Lowering a Sable

"ShelbyRacer78-Fusion Modifier" (shelbyracer78) 04/06/2016 at 18:40 • Filed to: sable, lowered, eibach, duratec

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A few weeks ago I got the chance to the purchase lowering springs for my sable. I got Eibach lowering springs that aren’t even made anymore for 96-99 Taurus SHO (yes the bubble one with a V8) used, from a friend. Now the whole suspension setup is the from 96-07 for the Taurus. The Sable is just a Taurus with different body panels but otherwise the same car. Back to the suspension, my Sable needed new struts at all 4 corners, badly. For that task I got KYB Accel G/GR-2 struts from Rock Auto. Fast forward to the install weekend; I (without any help yet) got the car up on jack stands and began the tear-down.

I started with the rear of the car, because the rear pinch bolts on these like to put up a fight when being removed. The passenger’s rear pinch bolt came out no problem, the driver’s rear was a different story. Driver’s rear was a nut and bolt combo that had replaced the OEM pinch bolt setup. The bolt end snapped inside the knuckle and nut came off no problem. I was left with the rest of the bolt stuck in the knuckle, needing to get drilled out. Not a fun job to do... But in the end both rear struts came out in the end.

With both rear struts out, it was time to start on the front. Same pinch bolt style but this time it’s a nut and bolt combo from the factory. Driver’s front came out no problem. Passenger front however, another fight....And that is the end of the first day of working on car.

During the final hours on day one, I could not for the life of me get the passenger front pinch bolt out. The bolt had bent down, basically keep the bolt in place no matter how hard I hit with it still on the car. Now we’re at the morning of day 2, I decided to purchase a tool I had been wanting to get for a long time. An Air Hammer! Got up at 7 am, did my morning things, went out in my mom’s Explorer and went to my local Lowe’s. Got my air hammer for under $40 with tax, the air connector and a 1 year warranty included. Now back at the house to get the bolt out with my new air hammer! Get everything opened and set up. I started on trying to get the bolt out and it just would not move. Thankfully by the time I almost gave up on getting it out my team of helpers had arrived! We decided to pull the lower control arm off still on the knuckle and strut. My friend Phil went totally mad with the hammer and eventually got the bolt to move. At that point we took everything over to the vise and I got my air hammer on one end while he hammered on the other end. Finally getting the bolt out! Now with the bolt out I could get started on putting the springs onto the new struts and moving the top hats around, WRONG. When I pulled the LCA out I found that on of the bushings was SHOT and I had to replace it. I won’t go into how that parts replacement now, maybe another time...

Now while I’m messing around with swapping suspension parts around, Phil (the one who got the bolt out) is welding up my exhaust system get rid of my flex pipe 3rd cat repair. I pretty much let him rip and do his own thing. I gave him one goal on the exhaust, NO LEAKS.

Phil did good! When everything was all back together and the car was running there were no exhaust leaks.

Swapping the springs and struts around was going perfectly. I got reinstall the passenger rear strut on day 2. And that concluded day 2, exhaust was almost done, all the lowering springs were on the new KYB struts and I was happy.

Now we’re on Day 3. All the suspension components were ready to be installed, exhaust just needed some last touches before being installed and then the car was done. My team was back at my place to help again. I let Phil do his own thing on the exhaust while I drilled out the spot welds holding the strut towers in. That when smoothly for me.

I ground down the welds, painted the bare metal and painted the top hats. Bare metal was painted matte black and the top hats were painted a Ford metallic blue.

That part of the project was the easiest one overall. Around 6pm my team had left me, the exhaust was done and I was left alone to put the car back together. I had the rear of the car completed and now I to fight with the front struts... The only way I could get the front struts in place was by hammer the knuckle onto the bottom of the strut. I was hammering away for 1/2 an hour then I could finally put the new nut and bolt in. That was the passenger side completed. Driver’s front was the same case, 1/2 of hammering and slowly watching the knuckle slide up the strut. With that, all the struts were in place and the wheels could go back on the car. But I was stupid tired and wanted to go to bed. That ended day 3.

I’ll call this bit “Day 3.5”. This is when the car was finally completed. I got up at 7am, before I even had breakfast and put the wheels back on and lowered the car back onto the ground. Now it had started snowing the night of Day 3. So I was putting the car back together in the snow. In the end I wasn’t gonna let that stop me.

The car was done. Got the car aligned later that day and that was that.

Thanks for reading! I think my next article will about “My life with a lowered car, so far...”

jkm7680 > ShelbyRacer78-Fusion Modifier 04/06/2016 at 18:42

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Looks like you need spacers.

mazda616 > ShelbyRacer78-Fusion Modifier 04/06/2016 at 18:53

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Looks good. It's amazing what a drop can do for the looks of a car.

BJ > ShelbyRacer78-Fusion Modifier 04/06/2016 at 19:26

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I know it’s loser talk, but stories like this are why I take my vehicles to a garage...

Congrats nonetheless! I applaud your tenacity. The ride must be so much better now, lower or not.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > ShelbyRacer78-Fusion Modifier 04/06/2016 at 19:37

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Inb4 the usual “why do this to a sable” people.

It looks great. Probably the sweetest sable this side a SHO swap!

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > ShelbyRacer78-Fusion Modifier 04/06/2016 at 21:15

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All Tauruses and Sables of that gen have a self-lowering feature: the rear struts go out in about 13 minutes :)

ShelbyRacer78-Fusion Modifier > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 04/06/2016 at 21:23

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Unless they have Moog Cargo coils swapped in!

valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option > ShelbyRacer78-Fusion Modifier 04/06/2016 at 23:50

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I’m planning on doing the exact same job on my G35x as soon as I order new struts/shocks. The car is ‘06 so hopefully the bolts come out fairly easy after a night of soaking in PB Blaster. Also thinking of grabbing some used springs off a G35 coupe which should drop my sedan about 1". Any other tips you can give?

ShelbyRacer78-Fusion Modifier > valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option 04/07/2016 at 10:38

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Make sure you get the right springs and keep soaking the bolts every night until install day.

Takuro Spirit > ShelbyRacer78-Fusion Modifier 04/07/2016 at 10:51

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Not gonna lie I just scrolled through to see if there were any more Trans Am pics. :P

ShelbyRacer78-Fusion Modifier > Takuro Spirit 04/07/2016 at 11:11

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Here, I can’t find any without the Sable photobombing them

cletus44 aka Clayton Seams > ShelbyRacer78-Fusion Modifier 04/07/2016 at 11:53

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Lass Sable, more Trans Am

d15b > ShelbyRacer78-Fusion Modifier 04/07/2016 at 11:58

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I don’t want to be “that guy”, but do you have the same engine as the V8? Are the springs different for a lower model which would have your engine?

I ask because the front springs may be different to account for the weight of the V8 as opposed to a more common, pedestrian engine.

#thatinternetcarforumguy

jariten1781 > ShelbyRacer78-Fusion Modifier 04/07/2016 at 12:02

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Did you end up with any reverse rake after they settled? Saw that issue on a friends car when he put on Eibachs meant for a V6 on an I4.

ShelbyRacer78-Fusion Modifier > d15b 04/07/2016 at 12:03

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I don’t have the Yamaha V8 but the front springs were the same no matter the trim level. The springs are for the 96-07 Taurus and 96-05 Sable, being that the suspension was the same.

ShelbyRacer78-Fusion Modifier > jariten1781 04/07/2016 at 12:05

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Not at all, since the springs are the same not matter what the engine is.

uofime-2 > ShelbyRacer78-Fusion Modifier 04/07/2016 at 12:05

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How’s the exhaust sound?

Any plans for upsizing wheels for less sidewall?

ShelbyRacer78-Fusion Modifier > uofime-2 04/07/2016 at 12:07

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Exhaust is nice and quiet, but can still be loud when I need to be. I’d love to get some 17's or 18's wheels someday. 235 wide tires is what I can fit without rubbing or needing spacers.

uofime-2 > ShelbyRacer78-Fusion Modifier 04/07/2016 at 12:12

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That’s the perfect exhaust civilized when cruising and fierce when hooning.

the best way to get new wheels and tires is to find some new OE’s you like and find someone who is switching to aftermarket ones. Used OE wheels and tires go for dirt cheap (for what they are)!

d15b > ShelbyRacer78-Fusion Modifier 04/07/2016 at 12:14

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Awesome. As long as they used the same part number, it should be good to go!

CalzoneGolem > ShelbyRacer78-Fusion Modifier 04/07/2016 at 12:14

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I did the essentially the opposite: http://oppositelock.kinja.com/get-lifted-176…

ShelbyRacer78-Fusion Modifier > uofime-2 04/07/2016 at 12:15

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The new Ford Fusion and Focus (and the ST) use the same wheel bolt pattern (5x108 or 5x4.5) so I think I’ll have a good chance on finding some wheels I’ll like someday.

ShelbyRacer78-Fusion Modifier > CalzoneGolem 04/07/2016 at 12:16

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You should I have told me! I have some Moog cargo coils just sitting around now!!

ShelbyRacer78-Fusion Modifier > d15b 04/07/2016 at 12:16

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Yup same part number for the Eibach springs for the 96-07 cars.

uofime-2 > ShelbyRacer78-Fusion Modifier 04/07/2016 at 12:16

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Oh yea I bet you can find those going for like 800 a set on their forums! Those are really nice looking too!

ShelbyRacer78-Fusion Modifier > uofime-2 04/07/2016 at 12:18

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Budget is more into the lower then $400 range now... Spent all my money getting all the parts to do this.

Somethin' 'bout a truck > ShelbyRacer78-Fusion Modifier 04/07/2016 at 12:20

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Makes this car look a lot better! These cars are pretty nice for what they are, especially since you can pick them up for nothing. I hope you can find those ST wheels, that would really make this look nice.

CalzoneGolem > ShelbyRacer78-Fusion Modifier 04/07/2016 at 12:21

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Well, I had some Monroe quick struts laying around. So I just paid my mechanic to install those and replace the driver’s ball joint.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > jariten1781 04/07/2016 at 12:22

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The V8 is only .4l bigger, I’d guess it’s not that much heavier.

ShelbyRacer78-Fusion Modifier > CalzoneGolem 04/07/2016 at 12:23

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That’s what I took out of my Sable. Monroe quick struts with the taxi package. Cargo coils give the rear of the car that little bit of higher lift in the rear.

Group B Enthusiast - Captain of the supercharged barge > ShelbyRacer78-Fusion Modifier 04/07/2016 at 12:23

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Never thought I’d see a cool Sable. hahaha

Is that a Mach 1 splitter?

ShelbyRacer78-Fusion Modifier > Group B Enthusiast - Captain of the supercharged barge 04/07/2016 at 12:24

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It is indeed a Mach 1 splitter. And thanks!

uofime-2 > ShelbyRacer78-Fusion Modifier 04/07/2016 at 12:24

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Probably need a little more than that to get something nice.

It’s actually a good time to shop now as people are swapping their stuff for the summer (buying new with tax returns and selling old).

Just before winter is an even better time to find incredible deals on summer wheels and tires.

CalzoneGolem > ShelbyRacer78-Fusion Modifier 04/07/2016 at 12:24

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Yeah I was looking at cargo coils but since I intended to do the work myself I went with the easy option and then didn’t do the work myself.

ShelbyRacer78-Fusion Modifier > uofime-2 04/07/2016 at 12:26

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Very true about the whole tax return thing, that’s what I used to pay for everything to lower the car!

ShelbyRacer78-Fusion Modifier > CalzoneGolem 04/07/2016 at 12:27

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Rear struts can be a total pain if something breaks.

Zachary Oberle > uofime-2 04/07/2016 at 12:27

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Can confirm that OEM is a great way to go for wheel swaps. It is surprising what you can do with OEM stuff if you look hard and get creative.

Case in point is our 2001 Jetta VR6. It has a 5x100mm wheel hub pattern which is not unique to Volkswagens. Subaru also runs the 5x100 size on a lot of their cars. In particular the WRX used this size for many years and, in fact, was breifly available with some spectacularly high-end wheels. From 2002 to 2004 the WRX could be had with optional 17 inch forged aluminum wheels from BBS.

Turns out those babies look great on a Volkswagen. Here’s our Jetta with the lame-ass 16 inch OEM wheel on the back and our kick-ass new 17 inch forged beauty on the front:

We could never have afforded this kind of modification with after-market parts. Forged aluminum wheels, even modest 17 inch units, cost well in excess of $1000 each on the after-market. We managed to pick up a full set for a mere $900.

Gotta love Craigslist!

CalzoneGolem > ShelbyRacer78-Fusion Modifier 04/07/2016 at 12:29

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I did my fronts last winter and the more I thought about it the less I wanted to fight the back ones.

ShelbyRacer78-Fusion Modifier > CalzoneGolem 04/07/2016 at 12:30

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Fighting with the pinch bolts isn’t fun...

CalzoneGolem > ShelbyRacer78-Fusion Modifier 04/07/2016 at 12:30

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Yeah, right? I’m preaching to the choir over here.

ShelbyRacer78-Fusion Modifier > CalzoneGolem 04/07/2016 at 12:32

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I did the rear struts on my silver Sable and all 4 struts on this one. Fighting with pinch bolts is a total pain in the ass.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > ShelbyRacer78-Fusion Modifier 04/07/2016 at 12:33

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The sable looks so much better than the jelly bean taurus. I am also a fan of that 24v v6.

ShelbyRacer78-Fusion Modifier > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 04/07/2016 at 12:34

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I love my Duratec V6, just wants live over 4k rpm all time.

CalzoneGolem > ShelbyRacer78-Fusion Modifier 04/07/2016 at 12:36

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I used my jack to push the struts into the knuckle.

uofime-2 > Zachary Oberle 04/07/2016 at 12:36

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Oh, absolutely I’m searching for similar wheels myself. I’ve seen sets of the ones I want go for less than 600$, for 18x8.5 forged 19 lb wheels that is an insane deal !

ShelbyRacer78-Fusion Modifier > CalzoneGolem 04/07/2016 at 12:39

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I beat on the knuckle until the bolt holes lined up.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > ShelbyRacer78-Fusion Modifier 04/07/2016 at 13:12

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Whats the point of having two cars if you aren’t gonna get pics of both.

ShelbyRacer78-Fusion Modifier > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles 04/07/2016 at 13:14

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Sable is mine, Trans Am is my Dad’s.

Marcus > ShelbyRacer78-Fusion Modifier 04/07/2016 at 14:28

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Having driven my dad’s base model Sable back in high school, I want to say WHY, but I get it. Creativity, Customization. Whatever that base engine was did NOT like to rev. Car was slow as F at any speed above 50.

Nice write-up!

ShelbyRacer78-Fusion Modifier > Marcus 04/07/2016 at 14:34

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I remember my time with the vulcan V6, you had beat the shit out of it to get anywhere. and thanks!