lower control arm questions

[PonyGuy]

Hey, I'm new to this forum. My daughter (who is normally on this board)(just graduated from Air Force basic and is in Missippi for a while) has an '84 SVO that I'm working on while she's in Tech school.

When we bought it it was too low. I went to put some "C" springs on and found torn ball joint boots. I read the other thread about LCA's. She wants to keep the car OEM, but...you guys know about parts.

Question, is the suspension geometry on SVOs the same as a normal Mustang?

Are the SVO lower control arms different dimensionally from normal mustangs?

If I use the "C"springs (need spring perches on the LCA) which aftermarket LCAs can/should I use?

What are the alternatives, including brakes? (I have a '96 Cobra full Griggs)

Thanks in advance. EVERYONE who we have talked to, asked questions, bought hard to find parts for her SVO has been great.

David

[Ken Potter]

There have been many, many threads about this issue. Do a search and take about 4 hours to read it all. I have a 90 LX / 93 Cobra clone with complete SVO front end under it. If it is just torn boots you can pick up replacements at any good auto parts store in the help section. I got mine at Autozone ( bought a couple of sets ). Since you have to separate the spindles anyway give the ball joints a good inspection and just replace the boots if the ball joints are OK. The ball joints are "captured" and are not servicable. There are some folks working on aftermarket replacements but I know of nothing definite so far. The SVO LCA is dimensionally different from all other Mustangs but is shared with some of the Lincoln LSC's. I'm not sure what years but when you search you'll find the info. As far as brakes go you're pretty much limited to SVO rotors & calipers. You're also limited on wheel selection because of the rotors. Alot of folks have done the SN-95 swap. Get yourself a cold beverage and get comfortable as there is ALOT of reading on this subject. And Welcome! Join the club! ( Please )

[PonyGuy]

mmm, cold beverage. glad I have a 'fridge in the garage.

[Eyelawdoc]

The only Lincoln that shares the entire front arms and everything with the SVO is the 82-83 Lincoln Continental (the real ugly one). The 84-92 Mark VII and the SVO used the same front and rear brakes, spindles and rear axles, but NOT the same lower arms and ball joints.

Welcome to the board!

[TN SVO 86]

I think there are a lot of people needing the lower control arm ball joint boots for SVO Mustangs. I searched every where to find a suitable replacement. I even went through every box of ball joints at two automotive parts stores looking for some. I ended up using dust boots that came off control arms of a Winston Cup car. I had to make some modifications to use them and will replace them when I find a better dust boot. I called Daniel Carpenter in Charlotte, NC (he makes lots of reproduction rubber products for Mustangs) about 4 or 5 months ago and he indicated he was about 6 months away from having them reproduced. He always has very high quality replacement products. I am not sure of the current status of the SVO dust boots. Please let him know you are interested and maybe they will be available soon

[TN SVO 86]

Any idea if the Motion Dynamic dust boots press on the ball joint like the originals do or if they fit like the rubbers generic ones in the Help packs at automotive stores?

[8T6 SVO]

Motion Dynamic dust boots

I picked up a set of Motion Dynamic's dusts boots about a month ago - they do not "seal" over the control arm with a metal clip embeded in the rubber like the original Ford ones. They do fit tightly over the control arm at the ball joint and do a good job of sealing out the Dust, dirt, etc. The Motion Dynamic boots are made of a more durable rubber(more like poly) and should, outlast the stock type rubber ones made by Ford.

8T6

[PonyGuy]

Thanks guys, I've done business with Motion Dynamics. I'll give them a call. I think that the ball joints are salvagable. I need to pull the LCA's off and clean everything up. If they aren't I'll look for replacements.

David

[joenardo]

just do a sn95 lca swap with the griggs adapters i did it worked great now i have replaceable ball joints