Factory Five Roadster Build Part 3: Suspension Install

The FFR frame uses adjustable Bilstein coilovers for the front suspension even with the donor Mustang control arms. We opted for the 3-Link Deluxe rear suspension (a single upper arm and a Panhard bar), which includes a swap to coilover shocks in the rear from the stock late model Mustang coil springs.

This setup will give us fully adjustable ride height and allow for simple spring changes for track and street use. The Bilstein shocks come unassembled from FFR (remember, you're doing much of the labor here to save money). The shocks have a snap ring on them, and the coilover spring seat has a machined groove to accept the snap ring.

Once the seat is installed, the coil spring is slipped over the shock and then the coil spring hat is installed. Finally, the shock's rod end and jam nut are installed to complete the assembly.

Note the tie-wraps to secure the coil-spring hat to the spring. This prevents the spring from unseating and upsetting the suspension.

Using a Heim joint or rod end in any suspension component requires religious maintenance since dirt and moisture can easily enter the spherical end.

We came across these Seals-It rod-end seals at the Hot Rod & Restoration trade show earlier this year, and thought they were the perfect answer for extended maintenance on rod ends for street use.

We ordered enough 1/2-inch rod-end seals to protect our shocks and 5/8-inch rod-end seals for the 3-Link suspension. Installing them takes nothing more than ensuring you have enough room for their 0.047-inch-thick washer.

We had to trim the FFR aluminum spacers by an equivalent amount to get the Seals-It product to fit, but we feel the bit of labor in trimming the spacers is more than worth it for the protection the rod-end seals will provide.