adrian_wapcaplet Posted November 26, 2014 Share Posted November 26, 2014 I have 2009 SEL with the "sport tuned" suspension. The suspension doesn't seem as tight as it once did. Like the front end dives more under hard breaking and there seems to be more body roll as well. I'm think new shocks would help. Springs too, maybe. When I went on FordParts.com, they only had the front shocks listed. I'm wondering if Bilstein or Koni would be better. Anybody here have experience with these aftermarket suspension upgrades? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlackBetty Posted November 27, 2014 Share Posted November 27, 2014 Blistens or Koni's would probably help. Have you looke into lowering springs as well? You can do a small drop so the car will still be very streetable, handle a lot better and it will get rid of some of the wheel gap. You can check out cd3performance.com 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adrian_wapcaplet Posted December 11, 2014 Author Share Posted December 11, 2014 I don't think I want to lower and/or stiffen the car too much. I've done that on other cars and ruined the ride quality. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dougie99 Posted May 22, 2015 Share Posted May 22, 2015 BlackBetty, which lowering springs do you recommed? Anything else needed when lowering? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlackBetty Posted May 23, 2015 Share Posted May 23, 2015 Depending which Fusion you have. I'm in an AWD Sport so I went with the H&R's and love them. It also depends on how many miles are on your Fusion. If your a little higher mileage it would make sense to replace your struts at the same time and if your even higher replacing your strut mount bushings and all those rubber parts the can crack and get old would be a good idea. I've heard lots of good things from eibach, tien's (sp?). Your best way to go is to search on here and FordFusionClub and see what guys were running themselves. If your looking to lower the car for better handling I highly reccomend a rear away bar. Makes a huge difference in body roll and makes the car a blast to drive. I did H&R with the Whiteline rear seat bar (both for AWD) with my stock struts since I only have 30,000 miles. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dougie99 Posted May 24, 2015 Share Posted May 24, 2015 Nice! Post some pics on the thread after its lowered. I've got a 2012 fusion 3.0 and today just purchased Eibach lowering kit # 35107.140 for $247.00 on-line from THMotorsports. My car has 40k miles and been told after market shocks would be wise to have them done at the same time to cut labor costs (when the OEM shocks start to leak). Any recommendations on struts and shocks to go with the Eibach springs? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlackBetty Posted May 25, 2015 Share Posted May 25, 2015 Seems like lots of guys go with the Bilsteins but a few guys have had a strut blow on them in less then a year. There seems to be no problems with the Koni's but you need to swap the housing with oem for them to work. I think there is some how to's over on Ford Fusion club. I'll have to do some homework but that's the route I'll most likely go. Here's my Fusion as it sits, I also powder coated my factory sport wheels gloss black. I was on the market for aftermarket but figured every set I looked at were gloss black and I've always liked simple five spoke wheels. So here we are lol. Might as well post a little video I put together with some shots of the car. And a quick exhaust video from all the footage I had from the first video. Sorry I really whore out my Fusion haha! 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dougie99 Posted May 25, 2015 Share Posted May 25, 2015 Nice work! Powder coating on the wheels was done well. I checked out your YouTube - thought the camera was going to get smashed by your sports exhaust in the opening scene! Lol. It was well done though. Very professional.so what's next? How much for the sports exhaust in vid #2?? As far as shocks, candidates are Belstein, Sensen, Koni or KYB. Having a tough time finding the specific model of Koni that's compatible with the '12 Fusion 3.0. Went into fusion club forum but not a lot of detail. fusionoff, care to weigh in? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlackBetty Posted May 25, 2015 Share Posted May 25, 2015 Nice work! Powder coating on the wheels was done well. I checked out your YouTube - thought the camera was going to get smashed by your sports exhaust in the opening scene! Lol. It was well done though. Very professional.so what's next? How much for the sports exhaust in vid #2?? As far as shocks, candidates are Belstein, Sensen, Koni or KYB. Having a tough time finding the specific model of Koni that's compatible with the '12 Fusion 3.0. Went into fusion club forum but not a lot of detail. fusionoff, care to weigh in? Thanks man! I appreciate it! It looks really close but it's just the wide angle lens on the GoPro.. Makes it look crazy close. The exhaust cost me $150 at my local exhaust shop. Just cut out the rear mufflers and replaced it with pipe. I plan on gutting the manifolds and having a closer look at the front Y-Pipe to see if I can get rid of some restriction. I'll have to add either a resonator or muffler in the back bc it will be way too loud after gutting the cats. Check out cd3 performance, they have all the proper struts on their website. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlackBetty Posted May 25, 2015 Share Posted May 25, 2015 Found this on FFC.. Well, thanks to a shitty winter, I blew both my front Bilstein HDs and cracked my bumper cover. I did try to warranty my bilsteins however beware that they DO NOT catalog the B6 HD's for thr 10-12 years and because I didn't know that and told them I had an 11, they basically said sorry your shit out of luck.... not for your car. I did explain and provide proof that they were indeed for sale in the marketplace as fitting the 10-12 but they did not bite... im still fighting. None the less they lost a customer for life and i hope that anyone reads this understands that getting warranty for their products can be VERY difficult. I also know there are a couple other members who have blown their B6 HD's. SO I INSTALLED KONI ADJUSTABLES.... Man I wish I did this the first time.... so here is a small DIY for the fronts. Rears are just adjust and install. First you need to take your stock strut and remove the oil inside. Using a center punch mark the middle of the bottom and drill a 1/8" hole. BEWARE the oil is under pressure, keep your face away, you will get some oil on you so dress / protect yourself appropriately.. See the mess I made (i didnt really care to control it too much... haha Next measure from the top of the spring perch up 57mm. Mark it, this is where you will need to cut. I used and exhaust cutter because the pipe cutter was denting the strut making it difficult for the koni insert to slide in all the way. After cutting you will then need to drill the bottom hole to a full 1/2". I have a dewalt bit set and just stepped up each bit till I hit the 1/2" File the lip so and remove the crush cut debris and slide in the insert. Torque the nut, lock washer and mount washer to 55ft/lbs. Slide on the rubber boot and your done one! Here is a before and after of the insert. You will also have to drill out the strut mount hole. The Koni's are too wide to fit, so I did the same thing and stepped up the bits using oil to lubricate till I got to a 1/2". I have them adjusted to about 80% stiffness all around and its perfect. Nice stiff ride without the harshness. Minimal body roll and a NIGHT AND DAY difference from the bilsteins. I personally would recommend these over anything else. Install, while it seems like a big job was actually very easy. I did the inserts in just about 90 minutes, another 4 hours to pull out the bilsteins and install the Konis (all 4 corners). can easily be done in a day even if you have little to no experience. I have held back installing Konis in other cars because I was intimidated to ut into the stock struts but man.... after tackiling this I wish I would have done this in my other lowered rides.... From here: http://www.fordfusionclub.com/showthread.php?t=624826&page=2&highlight=koni 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dougie99 Posted May 27, 2015 Share Posted May 27, 2015 Ahhh....,so that's how you do it! (As if I'll be doing the work). I'll print out the thread & forward it to my mechanic. CD3Performance is a great reference for after market parts for the fusion and the only source I've found that will recognize that the Koni adjustable shocks will fit on the 10-12 Fusions with a lowering kit. I called the manufacturer of Koni and they said they don't make a shock for the Fusions past the year 2009, but the rep I spoke to at CD3 Performance said the Koni adjustable are compatible from 06- 2012, nothing changed with the suspensions during those years and he knows people who used those parts with the same year and model and have had no problems. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dougie99 Posted May 27, 2015 Share Posted May 27, 2015 (edited) So if I'm using the Eibach pro lowering kit with the yellow Koni adjustable shocks, can I keep the OEM struts, or to cut labor costs later on is it recommended to change them w/springs & shocks? Edited May 27, 2015 by Dougie99 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlackBetty Posted May 27, 2015 Share Posted May 27, 2015 Well you could go either way. It seems like guys are getting decent milagr out of their OEM struts with lowering springs. But you will eventually have to do the struts. If you want to beat handling doing both would be better. If your getting it done at a shop it might be a good idea to get it all done. I did it myself so it only cost me parts. Also be prepared to pay a fair bit for them to install the Koni's. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dougie99 Posted May 28, 2015 Share Posted May 28, 2015 I'll take your advise in saving a couple hundred bucks (at least) in parts by retaining my original struts. I don't even see an after market upgrade for '12 Fusion struts. I'd like to make one final purchase of a part to modification/upgrade my suspension. I currently have parts ordered for springs (the Eibach Pro Kit) # 35107.140 and shocks (Koni yellow Sport) 8041-1305sport/8040-1306sport. I wanted your opinion on the 26mm Steeda front sway bar (# 555-1068). Most people who installed the front sway bar highly recommend them. But disconnecting the rack-and-pinion would add a lot of labor costs along with a slightly or... much rougher ride w/front seat bar. Really worth it? The 26mm Steeda sway bar requires an end link from the 06-09 model if installed on the 2012 Fusions. No idea what that part # that would be. Or another option: they now offer a NEW steeda adjustable front endlink (555-1079) for $134.99, if that little part is willeth it. Regular 2006-2009 endlimks sell for $15-$20, I believe. Although the expensive adjustable are supposed to provide a more quiet ride as well as better to go with the eibach lowering kit. Talk to me, BlackBetty 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlackBetty Posted May 28, 2015 Share Posted May 28, 2015 Honestly I would just do a rear bar on the stock endlinks. You can get the AWR endlinks for front and rear for $120 if your looking to upgrade them. In FWD or FWD based AWD and cars that push through corners (under steer). A bigger rear bar should be the first upgrade. The rear bar would allow the rear of the car to rotate more and give it more neutral balance. I've got AWD with the bigger rear bar and the car is very neutral.. It pushes a bit but not very much. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dougie99 Posted May 29, 2015 Share Posted May 29, 2015 (edited) I'll go with the rear sway bar - since the front is so involved on the install. By the book, a front sway bar is something like 4 hrs. of labor for the front, considering the rack-and-pinion. Regarding rear sway bars, I see 3 potential candidates. There's the "progressive 24mm" There's also the "ST suspension rear 3/4 (19mm)" and lastly, there's the "whiteline adjustable rear sway bar," which may be obsolete on my car because it's designed to fit AWD Fusions (These are all sold off the 'CD3 Performance' website). I would think the 24mm would be the one to go with but wanted your advise. I don't want to pay money for something that's too similar to the stock but don't want a sway bar so stiff that it becomes uncomfortable. Tell me which one you'd go with & and I'll buy it & throw it in there and give you a review later on, BlackBetty. Steeda also makes a 22.5mm rear sway bar and a 28.5mm Sport. Edited May 29, 2015 by Dougie99 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlackBetty Posted May 29, 2015 Share Posted May 29, 2015 From what I've read guys have been happy with all the bars to be honest. If I were in your shoes I'd go either either the Progress bar or the bigger Steeda bar. I don't think it will really affect the ride at all. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dougie99 Posted May 30, 2015 Share Posted May 30, 2015 Right answer! I placed my final parts order today from CD3 Pwedormance. I got the bigger steeda bar (28.5mm race rear sway bar). The AWR Adjustable sway bar end links (rear end links only), and the Steeda 06-09 Strut Bar. Hopefully that strut bar will work on the 2012's, although I did make a footnote on my order for them to call me if there's any problem with any of this being compatible with my year. I'll update you after I have it installed. ? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlackBetty Posted May 31, 2015 Share Posted May 31, 2015 Noooo!! That's the wrong strut bar! There is one specific for the 10-12 fusion from Steeda. But hey mistakes happen. Give them an email or call Monday and they should be able to change it for ya! 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlackBetty Posted May 31, 2015 Share Posted May 31, 2015 http://cd3performance.com/Ford-Fusion/FF-Chassis?product_id=318 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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