65 - Front end feels light.

BC_Ace

New Member

Aug 18, 2003

140

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Vancouver

Jul 30, 2004

#1

• Jul 30, 2004

• #1

Under heavy acceleration, both going straight, and turning, the front end of my car feels light and feels like it's wandering around on the road.

All new front end parts, manual steering, dropped upper control arms, 620 lb springs, 1" sway bar, KYB gas adjust shocks and all poly bushings. New 225/50/16 tires on 8" rims.

Rear has same shocks, 5 leaf springs and 3/4" sway bar. 245/50/16 tires.

What can I do to limit this effect?

 

1320stang

Founding Member

Nov 13, 1998

4,329

23

89

Edmond, Oklahoma

Jul 30, 2004

#2

• Jul 30, 2004

• #2

Don't accelerate heavily.








LOL!

My stock '65 would get the lift going at about 120. I was running down a 2 lane blacktop in the country, not a highway, just a paved country road that was nice and flat with gentle ditches on either side with no fences. I got a gust of wind that shoved the car over a couple feet to the right and I went to correct and basically, nothing happened. I don't have a bunch of play in my steering box so that's not it. I had a bit of a headwind too, but it scared me pretty good.

Have you had an alignment done by a good shop?

 

BC_Ace

New Member

Aug 18, 2003

140

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0

Vancouver

Jul 30, 2004

#3

• Jul 30, 2004

• #3

My old man's an alignment/front end tech at a dealership with modern equipment and we've played around with different setups, and it doesn't seem to change the problem.

 

fess40

Founding Member

Nov 17, 2001

292

4

19

Paris, Illinois

Jul 30, 2004

#4

• Jul 30, 2004

• #4

Mine gets the same "light" feeling around 75-80mph. New springs and steering parts with the shelby drop. Still need to replace all the bushing though.

 

Cobain03

Active Member

Aug 27, 2003

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36

Lexington, Ky

Jul 30, 2004

#5

• Jul 30, 2004

• #5

my 65 is very touchy at 60+ speeds you cant jerk the steering wheel at all if you do your wrecked lol

 

B

Billgear

Founding Member

Jun 27, 2000

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Concord, CA

Jul 30, 2004

#6

• Jul 30, 2004

• #6

Adding some caster will make the car feel alot more stable, I run around +3.5, makes the car alot more stable at speed.

I'm wondering if your getting some toe out on suspension extension. You could check by jacking the car up a couple inches from the front crossmember and measure toe before and while lifted.

 

D

D.Hearne

New Member

Sep 29, 2000

11,730

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south louisiana

Jul 31, 2004

#7

• Jul 31, 2004

• #7

BC_Ace said:

Under heavy acceleration, both going straight, and turning, the front end of my car feels light and feels like it's wandering around on the road.

All new front end parts, manual steering, dropped upper control arms, 620 lb springs, 1" sway bar, KYB gas adjust shocks and all poly bushings. New 225/50/16 tires on 8" rims.

Rear has same shocks, 5 leaf springs and 3/4" sway bar. 245/50/16 tires.

What can I do to limit this effect?

Click to expand...

That's easy-------- just install the nearest big block you have available Nothing like an extra 200-400 lbs to help in keeping the front end under control Only drawback to this is, the rearend ends up being the end that's hard to control. And that pesky white smoke coming off the tires limits your rearview visability !

 

7

71vert-pga

New Member

Dec 18, 2003

145

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Bell Chasse, LA

Jul 31, 2004

#8

• Jul 31, 2004

• #8

What about a front spoiler? Shouldn't that put more downforce on the front and increase proportionally with speed. All the benefits of the extra weight without the extra weight. It's a win-win situation.

That is if you don't mind having a spoiler...

 

BobV

20+ Year Stangneter

May 18, 2003

474

0

16

Leavenworth, KS

Jul 31, 2004

#9

• Jul 31, 2004

• #9

Billgear said:

Adding some caster will make the car feel alot more stable, I run around +3.5, makes the car alot more stable at speed.

I'm wondering if your getting some toe out on suspension extension. You could check by jacking the car up a couple inches from the front crossmember and measure toe before and while lifted.

Click to expand...

Bill's got it nailed...

What are your alignment specs? Some extra + caster helps keep em stable.

Check the toe-in at rest, then lift the car 2" by the front x-member and check again. I'll bet the amount of change will surprise you.

What spindles/brakes are you using?

 

BC_Ace

New Member

Aug 18, 2003

140

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0

Vancouver

Aug 4, 2004

#10

• Aug 4, 2004

• #10

Thanks a lot for the help so far.

I can't recall what specs we last set it to . I'm going to get it back on the alignment machine soon, and see if we can get a bit more caster. As far as the toe-in adjustment goes, what would you recommend setting it to?

BobV said:

What spindles/brakes are you using?

Click to expand...

I'm running stock spindles with Wilwood brakes.

 

9

91conv

New Member

Sep 15, 2003

59

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0

fenton, mi

Aug 5, 2004

#11

• Aug 5, 2004

• #11

My 68 PS car has that feel also, the 65 MS handles like a dream. Both have stock rebuilt front suspension and same size tires. I've allways atributed it to that. I too, will look into the increased caster idea.

 

6

63_Fairlane

Founding Member

Jan 22, 2001

215

0

16

Greenville, SC

Aug 5, 2004

#12

• Aug 5, 2004

• #12

Definitely, check for toe out. Does the car have power steering?


Off Topic

How do you like the Wilwoods? Feel, pad replacement intervals, stops the car quickly, etc...

 

BC_Ace

New Member

Aug 18, 2003

140

0

0

Vancouver

Aug 5, 2004

#13

• Aug 5, 2004

• #13

63_Fairlane said:

Definitely, check for toe out. Does the car have power steering?

Click to expand...

No power steering.

63_Fairlane said:

Off Topic

How do you like the Wilwoods? Feel, pad replacement intervals, stops the car quickly, etc...

Click to expand...

I've had the wilwood brakes for about 3 years now, but only have about 7 or 8 thousand miles on them.
So far they've been great. Almost no pad wear, and they stop straight and smoothly, without fading, even after repeated high speed use.
I run without a booster and they have a great feel to them. They have the same brake system listed for larger cars, like Torinos and Montegos, so they're a bit overkill I guess for my Mustang, but you can never have too much braking.
Added bonus is it's a totally bolt on kit with all hardware included. Only other thing you'll need is flex hoses. (I went with Earls steel braided ones.)