Lowering the Cobra....

[nccobra97]

Got a basically bone-stock 97, and am thinking of
doing away with the "4x4" look and installing a set of
lowering springs...
On a severe budget...
Are Caster Camber Plates ABSOLUTELY necessary?
or is it something I can add later?
and what about shocks?

Thanks to all for your help with this....

 

[nckissfan]

if you are on a budget, you can wait on the c/c plates. Your tires may wear out on the insides. So, if you can get those soon after lowering, it would be a good idea.

I changed shocks/struts when I lowered. I am on a tight budget, so I went with the KYB brand. They were about $100 less than Tokico. They are good, but I can tell that they are not the best.

 

[mach1197203]

If you are on a really tight budget and can handle just tock items for now. Go with a set of shocks and struts form a 87-93 fox. They are about 1.25"-1.5" shorter and they bolt right up. You should really get the CC plates soon either way thoough like nckissfan said you will chew up tires on the inside fast if you drive it a lot. I lowerwed mine about three years ago and drilled out the rivets in the stock mounting plates and got them kinda close so that its better then nothing but I don't even put on 5K in miles in a year on mine.

 

[sleeperstang94]

CC plates are not completely necessary. its possible,depending how low you go, to get the alignment in spec with out CC plates

 

[CobraHuck]

Camber bolts are another alternative to CC plates. My buddy put them on his '97 Cobra, he's dropped ~2" and the shop was able to get it within spec

 

[nccobra97]

Camber Bolts???

Thanks to all for the responses...
Camber Bolts???
Please explain....longer bolts allowing more
adjustment?

Thanks again



1997 SVT Cobra 'Vert
Crystal White/black leather
Mach 460

 

[98Vobra]

if your budget is tight, you can do it almost free. Remove stock springs, and cut 2 full coils off of the spring. Check all your shocks and struts and see if they are working if they are then use them. Like others have said, drill out the rivets in the stock cc plates and go get an alignment. Cheepest route and a lot of post on how to about cutting stock springs.

 

[CobraHuck]

Thanks to all for the responses...
Camber Bolts???
Please explain....longer bolts allowing more
adjustment?

Thanks again



1997 SVT Cobra 'Vert
Crystal White/black leather
Mach 460

Google Eibach Camber Bolts for a Mustang. They're basically a bolt with an offset cam-lobe that replaces the top bolt where your strut bolts to the spindle. You just rotate it in the hole to bring the top of the tire in or out however much to get it close, take it to an alignment shop and tell them you've got camber bolts to adjust. They should be able to get it in spec then

 

[nccobra97]

All of your responses have been great...
I thank all of you...(so far)
Another question....
Spring Isolators...OK to leave 'em out to
get just a tad lower?
Will it cause any harm?

Thanks again...




1997 SVT Cobra 'vert
Crystal White/black leather
Mach 460

 

[Andrew03Mach]

All of your responses have been great...
I thank all of you...(so far)
Another question....
Spring Isolators...OK to leave 'em out to
get just a tad lower?
Will it cause any harm?

Thanks again...




1997 SVT Cobra 'vert
Crystal White/black leather
Mach 460

I just did springs on my Mach and left the isolators out. I wrapped the top and bottom coil of each spring in rubber splicing tape. No extra noise or vibrations. The car sits really nice, I am glad I left them off.

 

[nckissfan]

what part of NC are you in nccobra97?

 

[Blown_By_You]

I lowered my 2000 GT 2" with nothing more than Eibach Sportlines..

Whether you need CC plates or NOT, is determined by the alignment...

Lower the car. Get alignment.. If they can align it to spec, then you are good to go.. If they cannot, then you need CC Plates.. Pretty simple

You don't have to get shocks right away.. They will help with handling ALOT, but not absolutely necessary right off the bat..

A bump steer kit is pretty important when you go 2" or more.. You'll know what i'm talking about lol.

X2 Balljoints will drop you another 1/2" if you aren't happy with the spring drop alone.

Isolators aren't necessary.. A good wrapping of electrical tape should be plenty of isolation.


Here's my setup...

Eibach Pro Kit (progressive springs)
Tokico Blues
X2 Balljoints (no spacers, extra 1/2" lower)
H&R CC Plates
Steeda Bumpsteer Kit
1/4 Coil Cut in front
No Iso's


Blackside by BLWNBYU, on Flickr

 

[nccobra97]

NCKissFan...
I'm in the eastern part of the state...
ever heard of Fuquay Varina?
Where's Brown's Summit?

 

[nccobra97]

Blown By You...
Thanks for the great info....
Love your car....especially the black FR500's!





1997 SVT Cobra 'vert
Crystal White/black leather

 

[laddanator]

I lowered my 2000 GT 2" with nothing more than Eibach Sportlines..

Whether you need CC plates or NOT, is determined by the alignment...

Lower the car. Get alignment.. If they can align it to spec, then you are good to go.. If they cannot, then you need CC Plates.. Pretty simple

You don't have to get shocks right away.. They will help with handling ALOT, but not absolutely necessary right off the bat..

A bump steer kit is pretty important when you go 2" or more.. You'll know what i'm talking about lol.

X2 Balljoints will drop you another 1/2" if you aren't happy with the spring drop alone.

Isolators aren't necessary.. A good wrapping of electrical tape should be plenty of isolation.


Here's my setup...

Eibach Pro Kit (progressive springs)
Tokico Blues
X2 Balljoints (no spacers, extra 1/2" lower)
H&R CC Plates
Steeda Bumpsteer Kit
1/4 Coil Cut in front
No Iso's


Blackside by BLWNBYU, on Flickr

Love the look of your car! Do the tires rub when you hit bumps?

 

[Blown_By_You]

Love the look of your car! Do the tires rub when you hit bumps?

No but its only a toy

 

[uberstang1]

Caster Camber plates really depend on how far you go with the drop, back in the day when I ran an eibach pro kit I didn't need caster camber plates as it was able to align to factory specs, the stock springs are linear rates so you can actually cut coils off to achieve a drop if your on a budget. Right now I run UPR coilovers up front with a 175lb spring and out back I run a stock spring with half a coil cut off (can't go lower due to 28"inch tires) But 1 coil should equal about 1 inch.

 

[nccobra97]

Again...thanks for all the great info....
Thinking of going with Sportlines, no isolators and the bumpsteer
kit...
Mine is a daily driver...think I'm going TOO LOW?
Thanks again....





1997 SVT Cobra 'vert
Crystal White/black leather

 

[Blown_By_You]

Again...thanks for all the great info....
Thinking of going with Sportlines, no isolators and the bumpsteer
kit...
Mine is a daily driver...think I'm going TOO LOW?
Thanks again....





1997 SVT Cobra 'vert
Crystal White/black leather

You'll be finem bumpsteer kit is a really good idea.

 

[laddanator]

You'll be finem bumpsteer kit is a really good idea.

I absolutely love the stance of your ride and would love to copy your setup but I have the same side exhaust skirts you have with true side exhaust and I'm only lowered an 1.5 if that and my Pipes rub bumps now, can't imagine what kinda of bump rubbing I would have at your stance. How is the rubbing issue?