1989-1997 Thunderbird Lowering
Springs
Everyone knows that a lowered car looks better and the suspension aftermarket
offers several choices for the 89-97 Thunderbirds. Companies offering spring
kits for the 89-97 Thunderbirds are Eibach, H&R, Tokico, Suspension
Techniques, and Jamex (pronounced 'yamex').
The Thunderbird spring rates are listed by year and application
below.
|
Year
|
3.8L
|
3.8L SC
|
V8
|
|
1989
|
Front: 223-282 lb./in.
Rear: 361-501 lb./in.
|
Front: 349-403 lb./in.
Rear: 509-637 lb./in.
|
N/A
|
|
1990
|
Front: 223-282 lb./in.
Rear: 361-501 lb./in.
|
Front: 349-403 lb./in.
Rear: 509-637 lb./in.
|
N/A
|
|
1991
|
Front: 223-282 lb./in.
Rear: 361-501 lb./in.
|
Front: 349-403 lb./in.
Rear: 509-637 lb./in.
|
Front: 270-330 lb./in.
Rear: 361-501 lb./in.
|
|
1992
|
Front: 223-282 lb./in.
Rear: 361-501 lb./in.
|
Front: 349-403 lb./in.
Rear: 509-637 lb./in.
|
Front: 270-330 lb./in.
Rear: 361-501 lb./in.
|
|
1993
|
Front: 223-282 lb./in.
Rear: 361-501 lb./in.
|
Front: 349-403 lb./in.
Rear: 509-637 lb./in.
|
Front: 270-330 lb./in.
Rear: 361-501 lb./in.
|
|
1994
|
Front: 223-282 lb./in.
Rear: 361-501 lb./in.
|
Front: 349-403 lb./in.
Rear: 509-637 lb./in.
|
Front: 270-330 lb./in.
Rear: 361-501 lb./in.
|
|
1995
|
Front: 223-282 lb./in.
Rear: 361-501 lb./in.
|
Front: 349-403 lb./in.
Rear: 509-637 lb./in.
|
Front: 270-330 lb./in.
Rear: 361-501 lb./in.
|
|
1996
|
Front: 223-282 lb./in.
Rear: 361-501 lb./in.
|
N/A
|
Front: 270-330 lb./in.
Rear: 361-501 lb./in.
|
|
1997
|
Front: 223-282 lb./in.
Rear: 361-501 lb./in.
|
N/A
|
Front: 270-330 lb./in.
Rear: 361-501 lb./in.
LX Sport Option:
Front: 349-403 lb./in.
Rear: 509-637 lb./in.
|
Definitions:
- Progressive Springs
- Also know as rising-rate springs or variable springs
are like two springs in one. The first small amount of suspension travel
gets the softer rate, which helps filter out potholes, bumps, expansion
joints, and ruff road surfaces. After the first inch of compression the
spring rate switches to the higher stiffer rate.
- Linear Springs
- A linear-rate spring is designed with an amount of resistance
in its first inch of compression that doubles with the next inch of suspension
compression, triples with the next inch, and so on.
- Freelength
- Freelength is the hight of the spring uncompressed.
-
- Front and rear stock anti-sway bar information is available. Click
Here
- Eibach
Eibach-ProKit springs are of the progressive design and
offer chrom silicon heat treated steel that is powder coated for a lifetime
of protection. Eibach offers two versions of their ProKit for the 89-97
Thunderbird. One is designed for the v6 3.8L normally aspirated (part#3522.140)
and is designed to lower the car 1.25" with a front spring
rate of 286-411 lbs per inch and a rear spring rate of 514-714
lbs per inch. The freelength of the springs are 16.375" for
the front and 11.625" for the rear. The other ProKit is designed
for the v8 & Super Coupe (part#3524.140) and is designed to
lower the car 1.50" with a front spring rate of 286-411
lbs per inch and a rear spring rate of 514-714 lbs per inch. The
freelength of the springs are 16.125" for the front and 11.4375"
for the rear. Eibach makes their springs in the USA and the average discounted
price for the springs are around $225.00 - $250.00 and come with a lifetime
warranty against defects in workmanship and materials.
- Eibach Springs
- 17817 Gillette Ave.
- Irvine, CA 92714
- Tel: (714) 752-6700
- fax: (714) 752-6788
- http://www.eibach.com
|
H&R
H&R springs are of the progressive design and are made from Bekaert
wire from Belgium. The Bekaert wire is used exclusively because in durability
testing, the Bekaert wire alloy has a much longer service life than any
other wire tested. These materials ensure a defect-free function over the
entire service life. H&R offers two versions of their Sport Springs
for the 89-97 Thunderbird. One is designed for the v6 3.8L normally aspirated
(part#51623) and is designed to lower the car 1.60"
in front and 1.40" in the rear with a front spring rate of
310-385 lbs per inch and a rear spring rate of 540-610 lbs
per inch. The freelength information was not available. The other Sport
Spring is designed for the v8 & Super Coupe (part#51624) and
is designed to lower the car 1.50" in front and 1.40"
in the rear with a front spring rate of 310-385 lbs per inch and
a rear spring rate of 540-610 lbs per inch. The freelength of the
springs are 16.25" for the front and 12.00" for
the rear. H&R makes their springs in Germany and the average discounted
price for the springs are around $225.00 - $250.00 and come with a lifetime
warranty against defects in workmanship and materials.
|
H&R Special Springs, LP
3815 Bakerview
Spur #7
Bellingham, WA 98226
888-827-8881
(360) 738-8881
fax: (360)738-8889
|
Tokico
Tokico-Sport Lowering Springs are of the linear design and offer cold
wound steel that is powder coated for a lifetime of protection. Tokico
offers one kit for the 89-97 Thunderbird and it is designed to lower the
car 1.25". The front spring rate is 326 lbs per inch
and the rear spring rate is 577 lbs per inch with a freelength of
15.70" in front and 11.07" in the rear. Tokico
makes their springs in the USA and the average discounted price for the
springs are around $225.00 - $250.00 and come with a lifetime warranty
against defects in workmanship and materials.
- Tokico
- 1330 Storm Parkway
- Torrance, CA 90501
- (310) 534-4934
|
Suspension Techniques
Suspension Techniques-Sport Sport Suspension springs are of the linear
design and offer cold wound steel that is powder coated for a lifetime
of protection. Suspension Techniques offers one kit for the 89-97 Thunderbird
and it is designed to lower the car 1.50". The front spring
rate is 432 lbs per inch and the rear spring rate is 631
lbs per inch with a freelength of 14.33 in front and 10.89"
in the rear. Suspension Techniques makes their springs in the USA and the
average discounted price for the springs are around $220.00 - $250.00 and
come with a lifetime warranty to the original purchaser of the product
that it will be free of manufacturing defects so long as such purchaser
owns the vehicle on which such products were originally installed. The
warranty is transferable by the original purchaser for a warranty period
of five years from the original purchase date..
- Suspension Techniques, Inc.
- (A Belltech Company)
- 2822 East California Avenue
- Fresno, California 93721
- (800) 595-7016
- California and outside US: (209) 266-9173
- Fax: (209) 266-4348
- http://www.belltechcorp.com
|
Jamex
Jamex-Sport Springs are of the progressive design and offer chrom silicon
heat treated steel that is powder coated for a lifetime of protection.
Jamex offers one kit for the 89-97 Thunderbird and it is designed to lower
the car 1.50" - 2.00". The spring rate is listed as 15%
stiffer than the OE v8 sport springs with a freelength of 17.00"
in front and 11.50" in the rear. Jamex makes their springs
in the USA and the average discounted price for the springs are around
$125.00 and come with a lifetime warranty against defects in workmanship
and materials.