KB Front suspension Issue

[John F. Russo]

I'm coming back to the answer forum again.

Old issue
Engine breakdown under full throttle. I changed coils and feel after about 10 WOT conditions, it hasn't happened again so far.

No one had suggested this solution as I recall.


New Issue
When I bought my Kenny Brown car I was told that he had lowered the suspension. I have kept the following statement on my car bio for 5 years:"coil from each front stock spring removed to produce the “same” effect as an Eibach spring"

First, I have 80,000 miles on my car and my advisor has said that I need new struts because they squeak badly every time I go over a bump. I'll replace front and rear

Second, he then suggested that the car was too low as a result of fatigue of the front springs--need to replace only the front springs because the rear don't have the same weight on them as the front springs.

Do I buy a spring coil and cut off one coil as Kenny Brown had done or is Eibach or other company has the same thing off the shelf?

He also said that Ford motor sports has an off the shelf high performance suspension kit for my car. I don't know if it was the original that was in the car or not.

HELP!

[fastblackmerc]

I'm coming back to the answer forum again.

Old issue
Engine breakdown under full throttle. I changed coils and feel after about 10 WOT conditions, it hasn't happened again so far.

No one had suggested this solution as I recall.


New Issue
When I bought my Kenny Brown car I was told that he had lowered the suspension. I have kept the following statement on my car bio for 5 years:"coil from each front stock spring removed to produce the “same” effect as an Eibach spring"

First, I have 80,000 miles on my car and my advisor has said that I need new struts because they squeak badly every time I go over a bump. I'll replace front and rear

Second, he then suggested that the car was too low as a result of fatigue of the front springs--need to replace only the front springs because the rear don't have the same weight on them as the front springs.

Do I buy a spring coil and cut off one coil as Kenny Brown had done or is Eibach or other company has the same thing off the shelf?

He also said that Ford motor sports has an off the shelf high performance suspension kit for my car. I don't know if it was the original that was in the car or not.

HELP!

Well.... you know the real reason why the car sits low in the front.

I'd let them replace the struts and then see what it looks like. If you don't then get new coils and cut off 1 full coil.

Do a search, some people like the Eibach's some don't.

I know of no high performance suspension parts for the Marauder from Ford Motor Sports.

[John F. Russo]

[QUOTE=fastblackmerc;703935]Well.... you know the real reason why the car sits low in the front.

Thank you for the response.

Do you think that any of the lowering of the front end is due to fatigue of the springs And it is a good idea to replace them since I'm doing the struts anyway since the additional cost isn't too much?

[BODYMAN]

John, I would get the oem springs and set them side by side with the old ones and cut exact to the old ones. But 1st I would try the new struts and see what it looks like. Before replacing the springs. just my opinion.

Todd

[Badger]

Isn't technically a strut a structural spring/shock suspension member combination?
As far as I know we have coil over shock....no strut.
Three things that worry me about your mech....
1. Cut coil = lowered ride...he knows the spring has been cut....right?
He's not comparing the lowered KB ride to the original factory specs....right?

2. Second as far as I know there aren't any perf parts for our cars from FORD.
I've got 135k on my old 98 CV HPP and it's front springs are not sagging.

3. We have shocks....not struts.

[John F. Russo]

Isn't technically a strut a structural spring/shock suspension member combination?
As far as I know we have coil over shock....no strut.
Three things that worry me about your mech....
1. Cut coil = lowered ride...he knows the spring has been cut....right?
He's not comparing the lowered KB ride to the original factory specs....right?

2. Second as far as I know there aren't any perf parts for our cars from FORD.
I've got 135k on my old 98 CV HPP and it's front springs are not sagging.

3. We have shocks....not struts.


Thank you for clarifying the difference between a strut and shock.

I have heard this confusion before and have fallen into the same rut.

[John F. Russo]

John, I would get the oem springs and set them side by side with the old ones and cut exact to the old ones. But 1st I would try the new struts and see what it looks like. Before replacing the springs. just my opinion.

Todd

Very practical suggestion.

Still accumulating data.

[bigmerc2003]

I googled Kenny Brown Marauder and found a car and driver article that does say the KB MM was lowered but does not say how. I would imagine that you are right about the 1 coil cut off but I do agree with the post above. We have coil over shocks and you should be fine having them put new shocks on and leaving you cut springs, also from what I have read the best way to drop the front is to cut 1 full coil from the spring, the aftermarket springs are crap

[RF Overlord]

things that worry me about your mech....
1. Cut coil = lowered ride...he knows the spring has been cut....right?
He's not comparing the lowered KB ride to the original factory specs....right?.^^^what Badger said^^^

John, I find it hard to believe that you have fatigued springs. In fact, I rarely hear of that happening, even on cars used in police patrol and/or taxi conditions that have been abused far more than your car.

[John F. Russo]

^^^what Badger said^^^

John, I find it hard to believe that you have fatigued springs. In fact, I rarely hear of that happening, even on cars used in police patrol and/or taxi conditions that have been abused far more than your car.

Wow! Finally a fellow KB owner has come on the scene.

Thank you very much.

I examined the front struts (shocks) and they had a tag with a Ford part number on them. (Unfortunately I left my planner home with the part number).

This is apparently a one piece unit that is a McPerson design, as I was told.

I thought that this unit was specfically modified by Kenny Brown but now it seems to me that Ford had cut one one coil off the spring as I mentioned at the beginning of my thread. Maybe this isn't so.

Do I just replace the strut alone or the strut plus spring?

[Krytin]

Kenny Brown cut one coil off of the stock spring to lower the car.
It sounds like Service writer BS to me!
There is nothing wrong with your springs - the front of your car sits low because it was lowered by KB. The service writer doesn't know where your car was suposed to sit when KB set it up initially - he just knows it's lower than a stock Marauder.
Just buy new shocks for the front. The spring assembly comes out and apart and the new shock goes in. Very simple.

[RF Overlord]

Wow! Finally a fellow KB owner has come on the scene.

Thank you very much.John, I can't quite figure out if you're being sarcastic or if you mean it. I ask because I don't have a KB car. :confused:

You might try contacting Haggis and Ladyhawke...since they own TWO of them...lucky bastages. :rolleyes:

[John F. Russo]

John, I can't quite figure out if you're being sarcastic or if you mean it. I ask because I don't have a KB car. :confused:

You might try contacting Haggis and Ladyhawke...since they own TWO of them...lucky bastages. :rolleyes:

It was a mistaken identity.

I had the wrong information in my mind about your car.

[John F. Russo]

Kenny Brown cut one coil off of the stock spring to lower the car.
It sounds like Service writer BS to me!
There is nothing wrong with your springs - the front of your car sits low because it was lowered by KB. The service writer doesn't know where your car was suposed to sit when KB set it up initially - he just knows it's lower than a stock Marauder.
Just buy new shocks for the front. The spring assembly comes out and apart and the new shock goes in. Very simple.




Thank you for your response.

The following part number came off a tag (with Ford label on it) found on my coil over shock (not strut as Badger has stated in his response) that was on my car: 3W301805ACA

It seems to me that it was a product comp;etely made by Ford.

It doesn't look like the spring was cut by Kenny Brown. Maybe someone can comment on this.

[Haggis]

Kenny Brown cut one coil off of the stock spring to lower the car.
It sounds like Service writer BS to me!
There is nothing wrong with your springs - the front of your car sits low because it was lowered by KB. The service writer doesn't know where your car was suposed to sit when KB set it up initially - he just knows it's lower than a stock Marauder.
Just buy new shocks for the front. The spring assembly comes out and apart and the new shock goes in. Very simple.

^^^What he said.^^^^

Besides that I can offer no other advice, I am not a mechanic.

[burt ragio]

John -As a few people have mentioned Kenny Brown simply cut one full coil of the OEM front springs and reinstalled and aleined. I suggest useing carfixer specs. for aleinment.

[John F. Russo]

John -As a few people have mentioned Kenny Brown simply cut one full coil of the OEM front springs and reinstalled and aleined. I suggest useing carfixer specs. for aleinment.

A Cape Codder!

I visit my uncle in Yarmouth periodically. Are you near there?

How do I get Carfixer's specs?

Thank you.

[burt ragio]

Do a serch for carfixer aleinment specs.
Yes I'am not far from Yarmouth. Give me a call if I can be help or want to join me for a coffee cell 508 237 5432

[Stranger in the Black Sedan]

Coils, for practical purposes, almost never wear out to the point that you'd need to replace them. Sounds like the dealer did not know the car was lowered and jumped to conclusions. I would NOT touch the springs.

[Thunderace]

^^^+2,Our MM squeaks also,stock springs & tire wear is good,but once the tires go I'll put in cut coils (spare pair of stockers I got off this site),new tires and carfixers align. specs,also drop the back a little to match.

[John F. Russo]

Do a serch for carfixer aleinment specs.
Yes I'am not far from Yarmouth. Give me a call if I can be help or want to join me for a coffee cell 508 237 5432

I just recorded your phone number for my eventual trip.

Thank you for the info.