Hi all, Having owned several Mavericks/Comets over the years, I have become familiar with several shortcomings of the suspension. Now, granted I know in their time they were considered economy cars, but, I have noticed on the site that there are several owners who have installed/replaced their sway bars and I must say they look good, not just "rigged on to make it work." The cars I've owned would almost scrape the door handles on the pavement there was so much body roll. The car in my signature is no exception. 1) What is the best roll bar to put in the rear? Many I have viewed on the site look really neat. 2) Should I increase the diameter of the one in the front? The one I have now seems kind of puny. (Even by Maverick/Comet standards) 3) Is there an appreciable increase in NVH? (Noise, vibration, harshness) Thanks in advance, Craig.
If you wan't a cheap 1" get one off a versailles. I've read that it's a direct bolt it! Now I still haven't found one so i can't confirm.
I also read that in another thread. I found a 1976 Grand Monarch Ghia and I am going to check the diameter. I may just use that one if it is the right size. Thanks, Craig.
Just remember...You dont want a bar in back thats bigger than the front one. It will make your car very evil handeling wise, allways larger in front smaller in back.
I haven't heard that before, but, it makes sense. The Excursion in my signature had a 24 mm anti-roll bar in the rear. Would rock your guts out on a gutter ramp into a parking lot and lane wander. I was told to replace it with a 30 mm from a Superduty pickup and I couldn't believe the difference. Some irritating traits the Maverick has: the thing wants to plow around a curve. When you pull out of a street in the rain, it seems when the car leans it picks up the inside rear wheel and it wants to spin. The Excursion weighs 8000 lbs. The Maverick weighs 2700. That rear sway bar will make some difference. Thanks for your replies. Craig.
I have a 8.8 rearend out of a ranger splash 4X4. The pumpkin in it is off set to the right about 4 inches. Is this a real problem? and if it is has any one attempted to shorten the left side using a right side axel,
the ranger 8.8 is narrower than the explorer 8.8. if you did that it would be about 3 inches narrower than the stock maverick axle. you would find that there is no room for the ubolt for the leaf spring on the end of the housing.
You still would have a clearance problem. If you look under the car, you will see that the springs are under the frame rails. You can move the springs, but if you don't move the frame rails the rear end is still going to be too narrow. The tires will hit the frame and inner fender wells before they come close to bolting on correctly. -Scott H.
