LOWERING THE MAVERICK

[daddio211]

C'mon man, give us pics! Ya big tease!

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[Maveriac]

I am sorry I have not held up my part of what I preached about telling the complete story when you modify or add on to your Maverick. My 20 year old digiital Fuji camera decided to die after I took all the pictures of the suspension lowering.
It took 14 months for me to get the H&R Super Sport Lowering Springs part # 51620-77. What you receive in the kit is two front springs and a seperate right and left rear springs. I should share that I lowered my Maverick AWD XLT 2.0 EB using the H&R kit because I didn't like the idea of using zip ties and duct tape to make a set of springs that were not application specific. I applaud you guys that pioneered your own lowering parts and made it work. I am more by the book when it comes ot mechanics. The only modification to the Maverick itself was cutting 20mm off the top of the original factory front bum stops. That is it.
I am attaching the pictures I captured with my phone after my project completion. Other than nuts and bolts it is simply remove and replace. The H&R springs fit perfectly in the OE perches. I did borrow the spring compressor kit from O'Reilly's Auto Parts which is a must for the front set, but not needed to do the rear springs.
I did the front springs first starting with the right side. It was challenging to get the strut and spindle bolts to line up, but using a huge C Clamp from my neighbor made it happen. I test drove it after installing the right front and in five feet I heard a rotational sound that wasn't there before, so I backed up hoping it was just a bolt I dropped under the motor while removing the strut. No such luck.
PAY CLOSE ATTENTION HERE !
In removing the right strut I had let the spindle drop down too far. When the spindle dropped down the right drive axle slipped out of the output and I neglected to check it upon installing the strut, thus making my Maverick a 3 wheel drive. No harm; no foul ! If it breaks it needed replaced anyway. I lucked out. I could not see any way the left side could allow this to happen. The rest of the way was a breeze. Each rear spring has four bolts you remove and replace and that is about it.
H&R wanted me to record the finished height from the center of each wheel directly up to the edge of the wheel well. Here are the post measurements :
Pre-Installation Post Installation 200 Miles Post Installation
L/F 19.0" 17.25" 17.50"
R/F 19.25" 17.50" 17.25"
L/R 20.375" 17.75" 17.75"
R/R 20.50" 17.75" 17.75"
Yes these are the actual measurements!
Post lowering alignment if definitely necessary. When I get a better method of posting this I will copy the alignment details. It drives better now than pre-lowering. Probably needed aligned anyway.,

Sorry! I can't get the photos to attach.

 

[Maveriac]

This is the best I could do for pictures.

 

[Barracuda340]

Looks great. I went with Eibach springs. I gotta get to it soon. I plan on using a magnetic digital angle finder on all 4 hubs to get the angle li e before dissassembly, then put them back to the same souce once lowered. No alignment needed.

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