Trip to Griggs Racing: Drive results from the GR40 SS Kit (Long)
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Joined: Aug 2010
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From: CA
Trip to Griggs Racing: Drive results from the GR40 SS Kit (Long)
OVERVIEW
Took a drive to Griggs today to drive their shop 2010 Mustang with the GR40 SS Kit today.
First off let me say that it was a pleasure to meet Bruce in person and he spent a couple of hours of his day talking with me. Great guy, very knowledgeable.
Ok, so I went with an open mind with a few set-ups in my head as to which way I want to upgrade my soon to be 2011 Mustang Brembo equipped GT. The options I am considering are the full GR40 SS kit from Griggs, a complete set-up as recommended by MM, or just doing coil-overs and sway bars by themselves.
Bruce took me for a nice ride in their shop 2010 base Mustang with the GR40 SS Kit (stock Pirelli P Zero Nero tires 255/50/18, and everything else). This kit is their standard kit without the optional (quiet bushings) options or the Watts Link. Also running no rear sway bar. I came away very impressed!!
The car was solid and quick with no rear-end looseness what so ever, and this was on stock 50 series tires. The ride was stout, but VERY compliant, and smoother (less bouncy) then the stock 2011 GT ride, very livable as a DD, as my car will be. I would get the optional Watts Link though as, I want quicker transitions with a quicker suspension “set” in the twisties/switch-backs.
As far as noises, yes there is a small rear axle/gear noise, and a small clunk from the TQ Arm, but by no means were these noises excessive. You read stories online and I swear some people exaggerate to the point that you think aftermarket suspension makes so much noise that the car is going to fall apart. Not even close. The few small noises are very livable even as a DD, and seriously we are talking about a race suspension here, it’s not going to Lexus quiet.
NOW MY WHEEL DILEMMA!!!
I went there with a wheel/tire package picked out already, only to be disappointed by what Bruce told me. I wanted to do the CCW SP500 wheels running 265/35/19 in the front and 305/30/19 in the rear, wrapped in Bridgestone Potenza RE-11 tires (as I have on my M3 now). Bruce discouraged going staggered as this will affect handling and induce more understeer that you can’t dial out. I do not want that, as this is going to be a DD that gets ran in the Santa Cruz mountains a lot, as well as a couple of track events a year and I do not want a car that understeers, I want a balanced/neutral handling car. I am not into drag racing, I am looking for a DD, canyon carver out of this car.
So, my new plan is 275/35/19 all around, unfortunately the Bridgestone RE-11’s are not avail. in that size, so I am going to go with the stock Pirelli P Zero tires, just different sizes to fit my new wheels.
The other tricky thing about the wheels/tires package in talking with CCW, they may have a hard time doing a 3” lip (as I really want) in the rear on a 10” rim with the Brembo brake clearances. While I would go with a 9.5” wheel in the front with a 1” lip.
Any other suggestions as to square wheel/tire options?
I really want to stay with a 19” wheel with a 35 series tire for better handling and less sidewall flex that you get with 40 series and up.
SUMMARY
So, that is my write-up for now, I am leaning towards Griggs right now. I might take a trip to MM if my schedule allows and they have a car there to drive. I plan on keeping this car for at least 60K – 80K miles and I asked Bruce about that. He says I should be fine and as long as I am not beating on it (lots of tracking) the system should go at least that long, if not longer., for a mostly street driven car, canyon carver car.
Took a drive to Griggs today to drive their shop 2010 Mustang with the GR40 SS Kit today.
First off let me say that it was a pleasure to meet Bruce in person and he spent a couple of hours of his day talking with me. Great guy, very knowledgeable.
Ok, so I went with an open mind with a few set-ups in my head as to which way I want to upgrade my soon to be 2011 Mustang Brembo equipped GT. The options I am considering are the full GR40 SS kit from Griggs, a complete set-up as recommended by MM, or just doing coil-overs and sway bars by themselves.
Bruce took me for a nice ride in their shop 2010 base Mustang with the GR40 SS Kit (stock Pirelli P Zero Nero tires 255/50/18, and everything else). This kit is their standard kit without the optional (quiet bushings) options or the Watts Link. Also running no rear sway bar. I came away very impressed!!
The car was solid and quick with no rear-end looseness what so ever, and this was on stock 50 series tires. The ride was stout, but VERY compliant, and smoother (less bouncy) then the stock 2011 GT ride, very livable as a DD, as my car will be. I would get the optional Watts Link though as, I want quicker transitions with a quicker suspension “set” in the twisties/switch-backs.
As far as noises, yes there is a small rear axle/gear noise, and a small clunk from the TQ Arm, but by no means were these noises excessive. You read stories online and I swear some people exaggerate to the point that you think aftermarket suspension makes so much noise that the car is going to fall apart. Not even close. The few small noises are very livable even as a DD, and seriously we are talking about a race suspension here, it’s not going to Lexus quiet.
NOW MY WHEEL DILEMMA!!!
I went there with a wheel/tire package picked out already, only to be disappointed by what Bruce told me. I wanted to do the CCW SP500 wheels running 265/35/19 in the front and 305/30/19 in the rear, wrapped in Bridgestone Potenza RE-11 tires (as I have on my M3 now). Bruce discouraged going staggered as this will affect handling and induce more understeer that you can’t dial out. I do not want that, as this is going to be a DD that gets ran in the Santa Cruz mountains a lot, as well as a couple of track events a year and I do not want a car that understeers, I want a balanced/neutral handling car. I am not into drag racing, I am looking for a DD, canyon carver out of this car.
So, my new plan is 275/35/19 all around, unfortunately the Bridgestone RE-11’s are not avail. in that size, so I am going to go with the stock Pirelli P Zero tires, just different sizes to fit my new wheels.
The other tricky thing about the wheels/tires package in talking with CCW, they may have a hard time doing a 3” lip (as I really want) in the rear on a 10” rim with the Brembo brake clearances. While I would go with a 9.5” wheel in the front with a 1” lip.
Any other suggestions as to square wheel/tire options?
I really want to stay with a 19” wheel with a 35 series tire for better handling and less sidewall flex that you get with 40 series and up.
SUMMARY
So, that is my write-up for now, I am leaning towards Griggs right now. I might take a trip to MM if my schedule allows and they have a car there to drive. I plan on keeping this car for at least 60K – 80K miles and I asked Bruce about that. He says I should be fine and as long as I am not beating on it (lots of tracking) the system should go at least that long, if not longer., for a mostly street driven car, canyon carver car.
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Faolan65
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Aug 27, 2015 06:40 AM
