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Parts for your 1996 Ford Falcon-Coil springs
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1996 Ford Falcon coil springs: what they do and when to replace them
Coil springs are absolutely relevant to the 1996 Ford Falcon. Technical references including the Ford Australia EF/EL Workshop Manual, Gregory’s Service and Repair Manual EF–EL (1994–1998), and Max Ellery’s EF–EL manual confirm that all EF/EL Falcons (1994–1998, covering 1996) use coil springs on the front suspension. Rear suspension varies by body style: 1996 sedans run coil-sprung rears (live axle with a Watts linkage, or optional IRS that also uses coils), while wagons and utes retain leaf springs at the back. So yes—coil springs are very much part of the job on a 1996 Falcon.
On this model, the coil springs support the car’s weight, set the ride height, and work with the shock absorbers to control body movement over bumps, through corners, and under braking. When they’re healthy, the Falcon feels planted and predictable, when they’re tired or broken, it can sit low, scrape on driveways, or feel floaty and unsettled.
Typical warning signs include a droopy ride height on one corner, knocking over bumps, uneven tyre wear, or visible damage like chipped paint, rust pitting, or a cracked coil. Because springs bear constant load, they should always be replaced in axle pairs to keep ride height and handling even left-to-right.
- Inspection: check every 10,000–15,000 km or at each service. Look for broken ends, corrosion, and collapsed rubber isolators/seats.
- Ride height: measure on level ground, compare to factory specs in the workshop manual. Significant drop means the coils are tired.
- Parts choice: match spring rate to use—standard for everyday commuting, heavy-duty if towing or carrying LPG, or quality lowered springs if chasing stance while staying road legal.
- Replacement: use proper spring compressors and safe workshop practices. Renew rubber isolators, bump stops and related hardware while you’re there.
- Aftercare: get a wheel alignment, recheck fasteners after 100–200 km, and keep an eye on tyre wear.
Owners of wagons and utes should note the rear end uses leaf springs, the front still runs coils, so the inspection and replacement advice above applies at the nose of the vehicle. For sedans, both ends are coil-sprung, so add the rear to the service checklist.
Done right, fresh coils bring the Falcon back to its proper ride height and restore the easy, confident road manners Aussies and Kiwis expect from an E-series.
Popular questions
Do 1996 Falcon sedans have rear coil springs?
Yes. EF/EL sedans (including 1996) use rear coil springs—either on a live axle with a Watts linkage or on the optional IRS. Wagons and utes of the same era use leaf springs at the rear, but still have coil springs up front.
How long do Falcon coil springs last?
There’s no fixed interval. Many last well past 200,000 km, but age, corrosion, heavy loads and rough roads can make them sag or snap earlier. Inspect at each service and replace in pairs when ride height drops, coils are damaged, or handling goes off.
Can the Falcon be lowered just on springs?
It can, but choose quality, model-correct lowered springs, pair them with suitable shocks, and keep ride height within legal limits. Always get a wheel alignment after lowering and check clearance for tyres, exhaust and driveway angles.
