Do you guys re-use the factory strut/spindle bolts & nuts? Ford says one-time use and new OEM sets of 4 bolts/nuts run around $50. Ouch...(but I definitely don't want stuff like this failing...ever)

 

The official line is to not re-use them but if you do re-use them then blue loctite is a good idea.

 

That's very interesting, I may give that a try.

 

+1
I was wondering if anyone would mention the mid-production bolt change.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hPRD5tY-ss

 

Here's a comparison of a 14mm course thread strut to spindle bolt with a 12mm camber bolt.

 

And the course thread bolts were upgraded by Ford with a fine thread bolt and the torque increased to 166 ft lb. They didn't do that to save money.

Try torquing your camber bolt to 166 ft lb!

 

Kevin,


So they pretty much told you everything was in spec when you went to get an alignment? We have the same springs and I never got an alignment after I put the springs on 13k miles ago and I just did my shocks too, no alignment. And I never had any wear issues or the car doing anything funny...

 

Yes, it was within spec, but only just barely, and all that really means is that Ford wouldn't be required to make it any better if those were the measurements made in one of their shops. When even a newbie DIY'er to front end alignment can be expected to work an suspension with adjustability to a quarter of a degree or better in his own driveway, plus/minus three times that is a pretty sloppy definition of "OK" for a shop don't ya think?


IMO, you'd have to be playing in the corners at least moderately hard a good part of the time to live with those settings long-term. And that's not exactly the sort of driving that you'd expect all that many 4.0 Mustangs to be subjected to (no flame intended).

Separately, the "cross" measurements are both in the "wrong" directions, relative to common settings made to alleviate tendencies to drift down toward gutters and/or drainage sitches on crowned roads. This bothers some people more than it does others.

Keep in mind that cars, and the alignment results of suspension changes & modifications made to them, are both subject to tolerance. Before I swapped the Konis in, my own GT cambers measured about -1.8° with the entire front suspension completely stock, as-delivered, and untouched until that time (not even re-aligned). There's at least a fair chance that OP's car had more than the preferred -0.75° to begin with, at least on the left side. There's an equally fair chance that your cambers were both less negative than -0.75° before modding. IOW, you can't really extend that part of your experience to what others can expect from theirs.


Norm

 

Quick question...I'm buying the Steeda HD strut mounts this week. I understand that you need the spacer from a 2010 Mustang for the 2010 struts to work on a '11. Do I have to buy the more expensive SVT 2010 mounts, or will the cheaper "regular" 2010 GT mounts work as well? Seems a shame to spend the extra $$ on something that that will get canabalized and then thrown out.

 

Anyone know if doing this will affect caster or toe?