Rubrignitz

After having my car lowered for several weeks now and getting over the pure joy of the majorly improved handling, I'm now starting to nitpick the little idiosyncrasies of it all. One thing I've noticed is with the BMR adjustable upper CA there is a slight thunk over roadway irregularities. It's not often but sometimes. I think I have that nailed down to the "stepped rear spacers" that steeda provides to account for the smaller bolt size in larger hole of the stock upper CA mount. I've ordered some of these and they should be here and installed this weekend.

The other thing that's starting to bother me is the front end "feel". I'm not sure what it is, but it seems when the front end rises up and down I can feel it in the steering wheel. Is this the so-called "bumpsteer" and will a bumpsteer kit eliminate this sensation? Or do I need a control arm relocation kit or some other front end geometry correcting measure? Or is there some other type of modification that I'm not aware of yet? I will purchase a bumpsteer kit tomorrow if that will alleviate the odd steering sensation.

157dB

Bumpsteer is correct.
A bumpsteer kit and proper installation (its an adjustable kit)
will cure the problem. Relocated rear Reverse L arm mounts
are available but dont cure bumpsteer. You have raised the
tie rod end on the spindle side in relation to the rack-pinion
unit. Most dont nitpick and just live with it. I am glad to see
someone is addressing the problem.....
Dropped spindles is the only way to lower the front end and
keep 99% of the OEM front end/steering geometry.

Sleeper_08

How much do the H&R Race springs lower the car?

Texotic

1.5/1.4

and yes, you seem to be feeling bump-steer.

Sleeper_08

If the bump steer kit does not improve it then other things to consider are a ball joint kit like the Steeda one

http://www.steeda.com/products/x5_balljoint.php

These ball joints require 18" wheels.

or brackets to relocate the front lower control arm like these from Steeda

http://www.steeda.com/products/contr...cation_kit.php

The brackets require welding.

07 GT E UPP

+1111111111 Steeda makes a very good BS Kit IMO
Goodluck

Rubrignitz

Thanks for the input guys. Just ordered the bumpsteer kit and X5 balljoints. Should be another interesting weekend under the car bitching and moaning while installing this stuff lol. Hopefully everything goes smoothly this time, but I'm guessing something will surely **** me off. I'll be done with my suspension quirks one day I guess. And on the bright side I'm becoming intimately familiar with every part on my car! These are the parts I purchased:

SDA-555-8106
Bumpsteer Kit 2005 Mustang $159.95
$159.95 SDA-555-8108
X5 Balljoint 2005 Mustang

157dB

When properly installed, the bumpsteer kit will put the tie rods
parallel with the steering rack at loaded resting suspension.
Have a look at your non-bumpsteered kitted front end now.
The tie rods should be pointed up on the ends like they are
smiling at you if you are experiencing bump-steer.

Sleeper_08

I've got both of them on my car. In case you didn't find these yet

http://www.steeda.com/directions/555...psteer_kit.pdf

http://www.steeda.com/directions/555..._balljoint.pdf

Note that their instructions say to remove the front control arm. To do this you have to remove the two bolts that hold the steering rack in place and move the rack to clear the bolt for the control arm. Getting those two bolts holding in the rack is a challenge as they are large tight and hard to get at. Even the Ford manual glosses quickly over this point "Remove the steering gear bolts. Position the steering gear to gain access to the lower control bolt".

http://iihs.net/fsm/?dir=61&viewfile=Lower%20Arm.pdf

Rubrignitz

Thanks for the info sleeper. I see... you need to remove the CA's to press out the ball joints. In that case, I'm just going to install my bumpsteer kit this weekend, hang onto the X5's and plan on some upgraded control arms next month. Funny how one mod runs into the next with these cars.....

Any recommendations on aftermarket control arms for a daily driven car? I've seen the BMR's but I'm not too keen on the poly bushings and how much more NVH they would cause. Should I just keep the stock CA's w/ hydra bushings if I'm worried about more noise and vibration?