Anti-Dive Kit
05-02-2009, 07:56 PM
#12
3rd Gear Member
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: CA
Posts: 634
There's some info on this page and a couple pdf's for download.
http://globalperformanceparts.com/pe...djustment-kit/
Looks like there's static camber adjustment, and the firmer bushing allows less dynamic caster change on acceleration and braking.
I see the mounting brackets are aluminum. These have been tested for fatigue cracking?
I thought there would be more material on the bracket instead of being a saddle clamp shape like a steel one.
http://globalperformanceparts.com/pe...djustment-kit/
Looks like there's static camber adjustment, and the firmer bushing allows less dynamic caster change on acceleration and braking.
I see the mounting brackets are aluminum. These have been tested for fatigue cracking?
I thought there would be more material on the bracket instead of being a saddle clamp shape like a steel one.
05-02-2009, 08:38 PM
#13
6th Gear Member
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: state of confusion
Posts: 7,635
The new LCA bushing may also raise the rear pivot of the LCA, which gives a similar effect, and the two effects would add if in fact both are present. This one is just a guess at this point, and I'd need a single picture of the new part (#KCA 305) with the comparable OE piece held up in the same perspective for comparison to say for sure.
I'm not sure what the effect of reduced compliance would be.
Norm
05-02-2009, 10:06 PM
#14
3rd Gear Member
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Ohio
Posts: 889
I do have a problem with this from the magazine article:
"At a retail price of less than $350, the Anti-Dive kit is much less expensive than upgrading to an aftermarket set of shock absorbers and coil springs, and is a great first-step in improving the handling performance of your vehicle at a reasonable cost."
I don't think this qualifies as a 'great first step' suspension mod and leading the magazine reading newb population to believe so is the same kind of over-hyping b.s. too many vendors still think is ok.
05-04-2009, 09:33 AM
#16
Banned
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: CA
Posts: 5
Thanks for the input guys. I'll see what I can do about getting a couple of samples for some of you to try. In the mean time, I'll post a short install article as soon as I can compile all the images and text. Hopefully it will give you a better understanding of how it works. Realistically, I don't think you can fully eliminate nose dive under braking, but the way I understand it, the bushing, mount and the use of a larger sleeve over the factory control arm spigot changes the dynamics of the weight transfer.
05-04-2009, 03:22 PM
#17
5th Gear Member
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: College Station, TX
Posts: 2,179
I sent you a PM, but just let me know the timing on when you could get the kits out. I'm going to be installing coil-overs and new sways within the next month I think and would like to get this kit put in beforehand so I can feel the difference from stock.
05-04-2009, 05:19 PM
#18
Banned
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: CA
Posts: 5
Installing A Whiteline Anti-Dive Kit
Here's the article I promised to post. I hope it helps answer some questions.
The S197 Mustang’s tendency to nose-dive is mostly due to the big, soft, rubber bushings located on the vehicle’s front lower control arms. According to the engineers at Whiteline, the factory bushing can’t absorb all of the vehicle’s weight that shifts forward so it has a tendency to flex, changing the geometry of the control arm during braking. The result is that it allows the center of gravity to move over the vehicle and push down on the front end causing nose dive.
According to Whiteline Automotive the Anti-Dive kit is not just a bushing replacement. The Whiteline urethane bushing is designed to force the inertia under braking to move along the vehicle, rather than over it, by resetting the front to rear control arm geometry. This moves the vehicle’s energy along the vehicle, rather than over it. The bushing itself is also designed to be stronger than the factory, but not as hard as a full-race bushing, making it a good compromise for street driving and the occasional weekend race.
In addition, Whiteline added a built-in camber adjustment that improves steering response. For high-speed cornering enthusiasts, this two-point static caster adjustment (up to 0.75-degrees) allows you to exit out of corners faster, which can improve your lap times at autocrosses or on the road course. The mounting bracket itself is made from aircraft grade billet aluminum that has not failed under constant road course testing and is the same material used in the company’s popular road racing suspension products.
We visited the JBA Performance Center in San Diego, California, where the owner of a 2007 model GT recently upgraded his brake system; which only helped to dramatically pronounce the vehicle’s nose dive under braking. The installation required unbolting the Mustang’s rack and pinion steering unit and moving it forward slightly. This allows enough clearance to remove the lower control arm bolts. The lower control arm is removed from the vehicle and with the aid of a press, you can remove the factory bushing. The JBA technicians used a puller to push the bushing out from its center sleeve. If you don’t do this correctly however, you’ll merely push out the outer sleeve and be left with the bushing’s fluid all over the floor and the inner rubber still attached to the sleeve around the control arm spigot.
The Whiteline Anti-Dive sleeve is pressed into place on the control arm and the new bushing is greased and slid into position. The mounting brackets allow for offset mounting washers that, depending on how they are inserted, can increase or reduce the vehicle’s caster. We decided to increase the caster to add greater steering response and installed the washers so that the offset is positioned towards the center of the vehicle.
On the street and highway, there was a dramatic reduction in the vehicle’s nose dive under moderate to hard braking. We also didn’t notice any road noise from the vehicle and the ride was not changed from stock. On the street, you don’t really notice the caster change in the steering geometry but on a short road course, we could feel the difference in the steering response when turning into corners. Exiting corners at higher speeds, however, it was easier and quicker to unwind the steering wheel and accelerate out faster.
We were concerned at first that some of the factory bushings had heat shields to protect the bushing from the heat generated by the catalytic converters. The Whiteline Anti-Dive kit comes with heat shield brackets if your Mustang is so equipped. On this 2007, there were none but after several months of driving, the owner reports no effect of heat, discoloration or distortion of the urethane bushings.
The Whiteline Anti-Dive kit retails around $308 and if you’re handy with tools and have access to a lift you can install it yourself.
Sources:
Whiteline Automotive
Global Performance Parts
4554 128th Ave.
Holland, MI 49424
616-399-9025
JBA Performance Center
5135 Convoy St.
San Diego, CA 92111
888-522-5570
The factory control arm bushing is large and flexes under braking, allowing for increased nose dive.
The Anti-Dive Kit from Whiteline Suspension uses polyurethane bushings and aluminum mounts that control the weight transfer along the frame of the vehicle.
With the vehicle properly supported, remove the wheels and begin by unbolting the spindle from the lower control arm.
Loosen the clamp for the steering column U-joint. This will allow greater movement of the rack and pinion steering.
Unbolt the rack and pinion steering unit and move it forward an inch or two. This will give you enough clearance to remove the front control arm bolts.
Here you can see how the extra clearance is necessary to remove the front control arm bolts.
At the rear of the control arm, unbolt the bushing mount from the frame and the entire control arm can be removed.
Here you can see the large control arm bushing that must be removed.
Using a press and this puller, we made sure that the bushing gets pressed out from the center sleeve. If you miss, you’ll end up with fluid all over the place and the rubber bushing will still be attached.
The new Anti-Dive sleeve is inserted over the control arm spigot using a press.
The Anti-Dive urethane bushing is installed and the control arm, along with the rack and pinion unit, steering U-joint and spindle are bolted back into position.
The S197 Mustang’s tendency to nose-dive is mostly due to the big, soft, rubber bushings located on the vehicle’s front lower control arms. According to the engineers at Whiteline, the factory bushing can’t absorb all of the vehicle’s weight that shifts forward so it has a tendency to flex, changing the geometry of the control arm during braking. The result is that it allows the center of gravity to move over the vehicle and push down on the front end causing nose dive.
According to Whiteline Automotive the Anti-Dive kit is not just a bushing replacement. The Whiteline urethane bushing is designed to force the inertia under braking to move along the vehicle, rather than over it, by resetting the front to rear control arm geometry. This moves the vehicle’s energy along the vehicle, rather than over it. The bushing itself is also designed to be stronger than the factory, but not as hard as a full-race bushing, making it a good compromise for street driving and the occasional weekend race.
In addition, Whiteline added a built-in camber adjustment that improves steering response. For high-speed cornering enthusiasts, this two-point static caster adjustment (up to 0.75-degrees) allows you to exit out of corners faster, which can improve your lap times at autocrosses or on the road course. The mounting bracket itself is made from aircraft grade billet aluminum that has not failed under constant road course testing and is the same material used in the company’s popular road racing suspension products.
We visited the JBA Performance Center in San Diego, California, where the owner of a 2007 model GT recently upgraded his brake system; which only helped to dramatically pronounce the vehicle’s nose dive under braking. The installation required unbolting the Mustang’s rack and pinion steering unit and moving it forward slightly. This allows enough clearance to remove the lower control arm bolts. The lower control arm is removed from the vehicle and with the aid of a press, you can remove the factory bushing. The JBA technicians used a puller to push the bushing out from its center sleeve. If you don’t do this correctly however, you’ll merely push out the outer sleeve and be left with the bushing’s fluid all over the floor and the inner rubber still attached to the sleeve around the control arm spigot.
The Whiteline Anti-Dive sleeve is pressed into place on the control arm and the new bushing is greased and slid into position. The mounting brackets allow for offset mounting washers that, depending on how they are inserted, can increase or reduce the vehicle’s caster. We decided to increase the caster to add greater steering response and installed the washers so that the offset is positioned towards the center of the vehicle.
On the street and highway, there was a dramatic reduction in the vehicle’s nose dive under moderate to hard braking. We also didn’t notice any road noise from the vehicle and the ride was not changed from stock. On the street, you don’t really notice the caster change in the steering geometry but on a short road course, we could feel the difference in the steering response when turning into corners. Exiting corners at higher speeds, however, it was easier and quicker to unwind the steering wheel and accelerate out faster.
We were concerned at first that some of the factory bushings had heat shields to protect the bushing from the heat generated by the catalytic converters. The Whiteline Anti-Dive kit comes with heat shield brackets if your Mustang is so equipped. On this 2007, there were none but after several months of driving, the owner reports no effect of heat, discoloration or distortion of the urethane bushings.
The Whiteline Anti-Dive kit retails around $308 and if you’re handy with tools and have access to a lift you can install it yourself.
Sources:
Whiteline Automotive
Global Performance Parts
4554 128th Ave.
Holland, MI 49424
616-399-9025
JBA Performance Center
5135 Convoy St.
San Diego, CA 92111
888-522-5570
The factory control arm bushing is large and flexes under braking, allowing for increased nose dive.
The Anti-Dive Kit from Whiteline Suspension uses polyurethane bushings and aluminum mounts that control the weight transfer along the frame of the vehicle.
With the vehicle properly supported, remove the wheels and begin by unbolting the spindle from the lower control arm.
Loosen the clamp for the steering column U-joint. This will allow greater movement of the rack and pinion steering.
Unbolt the rack and pinion steering unit and move it forward an inch or two. This will give you enough clearance to remove the front control arm bolts.
Here you can see how the extra clearance is necessary to remove the front control arm bolts.
At the rear of the control arm, unbolt the bushing mount from the frame and the entire control arm can be removed.
Here you can see the large control arm bushing that must be removed.
Using a press and this puller, we made sure that the bushing gets pressed out from the center sleeve. If you miss, you’ll end up with fluid all over the place and the rubber bushing will still be attached.
The new Anti-Dive sleeve is inserted over the control arm spigot using a press.
The Anti-Dive urethane bushing is installed and the control arm, along with the rack and pinion unit, steering U-joint and spindle are bolted back into position.
05-04-2009, 06:13 PM
#20
4th Gear Member
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 1,692
As one who has gone through "unbolting the Mustang’s rack and pinion steering unit and moving it forward slightly" don't underestimate the difficulty of this task. The two bolts to be loosened are large and difficult to get at.