IXIVI Posted October 11, 2013 Report Share Posted October 11, 2013 Installed the H&R lowering springs on Thursday. Took me just over 3 hours. Hardest part was the upper strut mounts under the hood, until I realized that the plastic windshield cowling comes off and the upper strut bolts then take about 10 seconds to remove. The lower bolts come off and the strut just slides right out past the rotor. Surprisingly little compression was needed to get the mount unbolted and swap the H&R springs in. Two man job reinstalling the struts - fit the bolts in their holes from the bottom and have a helper thread the nuts on from above to hold the unit in place while you line the bottom up and install the H&R triple C camber bolts! The rear springs are where I really made up time. The service manual would have you unbolt 8 or 9 things and remove the caliper, rotor, hub, and knuckle. I've attached pictures that prove that process unnecessary. Basically, just put enough pressure on the arm and spring to relieve the tension on the rear camber bolt and slowly remove the nut locking the adjuster in place , then move to the other side of the arm and spin the adjuster bolt all the way out of its hole. As long as pressure is maintained on the arm just under the spring, the bolt slides out and you slowly lower the jack and then swing the arm down, swap springs and reinstall the bolt and nut. Total time on BOTH rears was less that 40 minutes. Picture shows the rear camber bolt being backed out (after locking nut was removed from the opposite side) and the arm swinging down for the spring swap. Easy stuff... 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drive XR7 Posted October 12, 2013 Report Share Posted October 12, 2013 Pics after the drop? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joshj84 Posted October 13, 2013 Report Share Posted October 13, 2013 pics before and after? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IXIVI Posted October 13, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 13, 2013 Just after Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FordMan1977 Posted October 14, 2013 Report Share Posted October 14, 2013 Nice job, and thanks for the tips! Your Edge looks great! I have not lowered mine yet... but its on the list. With your couple of tips especially the rears I will be a little better prepared goin in. And yes removal of the front plastic window cowl is a huge time saver on removal of those top strut bolts! Did you mark those rear adjuster bolts before you loosened and backed them out to lower the arm and drop the stock springs? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
af_maineiac Posted October 14, 2013 Report Share Posted October 14, 2013 Off-topic, but what wheels are those? They are NICE! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IXIVI Posted October 14, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 14, 2013 Nice job, and thanks for the tips! Your Edge looks great! I have not lowered mine yet... but its on the list. With your couple of tips especially the rears I will be a little better prepared goin in. And yes removal of the front plastic window cowl is a huge time saver on removal of those top strut bolts! Did you mark those rear adjuster bolts before you loosened and backed them out to lower the arm and drop the stock springs? The adjuster was already marked (factory?), i just lined it up again when I was done. It didnt matter though, it was still off a ton on the alignment rack, the drop springs pull it all over the place. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IXIVI Posted October 14, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 14, 2013 Wheels are ultra light TSW Nurburgring. More info here http://www.fordedgeforum.com/topic/13309-20-nurburgring-2954020-falkens-2012-sport/ 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
af_maineiac Posted October 15, 2013 Report Share Posted October 15, 2013 Wheels are ultra light TSW Nurburgring. More info here http://www.fordedgeforum.com/topic/13309-20-nurburgring-2954020-falkens-2012-sport/ Damn those are sweet. Now that's got me thinking...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FordMan1977 Posted October 15, 2013 Report Share Posted October 15, 2013 The adjuster was already marked (factory?), i just lined it up again when I was done. It didnt matter though, it was still off a ton on the alignment rack, the drop springs pull it all over the place. Ok..i got it, i just thought the cam adjusters would lose thier spot upon removal of the lower control arm bolt. I was wondering how it felt without an alignment. Most guys on here that did the lowering springs stated they drove it right to the alignment shop for adjustments. I pretty much expected that. Thanks for the input. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IXIVI Posted October 18, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 18, 2013 Another update. I pulled the front springs again and removed the rubber isolator at the bottom of strut. Its super dense rubber and about .25" thick, so pulling it out and re-installing the springs gave me that much more drop. Not very noticeable accept that the front and rear wheel gap is now just about identical. Before, leaving the isolator in place, the rear was slightly lower than the front. Pull that rubber out for an even drop! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WWWPerfA_ZN0W Posted October 18, 2013 Report Share Posted October 18, 2013 Good info. No effect on ride? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IXIVI Posted October 18, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 18, 2013 Good info. No effect on ride? No negative effect at all. All positive all the way around. Just got back from the alignment shop for the second time around though, and after pulling the rubber the alignment seems to be much cleaner. No more pulling all over the road. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WWWPerfA_ZN0W Posted October 18, 2013 Report Share Posted October 18, 2013 Good to hear! Though it makes you wonder if the Ford guys just forgot to take off the "packing material" from the struts before installation 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nikos33 Posted May 27, 2014 Report Share Posted May 27, 2014 I just installed my H&R springs and i had a bit of trouble with the front. I had to install the springs upside down otherwise the simply did not fit...not even close. I am assuming H&R painted the label upside down. Has anyone had this problem? The part number painted on the spring is 51605 F. On the coil below it had a H&R logo and F/N. What does F/N stand for? I,am wondering if I have the wrong part. I had to remove the lower isolator on the front...the bottom of the spring would not properly seat int it. My vehicle is a 08 MKX AWD in case that makes a difference. Also, I purchased the springs from tirerack.com, they arebreputable and usually know their stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IXIVI Posted June 1, 2014 Author Report Share Posted June 1, 2014 I just installed my H&R springs and i had a bit of trouble with the front. I had to install the springs upside down otherwise the simply did not fit...not even close. I am assuming H&R painted the label upside down. Has anyone had this problem? The part number painted on the spring is 51605 F. On the coil below it had a H&R logo and F/N. What does F/N stand for? I,am wondering if I have the wrong part. I had to remove the lower isolator on the front...the bottom of the spring would not properly seat int it. My vehicle is a 08 MKX AWD in case that makes a difference. Also, I purchased the springs from tirerack.com, they arebreputable and usually know their stuff. Same here. H&R printed upside down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iamonedge Posted November 20, 2014 Report Share Posted November 20, 2014 How are your cars running now after lowering? ever do any vinyl tire rapping? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cody Loney Posted January 2, 2015 Report Share Posted January 2, 2015 Another update. I pulled the front springs again and removed the rubber isolator at the bottom of strut. Its super dense rubber and about .25" thick, so pulling it out and re-installing the springs gave me that much more drop. Not very noticeable accept that the front and rear wheel gap is now just about identical. Before, leaving the isolator in place, the rear was slightly lower than the front. Pull that rubber out for an even drop! I know this is old, but i did H&R's on mine a while back and i cant stand the larger wheel gap in front and am debating removing the rubber insulator. Any update on how it has rode (noises, ride quality, etc.) after doing so and putting some miles on it? any input is appreciated! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IXIVI Posted January 17, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 17, 2015 I know this is old, but i did H&R's on mine a while back and i cant stand the larger wheel gap in front and am debating removing the rubber insulator. Any update on how it has rode (noises, ride quality, etc.) after doing so and putting some miles on it? any input is appreciated! Just over 20k miles since install, no issues. I couldn't feel a difference in the ride after removal, and it hasn't made a sound. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edgy2011 Posted January 26, 2015 Report Share Posted January 26, 2015 Did you take yours out Cody? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cody Loney Posted January 26, 2015 Report Share Posted January 26, 2015 Yes I did go ahead and remove mine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NKopp83 Posted February 13, 2015 Report Share Posted February 13, 2015 So is all that you need other than the springs is a camber kit? Do I need one kit for each front and rear? Thanks in advance guys! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DunePearlEdge Posted April 6, 2015 Report Share Posted April 6, 2015 3 hours eh? You must not have a salty environment! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DunePearlEdge Posted July 28, 2015 Report Share Posted July 28, 2015 Does the car ride firmer or equal to stock? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrSS Posted August 13, 2015 Report Share Posted August 13, 2015 No camber kit needed. And the lowering springs maybe bounce a little but overall comfortable. Feels a lot better than stock for sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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