Car in question is a stone-stock 2006 GT with the 18" fanblades, OEM tires and only 8400 miles.

Its my new fair weather daily driver with a 40 mile interstate roundtrip to the office.

My background is 30+ years of Mustangs, Bbodies, Fbodies, and Corvettes. Some racing in the past, but the older I get the faster I was.

My discussion topic is "What is going on with the Rear of these S197 Mustangs?"

On the interstate my well-tuned "Butt-O-Meter" is telling me that the rear isn't right from the factory for my daily commute. It feels to be under sprung with too much dampering from the shocks. The car sort of rocks rear to front going over any bumps in the road. In aviation terms the car has a "pitch" issue. Front seems fine to me. My guess is the rear shocks are stiffer than they need to be for an interstate DD car since I understand that Ford uses the same spring in the V6 and wanted the GT to have a firmer feel.

SO....., Is their a simple rear shock swap for these cars?

Lets try not to get into another Koni vs Tokico adjustable debate thread. I've already read several of those after doing a search. Also don't need or plan to lower this car since its a DD. What I am looking for is a straight up non-adjustable rear shock that improves the interstate ride quality of the Mustang.

As a point of reference to what I'm looking for, back when I was using a 96 Impala SS as my DD, the quick & easy shock replacement for those big Bbodies was - - - Monroe Sensa-Tracs!

Comments?

 

My understanding from Sam Strano is that Koni is going to be releasing a non-adjustable set of shocks and struts sometime in early spring. He believes they will likely be set at something slightly firmer than full soft on the adjustables. These may be what you are looking for. Price will probably be good, too.

 

I'm aware of those Koni shocks. Its my understanding that they will be geared toward cars with a slight drop.

Thanks for the reply.

 

I think it's more specifically the rear shock balance that's off for such driving conditions. Too much bump damping, maybe not enough rebound.

I'm a little skeptical of swapping only the rear shocks, though. Other aspects of pitch behavior will change, too. I'm guessing that pitch jerk might increase.

Things like pitch inertia and ride frequencies are a bit different with the shorter-WB, lighter S197 than that big old B-body, so it wouldn't feel the same. Never mind that I wouldn't suggest Sensatraks for anybody not suffering from a medical condition that required the softest possible normal ride quality be provided.


Bilsteins?



Norm

 

It's not a matter of too much bump...it's got a lot to do with shocks built to a price. Anyone notice the 2010 Mustang has rear shocks that supposedly have a lot more high-speed bleed? Wonder why?

If you want some inexpensive replacements, they I'd probably tell you Tokico Non-adjsutables. Koni is working on a non-adjustable for the car, but it's not something we'll see in the very near future. And FWIW, while they will be Koni's we aren't talking about dampers that will be made in Holland.

Bilstein's aren't all that inexpensive and if you get there you might as well get D-specs of Koni's.

I did my best to not make this a debate thread.

 

Sam, I always take your info as good advice and never a debate. You may disagree with others, you provide your basis but you never push. As a novice to handling aspects of our S197's, I take it all in and then make my own decision. These are the kinds of threads that I love about this forum...

 

Then I stand corrected with "too much high speed bump damping" in the earlier cars, apparently relieved by the change in h-s bleeding. Fair enough.

IMO any reasons behind Ford's damping philosophy here are immaterial when it comes down to what you feel when you drive the car, as it's the damping itself that you feel rather than the reasons behind the choices.


Norm

 

Geez Norm...

I didn't mean anything by it other than there is a difference between too much bump damping which woudl indicate that's the case 100% of the time vs. too much at various times.

 

What can I say? I tried to take a couple of short-cuts and got caught on one of them. It happens.


N

 

Well, that's what I try to do... Give folks information (and good information) so they can make your own decision.