Ford Mustang V6 and Mustang GT 1994-2004: Suspension Modifications
There are many options available for you to improve the suspension on your Mustang. Take a look to see what options you have at your disposal, so you can properly build a smooth driving machine.
This article applies to the Ford Mustang V6 and Mustang GT (1994-2004).
Maybe you're interested in tighter cornering, or just want a smoother ride. Whatever the purpose, you should always look at improving the overall ride quality of your Mustang. There several different types of aftermarket products available to make this process easier. In this article, we'll break down the things you need in order to improve the overall handling of your car.
Ford Mustang Suspension Upgrades
For your Mustang, there are several different options available to help increase its suspension performance. The most obvious include lowering kits and stabilizer bars, while more complicated components include adjustable coil-overs and panhard bars. If you are looking on making a comfortable daily driver, then we'd recommend you keeping to the basic suspension improvements, as everything else is overkill for daily driving.
Sway Bars
DIY Cost – $150+
Professional Cost – $250+
Skill Level – Easy; raise your chassis, remove the old sway bar end links and exhaust piping, then install the new unit. Notably one of the easiest upgrades you can do on your car.
A sway bar, or anti-roll bar, is a specific component that helps prevent body roll from occurring on your chassis by stiffening it up. It connects both wheels from underneath the chassis. Speaking very generally, a front sway bar upgrade will tighten up the steering and turn-in of your Mustang at the expense of some possible additional understeer. A rear sway bar limits roll in the rear of the vehicle, and may make the car more prone to oversteer. Eibach makes a good kit for these cars. Recommended for its ability to prevent body roll.
Lower Control Arms
DIY Cost – $170+
Professional Cost – $270+
Skill Level – Difficult; the actual install is pretty straightforward, but you will need to muscle them into place, which can take several hours to do so.
Your Mustang has stock lower control arms, which uses standard rubber bushings and are designed to be flexible in order to work with the four-quad suspension system. Unfortunately, the four-quad suspension system can sometimes cause issues, so many drivers prefer to remove it. Installing beefier LCA's with stiffer bushings will reduce chassis flex and rid the car of any negative dynamic changes in alignment. When paired with a good alignment, these new LCAs will help increase the overall stability of your car. Some highly reviewed LCA upgrades include the UPR Chrome Moly and MM HD's series. Recommended for its ability to reduce chassis flex.
Lowering Springs/Shocks
DIY Cost – $130+
Professional Cost – $330+
Skill Level – Moderate; you'll have to rent a special compressor and remove the assembly from the car. Doing the job at home often turns it into an ordeal that lasts throughout most of the day.
By far the least expensive way to lower the chassis of your car, lowering springs replace the stock coils on your cars struts. Due to the more aggressive nature of a lowering spring, they are often coupled with a stiffer shocks that can handle the extra load put on the coils. It should be noted that once you lower the car, its geometry changes, so you'll have to complete an alignment in order to have the car maintain its traction. Eibach and H&R sport springs coupled with Tokico struts are some of the more popular combinations available. Recommended for its low cost.
Coil-overs
DIY Cost – $600+
Professional Cost – $950+
Skill Level – Moderate; requires the same replacement procedure as lowering springs, but you will also have to adjust them accordingly.
Coil-overs offer way more in terms of adjustability when compared to lowering springs and preform way better. There are different levels of coil-overs available; some only offer height adjustments, while others offer adjustable dampening rates. These are only recommended for those looking to adjust their suspension regularly, such as participants in road racing activities. Notable coil-overs suspension kits include the KW Variant-3, Bilstein PSS9 and Penske. Recommended for drivers who do a lot of racing activities.
Panhard Bar
DIY Cost – $400+
Professional Cost – $950+
Skill Level – Moderate; the panhard bar mounts under you chassis, and just like the lower control arms, you'll have to muscle it in place.
The rear suspension on your Ford Mustang is known for having some issues in regards to wheel hop, and a panhard bar is aimed to be your solution. It helps stiffen up the rear by lowering the rear roll center. Each unit is reasonably priced, but its installation can often cost hundreds of dollars. This is one install that's not for the faint-of-heart. Panhard bars are recommended for those interested in completely upgrading the suspension system on their car. The recommended model is the Griggs Pandhard bar. Recommended for drivers who want to update the suspension.
Related Discussions
- Eibach Front Sway Bar - MustangForums.com
- The Official Suspension Guide - MustangForums.com
- 03 Mustang GT Lowering Springs - PLEASE HELP! - MustangForums.com
