175K on all stock suspension- what to buy for the rear?

[bumpnzx3]

Aside from a set of Progress Technologies spring put on at the 5k mark- the rest of the suspension has been untouched.

I currently have a set of Monroe Quick Struts, KYB rear shocks (found a great deal on them), and a new set of Moog rear coils. I am planning to buy a front end kit that consists of loaded control arms, tie rod ends, and end links.

What should I purchase for the rear in addition to the coils and shocks? Is there such a thing as a loaded rear control arm? Anything else wearable back there that I should look into? Brakes are good on all 4 corners. I do need to get a new set of rear sway bar end links- those both broke some time ago.

[SVTADAM]

The control arms come loaded with bushings only. If you have that many miles and your car sees the winter weather, I would get new bolts for the rear arms. Most likely they will all be seized to the bushing sleeves that they pass through.

Other than that for the rear check the rubber bushings. If they look dry and cracked, it may be time to put on new arms.

One last major safety item to check would be the mounting points on the lower control arm where the sway bar endlink mounts. Look for cracks.

As for the suspension you have planned, it will refresh the ride, but I dont know how well everything will work with one another. I personally would pass on the Monroe quick struts and Moog coils and check with Steve (FORDSVTparts) on the Multimatic or an SVT kit.

[bumpnzx3]

I already have the Quick Struts, rear shocks, and rear springs. I like the idea of not having to mess around with buying new bearing plates, snubber, bellow, isolators and taking the old coils apart. I know the coils are shot also- the car sits much lower than it used to. Ride height is more a function of coils than shocks/struts. Undo the pinch bolt, the knuckle, end links, and the 3 bolts up top and the entire assembly comes out- slap the new one back in and you are pretty much done....aside from the control arms anyway. The rear coils are OE pieces- so their won't be fit issues there. The KYB rear shocks are known to be a good fit also. To me, I think everything will work together just fine. I know the car will no longer be lowered- which I don't care about. This car is no longer my baby/project car- I've got my Mercedes for that. This is just a beater- to/from work car.

I got the Quick Struts, rear coils, and KYB rear shocks for about ~$270 shipped. I've had good luck with all of the involved brands with past cars- hoping for the same this time around.

I will have a look under the back of the car tonight to see what it looks like. I can't imagine the rear bushings being in good shape. Since I have very little spare time between my engineering job during the week, machinist job at Anheuser Busch on the weekends, and evening classes for my masters during the week- I will glady pay a little extra to get a complete control arm that way I don't have to mess around with pressing bushings in and out or messing with piecing together a strut assembly.

Thanks for the tip(s) on what to look for in the rear.

[bumpnzx3]

well- all the parts are on the way. i finished up my rehab parts list by buying a set of lightly used, low mile set of control arms (3 per side) from a Mazada 3. the best i can tell- all three arms are the same between the two cars. i know for a fact that dog bone and blade shaped arm are the same- so i am assuming the lower arm that holds the bottom of the coil spring is the same also. it looks the same from pictures and the other components are the same- so i decided to give it a try.

quick struts, front control arms/bushings, ball joints, tie rod ends, sway bar end links, rear shocks, rear coils, rear shocks, rear control arms/bushings/bolts. all of that plus the Yokohama Avid tires that were put on the other day will make for a much improved ride.