Advice for an upcoming suspension project

[883cobra]

I have noticed over the past few weeks that the left front suspension has developed a "rattle" when I travel over slight imperfections in the road.I don't mean pot holes and large "bumps" in the road.It rattles when I go over uneven transitions in the pavement.Sorry, it is kind of difficult to explain when it happens.The rattle sounds like the left spring is loose or that the control arms have a lot of travel in them,like the bushings are worn out.I am hoping to be able to have the car looked at today when I go to work(I work at a Ford dealership).
The car is a 94 Cobra Convertible running the factory suspension and factory wheels an tire size with over 115000 miles. I am guessing that the last two owners never replaced the struts or its been a very long time since any of the cars suspension has been taken care.Which means I will be purchasing some much needed replacement parts.Since there are so many different avenues of parts to get and so many different ways to upgrade the 20 years suspension on my car.
I am not looking to go to radical or over the top.Maybe level the cars ride height by an inch and half.I drive this car everyday and I have no plans to race this car or seriously abuse it by pushing it to the limits and scraping the ground. Any advice or suggestions for this "first time" owner of a 94 cobra convertible would be much appericiated.
Thank you for reading this and replying if do.
Mike

 

[mcglsr2]

If you are looking for something that is an improvement over stock without going extreme, I recommend the Tokico HP Blue shocks and struts and your choice of lowering spring: Eibach, H&R, etc - look up the specs and choose based on the drop you want. Bear in mind the drop may not be exactly as stated. While you are at it, pick up some new polyurethane spring isolaters front and back. When you are doing the work, inspect all the bushings, especially the front sway bar ones, they rot out pretty good and might be the source of your noise.

Before buying anything, though, try to figure out where the noise is coming from. I'd hate to spend the money on new suspension parts just to have the same annoying noise there when I was done, that'd be frustrating.

Edit: you said you don't have any desire to race the car or anything - if you even remotely think that might change your mind at some point, then I would make a different recommendation for shocks/struts - something more like Koni's or Bilsteins - but they will cost you.

 

[CC'S95GT]

Ford Racing "B" springs are progressive rate (stockish ride).They only lower the car about 1". You won't need CC plates either.
You can tweek the front to rear rake by removing the spring isolaters. and Summit Racing has them in stock.
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/fms-m-5300-b/applications/make/ford/model/mustang/year/1994
For shocks and struts just get some bilsteins.

My son has B springs on his 98 and is running his stock shocks and struts with no issues.

 

[883cobra]

Update:The "Aligment Tech" at work drove and checked the front end out for me.The bushings look good but the ball joints will need to be replaced soon.He thinks the rattling noise I am hearing is from the brake pads,which I just recently had worked on.The tech the did the brakes on the car had already left and the tech that looked at the car did not have time to pull the wheels to check the brakes.He did say that tomrrow he was going to get with the tech that did the brakes and do a better inspection to resolve this issue.
Thank you for the great advice

 

[MustangChris]

nice... glad they are hunting things down for you.


when you get ready to do ball joints, let us know. It's a common problem on our cars and we can guide you in a few directions depending on budget and build
(Moog, FRPP, Steeda x2, etc.)

Check with us before you hit that "buy it now" button!!!