Serious Suspension...

[HotRodKristina]

Hi Guys,

I'm here for some info... seems like this is a good place to become educated about the Panthers in-general. While I don't own a MM, I am the proud momma of a midnight grey 2004 CV LX Sport (no picking on me!)

Without inciting a flame-war over who's best, etc... I'd like to know what is available for this platform for someone who wants to do a romp at Buttonwillow or Willow Springs from time to time. (don't laugh, a couple friends of mine are instructors, and actually want to get me out there in this thing)

Springs, shocks, arms, etc... Whatever you would recommend. I realize that brakes would be a priority as well, and am looking at the TCE kit.

Thanks in advance

Kristina

[O's Fan Rich]

Spring's well I don't know but TAF and Martyo have QA-1 setups on their cars...
I'm on the wrong computer for the link.
Do a search, you'll find it.

Oh, Metco control arms for the rear, metco watts link, addco front and rear sway bars... etc.....
Check the vendors forums.

[SergntMac]

Your back end should match the Marauder, here's what we have accomplished, and should help you in searching our forums.

Adjustable shocks from QA1...Very nice.

Billet aluminum upper and lower control arms with poly busings from Metco. BTW...Some folks like the add-on Watts link, but performance improvement is negligible, IMHO.

Addco sway bar.

Kenny Brown bump stops

The freshly announced EBS brake kit improves the rear brakes with new rotors, pads and SS braided brake lines, as well as likewise the front brakes. Not as oversized as the Baer/Wilwood kits, but those kits don't improve the back brakes anyway.

Don't forget tires...And wider wheels for the rear?

Happy motoring!

[ckadiddle]

Welcome Kristina! Checked out your website, nice work!

[Rider90]

I have the Addco Front and rear sway bars as well as a 2" rear drop and I love it. So hooked that I have front QA1 springs & shocks in the mail, as well as Metco Upper and Lower Control Arms. Metco arms will fit your CV, but I am not sure about the QA1 system for our Marauder, if it will fit your CV. I'm guessing the rear system would work :confused: but it is pricey.

[JMan]

Awesome stuff on your website! You've done extremely well. I find artists to have interesting brains. I envy anyone whom can look at a white wall, easel or car and create a masterpiece.

Very Cool!

J

[BK_GrandMarquis]

Welcome aboard!!!

Very nice porfolio you have. Impressive.;)

Like the guys above said, the Metco parts and QA1 shocks are the way to go. Makes the car feel more solid and sportier.

If you got the cash and are seriouse about racing, go for the QA1 dual adjustable shocks. Individually adjust the bound and rebound. If this is going to be a one time thing, then it's overkill. I think the entire set for the Marauder is about $1,500. :eek:

You might want to get a 2nd set of wheels too. Something for race tires. Get them wider and lighter if you can find something that fits.

There is a guy, Wesman, here that takes his Marauder to track days pretty often. Ask him how he likes his mods. He has most of what we have mentioned here.

[HotRodKristina]

Thanks for all the kind words :) :)

I plan on keeping this car a long time, as I'm upside down in it... so the QA-1s aren't out of the question. Adjustability is a good thing, especially at the track. Plus I have this silly fantasy of putting a MTX in it....

I do plan on keeping a second set of 18" wheels around for the track, once I get brakes. For now I'll just put some sticky Kuhmos on the stock 17s and use those (with some better pads). Pretty soon I'm getting 20x9 and 20x10 Axis Pentas for 'bling' (the centers of those wheels match my paint almost perfectly)(well and something about having a 10" wheel in the back makes me feel tingly).

For those of you who've lowered your cars, which springs did you use?

[RoyLPita]

Welcome aboard. Enjoy the site for all Panther platform owners, not just MMs.

[O's Fan Rich]

Here's what I was looking for


http://www.naake.com/MercMarauder.html

[wesman]

Tires first, then brakes, then suspension.
Kristina just checked out your webpage cool stuff! how about a Marauder drawing?

[HotRodKristina]

Perhaps a tshirt design with a MM, CV, and GM on it.... ;)

none of you guys would want that, right? :p

[BK_GrandMarquis]

For those of you who've lowered your cars, which springs did you use?

There were threads in the past about Eibachs. There might have been a problem with alignment. I'm not sure what the issue was. I think there wasn't enough room for adjustment to get the car to track straight after the lowering.

[HotRodKristina]

Here's what I was looking for


http://www.naake.com/MercMarauder.html


:eek:

tasty! thanks for the link!

[mrjones]

Perhaps a tshirt design with a MM, CV, and GM on it.... ;) none of you guys would want that, right? :p


I guess I came to the party too late. I was gonna say that for all the good info Kristina's gonna get here, we should get one of those cool drawings done of the Marauder, in black of course.

[HotRodKristina]

I guess I came to the party too late. I was gonna say that for all the good info Kristina's gonna get here, we should get one of those cool drawings done of the Marauder, in black of course.

Well perhaps I can do something up that I can distribute to you MM fans as a nice 11x17 print.

:D

[magindat]

Thanks for all the kind words :) :)

I plan on keeping this car a long time, as I'm upside down in it... so the QA-1s aren't out of the question. Adjustability is a good thing, especially at the track. Plus I have this silly fantasy of putting a MTX in it....

I do plan on keeping a second set of 18" wheels around for the track, once I get brakes. For now I'll just put some sticky Kuhmos on the stock 17s and use those (with some better pads). Pretty soon I'm getting 20x9 and 20x10 Axis Pentas for 'bling' (the centers of those wheels match my paint almost perfectly)(well and something about having a 10" wheel in the back makes me feel tingly).

For those of you who've lowered your cars, which springs did you use?

If it's bling factor you are looking for, the Baer Decela rotors have been good to me. I got them through autozone.com. I also got Akebono cermaic pads from Tirerack.com. the whole shebang ran me about $500. No matter what anyone says, i think they stop better especially after they warm up. That could just be because they are still newish at about 7K miles.

Good Luck

[BK_GrandMarquis]

Perhaps a tshirt design with a MM, CV, and GM on it.... ;)

none of you guys would want that, right? :p

I want one!!! Me me me me me!!! :lol:

That would be sweeeeeeeeeeeeeet.:D

[magindat]

Perhaps a tshirt design with a MM, CV, and GM on it.... ;)

none of you guys would want that, right? :p

You know, I have always had my eye out for gear with cars like ours. It just doesn't exist. Sunshine State Marauders has gear available from gear available from Cafepress.com. If only we had the right art.....

This may be a thread hijack, but I bet the group on this site woould gether up the necessary bucks to pay for the art. I know I'd pitch in.

Many here have complimented your work. I got one thing to say... I think I'm in love.... :bigcry:

The best way I found on this site to get questions answered was to read signatures. Most contain a list of mods as does mine. PM the member. I have yet to not be responded to or treated badly. I got the best of my info that way.

Again welcome. You have already made quite an impression.

Good Luck with your mods.

BTW, you said something about wheels matching paint? How 'bout some pics?!

[BK_GrandMarquis]

BTW, you said something about wheels matching paint? How 'bout some pics?!

I think these are the wheels she is talking about

http://www.axiswheels.com/wheels/penta/penta.html
http://www.axiswheels.com/wheels/penta/axis_penta.jpg

[HotRodKristina]

I think these are the wheels she is talking about

http://www.axiswheels.com/wheels/penta/penta.html
http://www.axiswheels.com/wheels/penta/axis_penta.jpg


yes yes, those are them :)

I'm going down for a 'test fit' next week to make sure they fit correctly. Once they're shod and mounted, I'll be sure to post pics.

[HotRodKristina]

You know, I have always had my eye out for gear with cars like ours. It just doesn't exist. Sunshine State Marauders has gear available from gear available from Cafepress.com. If only we had the right art.....

This may be a thread hijack, but I bet the group on this site woould gether up the necessary bucks to pay for the art. I know I'd pitch in.

Many here have complimented your work. I got one thing to say... I think I'm in love.... :bigcry:



I wouldn't mind doing a shirt design. Right now i'm in the middle of moving, but should have some free time in a few weeks. Perhaps a nice design on a black shirt?

[BK_GrandMarquis]

yes yes, those are them :)

I'm going down for a 'test fit' next week to make sure they fit correctly. Once they're shod and mounted, I'll be sure to post pics.

Yeah, I'm kinda partial to those wheels too. ;)

http://www.teamcjmf.org/phpbb2/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=4322&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=135

http://www.lightningrodder.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10029/IMG_5485s.jpg

[BK_GrandMarquis]

Pretty soon I'm getting 20x9 and 20x10 Axis Pentas for 'bling' (the centers of those wheels match my paint almost perfectly)(well and something about having a 10" wheel in the back makes me feel tingly).


Are you sure they make it in that size? It's not listed. Unless you have some connections.;)

http://www.axiswheels.com/axis_wheels_weights_and_lips.h tml

[Bluerauder]

Perhaps a tshirt design with a MM, CV, and GM on it.... ;)

none of you guys would want that, right? :p
T-Shirt, 11x17 poster, artwork, whatever ... I am in !!! :up:

[HotRodKristina]

Are you sure they make in that size? It's not listed. Unless you have some connections.;)

http://www.axiswheels.com/axis_wheels_weights_and_lips.h tml

http://www.axiswheels.com/wheels/penta/penta.html

I have to tell James to update the page you linked.

The 20s are new, their first shipment just came in a few weeks ago. :)

[BK_GrandMarquis]

http://www.axiswheels.com/wheels/penta/penta.html

I have to tell James to update the page you linked.

The 20s are new, their first shipment just came in a few weeks ago. :)

Oh silly me. The first link I posted had the right size.:o

[magindat]

I wouldn't mind doing a shirt design. Right now i'm in the middle of moving, but should have some free time in a few weeks. Perhaps a nice design on a black shirt?

You have fit right in!

Some will want a black car, some a silver car drawing. Give 'em both. My car always wanted to be a supermodel!!!!!!:cool4:

I'm sure we'd all be grateful for any work you had to offer.

Hope we've been helpful.

Happy modding.

[Warpath]

...and something about having a 10" wheel in the back makes me feel tingly...

LOL. I get that feeling when I sit too long on a wood chair - and I get it free! Damn body isn't what it used to be. Although, it wasn't much to begin with.

BTW, while your making some MM stuff, why not some Cobra stuff too. Check my link out in my sig for some inspiration.

[BK_GrandMarquis]

I do plan on keeping a second set of 18" wheels around for the track, once I get brakes.

I've been looking for a 2nd set of wheels too. I looked over at the Impala forum and got a few suggestions.

http://www.kodiakracingwheels.com/

http://www.ccwheel.com/

http://www.fikse.com

http://www.forgeline.com/

These are lightweight wheels so they have a high price tag. :)

[HotRodKristina]

:eek: mmm... those are some tasty wheels

Guess it gives me something to shoot for lol...

Thanks for all of your help, guys... I now have a complete list of goodies for the Vic :) :bandit: