Hey all, I'm new here, just found this place yesterday. I have had a '98 Auto3.8L V6 (base model) for the past... 2.5 years... its in good condition other than the fact that I nearly totaled it a few months after I got it... but what can I say I am young... I've recently decided to take good care of it and get some things fixed on it so it runs smoother and looks nicer etc. I already got the muffler replaced (for too much I found out a few days after I had it done... it was $430 for stock cat-back equipement, walker brand) but the next thing I want to do is replace the rear shocks as they have been groaning since we got it. From what I can tell shocks can be relatively cheap. Wholesale prices range from $20 to $200 per shock. I think it will be relatively easy to do this myself as well, once I get the proper tools/equipment from my father.

I am pretty sure the noise is coming from the actual shock itself and not any other part of the suspension.

More detail on the noise: basically it groans any time the back end of my car moves up or down. I hear it a lot when first starting to move or turning sharply or stopping quickly etc. and I 'tested' it by pushing down on the rear end of the car and listening to it groan.

Do you guys think it could be some other part of the suspension instead or as well? Or should I replace the whole rear suspension system anyways?

I also was looking for a suggestion on brand for the shocks, as I have no idea what are good and bad brands. I'm looking for something either stock quality or slightly better. I don't really want to raise or lower my car, and I don't know if I want it more or less stiff. If you could give some pros and cons on making them stiffer/looser, that would be great. I'm looking to spend no more than $150 total on the shocks.

I was also looking into installing a sway bar/suspension bar/whatever they are called, pros and cons of these would be appreciated as well.

Sorry for the long post, but I have a lot of questions and want to learn as much as possible about this as well as my car in general so I can make good decisions and know what is in my car and how it works, etc.

Get sway bars from a GT, they are inexpensive and you can get them at junk yards. The sway bars will keep your car from leaning into turns as much. As far as shocks, these are waht I have on mine:[/align][/align]http://steeda.com/products/tokico_illumnina_5way_shock.php[/align][/align]They work well and are adjustable. The same company also make a non-adjustable shock that would be good for you if you plan to remain with the stock suspension. They are also way cheaper:[/align][/align]http://steeda.com/products/tokico_high_performance_struts.php[/align][/align]I like the ones on mine because they can be adjusted depending on what I am doing, but most people won't need to pay the extra $$ just to have the adjustment. Mine were on the car when I got it.[/align]

ORIGINAL: tuflehundon

Get sway bars from a GT, they are inexpensive and you can get them at junk yards. The sway bars will keep your car from leaning into turns as much. As far as shocks, these are waht I have on mine:[/align][/align]http://steeda.com/products/tokico_illumnina_5way_shock.php[/align][/align]They work well and are adjustable. The same company also make a non-adjustable shock that would be good for you if you plan to remain with the stock suspension. They are also way cheaper:[/align][/align]http://steeda.com/products/tokico_high_performance_struts.php[/align][/align]I like the ones on mine because they can be adjusted depending on what I am doing, but most people won't need to pay the extra $$ just to have the adjustment. Mine were on the car when I got it.[/align]


will it need to be a GT from the same year? I think I read somewhere that this part of the mustang has been the same for many years

and what tools/other parts would I need to attach the sway bar? or should I assume the old mustang will have those as well

(bump) could I get some more opinions on this?

Really? No more opinions on good shocks?

Im going with Monroe Gas filled shocks as I am not lowering my car, or changing any suspension parts. They have a life time warrenty and they are cheaper than most. Also has them on my 85 4cyl and they worked great.

As for the rear sway, any year from 79 to 99, maybe even higher (I dont know for sure). I got mine off an 87GT and it worked perfectly.

Good luck,
Matthew

just put some monroe shocks on the 85 and they are a huge difference, if you want top of the line go with bilstein. as for the sway bar search craigslist or junkyards youll find a cheap one. i got one for 30 bucks by me

Alright, thanks guys.

when I buy the shocks do they come with everything I need to install or will I need to buy some bolts or something?

You will justremove the bolts to take your old shock off. And then reuse the same ones to put you new ones on. The only reason to get new bolts is if the ones you have are damaged, so just check them once you have every thing off and enjoy your new shocks. I have replaced the shocks on several vehicles I have had and have always reused the stock bolts, other than when building up a 4X4 truck.

Fair enough

Based on the info in my Haynes repair manual, replacing the shocks sounds very easy as far as car repairs go, but when I was at auto-zone yesterday I was looking through their computer system to see what parts they carried they had a web site that said it is complecated to replace them, this doesn't make sense as it seams once you get the car supported and remove the fabric in the trunk, you just undo the bolts, take the new one out and put the new one in. The one thing I am wondering about is the manual mentions adjusting the shock to the correct tension. How do I test for this or adjust it? or is it even necessary? I imagine it is to a small extent, I would think the car would lean to one side if the sides weren't even...

I think the autosone thing said it was hard because it looks like some shocks have the spring coil mounted on top of it... I can imagine that making things slightly more difficult.

shocks are independent from springs, that's why u can remove them with less work

http://www.shockwarehouse.com/

Thinking about getting these: http://www.stangsuspension.com/store/comersus_viewitem.asp?idproduct=132

any opinions on tokico?

I'm probably going to go junk yard hunting for a rear sway bar, and might shoot for one of those front ones too... Do they have them for above the engine AND below the engine? I've seen several pictures of ones above, and I noticed a lower one on a picture today that I thought was a V6 stang of a similar year to mine

the bar above the engine is a strut brace.. it helps in cornering by not letting the struts to flex as much. and u can get a GT rear sway bar from any year between 79 and 04. as for tokico.. its a good brand, not top of the line but in the middle i would say. i plan on basically redoing my whole suspension next winter when my car will be parked. its my baby and i dont wanna wreck the Cobra R front bumper and rims im puttin on this summer. :)

I think I'm ok with middle. I definitely don't want to spring for top of the line. I think I will get that strut bar, the rear stabilizer bar, and possibly the front stabilizer bar as well. I should probably replace the front struts sometime as well... but I think I will leave that for later, they are a little harder to replace as you actually have to take the wheels off as well as some other stuff

well technically struts arent that hard to change out. if you get replacement struts with new springs on them already then its basically around a 2-3 hour job if you have the right tools. i work at a tire shop so i can just use the hoist there for all the things i fix on my car. i also just go to the autoparts store and charge the parts to the place i work so i get parts for cost.

I don't think my car (98) has the springs on top of the struts.