Birddog0347 rescues a Fox

[KBScobravert]

Steering shaft and rebuilt 03 cobra rack. Then cut the pressure spring in the pumps valve.

[bird_dog0347]

So I finally got the car aligned on Friday (in the rain of course after washing both cars), took nearly 3 hours for them to do it all and they got it pretty close to what Jack at MM had suggested to me but some of the adjustments got maxed out before they could reach the suggested settings.

The car is a whole different animal now with the MM kit and an alignment (I never got the rear aligned after installing it as I knew I'd be replacing springs/shocks). When I would hit a bump before the front suspension would barely move and the rear would bounce all over due to the completely wrong spring rates (eibach in front and cut stock IRS in rear). Also any large bump would cause my rear tires to move up enough to contact the fenders and would rub every so slightly. In a turn, if I applied any throttle it was so unpredictable and did not feel planted at all. It was like all the sudden the rear hit a small patch of ice and felt as if it stepped over 8-12 inches then caught traction mid turd.

Well, with the new suspension in there and properly aligned that feeling is gone. The car has a FAR better ride than it had before and now I'm really happy with the decision to go with the IRS in the rear. I've only put a few miles on it so far, and plan to drive it more tomorrow, but it feels balanced now. It just feels SOLID. The suspension isn't overly stiff, and rides way better than the sportlines did, and I don't feel like the NVH really increased at all over what I had before. I think having the poly control arm bushings and what not already had the NVH increased as it were... There doesn't seem to be much body roll either, and the rear end doesn't feel like it's going to bottom out or rub the tires anymore either.

The vastly improved suspension however makes my steering setup more of a glaring problem. The problem is the vague feeling that's so familiar with a Fox chassis. The car simply doesn't respond quickly to steering input, there's a rather large dead zone in the center of the steering, and changing direction quickly right/left/right/left it feels notchy when changing. I've known I need a new pump for a while as it whines a lot, but I've been putting that off till I decide to do a new rack, bump steer, etc. I guess I'll start saving up for those items and need to decide what to go with. I'm thinking of going with the Cortex racing rack ($349), new pump ($90.97 pump/hose/filter), MM BS kit ($149), and MM solid steering shaft ($219.97), MM BS Gauge ($97.95). I've already swapped my steering wheel/column for the non-airbag tilt wheel. The above parts would cost quite a bit though, total of $906.89 and then I'd need to re-align it I'm sure.

[bird_dog0347]

Thanks guys, I tried to get it alinged this afternoon but the guy couldn't get it up on the rack, said it was too low. I've got an appointment Friday at 11am for it now at the place I had it done last time where the rack is recessed into the floor so my car won't be too low to get on it. I did manage to wash it today though.

[Venom]

I'm curious as to the improvement going to coilovers as well. I've got a full MM setup minus the CO's but I've been itching to switch.

[KBScobravert]

Congrats on getting this far. It is definitely driving season!

[bird_dog0347]

Well I got the ride height all set last night and swapped my steering wheel for the tilt column and wheel. I drove the car around the block this morning and man it feels 100% more solid now! Hopefully I can get an alignment this afternoon and wash it.

[bird_dog0347]

if you already have the dash out, or partially out, might be a good idea to put a new heater core in.

If I was that far in it I would for sure, but really I've only got the cluster part torn down. The cluster shroud where it screws into the dash near the windshield had broken away and rattled so I'm fixing the mounting points to secure it back in place. The heater still works so I'm not gonna tear that far into it yet, I just want to drive the damn thing regularly and I'm so close to being able to do that.

[Baron Von Crowder]

if you already have the dash out, or partially out, might be a good idea to put a new heater core in.

[bird_dog0347]

Looks good Nick .....

How does it handle ? Feel balanced now ?

Hector

I haven't driven it yet, I still need to finish setting the ride height and install the nylon tipped set screw in the coilovers before I can get it all aligned. I would have done all that yesterday but wanted to spend time with my boys and rest after that. I've also got the dash somewhat torn apart to fix a few rattles in there, and I've got a tilt column and wheel that I need to install as well. Hopefully I can get that stuff finished up today and possibly get it aligned tomorrow or Wednesday.

[HECDOGGIE]

Looks good Nick .....

How does it handle ? Feel balanced now ?

Hector