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Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 99
CEG\'er
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CEG\'er
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Posts: 99 |
I had a chance to drive a 97 SE the other day and it handled better than my 98 SVT. What gives??? Has anyone else had this problem. My suspension is stock, I have 67K on the car and I recently had a 4-wheel alignment and replace a tie rod with a factory ford part. I also replaced all the rear sway bar hardware with new ford parts. Please help!
Timothy Grimes
98 SVT #2132
82 320i -Now armed with a hairdryer-
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Joined: May 2002
Posts: 21,653
I have no life
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I have no life
Joined: May 2002
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replace everything w/ aftermarket.  get poly bushings, bigger sway bar, and if you have the cash, replace all struts,springs,etc. probably your suspension is just a little more worn than the SE, or your car was made on a friday  come drive my GL, i wonder if it handles better than your svt (i have svt sway bar, and it does handle pretty darn good).
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
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Joined: Sep 2000
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Hard-core CEG'er
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Hard-core CEG'er
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The 95 to 97 SE has stiffer struts, springs, and larger sway bars than the SVT.
Personally, I prefer the ride that the SVT provides, especially at speeds above 80 MPH.
Jim Johnson
98 SVT
03 Escape Limited
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Joined: May 2002
Posts: 21,653
I have no life
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I have no life
Joined: May 2002
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SE rear sway bar is larger than SVT (1mm), SVT front sway bar is smaller though (4mm?) and thus should still handle better than a SE.
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
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Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 2,408
Hard-core CEG'er
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Hard-core CEG'er
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 WOW, 1mm !
"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it" -George Santayana
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Joined: May 2002
Posts: 21,653
I have no life
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I have no life
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 21,653 |
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
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Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 717
Veteran CEG\'er
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Veteran CEG\'er
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 717 |
Originally posted by tgrimes:
I had a chance to drive a 97 SE the other day and it handled better than my 98 SVT. What gives??? Has anyone else had this problem. My suspension is stock, I have 67K on the car and I recently had a 4-wheel alignment and replace a tie rod with a factory ford part. I also replaced all the rear sway bar hardware with new ford parts. Please help!
If you haven't replaced the struts, they're probably worn and the biggest contributor to bad handling. Does the nose pull down under braking, and jump up under acceleration? Changing struts will make the biggest difference. Then, if you want to improve from there, you can move on to the other things 
contours, deloreans & fiats, oh my!
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Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 16
New CEG\'er
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New CEG\'er
Joined: Nov 2002
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Actually the engineering equation for the torion of a bar puts the diameter of the bar to the 4th power, thus making the diameter a hugely important factor. This is why 1 mm can and will make a difference in the stiffness of the sway bar. Oh and I believe that the stiffer springs the SE's had (20KN-m versus 18KN-m i think) is the real reason it handled "better" that the SVT he drove.
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Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 140
CEG\'er
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CEG\'er
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He's most likely got a E0, since they changed the shocks on E1's to be firmer then the 98's and 95-97's.
2002 BMW M5
Carbon Black on Black
1998 Frost Silver SVT E0
17" Masitaly rims with Bridgestone Fuzion ZRi rubber.
133,000km
1996 Silver Ford Taurus SHO ATX
180,000km - SOLD!
1996 Midnight Red SE MTX
295,000km and a little squeeky.
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Joined: May 2002
Posts: 21,653
I have no life
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I have no life
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 21,653 |
Originally posted by jbeu:
Actually the engineering equation for the torion of a bar puts the diameter of the bar to the 4th power, thus making the diameter a hugely important factor. This is why 1 mm can and will make a difference in the stiffness of the sway bar. Oh and I believe that the stiffer springs the SE's had (20KN-m versus 18KN-m i think) is the real reason it handled "better" that the SVT he drove.
and the SVT has a 4mm (i think) smaller front sway bar, once again, putting it on top in the handling department.
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
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