I really don't like the rear end sag of my recently restored GT500KR convertible. The car sits on 40 year old leaf springs that don't hold their arch anymore. Any suggestions as to the best way to fix this other than new springs? clove9414
If you can find a suspension shop that has a kiln to heat and re-arc the original springs, use it. I have done my 66 GT350 and it makes a difference. Original springs are Penn. steel and have full 100% memory. Current springs are import steel that do not have full memory. Talk to long time suspension specialists for more data. I would recommend an upgrade from rubber to urethane bushings. Stiffer and last longer.B)
Hi to all! Most people now drop the front end to match,which looks nice yet is not stock.The people for springs advertise in Hemmings and are known as "Eaton Spring"they should be able to work with you however you handle it.Rear springs are not expensive and really affect the way a car handles,not to mention the look or attitude it gives the car.And just so everyone will know-even in the 1960's Ford had springs supplied from Canada & Mexico.The international supply for parts or subassemblies has been necessary to meet demand for along time,and Ford has been world wide since the 1930's hope this helps! P.D.
I got my springs for my KR from Eaton as well. Take your original springs apart and reuse the short bottom one that has the factory part numbers stamped into it. dz
My thanks to all of you who took the time to reply to my question. Really great advice. I had my car delivered to my home yesterday after finishing a complete restoration. The tie-downs on the carrier truck flatten out the rear suspension even more than when I saw it at the restoration shop. I was really disappointed to see the car sitting with its rear end down so low. Its not the right look for this car. Unfortunately I will be displaying the car this weekend at a classic car show and there is nothing I can do about the rear suspension until monday. Thanks again, clove9414
5-6 years ago I got rear springs for # 1648 [ eaton ] & they came with axle pads, I never put the pads on. Does anyone know if it is worth it. 2 pads per spring. Between the axle & spring & between the spring & shock plate. Does this lower the car any ? If I get on it once & awile, will this have a tendency to shift things around down there. The pads are about one inch thick & are hard rubber. --Thanks---S.
Don't forget the original competition suspension springs sit 1" lower than regular Mustang so they tend to be pretty squat in the back even when the springs are good.
Ditto that. If you check some vintage photos you'll likely find that many of todays cars are actually sitting too high in the rear, not too low. The appearance of being "too low" is also accentuated by fitting tires larger than the stock E70-15s. It was such a common thing to "jack up" a car back in the day, usually to clear larger tires, it seems to me that people tend to remember these cars being much higher in the rear than they actually were when they were new.
Sorry, but you need new springs. Lots to choose from. 5 leaf, 4.5 leaf, reverse eye, mid eye, stock ride height. I put 5 leaf springs in my 67 GT350 and my 73 vert. Now the car sits level and no problems with wheel hop any more. DO NOT, DO NOT, DO NOT use extended shackles or air shocks to lift the car up.
