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Thread: June 2019 Suspension Updates and New Technology

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Nov 2012
    Location
    Sacramento
    Posts
    3,737

    June 2019 Suspension Updates and New Technology

    Ok Gang,

    I will write up more later but wanted to get this out there!

    Disclaimer, I am good with tools, and projects, and cars. Not a mechanic, not an engineer, but I take advice really well, and I have others do the hardest work mostly because I am now partially handicapped--and crunched for time.

    Two of my four panthers have "the lean" and two don't. The two that lean ALSO SIT 1.5 to 2 inches taller in front and EACH ONLY HAS 30.000 miles. Drives me fricken Batty!

    Wild thing is... Of the two that sit high in front AND lean, one is a Marauder, and the other is a CVSPORT.

    I found NOS (rare) Heavy duty front springs with same stock tag codes as Marauder.... Installed them with new Heavy Duty Shocks...AND THE DAMN CAR STILL SAT 2 INChES TOO HIGH. So I uninstalled them and had 1 coil could cut... And it sits almost exactly like the two stock panthers do.

    So I then installed new rear KYB struts, and A-2220 Hevy duty airbags (Limo etc).

    The new KYB shocks were installed a while back with new rear sway bar, so I just installed the new heavy duty airbags and they are BADASS. Could feel the difference in the driveway. The comparison is as striking and when you first installed New Metco Watts link and control arms....That much of an immediate noticeable difference.

    COOLEST THING EVER? The mechanic has a Snap On Ethos Unit, plugged it into my port... And found an air ride control software in the unit.

    First he "remembered" the Air ride height before changing the rear bags, and after he changed the bags, he simply pressed the control screen button, could cycle the air ride pump... And it went back to where I had it set previously. He then lifted car, moved the manual settings back to the middle of thier travel range, and tightened the two nuts..

    Once on the ground he cycled the air compressor to inflate/deflate the bags three times... to see if we could "level the rear" and...

    Get this. Asked me where I wanted the new rear height "set."

    By pushing a button on the screen, UP or DOWN, we set the rear setting EXACTLY WHERE I wanted it. All while standing outside the car, on the ground, looking at it.

    Having manually done this four times to get it right (in the past) .. Each time raising and lowering the lift etc... This SnapOn control unit method was SIMPLY TOO COOL!

    Bad news is... Car still leans a little. It is not the bags, not the shocks, and not the springs. 1 owner car, never wrecked, still near showroom. Mechanic checked everything he could think of.

    Car sits 2 inches above rubber both front and back. Looks amazing.


    PS photo attached. 6:45PM hazy hot dusty California day. Sun just right, came out of Resturant... And had to take this photo. The tires do NOT stick out or anything... This is completely the angle of the sun. Car looks stock in broad daylight. Looks pretty low and mean here!
    Attached Images Attached Images
    Last edited by 1Marauder; 06-17-2019 at 03:09 PM.


    2003 300A Black, #4918 of 7838, 17,400 Miles
    Tune, KYB's, JLT, FlowMaster 42441, Res Delete, New BFG's, 8 coats of zymoil Titanium

    2003 300B Silver Birch, #21 of 419, 29,800 miles
    Tune, JLT, FlowMaster 42441 Res Delete, New Nitto 235/255 Bigcarsforever dead peddle & custom SRP peddles, 5 coats Zymoil Titanium, Addco front and rear sway bars, KYBs, 1/2 inch coil cut, Sparta Watts link and Control Arms, Carfixer alignment.

    2003 CV Sport Matador Red, 19,280 Miles, DD, Curless Full Service Royal flush, Marto Tune, 18 Chrome Wheels w 235/265 front/back Nitto tires, NEW OEM Sport Springs -1 coil & Monroe Severe Duty (front) shocks, Addco front and rear sway bars, KYB rear Shocks, Carfixer Alignment.

    2004 CV HPP Silver Birch, 93,000 miles. Son's DD, 18 Chrome Wheels w 235/265 front/back Nitto tires (thank you Lowndex!)

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Location
    Washington State
    Posts
    2,108
    Good write up!!
    What model/part number "Snap On Ethos" are you using?

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Lehigh Valley, PA
    Posts
    5,956
    My friends old 03 marauder had a noticeable lean side to side as well, I want to say somewhere between 1-1.5" side to side. He bought it with 24k miles on it so this wasn't some high mile ghetto cruiser we checked last week, this was going on 10 years ago about.

    We checked my DTR which at the time had stock suspension and it was within a half inch side to side. I am pretty sure my 03 is also very close side to side, I never noticed a lean when measuring the suspension before/after the cut coils.

    These are just stupid thoughts, but did you think about loosening and re-torquing the front control arm bolts at ride height to make sure the bushings aren't twisted in any way? Especially since you have non original coils in there.

    Only other thought is maybe its body mounts.

    Either way, chalk it up to the excellent build tolerances of the panther platform and excellent quality control of STAP.


    2016 Ford Mustang GT PP - Lund nGauge, BMR vertical links, MGW Shifter, BMR CB005

    2004 Mercury Marauder - Eaton M112, Billetflow 3.4, Accufab SBTB + Plenum, T-56 Magnum, 4.10s, Stainless Works LTs, 2.5" Exhaust, Borla Stingers, Ridetech Coilovers + Adj rear shocks, FX-R projectors, Wilwood 13" BNSL6 + FNSL4 BBKs, S55 Gauge Cluster
    440rwhp & 406rwtq Tuned by Adam @ Revolution Automotive
    2063/3214

    (Sold) 2003 Mercury Marauder - Stainless Works LT's, Stainless Works 2.5" Catback, JLT Intake, Mo's Xcal4 Tune
    5377/7838

    2000 BMW M5 - Evolve Intake, Evolve Alpha-N tune, Stoptech ST-40 BBK, UUC SSK, Dinan front STB, Dinan RSB

    1996 Ford Bronco - 4" lift, 35" BFG A/T's, Punisher Valve Body, MH1 Projectors

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Location
    Langley, BC
    Age
    55
    Posts
    1,760
    I'm looking for this info as well!

    Quote Originally Posted by NXSBOB View Post
    Good write up!!
    What model/part number "Snap On Ethos" are you using?

    1 of 170 '04 SB w/sunroof, light flint int.

    MOD HISTORY:
    -Lidio's Xcal2 flash, JLT CAI
    -Trilogized June/08 (mostly installed by RC_Signals)
    13.2@103 on stock (balding) tires.
    -Added: SW Long tube Headers + High Flow Cats
    -New BFGs (Best Baby Shower gift EVER!)
    12.81@107.78 Oct 02/09
    -Ventilated Block Mod
    Out of commission
    -Rebuilt with:
    Teksid block/ForgedInternals/Melling oil pump/Canton windage tray/Rebuilt heads with SVT Cobra cams/Cloyes gears/ SVT Lightning MAF/Accufab TB/ MuscleMerc rear head cooling kit/ Steigy lightly ported and polished Eaton 112-
    -Widened rims
    XCal 4 Remote-tuned to PERFECTION by Jeff @ MartyO June/19

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Nov 2012
    Location
    Sacramento
    Posts
    3,737
    Did some research and actually found a TSB on leaning CV/Grand Mar's!

    In reading the full TSB, they actually had kits made with seven 1/2 "spacer" bolts for the low side. It was a great read!

    Part of the TSB discussed how to "settle" a car for measurement to make sure the car qualifies for the fix.

    Not making this up... It has the dealer load trunk until rear height adjusts, unload trunk, and then shake car up down front,up down back, and rock car side to side, right above front/rear door pillars. Then, After the procedure to measure (on flat ground) to lower lip of wheel well.

    So I've already shared the above suspension and bag replacement... (Sadly) Not curing my "lean."

    A week later I was inDowntown Sac, where the roads have a heavy crown into gutter (we are a 3 river city... Lots of rain/water/flooding), on one way street parked with my passenger side 12-14 inches lower than driver's side (hard to open driver's door). Parked for a hour, came out and remembered the TSB. Just for fun, I rocked car side to side as described in the TSB, using the crowned road to gain more leverage/movement.

    People were walking by, casting odd looks myway,so I stopped. Then I thought, heck with them, the conditions are perfect, so I went back at it like I was trying to rock and tip the car over (harder since all new suspension parts front and back). And I seriously rocked the car for a few minutes.

    Got in, drove home, made some tight hard turns, hit freeway for 5 miles, and NO JOKE. MY CAR LEAN IS NOW NON EXISTENT. It has been three weeks now -- and I am sure I will get flamed...but I am going to do this every time I notice the lean.

    Some one please try it! I understand that this shouldn't work... BUT under that same premiss our cars shouldn't lean in the first place!

    Post up if it helps!
    Last edited by 1Marauder; 07-05-2019 at 07:55 PM.


    2003 300A Black, #4918 of 7838, 17,400 Miles
    Tune, KYB's, JLT, FlowMaster 42441, Res Delete, New BFG's, 8 coats of zymoil Titanium

    2003 300B Silver Birch, #21 of 419, 29,800 miles
    Tune, JLT, FlowMaster 42441 Res Delete, New Nitto 235/255 Bigcarsforever dead peddle & custom SRP peddles, 5 coats Zymoil Titanium, Addco front and rear sway bars, KYBs, 1/2 inch coil cut, Sparta Watts link and Control Arms, Carfixer alignment.

    2003 CV Sport Matador Red, 19,280 Miles, DD, Curless Full Service Royal flush, Marto Tune, 18 Chrome Wheels w 235/265 front/back Nitto tires, NEW OEM Sport Springs -1 coil & Monroe Severe Duty (front) shocks, Addco front and rear sway bars, KYB rear Shocks, Carfixer Alignment.

    2004 CV HPP Silver Birch, 93,000 miles. Son's DD, 18 Chrome Wheels w 235/265 front/back Nitto tires (thank you Lowndex!)

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jun 2003
    Location
    Timbuk3, MI
    Posts
    2,441
    1Marauder - Did some research and actually found a TSB on leaning CV/Grand Mar's! ...
    Care to share the TSB # ?
    .

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Nov 2012
    Location
    Sacramento
    Posts
    3,737
    TSB 97-18-2

    I found a long version, and a shorter version.


    2003 300A Black, #4918 of 7838, 17,400 Miles
    Tune, KYB's, JLT, FlowMaster 42441, Res Delete, New BFG's, 8 coats of zymoil Titanium

    2003 300B Silver Birch, #21 of 419, 29,800 miles
    Tune, JLT, FlowMaster 42441 Res Delete, New Nitto 235/255 Bigcarsforever dead peddle & custom SRP peddles, 5 coats Zymoil Titanium, Addco front and rear sway bars, KYBs, 1/2 inch coil cut, Sparta Watts link and Control Arms, Carfixer alignment.

    2003 CV Sport Matador Red, 19,280 Miles, DD, Curless Full Service Royal flush, Marto Tune, 18 Chrome Wheels w 235/265 front/back Nitto tires, NEW OEM Sport Springs -1 coil & Monroe Severe Duty (front) shocks, Addco front and rear sway bars, KYB rear Shocks, Carfixer Alignment.

    2004 CV HPP Silver Birch, 93,000 miles. Son's DD, 18 Chrome Wheels w 235/265 front/back Nitto tires (thank you Lowndex!)

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Nov 2012
    Location
    Sacramento
    Posts
    3,737
    PS Thought about asking for TSB-97-18-2 to be posted up as a sticky.


    2003 300A Black, #4918 of 7838, 17,400 Miles
    Tune, KYB's, JLT, FlowMaster 42441, Res Delete, New BFG's, 8 coats of zymoil Titanium

    2003 300B Silver Birch, #21 of 419, 29,800 miles
    Tune, JLT, FlowMaster 42441 Res Delete, New Nitto 235/255 Bigcarsforever dead peddle & custom SRP peddles, 5 coats Zymoil Titanium, Addco front and rear sway bars, KYBs, 1/2 inch coil cut, Sparta Watts link and Control Arms, Carfixer alignment.

    2003 CV Sport Matador Red, 19,280 Miles, DD, Curless Full Service Royal flush, Marto Tune, 18 Chrome Wheels w 235/265 front/back Nitto tires, NEW OEM Sport Springs -1 coil & Monroe Severe Duty (front) shocks, Addco front and rear sway bars, KYB rear Shocks, Carfixer Alignment.

    2004 CV HPP Silver Birch, 93,000 miles. Son's DD, 18 Chrome Wheels w 235/265 front/back Nitto tires (thank you Lowndex!)

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Jun 2003
    Location
    Timbuk3, MI
    Posts
    2,441

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Nov 2012
    Location
    Sacramento
    Posts
    3,737
    Moderators please delete this thread. Better thread started--this is/was a duplicate


    2003 300A Black, #4918 of 7838, 17,400 Miles
    Tune, KYB's, JLT, FlowMaster 42441, Res Delete, New BFG's, 8 coats of zymoil Titanium

    2003 300B Silver Birch, #21 of 419, 29,800 miles
    Tune, JLT, FlowMaster 42441 Res Delete, New Nitto 235/255 Bigcarsforever dead peddle & custom SRP peddles, 5 coats Zymoil Titanium, Addco front and rear sway bars, KYBs, 1/2 inch coil cut, Sparta Watts link and Control Arms, Carfixer alignment.

    2003 CV Sport Matador Red, 19,280 Miles, DD, Curless Full Service Royal flush, Marto Tune, 18 Chrome Wheels w 235/265 front/back Nitto tires, NEW OEM Sport Springs -1 coil & Monroe Severe Duty (front) shocks, Addco front and rear sway bars, KYB rear Shocks, Carfixer Alignment.

    2004 CV HPP Silver Birch, 93,000 miles. Son's DD, 18 Chrome Wheels w 235/265 front/back Nitto tires (thank you Lowndex!)

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