2001 Cobra suspension

01performanceredvertsnake · Feb 7, 2017

Hi everybody! I just joined the other day and have some questions I hope y'all can help answer.
I have a 2001 cobra convertible that has 9x,xxx miles and it's unfortunately daily driven and has to be out in the weather. I'm currently in college and live in apartments that's why it stays outside. I have some questions about springs and shocks/struts. I've searched the forums and not much came up. So I of course have a lot a mods planned and one of th first ones is the full FTBR IRS kit for the rear end.
Now I figured while it was down I'd go ahead and get some other stuff done too so I figured changing the gear oil and if this has been covered a million times I apologize but what do y'all recommend for the oil?
Also I figured go ahead and lower it with all New springs and shocks and struts.
CJ pony parts has KYB shock and strut kit agx adjustable for 479.99, is that a good deal or just crap shocks? LMR has bilsteins hd non adjustable for 659.99. Are they worth the extra money?
CJ pony parts also has H&R super sport springs for 279.99
Does this sound like a good set up? Oh yeah and cc plates an recommendations?

01performanceredvertsnake · Feb 7, 2017

01performanceredvertsnake said:
Hi everybody! I just joined the other day and have some questions I hope y'all can help answer.
I have a 2001 cobra convertible that has 9x,xxx miles and it's unfortunately daily driven and has to be out in the weather. I'm currently in college and live in apartments that's why it stays outside. I have some questions about springs and shocks/struts. I've searched the forums and not much came up. So I of course have a lot a mods planned and one of th first ones is the full FTBR IRS kit for the rear end.
Now I figured while it was down I'd go ahead and get some other stuff done too so I figured changing the gear oil and if this has been covered a million times I apologize but what do y'all recommend for the oil?
Also I figured go ahead and lower it with all New springs and shocks and struts.
CJ pony parts has KYB shock and strut kit agx adjustable for 479.99, is that a good deal or just crap shocks? LMR has bilsteins hd non adjustable for 659.99. Are they worth the extra money?
CJ pony parts also has H&R super sport springs for 279.99
Does this sound like a good set up? Oh yeah and cc plates an recommendations?

And eventually getting 18x9 in the front and 18x10 in the rear

Sent from my iPhone using the svtperformance.com mobile app

01yellercobra · Feb 7, 2017

KYB's aren't bad. I ran them on my classic Mustang and never had an issue. On my 01 I ran take off Bilsteins and I currently have the HD's on my 04. For me it's just a matter of preference.

H&R are good springs. I had them and they ride nice. However, on my 01 I ran trimmed 04 springs. The 03/04's are a little stiffer than the 99/01 and start a little lower. I ran them for years with no isolators up front and just lowers in the rear. No weird noises and the car rode and handled well. Just some food for thought depending on your budget.

For gear oil I've ran Royal Purple in the past and currently have Valvoline in there. No issues either way for me.

I'm sure a lot of people are going to recommend Maximum Motorsport plates. I've had them on two cars so far. I don't have any experience with other companies so I can't recommend anything else.

zeus201 · Feb 7, 2017

Ran HR Sports, 1 MM isos for front and back, and MM HD struts and shocks. I really should have had CC plates but, the alignment wasn't too far off. If would drove the car more, I would have gotten them so it wouldn't have torn up the inside of the tire.

I really like HDs, well worth the money and paired nicely with the HR springs.

SilverNotch · Feb 8, 2017

I run tokico d specs on my 01 cobra.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

01performanceredvertsnake · Feb 8, 2017

I'll do a little research about the shocks just to be sure and I did read that about the 03-04 cobra shocks and springs, the only thing is, is it worth paying a couple hundred bucks for 10+ year old shocks/ struts and springs? I mean I don't know that's why I ask and this may be a stupid question but what purpose do the iso's serve if springs can be run without them?

And thank you for the recommendations for the gear oil and cc plates

Alright thank you for the input about the shocks/struts

And how do you like the tokico d shocks/struts?

Sent from my iPhone using the svtperformance.com mobile app

notchstang92 · Feb 10, 2017

for c/c plates Maximum Motorsports is the only way to go. They can also set you up with a package of shocks, struts and springs. I run bilsteins with their coilover kit and tubular front suspension. They ride nice. KYB isn't bad for a daily driver/stock car. They won't put you in the poor house and I've never seen anyone complain about them. They aren't on the level of Koni or Bilstein, but that is also reflected in the price.

I think you'll find the super sports lower the car too much. I'd stick with the sport springs. What are your goals for the car? Do you just want the stance of a lowered car or will you auto X or open track the car? I'd also look into subframe connectors. You could do a strut tower brace and rear shock tower brace to help with body roll. I have a hardtop and the rear shock tower brace helped the body roll.

01yellercobra · Feb 10, 2017

01performanceredvertsnake said:
I'll do a little research about the shocks just to be sure and I did read that about the 03-04 cobra shocks and springs, the only thing is, is it worth paying a couple hundred bucks for 10+ year old shocks/ struts and springs? I mean I don't know that's why I ask and this may be a stupid question but what purpose do the iso's serve if springs can be run without them?

Back when I bought them it was worth it. I bought my 01 back in 2005. The take off shocks/struts I found were low mileage. Nowadays I don't think they're worth it unless they're being given to you. Even then you'd probably want to look into rebuilding them. Which is something Bilstein will do even on the take offs. I had a pair of rear shocks rebuilt and had them grooved for coilovers since I knew they were coming. I had them rebuilt as HD's and they go well with the springs I'm running.

01performanceredvertsnake · Feb 10, 2017

notchstang92 said:
for c/c plates Maximum Motorsports is the only way to go. They can also set you up with a package of shocks, struts and springs. I run bilsteins with their coilover kit and tubular front suspension. They ride nice. KYB isn't bad for a daily driver/stock car. They won't put you in the poor house and I've never seen anyone complain about them. They aren't on the level of Koni or Bilstein, but that is also reflected in the price.

I think you'll find the super sports lower the car too much. I'd stick with the sport springs. What are your goals for the car? Do you just want the stance of a lowered car or will you auto X or open track the car? I'd also look into subframe connectors. You could do a strut tower brace and rear shock tower brace to help with body roll. I have a hardtop and the rear shock tower brace helped the body roll.

Well at least for now since I'm a full time student and then work full time in the summer, it'll be daily driven, I wouldn't mind doing something like that in the future, goals are a N/A car with some engine and suspension upgrades and of course cosmetic too. Not too radical but I go to school at Clemson and there are some nice roads near me so definitely want to handle well.
I'll look more into the maximum motorsports and see what all they have. I don't want to break the bank but of course don't want to break the bank. I'll also look into the braces because turning from uphill to level you can hear and feel it flex and creak.

Sent from my iPhone using the svtperformance.com mobile app

01performanceredvertsnake · Feb 10, 2017

slo984now said:
Back when I bought them it was worth it. I bought my 01 back in 2005. The take off shocks/struts I found were low mileage. Nowadays I don't think they're worth it unless they're being given to you. Even then you'd probably want to look into rebuilding them. Which is something Bilstein will do even on the take offs. I had a pair of rear shocks rebuilt and had them grooved for coilovers since I knew they were coming. I had them rebuilt as HD's and they go well with the springs I'm running.

I'll definitely keep that in mind and also do more research into that as well thank you all for the help! Before I became a member I searched this website and it always helped!

Sent from my iPhone using the svtperformance.com mobile app

old01cobra · Feb 11, 2017

SilverNotch said:
I run tokico d specs on my 01 cobra.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

How do you like these?

SilverNotch · Feb 11, 2017

old01cobra said:
How do you like these?

I love them! They ride nice and can be adjusted to be quite firm. Note, the rears can't hold coilovers if you ever plan on it.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

old01cobra · Feb 11, 2017

SilverNotch said:
I love them! They ride nice and can be adjusted to be quite firm. Note, the rears can't hold coilovers if you ever plan on it.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Do they soften up pretty good up front to transfer weight too the back? I was thinking on keeping the H+R race springs or cutting a 1/2 coil out of my stocks out back for a drag setup? What are you running for springs?

SilverNotch · Feb 11, 2017

old01cobra said:
Do they soften up pretty good up front to transfer weight too the back? I was thinking on keeping the H+R race springs or cutting a 1/2 coil out of my stocks out back for a drag setup? What are you running for springs?

Sure! There are endless adjustments that can be done.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

old01cobra · Feb 11, 2017

SilverNotch said:
Sure! There are endless adjustments that can be done.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

What caster camber plates are you running with them?

SilverNotch · Feb 11, 2017

J&m here. Very nice pieces and zero issues with them.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

zPipes · Feb 13, 2017

I have koni yellows, no issues. they are a bit more expensive, they go on sale about once a year and you can nab them for about 600.

mm cc plates as previsously stated are the only option there

springs, I have eibach pro. im about to switch to h&r just to see what happens, which will probably be nothing. now.. I ran mine with no isos in rear to get a little lower, this causes some extra noise tho. don't be afraid to use super sports, and get poly isolators. the poly isos will reduce your lowering height and last longer than the stock isos. that's what I would do, but I have a vert, so there is only one option for springs with each brand... hence no iso in the rear lol.

Im a mobile one synthetic guy for oil

01performanceredvertsnake · Mar 1, 2017

Okay so I've still been doing research and looking and just seeing what others have done and all and right now hopefully I'll be doing springs shocks/struts cc plates and steering rack bushings the solid ones from MM and FLSFC
After looking through threads on here it seems I need x2 ball joints, bump steer kit and shorter sway bar end links?
If that's true I might have to wait a little longer since it'd be a couple hundred dollars more since I'd have to do bump steer front and rear as well as the sway bar end links front and rear. Is all that mandatory to do when lowering the car?
The springs I'm going with are H&R sport springs since that's the only one they offer for convertibles, no ISOs, bilsteins HDs, MMs cc plates and their powdercoated FLSFC.

Sent from my iPhone using the svtperformance.com mobile app

01yellercobra · Mar 1, 2017

The bump steer kits and X2 balljoints aren't a requirement. I drove my 01 for years on stock tie rod ends and balljoints. And it was lowered around 1.75".

RX1Cobra · Mar 2, 2017

I've had the Eibach Sports on my car since probably 02 or 03 with no isolators. Besides that my suspension is stock. I don't even have CC plates and they were able to get the car aligned within factor specs. No problems so far... car has 60K miles on it now.

2001 Cobra suspension

Active Member

Active Member

AKA slo984now

Well-Known Member

Member

Active Member

Spoolin'

AKA slo984now

Active Member

Active Member

Active Member

Member

Active Member

Member

Active Member

Member

Active Member

Active Member

AKA slo984now

Well-Known Member

Users who are viewing this thread