This section deals with things you can do to make your suspension much better than stock while still maintaining an acceptable ride.

Ford used a unique 104" wheelbase for the Cougar and Thunderbird from 1983-86 (ever-so-slightly longer for 1987-88). We have a bit of overhang behind the rear springs compared to a Mustang. With the increased weight of the rear overhang, some of the original spring rates just did not hold up over time. But you can do something about that and get much better handling out of your Cat. Truth be told, Ford did not set up the base and LS Cougars for aggressive driving --- only the XR7's got that treatment, and even then it can be improved. You can still have an XR7-type suspension (or better) on whatever model Cat that you own.

Our cars have a modified MacPherson strut assembly in the front, and a solid rear axle in the back. Not exactly high tech cutting-edge stuff but it works fine. One of the great things about the front suspension is the fact that you don't have to compress the spring to remove the strut (hence the reason it's called "modified"). Most Fox cars share the same basic suspension setup, but each individual car line is tuned for different needs. Now it's easy to think that if it works for a Mustang, it will work for a Cougar. Perhaps that's true for motor parts but not really for a lot of suspension components. This section will tell you what you can--and can't--do to your Cat's suspension.

In addition, this section is designed for order of progression, from easy to more difficult. This allows you to build your suspension at your own pace and skill level. As with most anything dealing with suspension, it is recommended that you seek advice of professionals, as it never hurts to have more than one opinion. Also be sure to have your car aligned after installing any new front suspension parts.

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