I need to lower my new 01 GT I just bought tonight. I had a 2000 that was lowered with HR Supersports/Tokicos with caster/camber plates, bumpsteer kit, steeda x-2 ball joints, and polyurethane bushings.

But the ride was very harsh and the slightest bump was like hitting a speed bump (even while trying to go over every bump at 15 mph, or driving on the highway). I took it to two different shops and they said it all looks right, but that it does seem incredibly harsh for a dropped car. - One of the shops actually told me the HR supersports were too stiff springs and that they don't even expand so that it's like I had wooden blocks instead of springs. So I'm asking for advice about how I should drop my 01 GT? Everyone has told me the HR supersports were very soft but before I spend money on it again I want to know exactly what I should be buying for a decent ride quality.

I've also been told to just cut the springs since the factory spring rate is good and gives a great ride quality.

If anyone can provide all the items they used when dropping their stang and any special things I should know about installation, that would be greatly appreciated.

 

I'd say you had a decent setup before, but those H&R SS springs are very low and very stiff. Our UPR Pro Series springs only drop the car 1.5" and they are progressive rate springs, so they tend to ride a little nicer than constant rate springs. http://www.uprproducts.com/mustang-e...prings-v8.html

 

Thanks upr I will check that out. Will I have to get new shocks and struts? I had talked to others who simply changed out springs and cc plates but left their shocks on. I thought this would risk blowing the shocks

 

Well I will comment on this. But first I'll ask what you intend on doing with the car?

When looking at the numbers for the supersport springs, they are a very low spring, with high spring rates to back up the height at which they drop the car to. They are not soft springs. When you drop a car that much, you dont want a low(soft) spring rate as this will cause all sorts of problems, like bottoming out your suspension and hitting the bumpstop on the top of the axle housing. Eibach is known for having very weak spring rates for their springs at the given lower ride height. For comparison sake, lets look at the Eibach Sportline springs and the H&R Supersport springs. They both lower the car around 1.75-2"(the sportlines being the lower of the two actually). When looking at the spring rates, you'll see something fishy start to occur. First the sportlines: 425-630lb/in front/140-295lb/in. rear. Now the Supersports: 700-760lb/in front/275-300lb/in rear. I'd say that the eibach's are too soft for their advertised ride height reduction. The supersports are probably better at managing the lower ride height. I've never used either spring, this is all based on numbers here. But I dont like stock location springs anymore...so here's more info on that.

I myself have had eibach pro-kit springs with strange 10 way shocks and struts. And let me tell you, I feel your pain. lol But such is life with a solid axle mustang with lowering springs. The SRA rides extremely harsh in comparison to other style suspensions. The ride quality is not going to be the same, as much as some people tell you it will be, with any lowering springs. You have to weigh the pro's and con's and decide from there what is best for you.

I will tell you that the front of my car, with bilstein hd's and 325lb coilover springs, rides better than it did when I had the pro-kits and stranges. If you're willing to spend the money, coilovers IMHO is what's the best bet. Its quite expensive, but you get to control the spring rates of which you want to run, the ride height, and they typically offer better ride quality than stock location springs.

As far as replacing the shocks/struts, I would always recommend changing both. Upgrading the shocks and struts will help give better ride quality and improved dampening of the new higher spring rates. Plus, with the shocks and struts being 11 years old(probably close to 12 depending on what time during the '00 model year your car rolled off the assembly line), they could use being changed anyways.

 

Coil-overs.

 

Coilovers ftw. My car is low as ***** but doesn't ride too bad, it does bottom out on big bumps but its not bouncy at all.

 

Teej that was a great post and I'm glad you gave me your background so I could understand your experiences. I had thought about coil overs before but had dismissed the idea after the price but looks like this is the way to go. I just want to bring it down about 1 inch though. It looks so high stock. Would I need cc plates and new shocks if I'm just cutting 1 inch off the springs?

 

I wouldn't cut the springs... If you don't want to spend that much for coil-overs, then I'd just get a set of H&R springs. You wouldn't need c/c plates if you're only lowering it an 1'', but you might see quicker tire wear on the inside of the tires. I'd recommend you just go ahead and get a set if you're going to lower the car.

 

Thanks calhoun much appreciated, I will definitely get cc plates again. And teej to answer your first question I am mainly dropping the car for appearance reasons and ride quality since it looks so high. This is actually for my 01 GT since I have an 00 that's already been dropped on Ford c springs and bilsteins (which is still rough as usual)

 

You don't need to get them right away if money is tight. I ran around for about 10k miles on all-season tires, lowered, without c/c plates. If you're just lowering it for looks, then you'll be fine with going with something like H&R Super Sports. The ride may not be as soft as you would wish though... perks of having a sports car man. Good luck.