Cut coils, new Nittos and alignment *pics*

[HwyCruiser]

I finally got the Marauder in to have the Nitto NT 555 255/45/18 tires Santa brought me installed. I'm running Nitto NT 555 295/45/18 tires on widened rims on the rear so I really wanted to get the same brand of tire the front also. The 2nd pair of stock size BFGs were just about gone on the inside after 23k miles anyway. Thanks to TooManyFords for the ProRauder take-offs, I also had cut OEM coils installed and an alignment done while I was at it.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a203/jdomino/Marauder/Lowered/lowsm2.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a203/jdomino/Marauder/Lowered/lowsm1.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a203/jdomino/Marauder/Lowered/opcc1.jpg

I gave the alignment tech carfixer's specs (link (http://www.mercurymarauder.net/reviews/showproduct.php/product/34/sort/2/cat/19/page/1)) and he said he adjusted the camber as much as he could. The cam bolt retainer flags were removed so I believe him. At least it's still within factory specs.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a203/jdomino/Marauder/Lowered/alignment.jpg

So far I'm really pleased with the results. The car seems a bit less bouncy in the front and it doesn't want to steer into the grooves anymore. I moved the wheel stop-to-stop and felt around the tire, there's still plenty clearance to the wheel well liners.

I'll just take it a little easier on the grade transitions because I obviously shortened the suspension travel with the cut springs. I wound up cutting just shy of 1 full coil off. The fender hight is now at 27-1/2" from the ground through the center cap. I think now she sits just about right and I'm really happy that the ride didn't wind up feeling harsh.

[snowbird]

JD,

Great mod report. Look good.

[RedMerc04]

I like it!

[stryker]

:nono: I Don't !

:xtree: STRYKER. :wreath:

[jim geary]

That's the exact setup I'm planning with the tires. Waiting for the Naake set
that I ordered so I can have it all done at once. Have you taken your car on
any good winding roads yet? I'm hoping to avoid sliding from side to side in
the front seats.

[magindat]

I'm hoping to avoid sliding from side to side in
the front seats.

Gain some weight and let your 'love handles' hold you still!!!!!

:laugh:

:corner:

[ctrlraven]

Looks right! Would 255/45 fit the front oem wheel without any problem cause on my next tire purchase I'd like to go 255/55 in the rear and be wide in the front but smallest sidewall I can go so I'll have the rake stance back and be able stop having to turn my traction control off at 45mph or more since I have 235/50 all around right now.

[HwyCruiser]

The 255/45 is 1/4" shorter and 3/4" wider than the 235/50 OEM front tire size and still rated for an 8" wide wheel. The diameter difference between the two is less than 1%. The 255/55 is almost 1/2" taller and 1/2" wider than the 245/55 OEM rear tire. The diameter difference between the two is 1.5%. I don't know what the threshold for the TC is since I don't have that particular issue (03' 300A). The 255/45 and 255/55 have about the same section width.

A 295/45 on a widened rear wheel will keep the diameter within 1% of the 245/55 OEM rear tire size and will also get you a noticeable 2" wider section width. The $500 or whatever Weldcraft Wheels get to widen a pair of OEM wheels now days is well worth the effort to gain some more rubber.

I used 1010tire's online tire calculator to run the numbers.
http://www.1010tire.com/TireSizeCalculator.asp

[HwyCruiser]

That's the exact setup I'm planning with the tires. Waiting for the Naake set
that I ordered so I can have it all done at once. Have you taken your car on
any good winding roads yet? I'm hoping to avoid sliding from side to side in
the front seats.

No road reports yet, we got a break in the weather but now they're forecasting freezing rain for the weekend. She's all ready to hit my favorite stretch of a local winding county road when it clears up again though!

[RUSTY]

I have 255/55/15 continental sportcontact on the back and i was not sure about my fronts until now. I was going conti on the front but nitto's are less pricey. I like the look of the 255/45 on the front and i am waiting to here about your performance,meaning clearance issues with one cut coil. I was thinking about 3/4 coil. looks good

[MarauderTJA]

Looks great JD:up:

[JMan]

I think it looks great! I know when I cut the springs on my Crown, it became softer. It makes sense since I took about an eighth of the spring away. I then bought the MM Eibachs for it which are much stiffer and lower. I gained some handling but lost some ride comfort and ground clearance. It's not so bad that I despise it - in fact I appreciate it for my daily drives! Once lowered you're not going to get the lower (less negative) camber readings you desire without modifying the front frame attachments for the lower control arms. I also have occasional contact between my brake caliper bolts and the sway bar links. It is alarming but not detrimental. It gives a light thunk when the conditions are just right in a parking lot manuver.

Here's a pic Mrs. Smokie took at MV. My car is the orphan, obviously!
http://www.mercurymarauder.net/showcase/showimage.php?i=5910&c=40

As long as you don't wear tires and it handles good, you're in great shape. It looks badazz!

J

[Eric91Z]

How wide did you go on your rear wheels?

And just to clarify:

1) You are running the 255/45-18 Nitto 555 on the front with the stock wheels
2) You are running 295/45-18 Nitto 555 on the rear with a widened stock wheel?


Anyone running something similiar on a car with TC? Just wondering if they are close anough in size to not set off the TC/ABS/ETC. It does look like from that 1010tire.com site that the difference front to rear between stock and this setup is pretty close to being the same.


Anyway, good looking setup. And I like the Nitto 555 in general for a street tire and I like the way the tread design looks (something I don't much care for on the BFG KDW2).

[Hotrauder]

Eric,
I am running Nitto 555's, 245/45/18 front and 295/45/18 rear, with TC and on widened OEM wheels. No problems from the TC. The Naake suspension set up I have ordered on the GB will eliminate the above the wheel gap caused by the lower sidewall height of the Nittos. The tires are great. I love this set up. Dennis

[Eric91Z]

Eric,
I am running Nitto 555's, 245/45/18 front and 295/45/18 rear, with TC and on widened OEM wheels. No problems from the TC. The Naake suspension set up I have ordered on the GB will eliminate the above the wheel gap caused by the lower sidewall height of the Nittos. The tires are great. I love this set up. Dennis

Thanks for the verification. I like that look at lot. I like the rake and wheels of the Marauder, but really think they need more tire in there. I might go this route instead of a new wheel/tire combo. Just get the rear widened with new Nitto's front and rear. Maybe next winter's project when the winter wheels go on.

How long is the turn around usually on the widened OEM wheels?

[tmac1337]

JD, your a hard man to keep up with!!!!

Car looks great.

[HwyCruiser]

How wide did you go on your rear wheels?

And just to clarify:

1) You are running the 255/45-18 Nitto 555 on the front with the stock wheels
2) You are running 295/45-18 Nitto 555 on the rear with a widened stock wheel?

That is correct.

The wheels were widened to 9-1/2" by WeldCraft Wheels out of MI. The did an excellent job.

Here's a before pic with the original springs and the stock BFG KDWS 235/50 tires for comparison:

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a203/jdomino/Marauder/pavilion3.jpg

The 3/4" to 1" the car was lowered by cutting off a coil makes all the difference in the world IMO. I'll be careful not to jump any curbs with my Marauder in the future.

[HwyCruiser]

...and I appreciate the complements guys.

I want to thank the members that did this long before and sharing their experience. Specifically, I really appreciated SergntMac's feedback on the 255/45 & 1 coil cut spring on the front. I also took Zack's feedback to heart on going with a full coil vs a 3/4 coil cut.