusted traction bars, a misplaced jack location, a dork with a hammer, who knows.


Lift shackles...


Offline HP2

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Re: Suspension upgrades
« Reply #14 on: October 21, 2016 - 09:10:25 AM »
Wow, that's ugly!