Rear Suspension Question

How can I raise that back end of my Mav to give it a more aggressive stance?

 

Replace your old leaf springs

 

or shackles is the cheapest way

 

I remember a big uproar against shackles when I was brainstorming mine... can't remember why.
I went with new leaf springs (4 leaf maybe..). Worked well.
Others would know for sure, but I think they can arch a lift into your order at certain places.
This was a while ago tho. So my memory might be blah

 

American Spring and Axle, that is where I had mine rearched and had another leaf added, gave about a 2" lift

 

Airbags

Airbags are also a great alternative. It can add lift without the possibility of tearing out the shock mounts as airshocks do and will let you ride low as an alternative. They mount between the spring and frame.

 

Or you could always do this: http://mmb.maverick.to/showthread.php?t=49782

 

I got mine from Kentucky General Springs. Worked great

 

I used the shackles and will be leaving them on for a few months. They are nice and adjustable, but with traction bars on worn out springs, they cause the traction bars to sit on the body. If you lower the rear of the spring it pushes the bars up to the body. Hard to get any clearance.

 

I must be out of it...That was something done back in the 70's.....I'm gonna keep an eye out for Paisley shirts and 8 track tapes

 

mood rings earth shoes lava lamps paint the undercarriage and headers white paint the dome light lens blue then you was the coolest dudr at the drive in as you cruised by with your cragars and loud 8 track

 

Alot of us use our mavericks for budget speed. I have less than 4k into her so far, and it is worth every penny. If I could afford it, I would love the caltrack or hell a true 4 link. Oh and a mustang 2 kit!

But for 82$ the traction bars and shackles eliminated wheel hop and works great. It works...but should be temporary.

 

The argument against shackles is that they make what little handling these cars have even worse. These cars are nose-heavy, a lot of weight bias is on the front. If you think of it this way .... they have a lot of the same mechanical parts as most other cars packed into a lighter overall package.... then it starts to make sense. Put the rear of the car higher in the air, and the handling will get sloppier. Go high enough, you get the "bowling ball syndrome" where the back end passes the front end easily.

If you are looking for a better stance and to improve the handling a bit, firmer rear leaf springs, and drop the front a bit. Cutting the front coil springs one full coil is usually safe and will drop the front about 1.5-2 inches. It will increase the front spring rate slightly in the process too.

 

Thats what I am going to do get a set of new coils in the front cut them down and put new leaf springs with new shocks on the back that way it is safe and has decent handling but if you are on a budget then shackles will get you by

 

I don't think it gets any better budget-wise than Drew's tech article in post #7.

I will probably go this route and hunt down some Econoline Van springs when the time comes. It will probably take 2 or 3 tries to get the combo where I want it, but I like the idea of being able to dial it in. Plus, I don't want to run a rear sway bar... that area is already crowded enough the way my exhaust is run, and I want to move up to 2.5" pipes at least.