http://www.stangsuspension.com/store...?idproduct=600
How do these compare to the Bilstein Shocks and how good are these really? I do not know much about them, and I'm wondering if they are actually very good or would it be better to get the Bilsteins. I plan to be doing more road racing then drag. I plan to get coilovers, and I don't want to spring for the full kit all at once. I plan to buy the shocks and then the kits later, but I'm not sure how good these shocks are. Will the be good with a 400-450 lbs./in. coil spring? And would that be a good spring rate (for the front)?

 

Well Bilstein shocks are not adjustable, so you cannot really make a direct comparison.

Tokico although makes very high quality struts & shocks... especially for the price. The D-spec kit is the best adjustable strut/shock kit for Mustangs right now. For price vs. performance, they really cannot be beat!

A 400-450 lb/in spring is extremely stiff, more of a dedicated racing spring.... it really depends on what type of driving you'll be doing...

 

I am a bit of a canyon runner. Basically high speedsharp turns, speeds over 80 mph in canyon roads. It takes pretty stiff gear. A lot of chassis rigidity, but basically nothing outrageous to a road course. I want to be able to take the turns tight, I have newly installed Eibach anti-roll bars and some Subframe connectors coming. So I want to know, what spring rate I need. It is a daily driver but I don't mind a little harshness.

 

I would go with a 350lb/in spring rating in the front, with 225lb/in in the rear, that will be a nice balance...

Sincerely,

 

Are you sure about that? Your chart list those as the factory front spring rates for theGT/V6 Convertible and Coupe. The Bullet and Mach 1 are listed as having 600 lb/in front springs and250 lb/in rear.

 

Gene,

Yes I'm sure about that...

You are comparing oem location spring ratings (the ones on our spring rate chart) to coil-over spring ratings... you cannot compare the two.

Coil-over springs are located almost a foot outward on the control arm. So they require a much lower spring rating to produce extremely higher wheel rates & performance.

A spring in its stock location will yield a wheel rate of1/4th the original spring rate.
A spring in the coil-over location will yield a wheel rate of 9/10th the original spring rate.

So lets compare a Bullitt front spring vs. a 350lb/in coil-over kit

650lb/in Bullitt front spring = Wheel Rate of 162.5lb/in (650 * 0.25)
350lb/in Coil-Over front spring = Wheel Rate of 315lb/in (350 * 0.9)

As you can see, a 350lb/in coil-over spring will be have almost TWICE the wheel rate & handling performance than a Bullitt front spring...

Sincerely,

 

Oops, didnt catch the coilovers. I thought you were thinking he had a 2005+. Sorry!