I am wondering....... is extended shackles or Air shocks the best way to raise the back of the Maverick ?? I know as a teenager on my first Maverick.... a friend of mine's dad cut us some steel and we put them on as shackles... worked great.. but not sure if that was the best thing to do. As a teenager........ who was thinking ! Would like any input on this idea.. Thanks Kevin
NOOO that the shackle air shock word again! IMO those are one of the worst mods you could do to a car. i guess if you don't care about traction or handing then it wouldn't matter. but then again thats just me. i would suggest finding the right size tire to fit under that car if your reason to do it is to get big tires under the car. if its becuase your rear is sagging.. your just going around the problem. don't do it
Yea - I'd stay away from either of those and get a new set of 4 leaf springs. JC Whitney has a sale going right now that offers free shipping, if you spend at least $100 or something like that. And they always have that 15% off deal running too, which is like getting the free shipping. Oh, by the way Read about your father-son project. It will be fun I'm sure! Eric
When I was a youngin, I did the shackle thing. Then got enuff money for Air Shocks, had them on my car for 27 years. I had no problem with them, but I only had mine inflated to about 45 psi. Now that I am a little bit smarter, thanks mostly to the wise people on this board, I would never do either. Replace the springs, safest and best thing to do. Welcome to the board! Dan
Neither are "the best way" to raise the back of the Maverick. The best way is new springs, or have the old ones re-arched. Air shocks are best suited for full-frame cars...
see a pattern here? get the leaf springs. if you don't want to go jc whitney, try springsnthings.com. (maybe it was springsandthings.com)
Question: How much will the 4 leaf springs like JC whitney sells raise the rear of the car? I'm pondering the same thing, my car has the awfull shackles on the rear now and I want to get rid of them and use stock style shackles on it, I'm not looking for a lotta height but don't like the tail dragging either. I had a 67 mustang years ago with air shocks on it and didn't have any problems, but then I didn't try to look like a 4x4 either
You should get about 2" lift over a 3 leaf. Others have gained more, but that might be due more to the old spring sagging more than other cars. The idea behind air shocks is to lift a loaded car back to stock height. Too many people used them to get that flying wedge look.
Well, there's no exact answer to that question. I have heard people say that it raised their's quite a bit, but mine was only brought back up to stock height (old ones sagged), so I lowered the front to get a "rake". You really don't know until you install them in your car, then go from there...
Another vote for staying away from shackles and air shocks. I still have the 3 leaf original leafs on mine. I am happy with the height but will probably have them re-arched or replace with 4 leaf sometime soon. I am fine with the height, no sags. But I am concerned about it sitting too high when I do this. Seth
Thats what I'm looking for... a little rake. I don't have the engine in the car yet, still collecting pieces,so I don't really know how it is going to sit. How much did you cut the front coils to drop it a little? And did you run into any tire clearence problems after you dropped the front? :confused:
I cut 1 full coil, but I cut old springs, not new ones. It actually lowered the front more than i wanted it to (I only wanted about a 1-inch drop), and yes, I do have a tire clearance problem up front (outside rubs). I have 15x7" wheels with 3-3/4" backspace and 225/60-15 tires. I plan to d 2 things: 1. Get a set of wheels with 4-inch backspacing and 2. get some new springs that will hopfully raise the front about an inch...
Thanks T.L., thats what I wuz wondering. Right now I have 15" wheels, unsure of backspacing, 70 series tires, not sure what size right now but gonna have to replace them anyway. I guess when I put the Granada disc on, I might go ahead and cut 1/2 a coil off, if thats not enuf can always cut more later on, don't want to get too low and have clearance problems with tires or oil pan or headers.
okay.... i get everyones point... NEW SPRINGS !! Wow..... that was some good advise from everyone.... and i thank everyone for writing. Like i said... in my younger day's...... i put on home-made shackles..... i was very pleased... was not too high... but high enough for a teenager to look good cruising ! LOL In all the years i had them on my car... i went in snow up to the headlights... not a problem.... i never had a problem... unless it was wet out and i hit the gas ( as most teens do ) then the rear tires would spin ( some !! LOL ) I will go look at the 4 springs at jcwhitney..................... If i cant find them.. i know where to ask for help !!! Again, thanks for steering me in the RIGHT direction..... Kevin
