coil-over spring rates and strut/shock recommendations

Sorry for the long post, but trying to make an informed decision.

With me buying the car only 6 weeks ago and the extensive mods list to make the all stock car more up to date. I'm trying to squeeze the budget without shooting myself in the foot for later upgrades.

I'm just about to pull the trigger on Maximum Motorsports coil-overs for my 04 vert.
Iv'e read several posts/threads on this, but many are old and options/opinions/availability can change.


I know a lot of guys just go with H&R race springs, but I want to be able to dial in my ride height and was afraid they would be too harsh for me.

Some people say I can reuse my stock front Bilstein struts(save $500+) but I think my stock rears would have to be grooved for coilover conversion.(only 18K miles on the car)?

HD/Sport Bilsteins are out of stock nationwide. Do you think I sould get MM sport shock/strut or Koni SA if I replace all 4?
Will at least be doing rears because of the groove issue mentioned above.

My car is mostly for cruising and spirited street driving (aggressive on/off ramps and occasional 1/4 mile blasts).

After talking to MM rep on the phone I was originally thinking #325 front and #475 rear, but now maybe #350 front and #500 rear? What do you think?

I want to be sure the car is not too stiff for the street and the rear allows for some weight transfer in case I do hit the strip.

I did see another forum thread that suggested +#200 from front to rear, so 350-550?

What # springs are most of you using?

I will be having full length subframe connectors installed ASAP too.
Do you like Stifflers or MM best?
I can't afford full FIT system now, but may upgrade later. I think it will work on either.

Fulltilt Boogie bushings kit w/rear cover going in after that.

Thanks in advance for any advise.

You do need the rear shocks grooved for the coilovers. MM will send you the specs so you can have it done by a local machine shop. I'd keep the stock struts for now if they're in good shape. You can always get them rebuilt later.

My car came with H&R race springs when I bought it. I currently have 300lb fronts and 475lb rears and the ride is pretty much identical to the H&R's. With a little better handling IMO.

I don't think you can go wrong with either MM or Stifflers. You can always go with MM connectors and add the jacking rails and cross connectors later on. I went with Stifflers because I could order everything at once.

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go full air ride. I wish that option was available 12 years ago when I got my cobra. I've been through 3 different suspension setups. I'm now running dampening adjustable airlift performance air struts up front ride tech air springs and qa1 double adjustable shocks in the rear. The ride is comparable to kw variant 3 coilovers. Firm but not as harsh. The struts and rear shocks make a big difference in ride quality as well. The great thing is I can drive it low but still make it over speed bumps and up steep driveways. It's also easier to tune air ride for launching the car all from the driver's seat. It can also be firmed up for corner carving.

keith89 said:

go full air ride. I wish that option was available 12 years ago when I got my cobra. I've been through 3 different suspension setups. I'm now running dampening adjustable airlift performance air struts up front ride tech air springs and qa1 double adjustable shocks in the rear. The ride is comparable to kw variant 3 coilovers. Firm but not as harsh. The struts and rear shocks make a big difference in ride quality as well. The great thing is I can drive it low but still make it over speed bumps and up steep driveways. It's also easier to tune air ride for launching the car all from the driver's seat. It can also be firmed up for corner carving.

Click to expand...

Can't afford it right now....used most of my budget buying the car 6 weeks ago

'04 Vert myself. MM also told me 300 front, 475 rear. I already have MM front covers with coupe struts which are probably 300lb springs but I can't be sure because I got the coilovers and struts used.

What they failed to answer is what shocks would be best. Looking at the website I guess the Sports are the ones to get.

I'm in the middle of replacing my 2nd gen FTBR kit for the newer uca/lca bushings and grease fittings and rebuilding the limited slip.

The original bushing install was the single biggest handling upgrade, by far. I highly recommend them!

I also replaced the flimsy factory tie rods in the back, which, very surprisingly made a huge difference in wheelhop.

JPIStang said:

'04 Vert myself. MM also told me 300 front, 475 rear. I already have MM front covers with coupe struts which are probably 300lb springs but I can't be sure because I got the coilovers and struts used.

What they failed to answer is what shocks would be best. Looking at the website I guess the Sports are the ones to get.

I'm in the middle of replacing my 2nd gen FTBR kit for the newer uca/lca bushings and grease fittings and rebuilding the limited slip.

The original bushing install was the single biggest handling upgrade, by far. I highly recommend them!

I also replaced the flimsy factory tie rods in the back, which, very surprisingly made a huge difference in wheelhop.

Click to expand...

I went with stock Bilsteins all around....they should handle the spring rates I chose (#350 front, #500 rear). From what I read I'm close to the limit, but should be OK. I will be reusing my original fronts and got new rears with the groove machined in them. They aren't installed yet. I'll hopefully get to it in the next couple weeks.

Up next frame connectors and then FTBR bushings. Maybe I should do bumpstop/tie rods too, but funds are low.

KBR said:

I went with stock Bilsteins all around....they should handle the spring rates I chose (#350 front, #500 rear). From what I read I'm close to the limit, but should be OK. I will be reusing my original fronts and got new rears with the groove machined in them. They aren't installed yet. I'll hopefully get to it in the next couple weeks.

Up next frame connectors and then FTBR bushings. Maybe I should do bumpstop/tie rods too, but funds are low.

Click to expand...

So I bought my car with full MM suspension. After about 4000 miles I had a weird noise when going over bumps and coming to stop. It Was loud rattling. Found out my struts were bad and the used stock stuff. Car had 40k miles. It took lots of time to figure out and a few other things go replaced before I figured it out. It's a bitch to take all apart again realign...
If I was you for piece of mind have stock stuff rebuilt or go with MM strut. So your not taking it apart again in 20k miles.

I have MM sport struts up front. They look much stronger. Ride is fine for street

I would have to check my spring rates...

2004 Cobra 2.9 Whipple

2004cobra615 said:

So I bought my car with full MM suspension. After about 4000 miles I had a weird noise when going over bumps and coming to stop. It Was loud rattling. Found out my struts were bad and the used stock stuff. Car had 40k miles. It took lots of time to figure out and a few other things go replaced before I figured it out. It's a bitch to take all apart again realign...
If I was you for piece of mind have stock stuff rebuilt or go with MM strut. So your not taking it apart again in 20k miles.

I have MM sport struts up front. They look much stronger. Ride is fine for street

I would have to check my spring rates...

2004 Cobra 2.9 Whipple

Click to expand...

Hi...my car just turned 18k miles and has been babied it’s whole life. Hopefully I’ll be good with my stock front struts for a while. Thanks for the advise. I’m a newbie with this stuff.


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I would think so. Bilsteins don't really go bad very frequently. I have 60k on my car and my front coilovers were used and the struts are still working great.

KBR said:

Hi...my car just turned 18k miles and has been babied it’s whole life. Hopefully I’ll be good with my stock front struts for a while. Thanks for the advise. I’m a newbie with this stuff.


Sent from my iPhone using the svtperformance.com mobile app

Click to expand...

keith89 said:

go full air ride. I wish that option was available 12 years ago when I got my cobra. I've been through 3 different suspension setups. I'm now running dampening adjustable airlift performance air struts up front ride tech air springs and qa1 double adjustable shocks in the rear. The ride is comparable to kw variant 3 coilovers. Firm but not as harsh. The struts and rear shocks make a big difference in ride quality as well. The great thing is I can drive it low but still make it over speed bumps and up steep driveways. It's also easier to tune air ride for launching the car all from the driver's seat. It can also be firmed up for corner carving.

Click to expand...

Happen to have any pics of the car?


Sent from my iPhone using the svtperformance.com mobile app

Stock Cobra struts are more than up to the task so long as you keep spring rates at an absolute max of 350 up front, for a street cruiser 275 is a perfect combo of ride and handling. On the rear, no problem to groove stock shocks but only if you have a coupe, vert shocks are not even close for coil overs. Spring rate out back, stick to 450, great match to the front.

svt_vnenoso said:

Happen to have any pics of the car?


Sent from my iPhone using the svtperformance.com mobile app

Click to expand...

Sent from my iPhone using the svtperformance.com mobile app

ZR5.0 said:

Stock Cobra struts are more than up to the task so long as you keep spring rates at an absolute max of 350 up front, for a street cruiser 275 is a perfect combo of ride and handling. On the rear, no problem to groove stock shocks but only if you have a coupe, vert shocks are not even close for coil overs. Spring rate out back, stick to 450, great match to the front.

Click to expand...

I went with #350 up front with original Bisteins and #500 rear w/new OE spec Bilsteins