- Perfect for vehicles up to 2,800 pounds gross weight
- 32-inch long hairpin radius rods crafted from 7/8-inch DOM steel tubing
- Designed for Model T and Model A frame, both stock and aftermarket
- Uses nod-adjustable fixed rate gas shocks for great street manners
- Your choice of 10-inch coilover spring rate to dial in ride quality
- Panhard bar is 7/8-inch outside diameter with .156-inch wall thickness
- Radius rods, Panhard bar, and shock bodies painted black
- Includes rod ends, mounting brackets, and all hardware for installation
- Minor fitting to your chassis and welding is required
Raise Your Model T or Model A’s Ride Quality Substantially with Our Deluxe Coilover Kit
Early Ford vehicles, as well as many others of the time period, used a transverse leaf spring over the rear axle (and on a solid front axle as well). While this provided a lot of axle articulation for the early road surfaces that were, for lack of a better description, just dirt and mud with deep ruts, the overall ride quality was lacking. The ride was all about being able to make it from point A to point B where there was possibly not even an actual road. With today’s paved roads the transverse leaf setup with friction shocks is simply outdated and does not provide a suitable ride for anyone looking to drive a hot rodded Model A or Model T today.
Since many rodders ditch the factory rear axle and torque tube for something with more strength and aftermarket support (like the venerable 9-inch Ford housing) the factory transverse leaf spring is usually ditched as well for some sort of multi-link setup. The benefits of using such a rear suspension system include the ability to locate the axle both laterally and longitudinally, which is beneficial when performing body modifications or building something like a pinched frame with a different year or style body swapped to it. Additionally, modern coil over shocks ride so much better on today’s roads and need no maintenance or adjustments like friction shocks, while providing more compact packaging for wheel fitment. Our Deluxe Coilover Rear Suspension provides all these benefits and more.
A Complete Rear Suspension Solution with Panhard Bar and Rear Coilover Shocks
Our Deluxe Coilover Rear Suspension for the Model T and Model A frame (also suitable for other period frame designs or your own custom frame build) is built around strong 32-inch long steel hairpins with S-shaped stiffeners, a 7/8-inch OD Panhard bar with .156-inch wall thickness, and gas tuned Afco coil over shocks with your choice of spring rate. The steel hairpins feature zinc plated 5/8-inch rod ends and clevises for precise axle locating, while the Panhard bar’s left and right thread zinc plated 5/8-inch rod ends allow quick and easy axle centering adjustments right on the vehicle without any need for disassembly. The 22-1/2-inch length Panhard bar (25-1/2 inches assembled with rod ends) can be shortened and rethreaded with the appropriate 5/8-18 tap on the right hand thread end if needed for your application.
The Afco black steel shocks are gas pressurized and feature a 50/50 radial tuned shock valving, The included black anodized aluminum coilover kit comes with your choice of 10-inch chrome coilover spring in rates between 115 and 600 lb/in. to facilitate steel or fiberglass bodies and other weight considerations in your build (Use our Spring Rate Guide and Coilover Mounting Guide to select to proper rate for your vehicle). These shocks provide a dramatic improvement in ride quality while allowing for easy spring rate changes and ride height adjustments. Note that you can make on-vehicle adjustments even easier with a pair of thrust bearings under the coilover springs and by using one of our spanner wrenches. All mounting hardware for the hairpins, Panhard bar, and adjustable coilover shocks is zinc plated for corrosion protection and a long life of service. If you're looking for a little more flash, we do offer our Deluxe Coilover Suspension in a chrome plated option as well.
Mounting Brackets Weld to Your Model T or Model A Frame and Aftermarket Axle
The Deluxe Coilover Rear Suspension kit includes pre-cut mounting brackets for both the frame and axle housing for each main component (hairpins, Panhard bar, and rear adjustable coilover shocks) making installation easy with a basic MIG or stick welder found in most enthusiast’s shops or garages. Minor trimming of the brackets may be required depending on your frame. All mounting hardware is included to get your axle assembly mounted and hung on your Model T or Model A frame. We do not recommend using this suspension kit on 1935 and up frames/vehicles due to their higher overall gross vehicle weights. We do offer an alternative shock mounting kit separately that moves the shocks from the top of the axle to the rear of the axle and provides a three position lower mounting option.
Grab your welder and get your Model T or Model A frame riding on a modern, updated coilover suspension system quickly and easily with our Deluxe Coilover Suspension kit. When you take your first ride after updating, you’ll wonder why you didn’t do it sooner!
