What are us 2006-ers to do?

[Revo]

With the recent forth coming of knowledge from others' bad luck, there is currently no option avaible to lower a 2006 ford focus.

My question is how long do we have to wait for the aftermarket to produce a lowering kit. The only thing i have seen so far is on eibach's website under 2006+ foci they listed the pro-kit, but thats it. no sportline or pro springs, JUST the pro-kit. It seems a little sketchy because its only one item listed and eibach usually produces theyre whole line up for every car. So im guessing that in reality dont have anything yet and that it was a webmaster error, or i could be wrong.

Also I have read that in order to get a 00-05 suspesnion on a 06 car one would require the knuckles from a 00-05 car. Now does the FR SVT brake kit replace those? If it does that would be a sick upgrade. all wheel discs AND lowered.

[OneAMCoffee]

Well, talking to H&R I believe they will be producing a kit rather soon, give it a couple months.

-Ryan

[Z63R]

What are us 2006-ers to do?

Might have to simply wait 3 - 6 months while the aftermarket catches up.

Except for the ride height, the Focus is not too bad a streeter when stock; in fact, it is quite good, thank goodness.

[R-code]

Originally Posted by Revo

With the recent forth coming of knowledge from others' bad luck, there is currently no option avaible to lower a 2006 ford focus.

My question is how long do we have to wait for the aftermarket to produce a lowering kit. The only thing i have seen so far is on eibach's website under 2006+ foci they listed the pro-kit, but thats it. no sportline or pro springs, JUST the pro-kit. It seems a little sketchy because its only one item listed and eibach usually produces theyre whole line up for every car. So im guessing that in reality dont have anything yet and that it was a webmaster error, or i could be wrong.

Also I have read that in order to get a 00-05 suspesnion on a 06 car one would require the knuckles from a 00-05 car. Now does the FR SVT brake kit replace those? If it does that would be a sick upgrade. all wheel discs AND lowered.

So far as I know the SVT brake kit comes with new steering knuckles, that should solve the problem.

~Mike~

[Z63R]

Originally Posted by R-code

So far as I know the SVT brake kit comes with new steering knuckles, that should solve the problem.

~Mike~

Good point.

The use of that kit would allow one use existing aftermarket struts and springs.

I'm assuming the strut tower is the same as other NA C170 Focuses...

I admit I stopped reading the first post halfway through when I got to the words pro kit.

[R-code]

Originally Posted by Z63R

Good point.

The use of that kit would allow one use existing aftermarket struts and springs.

I'm assuming the strut tower is the same as other NA C170 Focuses...

I admit I stopped reading the first post halfway through when I got to the words pro kit.

Judging from pictures I've seen, the strut towers on my car look pretty much the same.

Can't blame you for the Pro-kit thing, either

~Mike~

[Revo]

Originally Posted by Z63R

I'm assuming the strut tower is the same as other NA C170 Focuses...

is there any way to check and make sure?

[Z63R]

Park two or three Focuses together and pop the hoods.

One '06, plus an '05 and whichever 2000 - 2004 is available.

They should be the same, as the unitbody has probably not had these mystical changes, only some of the suspension and steering/driveline hardware... but one never knows.

[Revo]

so it would just be the strut tower location? and bolt pattern? size/distance apart

[Olek]

Yeah, I'll wait for the aftermarket to catch up. Not that desperate to lower my car. Sure as hell, I am not going to spend money on older parts just so I can lower my 2006, but that's just my opinion.

[Revo]

but what if you would also want rear disc brakes?
svt brake kit is relatively cheap and oem quality, no quess work

wait you have an ST u alrdy do... nvm haha

[R-code]

Originally Posted by Z63R

Park two or three Focuses together and pop the hoods.

One '06, plus an '05 and whichever 2000 - 2004 is available.

They should be the same, as the unitbody has probably not had these mystical changes, only some of the suspension and steering/driveline hardware... but one never knows.

Here's my engine bay and a closeup of one strut tower, hope it helps.




~Mike~

[Revo]

ah but see i alrdy have a 2006 focus if yours was 2005 that would help .

[Z63R]

They look exactly the same as all other Focuses; thanks for the pics, R-code.

So that should mean that a swap to the earlier knuckle and appropriate strut, spring perch, bearing and top mount would work...

Disclaimer: Note the use of the words look, should and would.

[R-code]

Originally Posted by Revo

ah but see i alrdy have a 2006 focus if yours was 2005 that would help .

I wasn't talking to you

~Mike~

[2020]

Originally Posted by Revo

Also I have read that in order to get a 00-05 suspesnion on a 06 car one would require the knuckles from a 00-05 car. Now does the FR SVT brake kit replace those? If it does that would be a sick upgrade. all wheel discs AND lowered.

One added piece of knowledge to if you choose the knuckle replacement route (probably what I would do if in the '06 camp). The '05 cars had larger front brakes than the previous ones (except SVT), and I had read once that the knuckles were in fact the same as the SVT units, but I can't vouch for that.

And one more thought, in the earlier thread someone had done a quick tape measure of the spring bottom and reported 2.25-2.5". They didn't specify id or od, and said it was a rough measure, but coil-over race springs are available in 2.25", 60mm, and 2.5" id in just about any length and rate, so if an adapter were made for the top seat, you might have the most spring availablilty of any Focus out there. It would take some measuring and a little fabrication, but depending on your needs, might be worth it.

[OneAMCoffee]

The strut tower is the same on the 2006 1/2. If you got the knuckles with the SVT Brake kit, then you should in theory be able to use older suspension setups. I don't know this for a fact though, someone would have to side by side compare the two.

-Ryan

[mievil]

Or you could just order knuckles from a standard Focus of an earlier year, plus all the hardware that Chris mentioned. Looks like the SVT knuckles run about $120 and the standard Focus knuckles run $140. So you'd be spending an additional $280-$300 (maybe less from Steve) to get any older style suspension you wanted. Plus you'd have a cool little swap under your belt. This should work (although like Chris, I shall make mention of the aforementioned word should). I guess it comes down to whether you want the suspension now, or later and how much money you want to spend.

[Revo]

now if we wanted big brakes also and had waited for 06 aftermarket springs then one would have to wait for the aftermarket to make big brake/rear disc conversion for the 06... DAMNIT FORD

and as it is i dont recall there being many options for rear discs for pre06 besides swaping to different oem parts, which wouldnt work if i had 06 suspension bits.

[Kaduku]

here's a first version 05

[Olek]

Yup different strut set up on 05 vs 06 for sure.

Thanks for the pic.

[OmniFocus]

I'm confused, what are you seeing different at the top? The towers look the same to me.

[OneAMCoffee]

The strut towers are the same, it is the base of the strut housing, where it goes into the knuckle that is different on the 06. However, it might be a mid-year thing or so I was told by H&R.

-Ryan

[Z63R]

Originally Posted by OneAMCoffee

it is the base of the strut housing, where it goes into the knuckle that is different on the 06.

That's right; this is why we're discussing the option of using the earlier SVT knuckles that are included in the SVT brake kit. It's like killing two birds with one stone so to speak.

You get your performance dampers, currently available performance aftermarket springs and big brakes for your ZX3, ZX5 or sedan (or even a wagon, though the rear spring and shock are different).

I forget, is either OneAM or Olek in an ST? 'Cause the ST already has bigger brakes and rear discs...