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LesteR723 11-15-2007 07:19 AM

Horrid Understeer
 
I have noticed under moderate to agressive driving, these cars are DETERMINED to understeer. I often find my front end losing grip moreso than the back. I was always under the impression mustangs had a loose back end... but i guess i was wrong. Why did ford make them with such relentless understeer and is there any way to fix it?

tube 11-15-2007 07:29 AM

RE: Horrid Understeer
 
Because women driving V6 mustangs don't know how to control oversteer.

Try giving it a bit of gas, that will correct the understeer.

BartSimpson 11-15-2007 07:36 AM

RE: Horrid Understeer
 
Define "moderately aggressive driving" as some of us may have different ideas on what that means. How fast were you going?

I think Ford designs the stock Stangs with relatively cruddy suspension mainly because it is cheaper. They want to sell the car and they know that the cheaper it is, the more it will sell. There are some Stangs that come equipped with the Ford Racing packs and they cost a bit more. But I would personally rather have the car come with stock suspension so that I can pick and choose which suspension parts I want to add to the car instead of having Ford tell me what I want by giving it the FRPP and making it cost more.

Also, from what I have been told, suspension upgrades to these new Stangcan make them handle like true race cars.

FenderParrothead 11-15-2007 07:38 AM

RE: Horrid Understeer
 
Well, I don't think Ford ever intended the Mustang to be a touring car, but more of an off-the-line, $h!t and get, muscle car. And they probably figured with that much power to the rear end, understeer would be less dangerous than oversteer.

There are some mods you can do to fix that, but I don't have a lot of knowledge in that area. A lot of others on this forum do, though.

Gene K 11-15-2007 07:43 AM

RE: Horrid Understeer
 
Non-Pony Pkg 4.0 has no rear anti-roll bar.

You could try just the GT Conv/Pony rear anti-roll bar.
You may have to add brackets and/or drill. I have not looked at a base car.
I cant say whether this will make it oversteer with the stock front bar.

An even better option might be front and rear takeoffs from a GT Coupe. This will still understeer but not as badly as a base 4.0.
You could get new takeoffs (from Saleen, Roush, Steeda etc.) or used parts from some one who had upgraded bars and links.

FenderParrothead 11-15-2007 07:48 AM

RE: Horrid Understeer
 

ORIGINAL: Gene K

Non-Pony Pkg 4.0 has no rear anti-roll bar.

You could try just the GT Conv/Pony rear anti-roll bar.
You may have to add brackets and/or drill. I have not looked at a base car.
I cant say whether this will make it oversteer with the stock front bar.

An even better option might be front and rear takeoffs from a GT Coupe. This will still understeer but not as badly as a base 4.0.
You could get new takeoffs (from Saleen, Roush, Steeda etc.) or used parts from some one who had upgraded bars and links.

Having never driven the V6 model myself, I'm curious Gene, are you saying that the 4.0s have worse understeer? Is that just because the GT has more power to put to the rear tires, or are there other differences?

Argonaut 11-15-2007 07:52 AM

RE: Horrid Understeer
 
I'd say its pretty well documented that Ford intentionally dialed in some understeer for safety reasons. For the normal, everyday, non-performance oriented owner (most Mustang owners) understeer is much safer and easier to control. I have read this in numerous Mustang reviews (Motor Trend, Road and Track, etc).

How do you correct it? Well, other than gassing it thru a corner its not cheap. You can read up on how to make the car a world class handler in the following thread:https://mustangforums.com/m_934501/mpage_13/key_/tm.htm Its a very long thread, this link is to the end of it, where the latest and best info is.

oi8achevy 11-15-2007 08:53 AM

RE: Horrid Understeer
 
big antisway bars and really good summer performance "sticky" tires is best for a DD street car. step up to stiffer springs and/orstruts if you can tolerate the loss of ride quality. you can get a complete roush set up for $1500 and thats the best setup ive seen but it leans more towardsrace car than street car. it depends on the quality of the roads you have to drive on also. NY roads suck so for me i get better corning ability with a "softer" suspension so you dont bounce over bumps and lose traction, hense big sway bars and good rubber. you can also dial in some negative camber and toe to help but you have to rotate your tires often to minimize unever wear. search the net for autocross stuff youll find info on how to set up for maximum performance. remember what works on the race track isnt always best for the street. you have to consider road conditions, its a big factor in the tuning equation.

Gene K 11-15-2007 10:56 AM

RE: Horrid Understeer
 

ORIGINAL: FenderParrothead

Having never driven the V6 model myself, I'm curious Gene, are you saying that the 4.0s have worse understeer? Is that just because the GT has more power to put to the rear tires, or are there other differences?
Compared to a GT Coupe...

Base V6 Coupe
F. Springs 148.5 lb/in (Effective)
F. Swaybar 28.6 mm
R. Swaybar NONE

Pony V6Coupe
F. Springs 148.5 lb/in (Effective)
F. Swaybar 34 mm (Same as GT)
R. Swaybar 18 mm (Same as GT Conv)

GT Coupe
F. Springs 170.7 lb/in (Effective)
F. Swaybar 34 mm
R. Swaybar 20 mm

As I stated earlier I think the most pressing reason for the excessive understeer in a Base V6 is the total lack of a rear swaybar.
I know its counterintuitive but the end with the stiffest suspension usually slides first.

I think Ford chose the smaller 18 mm rear bar from the GT Convfor the Pony to balance the softer front spring rates of the V6.
The4.0 Engine is only 16 lb lighter than the 4.6L (405 lb dressed vs 421 lb dressed)so I dont think engine weeight was a deciding factor.

From least to most understeer would be,
F. 28.6 mm /R. 20 mm
F. 28.6 mm /R. 18 mm
F. 34 mm / R. 20 mm
F. 34 mm / R. 18 mm
F. 28.6 mm / R. NONE
F. 34 mm / R.NONE

The Factory GT coupe has the least understeer followed be the Pony. I suggested trying the 18mm rear bar from a GT Conv or Pony as I suspect it would make the car close to neutral (or if its to much at least it would have less oversteer than the 20 mm rear bar) as it could be done at minimum expense using takeoff parts. The car will still have more body roll than a GT Coupe though due to softer front springs and swaybar. If he wanted less body roll he could use the 34mm F and 20 mmm R Bar combo. Of course if he is really serious there is always the aftermarket.

LesteR723 11-15-2007 05:20 PM

RE: Horrid Understeer
 

ORIGINAL: tube
Because women driving V6 mustangs don't know how to control oversteer.
Try giving it a bit of gas, that will correct the understeer.
actually giving it gas is a bad idea because the front just keeps sliding in a line while the back pushes it along...


ORIGINAL: BartSimpson
Define "moderately aggressive driving" as some of us may have different ideas on what that means. How fast were you going?
I think Ford designs the stock Stangs with relatively cruddy suspension mainly because it is cheaper. They want to sell the car and they know that the cheaper it is, the more it will sell. There are some Stangs that come equipped with the Ford Racing packs and they cost a bit more. But I would personally rather have the car come with stock suspension so that I can pick and choose which suspension parts I want to add to the car instead of having Ford tell me what I want by giving it the FRPP and making it cost more.
Also, from what I have been told, suspension upgrades to these new Stang can make them handle like true race cars.
Autocrossing, being a "dumb angry inexperienced teenage driver".
Yeah ford does that, and because its "safer" and easier to defend understeer in a courtroom than oversteer in the case of a life-taking accident.


ORIGINAL: Gene K
Non-Pony Pkg 4.0 has no rear anti-roll bar.
You could try just the GT Conv/Pony rear anti-roll bar.
You may have to add brackets and/or drill. I have not looked at a base car.
I cant say whether this will make it oversteer with the stock front bar.
An even better option might be front and rear takeoffs from a GT Coupe. This will still understeer but not as badly as a base 4.0.
You could get new takeoffs (from Saleen, Roush, Steeda etc.) or used parts from some one who had upgraded bars and links.
already have sway bars


ORIGINAL: FenderParrothead

ORIGINAL: Gene K
Non-Pony Pkg 4.0 has no rear anti-roll bar.
You could try just the GT Conv/Pony rear anti-roll bar.
You may have to add brackets and/or drill. I have not looked at a base car.
I cant say whether this will make it oversteer with the stock front bar.
An even better option might be front and rear takeoffs from a GT Coupe. This will still understeer but not as badly as a base 4.0.
You could get new takeoffs (from Saleen, Roush, Steeda etc.) or used parts from some one who had upgraded bars and links.
Having never driven the V6 model myself, I'm curious Gene, are you saying that the 4.0s have worse understeer? Is that just because the GT has more power to put to the rear tires, or are there other differences?
Its actually because the GT has F/R sway bars and it has different spring rates. Power isn't really relevant when talking about under/oversteer, its more about grip. you can correct understeer with a dump of the clutch cause it send the rear end swinging out liek a pendulum


ORIGINAL: oi8achevy
big antisway bars and really good summer performance "sticky" tires is best for a DD street car. step up to stiffer springs and/or struts if you can tolerate the loss of ride quality. you can get a complete roush set up for $1500 and thats the best setup ive seen but it leans more towards race car than street car. it depends on the quality of the roads you have to drive on also. NY roads suck so for me i get better corning ability with a "softer" suspension so you dont bounce over bumps and lose traction, hense big sway bars and good rubber. you can also dial in some negative camber and toe to help but you have to rotate your tires often to minimize unever wear. search the net for autocross stuff youll find info on how to set up for maximum performance. remember what works on the race track isnt always best for the street. you have to consider road conditions, its a big factor in the tuning equation.
Got big sway bars, and i have Bridgestone Potenza RE960AS Pole Position tires which are amazing, because they have summer rated performance on an all season tire, and damn near winter tire ratings as well, because i live in a snowey climate. I have stiff lowering springs, and shocks and struts are my christmas present, because the stock ones are shot. Anything else besides these things guys?



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