Suspension Mods
Thread Starter
2nd Gear Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 393
From: UK - Now In Saskatoon, SK
Suspension Mods
I want my '05 vert to handle more like the european cars I'm used to. I've re-discovered autocross & want to know what mods will help turn my car into a corner carver without sacrificing ride quality - not asking much hey? lol.
Advice & experiences appreciated.
Advice & experiences appreciated.
4th Gear Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,308
From: Now in Sunny SOCAL
RE: Suspension Mods
A corner carver will never ride soft like a stock Stang, That would be a dream come true! However, you can get adjustable shocks that will let you control the ride. If you want it to carve well, you will need lowering springs, adj panhard rod, rear sway bar, urethane bushings help also. There's a ton of posts on this subject, do some searches. There are a whole lot of good products to choose from. I am running Steeda Sport Springs, Tokico D-spec struts and shocks, Steeda rear sway bar, Prothane sway bar bushings, CHE adjustable LCA's and UCA with urethane bushings. My car handles very, very well withoutany body roll issues. However I like to drive it with the suspension stiff cause it handles the corners, oh so well! If I had to go on a long trip I would soften up the shocks for sure.
Thread Starter
2nd Gear Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 393
From: UK - Now In Saskatoon, SK
RE: Suspension Mods
I'm used to a firmer ride, what I don't want is to feel like I have no shock absorbtion at all.....I live in Saskatchewan - the birthplace of the pothole (they still have gravel roads here for goodness sake
).
Point taken on the suggested mods. I was hoping someone had already beaten me to the idea of setting their car up like this & could reccomend some product combinations.
I'm also on a budget (aren't we all?) so it'll be a piece or 2 at a time so I'd like to know what will have the most effect & what products actually work. I'm used to Eibach's products as they market pretty strongly back in the UK but wonder if there are better products.
I'll try the searches but I'm tied up with work & exams right now.
).Point taken on the suggested mods. I was hoping someone had already beaten me to the idea of setting their car up like this & could reccomend some product combinations.
I'm also on a budget (aren't we all?) so it'll be a piece or 2 at a time so I'd like to know what will have the most effect & what products actually work. I'm used to Eibach's products as they market pretty strongly back in the UK but wonder if there are better products.
I'll try the searches but I'm tied up with work & exams right now.
3rd Gear Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 538
From:
RE: Suspension Mods
Let me quote myself from a "How to decrease front roll/lean?" thread on this very forum:
The Modern Mustang is a remarkable device, offering major pleasures for relatively little money; however, without major weight reduction and attention to the underpinnings, it'll never be a classic "corner-carver" like the Lotus and its ilk. Close, maybe, but not really in the same league. Best bang for the buck, though, and isn't the real joy in doing the best you can with what you got?
Bottom line: you have to give a little to get a little;
ORIGINAL: FyouGitive
· I started with the stock V6 configuration: light front, no rear bar.
· Swapped-on 17" GT takeoff Bullits w/ Pirelli P Zero Nero.
· Added "found-item" (cheap takeoff) BMR strut tower brace: resolved about 60% of the convertible's terrible cowl-shake over a test patch that made it go crazy before.
· Added GT rear bar (19mm?): Very nice, less understeer (front leaned less, got more performance from front tires).
· Swapped-in GT front bar: transformed the feel, but back to understeer.
· Swapped-in 22mm (7/8") rear bar: some joy, flat front and back, very autox-able, but still a tad too much understeer.
· Swapped-in Steeda Sport springs: should have done this first, dee-lightful feel and performance, made it look a little better, too.(Picture below)
· Swapped-in 26mm (1") H&R rear bar with billet links and special bushings: at last! It works good, practically imperceptible ride degradation, streetable as ever.
Drop from the Steeda Sport springs was just at or under one inch in the front, just at an inch-and-a-quarter in the rear. Very subtle appearance-wise, no dynamic problem on the road, World Of Difference auto-x-ing. Even with the original (17K miles) shocks/struts, transitions, including abrupt and cycling ones, are predictable and controllable.
The GT front bar is 1 3/8 inches and hollow; most aftermarket ones are same diameter but solid. The H&R rear bar is of amazing quality as reflected in its finish. I may try the H&R (adjustable) front one, just to see what effect it has, but I'm quite pleased with the current sway-set's balance.
Now I need some good shocks/struts, tires other than the original Pirellis, and a limited-slip differential, so actual comparative lap times will come down even more ...
And then maybe a CAI and tune. Heh.
· I started with the stock V6 configuration: light front, no rear bar.
· Swapped-on 17" GT takeoff Bullits w/ Pirelli P Zero Nero.
· Added "found-item" (cheap takeoff) BMR strut tower brace: resolved about 60% of the convertible's terrible cowl-shake over a test patch that made it go crazy before.
· Added GT rear bar (19mm?): Very nice, less understeer (front leaned less, got more performance from front tires).
· Swapped-in GT front bar: transformed the feel, but back to understeer.
· Swapped-in 22mm (7/8") rear bar: some joy, flat front and back, very autox-able, but still a tad too much understeer.
· Swapped-in Steeda Sport springs: should have done this first, dee-lightful feel and performance, made it look a little better, too.(Picture below)
· Swapped-in 26mm (1") H&R rear bar with billet links and special bushings: at last! It works good, practically imperceptible ride degradation, streetable as ever.
Drop from the Steeda Sport springs was just at or under one inch in the front, just at an inch-and-a-quarter in the rear. Very subtle appearance-wise, no dynamic problem on the road, World Of Difference auto-x-ing. Even with the original (17K miles) shocks/struts, transitions, including abrupt and cycling ones, are predictable and controllable.
The GT front bar is 1 3/8 inches and hollow; most aftermarket ones are same diameter but solid. The H&R rear bar is of amazing quality as reflected in its finish. I may try the H&R (adjustable) front one, just to see what effect it has, but I'm quite pleased with the current sway-set's balance.
Now I need some good shocks/struts, tires other than the original Pirellis, and a limited-slip differential, so actual comparative lap times will come down even more ...
And then maybe a CAI and tune. Heh.
Bottom line: you have to give a little to get a little;
Is the tide gonna reach my chair?
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 4,389
From: Nor'east
RE: Suspension Mods
I have some bad roads in my town and the steering wheel would move under my hand from the bouncing around. I installed a 3 point strut tower brace and noticed the difference right away. Front seems more solid and now the wheel does not move under my hand. Not a cure-all, but for the convertible, it is worth the money.
Edelbrock Strut Tower Brace #5223 $120.00
[IMG]local://upfiles/65089/119A0F228A9A46948BA1745616763D34.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]local://upfiles/65089/4E48B9E773B1478DB7CCCCD3760B3332.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]local://upfiles/65089/9AE6851A62334C4588CF008958A2233B.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]local://upfiles/65089/A65BD1AA58EF4B9DB61B1210CA50079D.jpg[/IMG]
Edelbrock Strut Tower Brace #5223 $120.00
[IMG]local://upfiles/65089/119A0F228A9A46948BA1745616763D34.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]local://upfiles/65089/4E48B9E773B1478DB7CCCCD3760B3332.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]local://upfiles/65089/9AE6851A62334C4588CF008958A2233B.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]local://upfiles/65089/A65BD1AA58EF4B9DB61B1210CA50079D.jpg[/IMG]
5th Gear Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 2,176
From: Decatur AL USA
RE: Suspension Mods
Copy the Steeda Q335 Suspension. You can get all the stuff from Steeda. With the Tokico D Shocks it can be pretty pleasant with the shocks set on soft. A brace might be a good idea to help avoid cowl shake with the stiffer suspension.
Your convertible has V-6 Springs a 2 mm smaller rear bar compared to a GT Coupe.
Oops! Just noticed you are a V6. Without the Pony Package you have no rear bar at all!
Your convertible has V-6 Springs a 2 mm smaller rear bar compared to a GT Coupe.
Oops! Just noticed you are a V6. Without the Pony Package you have no rear bar at all!
3rd Gear Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 624
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