Fordnatics List Archive

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Mail From: (email redacted) (Chris K. McCormack)

Sorry for the repeat, but the formating of this message may be more
condusive for some...

Ford-Heads,

OK, you suspension wizards... I've got one for you...

I have a '90 T-Bird Supercoupe with fully independent suspension. The rear has
a lower H-arm which supports the spring and there are two-position nitrogen
gas shocks by Tokico (firm and soft ride settings respectively). There are, of
course, some additional suspension links, but I don't know what they are called.
I currently have the stock Goodyear VR tires on there with about 50% tread
left. In other words, it is all stock.

The problem is that the passenger rear tire hops with distressing severity when
traction is lost and the rear-wheels spin. This happens almost always on wet
pavement, and occasionally on dry pavement (not at all in snow/slush). Giving it
more gas only makes it worse, of course, so whenever it happens, I let off the
throttle until it stops and slowly reapply power... If the wheels brake loose
again, the hop will reappear. It only ever happens to the passenger rear wheel.
On dry pavement with a good launch it is a coin toss whether I will get severe
wheel hop or a good screeching burn-out. I want to cure this problem, so I can
goose it if I want, without shuddering my whole car into pieces... Where do I
start? Obviously, a set of traction bars are out of the question here It has
been doing this as long as I have owned the car (over a year now and since
10,000km).

Is it the tires, balance, shocks, springs, alignment, bushings, CV joints... What?


I have tried rotating the tires, so it is not a specific tire that is causing it. What
next?

Thanks a million (times).

- -------
Chris K. McCormack Broadband Communications
(email redacted) MPR Teltech Ltd

Turbos are great, but I'd rather be blown. (1990 Thunderbird Supercoupe)
- --- End Included Message ---




- -------
Chris K. McCormack Broadband Communications
(email redacted) MPR Teltech Ltd

Turbos are great, but I'd rather be blown. (1990 Thunderbird Supercoupe)

This read-only message was archived from a public mail list.
Mail From: (email redacted) (Jay Fletcher)

Sorry I can't answer your wheel hop question, but it brings up a couple
of other late T-bird rear suspension questions I've been pondering.

What is the width of the rear end from wheel mounting face to mounting face?

Does the rear suspension subframe bolt in or weld in?

Do the Super Coupes and regular Birds use the same rear suspension?

Does the 8.8 in the SC have 28 or 31 splines in the side gears?

Does the T-bird use an aluminum drive shaft?

Anything else interesting that I have forgotten?

Thanks,

Jay