Register Log In

Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Suspension Opinions Please

Print Thread

Page 1 of 2

1

2

Opinions Please #1416234 10/20/05 07:50 PM
Joined: Aug 2002 Posts: 1,508 The Ninth State E Ed98.5SVT OP Hard-core CEG'er
OP Ed98.5SVT Hard-core CEG'er E Joined: Aug 2002 Posts: 1,508 The Ninth State	Well, I need some feedback. My car has 96,500 miles on it and I barely passed inspection due to the rear struts starting to leak. I will need to replace them before next year's inspection (August). I also just noticed I have a broken rear spring. Some other things you need to know. 1. My front springs are only 2 years old . They were replaced (OEM) when one broke going over a speed bump. 2. All struts are original. 3. I loved the way my car handled when new. 4. Everything else seems to be OK with the car. So...... What option should I pick? Remember the car will be 8 years old and be turning 100,000 pretty soon. 1. Replace all 4 struts and the REAR springs with factory parts. 2. Replace the REAR struts and springs with factory parts. 3. Replace all 4 struts and springs with aftermarket (Possibly BAT). Decisions Decisions.... 1998.5 E1 SVT Contour #5482/6535

Re: Opinions Please #1416235 10/20/05 07:54 PM
Joined: Sep 2003 Posts: 1,016 NE Ohio/ NW Ohio E epattonm Hard-core CEG\'er
epattonm Hard-core CEG\'er E Joined: Sep 2003 Posts: 1,016 NE Ohio/ NW Ohio	If you're gonna go all out, and replce most of the whole set up, I'd personally go aftermarket. Since you're in no hurry, you can take your time and find some deals. And with deals come saving $$... even over just replacing things back to stock. Myself... same situation? Aftermarket hands down. 2000 CSVT Silver Frost: #942 of 2150 HID Projectors and Fog Light Mod, Optomized TB, MSDS headers 2003 Silverstone Z

Re: Opinions Please #1416236 10/20/05 07:54 PM
Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 540 At a baseball game....somewher... H Hdbngr8 Veteran CEG\'er
Hdbngr8 Veteran CEG\'er H Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 540 At a baseball game....somewher...	I wouldn't even consider replacing with OEM replacements. Go for the BAT or Koni kit - both are very good, and price wise not too hard on the wallet. '98 SVT Red/midnight blue - a few mods E0 wheels for sale - PM me

Re: Opinions Please #1416237 10/20/05 07:57 PM
Joined: Oct 2003 Posts: 663 School/Phoenix AZ Home/Manch... M Manch-VegasSVT Veteran CEG\'er
Manch-VegasSVT Veteran CEG\'er M Joined: Oct 2003 Posts: 663 School/Phoenix AZ Home/Manch...	I say wait 'till springtime and go with option #3. I wish I had some money right now so I could get the BAT kit, and install it at school, but no me brokey and in need of a jobby . Keith P. Killed in action-4/27/06 '99 CSVT #2369/2760-7/28/99 New Recruit- 1998 EO CSVT # soon to come Black 106,xxx

Re: Opinions Please #1416238 10/20/05 08:19 PM
Joined: Oct 2005 Posts: 56 Lower Arkansas S slim_jimmy CEG\'er
slim_jimmy CEG\'er S Joined: Oct 2005 Posts: 56 Lower Arkansas	All corners KONI Sport Kit. ...dating my cousin.

Re: Opinions Please #1416239 10/20/05 08:23 PM
Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 533 Los Angeles 1 111R Veteran CEG\'er
111R Veteran CEG\'er 1 Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 533 Los Angeles	Originally posted by slim_jimmy: All corners KONI Sport Kit. koni kit - hpp rstb camber/plates - cf (yikes!) polyroll resistors - TCA's WR headers/ypipe -TB hiflow cat SFC's - XCal2 -dreaming of 3L-

Re: Opinions Please #1416240 10/20/05 09:54 PM
Joined: Dec 2004 Posts: 135 River Falls WI R RFcsvt CEG\'er
RFcsvt CEG\'er R Joined: Dec 2004 Posts: 135 River Falls WI	Originally posted by 111R: Originally posted by slim_jimmy: All corners KONI Sport Kit. I agree, my csvt is about to roll 100k and I hope to have the sport kit by spring. The only thing I was worried about was camber and that sounds like no biggie. I think. Last edited by headshot99r6; 10/20/05 09:55 PM. 6450 of 6535 6-16-98

Re: Opinions Please #1416241 10/20/05 10:26 PM
Joined: Oct 2000 Posts: 3,867 Wichita, KS R RogerB_dup1 Hard-core CEG'er
RogerB_dup1 Hard-core CEG'er R Joined: Oct 2000 Posts: 3,867 Wichita, KS	Originally posted by Ed98.5SVT: Well, I need some feedback. My car has 96,500 miles on it and I barely passed inspection due to the rear struts starting to leak. I will need to replace them before next year's inspection (August). I also just noticed I have a broken rear spring. Some other things you need to know. 1. My front springs are only 2 years old . They were replaced (OEM) when one broke going over a speed bump. 2. All struts are original. 3. I loved the way my car handled when new. 4. Everything else seems to be OK with the car. So...... What option should I pick? Remember the car will be 8 years old and be turning 100,000 pretty soon. 1. Replace all 4 struts and the REAR springs with factory parts. 2. Replace the REAR struts and springs with factory parts. 3. Replace all 4 struts and springs with aftermarket (Possibly BAT). Decisions Decisions.... Reference bold text above: Replace your worn bushings on your front and rear swaybars, and rear control arms. Replace your front lower control arms. Replace your upper strut mounts front and rear. If you are smart you will do all of this stuff anyway no matter what struts/springs you pick. After that, I'll be the lonely voice telling you to replace all 4 struts with new OEM SVT struts, and replacing your rear springs as a pair with OEM springs. Front springs should be fine. Not only is this the cheapest route, but if you truly loved the way the car felt and handled when new, any aftermarket springs are going to make it feel too harsh. If you want to upgrade but keep your ride comfort nice, stick with OEM springs but upgrade the struts. I'd recommend the Konis, here, or the BAT struts. Bilsteins are good, but I'd personally be afraid of them jacking up my ride height too much, esp. with stock springs. After that, I'd say BAT kit as the most mild improvement over stock without sacrificing too much comfort. I have Koni/Roush and the handling is great but the ride is noticeably harsher than stock, esp on bad street surfaces. Function before fashion. '96 Contour SE "Toss the Contour into a corner, and it's as easy to catch as a softball thrown by a preschooler." -Edmunds, 1998

Re: Opinions Please #1416242 10/21/05 03:09 PM
Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 1,029 Freedom, Pa G getsum111 Hard-core CEG\'er
getsum111 Hard-core CEG\'er G Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 1,029 Freedom, Pa	BAT all the way. Not too stiff, but still better than OEM. I love mine, and passengers don't complain about a harsh ride. Scott Scott Mabe I WILL be Phil. 1999 Contour SVT, Tropic Green BAT kit, K&N RU-3530+MAF, Magnecore 8.5mm, some audio goodies, Hightowers, Knauberized, tatoo by Parkedcar.

Re: Opinions Please #1416243 10/21/05 08:57 PM
Joined: May 2002 Posts: 21,653 Albany, Georgia K Kremithefrog I have no life
Kremithefrog I have no life K Joined: May 2002 Posts: 21,653 Albany, Georgia	aftermarket 98.5 SVT 91 Escort GT (almost sold) 96 ATX Zetec (i brake to watch you swerve) FS: SVT rear sway bar WTB: Very cheap beater CEG Dragon Run - October 13-15

Page 1 of 2

1

2

Moderated by Andy W._dup1, Auto-X Fil

Link Copied to Clipboard

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5