Softer ride than stock? I think the springs is what determines the ride quality, the shocks make the decision as to how smoothly and fast the springs stop bouncing.
I have the shocks off my 09 GT, which probably have 3-4000 miles on them, Pretty much new, been sitting in the boxes that my new ones came in ever since, in my basement, controlled environment.
I have the shocks, struts, springs, and strut mounts. All one unit for the front, so no spring compressor required. Ill get rid of them for cheap. - if your interested.
Well, "better" than stock is what I'm looking for I guess.
The stock suspension setup seems overly harsh on expansion joints and bad roads. For example, I replaced the shocks on my Expedition with ones from Bilstein, and the ride quality went up dramatically. The initial "hit" on bad surfaces has softened incredibly and the whole truck seems easier to control.
But I'm not sure if anyone here knows whether the compression/rebound on the V6 is softer than the V8 or if the shocks are identical in size?
I do know that they are interchangeable...Not sure on the rate. I would imagine they would be the same, unless they took in account the weight of motor etc., which I don't think they did. - On the springs yes, but shocks and struts, no.
I am partial to air bags, the adjust ability is pretty cool, similar to a coil-over setup. If you are going for ride quality, and want to lower the vehicle as well...maybe they would be good for you.
Would you set up an air pump/compressor in the car or would you fill them with an external air source?
I guess the kit comes with a compressor, controller and tank. It's the tank I worry about, where to put that thing? The only logical place is the trunk and it already has limited room becuase of the top.
I called Bilstein, and they have a cool new adjustable damper setup, but not for the Mustang, dangit...
You have adjustable dampers, I'm assuming they are the Tokico? Do they have some kind of adjustment screw for compression and another for rebound?
If I installed those, and turned them to full soft, how does that compare to stock? I've heard setting 3 is like stock, 5 is race hard and 1 is very soft?
There is an allen screw at the top of each shock/strut. I have them set to almost stiff, from the first day I got them; had no issues so that is where they have been. I really think the car rides nice.
I could go a little softer on my rear because it rebounds so damn fast, almost makes the car hop when going around corners.
I would imagine 3 would be close to stock, 1 would make the car a little more "bouncy" which I am assuming is what your looking for.
BTW, I would suggest new strut mounts once/if you settle down on some dampers. GT500 mounts are only like $70. They are a must! Your old ones will start popping and making awful noises.
Not so much bouncy as just not so reactive to sharp imperfections (I live in Southern California, we have no money to fix the earthquake damaged roads here...)...
But adjustable sounds good. How hard (easy to access) are they to adjust? If I come to a smooth curvy road can I just get out with my allen key for a few minutes and have a sporty ride, or is it more complicated than that?
If you look at the end of my strut bar, in the middle of my strut towers, you will see some red caps. I take them off and inside there is the allen key. I can adjust the front there.
The rears are a little more difficult, way in the back of the trunk, they make extensions to make it easier.