I know our cars aren't the greatest handlers and was wondering what I can do to mine to make it handle at a great-amazing level. Is it possible to do this without lowering my car? I can't really lower my car because of the area I live in isn't lowrider friendly. Some things I know of right now are bigger sway bars, strut tower brace, 50/50 weight distribution, and I'm not sure if it's taller or wider wheels which are better for handling(also would that need to be both front and back wheels taller/wider or just front/rear?). Any help isappreciated. I will have afew thousand to spend, and I think that should be enough for at least new wheels/rims, sway bars, and maybe subs and an amp to even out weight distribution(and add some nice bass).

 

Where do you live?

I say save bout 15K and look at a full-up Griggs Racing suspension. From everything I've read and heard about it, it kills BMWs and Porcshes with a stock-like ride quality at stockish power levels. But you would be lowered and CHA-CHING!!! But you said your were looking for great, amazng handling. I'd but it if I had 30K burning a hole in my pocket(the rest on drivetrain and powertrain)

On a 3K budget, I say spring for some:
Tokico D-specs
Poly/Rod end LCAs and UCA(BMRorCHE)
Rear Sway-bar with polyBillet endlinks
Poly Panhard bar and panhard brace(Steeda, BMR, or CHE)

Most(Tasteful) aftermarketwheel and tire combos are heavier than the stock 17" bullitt wheel/tire setups, but the 03-04 cobra or Cobra Rwheels aren't too heavy and can accept some wide rubber so they may be a viable option. Just find some with the proper offset. They don't look right on S197s thoughIMO. Save the thump-thump for the truck, all that weight will just slow you down.

 

I'll point you to a good write up/explanation/advice on this very subject: https://mustangforums.com/m_934501/mpage_12/key_/tm.htm

Scroll down towards the bottom of the page and look for the posts from member "F1Fan" - he is our resident suspension guru and talks extensively on this very subject - improving handling without lowering the car.

Good luck.

 

Where are you getting your information from? These cars are pretty good right off the show room floor. The chasis is almost a clone to the E36 BMW chassis, just like an inchwider and a solid rear axle. BMW has always been known for the superb handling characteristics of there cars.

Depending on what type ofracing you are looking for could determine the type of handling youre looking for. Spend your money on improving your driving before anything else but the basic's, I think,would be to get some adjustable dampers and a set of tires to tear up on the track.

 

Thanks for the help! That thread was very good and helpful. I'm thinking of 17X9's or 18X10's w/sticky tires,Rear upper and lower performance control arms, BMR Subframe Connectors,BMR HD Sway bars, BMR Panhard Rod, andBMR Panhard support brace. Thinking aboutBMR's K-member too, but don't know what it does besides weight reduction? If anyone can specify on that it would be appreciated. I think that's pretty much all I can do suspension wise without lowering the car and I shouldbe happy with that.And I was also wondering, would a 60-120lbs sub system in my trunk really slowdown my car a lot/noticable amount? I know it helps a lot with weight distributionfor handling but I don't want to kill my acceleration either.

 

+10

Don't take this the wrong way, but everything in your original post pretty much says you don't know what you are talking about. 3k gets burned up REAL quick. Here are some points to consider -

1. BMR is mostly known for drag racing oriented parts. They tend to be heavier and of lesser strength than those of road racing oriented companies. If you want a k-member and intend to road race, check out RossMustang.com. It is the only k-member on the market for the S197 specificly for that purpose. If you are not lowering the car however, spending $600 for some weight savings and rigidity shouldn't be anywhere near the top of the list really.

2. Subframe connectors are not necessary (here come the placebo effect people ). The S197 chassis is 70% stiffer than the previous chassis. Subframe connectors and strut tower braces only add weight to an already heavy car with negligible benefits at best.

3, Sticky tires aren't in your best interest at the moment. They will give you more grip than you know what to do with, and when the car finally snaps you wont have the required skills to recover.

4. Basicly right now your car is FINE. I don't mean it as an insult but your posts make it clear you need the DRIVER mod first. The car understeers specificly to keep less experienced guys like yourself from getting hurt. Enter some HPDE events with NASA and start working on your driving, while figuring out along the way what your car truly NEEDS. Everybody likes different setups. Your 3k budget will go very well toward a good helmet, gloves, shoes, spare brake pads, ducting - things you NEED right now.

You can bolt on all the stuff you want suspension-wise and an experienced drive can get in a STOCK one and drive around you. Last time I was at the track I watched a Ford GT (the supercar- not a stang) on Goodyear slicks (full race slicks - not dot slicks) get run down by mustangs. It was a perfect example of someone with a lot of money but not a lot of driving skill. Food for thought eh?

 

+10 on RodeoFlyers post!

3K will get you the bare bones.

Brake upgrade = SS lines, Motul brake fluid, Hawk HPS+ pads, Brake ducting for cooling ($700 + install)
18x9 wheel and 255/45/18 tire packeage ($1400)
Helmet ($200)
Gloves, tool box, jack, cooler, tarp, spare brake pads and fluids, duct tape to prevent you from engaging your parking brake after a lapping session. ($250)

This willleave you with enough money for only 1 two day high performance driving education event. ($250-375)

And there is your first 3K

It is the next 3K that can be spent on suspension upgrades and of course more events.

 

And here is a shinning example of that, money doesn't make you go faster. For those of you who dont track, thats an E30 BMW, maybe 175-180 hp getting a point by from a driver in a Ferrari F430.



[IMG]local://upfiles/56911/90D3285FA13F4444A0D0AA2147B7E427.jpg[/IMG]

 

NICE!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

I could be wrong, but that looks more like a 360 Modena or a 550 Marinello...