SVT Focus Suspension upgrade (general)

[bmylez]

If the Koni kit is cheaper, get it. Especially if you don't want to lower your car very much.

[WillJongIll]

According to the description, they both lower the car roughly 1.5" but, as someone noted, apparently the Konis only really bring it down about 0.5"-1".

This hasn't really come up so I assume there aren't but are there any camber issues that need to be addressed mechanically or will an alignment do the trick after installing the springs and dampers? (Koni Sport Kit)

UPDATE: Ordered the Koni Sport Kit (Dampers + Springs). $655 + free shipping from autopartsdealer.com

[BigRed03]

Originally Posted by MichSVT

Does this include springs?

No it doesnt. For the assembled kit (new struts, springs, bearings, and mount front and spring and shock rear) its gonna be closer to $350 iirc. I didnt ever order one. This is through Steve at Toulsey ford. Mention ff/fj when you talk to him.

Originally Posted by WillJongIll

According to the description, they both lower the car roughly 1.5" but, as someone noted, apparently the Konis only really bring it down about 0.5"-1".

This hasn't really come up so I assume there aren't but are there any camber issues that need to be addressed mechanically or will an alignment do the trick after installing the springs and dampers? (Koni Sport Kit)

UPDATE: Ordered the Koni Sport Kit (Dampers + Springs). $655 + free shipping from autopartsdealer.com

FYI, the aftermarket kits dont have new bearings and strut mounts up front. I highly recommend doing them now as your old ones are worn and wont last long otherwise. You can get away with just new bearings. Call Steve at Toulsey Ford, he can get new bearings for reasonable (~$10) + mount (~$14) shipped whereas at autozone its $40+ for those same things.

I think you'll be happy with this setup!

[jamminsvt]

Originally Posted by WillJongIll

JamminSVT,

Thanks for the run down. So here's a general summary and some questions. For what its worth, I won't be doing the install myself, I've got a friend / mechanic that gives me a bit of a discount as long as I bring a case of beer, but I still have to pay something and again, on a little bit of a budget. I'll be assisting (i.e. observing) the install though.

So my suspension shopping list is looking like this...

Prothane Front sway bar bushings (part # 6-1152-BL)
Prothane Rear sway bar bushings (part # 6-1156-BL)
Moog front sway bar end links (Part # K80066, quantity: 2)
Moog rear sway bar end links (Part # K90129, quantity: 2)
Koni Sport (yellow) front struts
Koni Sport (yellow) rear shocks

Possibly: Springs (either Eibach or Koni - depending on the consensus of whether its ok to go with a set or better to match the Konis to the Eibach springs) or so stick to the stock springs if new springs are going to entail too much added cost / complication (see further question). This is very appealing though.

So you said...


"SPC rear camber arms and front camber plates"
Is this necessary when adding new, lower springs? Or will alignment take care of camber issues?

"Trailing arm bushings"
I hadn't thought of this. Is it necessary at this juncture and how tough / time consuming is it to replace these?

"Complete LCA's with bushing's and ball-joints"
Replacing the bushings on the lower control arms looks like it would be a bit of work... when you say "complete" were you replacing the LCAs entirely or just the bushings? My suspension is more or less intact and this seems a like a lot as preventative maintenance. I did have to replace the front driver-side CV joint but otherwise, besides the aging dampers, I think the suspension is in decent order.
Thanks!

I got the camber arms and plates just to have the adjustability, although my stock front end has been out of caster and there is really no way to adjust. I have had my car aligned twice in the past 1 1/2 years and I still have alignment problems which is why I'm just replacing everything.
My trailing arm bushings have some play and I thought while I'm doing this... I haven't replaced them yet but I'm hoping I'll be able to do it by dropping the arm down enough to get some kind of small press on it???
The Moog LCA's I bought from RockAuto and they were actually within a buck or two of buying the bushings and ball joints separately. They came assembled with the arm, two bushings, and the ball joints. One other thing you might need to know... The Koni's come with some pitiful pictures as the only instructions and you have to re-use the old shock bellows and mounts. Well mine were all rotted so I just today ordered the parts for this. So hopefully I'll be doing the install next week.

[Hempster]

[QUOTE=BigRed03;3621363]No it doesnt. For the assembled kit (new struts, springs, bearings, and mount front and spring and shock rear) its gonna be closer to $350 iirc. I didnt ever order one. This is through Steve at Toulsey ford. Mention ff/fj when you talk to him.

I just installed the assembled refresh kit from Steve @ Tousley.
It's $286+shipping. It is also available unassembled, but you have to buy the strut bearings separately and it comes with a new rear sway bar the assembled kit does not come with.

[WillJongIll]

FYI, the aftermarket kits dont have new bearings and strut mounts up front. I highly recommend doing them now as your old ones are worn and wont last long otherwise. You can get away with just new bearings. Call Steve at Toulsey Ford, he can get new bearings for reasonable (~$10) + mount (~$14) shipped whereas at autozone its $40+ for those same things.

I think you'll be happy with this setup!

So I've got everything ordered except the clamping collars and the items you just mentioned.

I got the part numbers from Toulsey and was going to call and order them tomorrow. I was wondering one general thing - the boots or baffles that go on the dampers are going to need to be reused. They aren't super expensive if memory serves but if it ain't broke...

I can't quite see them very well without getting the car on a lift. At 90k are they generally falling apart or still intact?

Also, anyone have a recommendation on where can I get little clamping collars for the sway bar? And do I need four of them or just two? Their necessity is a recurring topic on this and various other posts about upgrading the suspension...

[tjboston5676]

did u get polyurethane bushings and endlinks is so where from

[Sniper Focus]

I just got done putting on the front sway bar bushings, it appeared that my front sway bar walked off of the stock bushings a little, which isn't unheard of. So I'm glad that I have to clamp the bar now.

I got the clamps from mcmaster.com, you need two per bar. I kinda wish I did the hose clamp method in the front because of the tight space.

[jamminsvt]

Originally Posted by WillJongIll

I was wondering one general thing - the boots or baffles that go on the dampers are going to need to be reused. They aren't super expensive if memory serves but if it ain't broke...

I can't quite see them very well without getting the car on a lift. At 90k are they generally falling apart or still intact?
.

My car has 83k and the front bellows are decent but the back are cracked and falling apart. I went ahead and got all new ones, cost $80 at Advance Auto, delivered to my door. I figured while I had it apart I might as well replace them and I wouldn't have to fool with them again.

[tjboston5676]

how do u do the front bushings do u pretty much have to remove the sway bar?