I picked up a SVT Contour a while ago and it seemed to be riding a bit higher and rolls much more than normal. I pulled a tag off one of the springs and it reads F8RZ-5310-DC. I ran it on a ford part site and I get:
"Spring - 2.5 liter w/o se; Manual trans Back 1998 - 2000"
I'm guessing I got screwed and the guy put stock springs back in. Anyone have a set of stock SVT springs they want to sell?
its says w/o SE that would make me think it would be svt
Do you know how a stock svt suspension feels, especially one with some miles?
Yeah, I know how they feel and something isn't right. The gap between the wheels and the fender is huge. It's larger than my fist. I have another high milage SVT right now also and this one has a ton more wheel gap.
I understand that the SVT springs are the same as the 98 and newer V6 manual trans Contour. I think you have the correct factory springs. The difference on the suspension is the roll bars and starting with the 98 E1 stiffer front struts.
Thanks for the info I'll keep looking into it.
could it just be that different struts where installed, I think my 95 sits higher with the struts I put in, meaning that the spring purch was set higher then the factory strut
maybe?
I'd suggest checking all the sway bar end links of course, that would lead to noticable roll if one was broken
I had a guy at the dealership run the number and they are the correct springs. It does have 17in rims on it but they look like the tires are sized correctly (215/45/17). Maybe it will settle a bit since I had it up on jacks for a while.
Have you moved the car since you jacked it up? I know if my car is jacked up and not at least rolled forward a bit it sits sort of high.
Yup I've driven it for a few miles also. I'll keep an eye on it. There may still be something up with the springs.
I have stock front springs for sale for a few dollars if intersted. pm me.
Just a question, was it official that the rear springs are the same on the SE and the SVT??
Yes. 98 and newer V6 Contiques with manual trans use the same rear springs as the 98 and newer SVT.
Why only the rear? Are the front different then? I pulled one of the front springs out and took a few pictures of it next to a ruler so I could post it up. Does anyone have a stock SVT spring they could measure? These must be the incorrect spring I went to a contour meet this past weekend and my car was 2-3 inches higher than all the rest. The car sits much higher in the front. I can't even see out the rear view mirror very well because the roof line cuts off the cars. It's like the car is raked.
See pictures below:
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/12/web/300000-300999/300644_98_full.jpg
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/12/web/300000-300999/300644_99_full.jpg
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/12/web/300000-300999/300644_100_full.jpg
Looks like my springs are 17inches long from tip to tip.
You have to join to view those. Host them using image shack.
Try that. Either way the length is all that matters. Is 17" normal for SVT springs? The struts were replaced but they are stock SVT struts. They have the SVT sticker on them.
Hmm I got this info from a CEG'er:
1. 16, 1/2's inches
2. 16, 3/4's inches
Sounds like the springs aren't the problem. Mine are new so I guess I could see a slight (1/2") change in length over 80K miles. I'll measure the struts and compare them to another SVT I just picked up. Maybe they are stock Contour struts with the SVT sticker placed on them.
Struts make zero difference in the ride height. Your problem will be the springs or mounting of springs on that issue.
The struts would make a difference if the spring perch was higher. If that is the case the car would sit higher because the springs would already be compressed a bit and wouldn't compress when the weight of the car was put on it. As far as I can tell the strut goes into the hub like normal and the pinch bolt goes through. The hub looks like a stock hub.
I'm just going to pull the entire strut, spring, hub, a-arm, and axle out and replace it with one from my other car to see if that fixes it, which it should. Then I will compare each part to figure it out.
Originally posted by Blackcoog:
The struts would make a difference if the spring perch was higher. If that is the case the car would sit higher because the springs would already be compressed a bit and wouldn't compress when the weight of the car was put on it. As far as I can tell the strut goes into the hub like normal and the pinch bolt goes through. The hub looks like a stock hub.
I'm just going to pull the entire strut, spring, hub, a-arm, and axle out and replace it with one from my other car to see if that fixes it, which it should. Then I will compare each part to figure it out.
Good point, & your plan of action sounds like it should identify the problem.