So I've lately been looking at improving my front control arm location by either using the GT500 control arm or the Steeda bushing insert kit (555-4006). Either way I would like to use the Steeda X5 ball joint to improve the roll center. I've seen some vendors imply that the GT500 front control arm has stiffer bushings than the OE GT control arm, but the consensus from other sources is that the only difference is in the ball joint.

In that case, it would make more sense to use OE control arms with the Steeda insert and X5 ball joint. Has anybody else been down this road before and have any experience to relate?

Once I reduce compliance in the control arm bushings and strengthen the ball joints, does it then follow that I should either install the OE K-member brace or the Steeda G-Trac or something similar in order to reduce chassis compliance?

One last thing...assuming I've improved all of this, is the OE spindle up to the task?

 

I replaced the front lower control arms with the GT500 ones on the understanding at that time that the inner bushings were stiffer on the GT500 arms.

As the car was also lowered about and inch with the Steeda Competition springs I had the ball joint replaced with the Steeda X5 ball joint. This requires a press to properly remove the old joint and install the new one. The Steeda X5 ball joint also has a snap ring to hold it in place. Doing this before the install meant I has a complete assembly ready to go.

The toughest part of the job is that to replace the front lower control arms you have to move the steeering rack out of the way. It is held in by two bolts and they are large and very tight and tough to get at. We got one out the first day and the second one after a fresh start the next morning. This was with the car on a hoist.

Was it worth it? I'm not sure but as you can see from my sig or My Garage my car is pretty heavily modded underneath and I was looking for a car that would perform reliably and predicably and conservatively from the start.

As the car was tracked 6 days last year and hopefully as many again this year the spindle better hold up! If it lets go things would get very interesting.

So far I've not heard of any S197 spindles failing. Has anyone else?

I also installed the Steeda G trac brace but when going to put it on found there was already a factory brace in place on my 08. Now it has both.

 

I have it on good authority from 2 GAC teams that the spindles are just fine.

 

Glad to hear that - wouldn't want to lose one going into turn 8 at Mosport!

 

Indeed, that is a good endorsement. Thanks.

 

Another thought - is there anything they know of that we should be concerned about breaking when flogging these cars around a road course?

 

Not suspension related but in reading on Corner Carvers it seems there have been several issues with the motors in the Mustang Challenge series. Its either the front or rear crank bearings (the front I think) causing wobble and blowing the engines. There is a thread over there about the series, if you read thru it you will find mentions of this.

I met a guy at a DE last fall who blew a motor. He had on an aftermarket underdrive pulley and he thought that was the culpret. But...it could have been the bearing also...who knows.