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Suspension: Squeakin' & Creakin'

1.9K views 10 replies 8 participants last post by  puttster  
#1 ·
My suspension noise is getting a little out of hand at low speeds.

Do you recommend:

OPTION 1: buy some bushings and get some springs and anti-squeak pads and
call it a day. I like my sagging, settled springs ride height; assuming 2-3 drop;
maybe 2 1/2. what do you recommend?

OPTION 2: look for tubular performance control arms (haven't been able
to find any specifically for the galaxie yet, do you know of some) for a plug-n-play
solution paired with a plug-n-play air bag system. The only thing that
I like about air, is I can have it lowered (as current) and raise it for driveways, etc.

63 1/2 Galaxie 500
FTW
 
#2 ·
Isnt this just the shocks? mine does the same, the squeaks stop for a day after the shocks have been extended by having had the car up on a jack working on something, Im sure you can get shocks to the ride height you like. alternatively jack the car up every morning, cheaper and you get a free workout :D
I guess I would get a bit squeaky too after carrying that big block around all day and night.
 
#3 ·
personally I think tubular control for the big Galaxie is a waste of money. There is nothing wrong with the stock A arms. Now if you could find tubular A arms and spindles that would give you late model handling and cornering, that would be the ticket. But seriously......on a 3400 lb sled? I would rebuild stock suspension, which I am doing presently.

BTW I have an extra set of Moog 8000 coils if your interested. They appear to be about 1" shorter than the stock I took out, and much beefier. I am going to stick them in as is but you could prolly cut 1/2 or 1 coil off. I have a 429 with iron heads (for now) so will leave the coils alone.
 
#6 ·
The tubular control arms also have a different offset and location of the ball joints. This increases caster which also improves handling quite a bit. With big cars like this, it does help a lot to have better suspension geometry. If anything, the tires will work better (modern radials) and last longer (better wear).


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#5 ·
I got a rebuild kit from PST off ebay. Kit had upper and lower ball joints, upper and lower bushings, outer tierod ends, and sway bar bushings. I also bought inner tie rods, idler arm, and went with 1" sway bar, and the new coils. Also added 70 LTD spindles and disc brakes and master cylinder. So only thing old is centerlink but replaced idler arm bushing on that end. Also got the Rare Parts offset shaft eliminator kit.

I would replace bushings and ball joints for sure.
 
#9 ·
You can get tubular uppers from places like Speedway Motors. They are generic dirt track pieces. There is a thread on the site with info from a guy who used them.
 
#10 ·
I had a squeaky squak noise in another brand car for years and after the ball joint fell out on the RR tracks i knew where the noise was from. Always thought it was the springs or something. In the shotrod it ended up being the a-arm bushings. They were super bad.
 
#11 ·
OPTION 1: buy some bushings and get some springs and anti-squeak pads and
call it a day. I like my sagging, settled springs ride height; assuming 2-3 drop;
maybe 2 1/2. what do you recommend?
Lots of folks get new springs only to get a ride that is unstylishly tall. you could try new end links. Unlike BlownT I like to do things piecemeal but the squeaking is likely in the A-arm bushings and replacing those for sure will require a new alignment. Then you might need another one for the tie rods, etc. So arrange the work so you will need only one $80 alignment.