I want a smooth ride!!!

00BlackBeautyGT

Member

Oct 4, 2003

298

0

16

E.S. Long Beach, CA

Mar 17, 2004

#1

• Mar 17, 2004

• #1

Is it my Mustang or is it all Mustangs? Seems like every bump in the road I go over I feel it. Everything just shakes rattles and roll. I'm looking into suspension upgrades soon. I do however have the Eibach Prokit with stock shocks. Not long ago I got some MM subs installed and it did make a difference, but not enough for my satisfaction. Is it the shocks that makes my car feels like this, or is it the Eibachs? I'm thinking of the Bilsteins HD with some H&R's and CC plates. Will my car ride smooth or will it ride even harsher than it is? I am looking for a nice, smooth yet firm ride. Please advise any suggestions that you may have.

 

hobbes80

Founding Member

Jun 29, 2002

410

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17

Northern Virginia

Mar 17, 2004

#2

• Mar 17, 2004

• #2

smooth ride isn't neccessarily in just shocks or just springs... it's in the pairing of shocks that work well with the spring rate... Since you have lowering springs, but not "lowered" shocks, the shocks have less travel distance causing a rougher ride.

I personally have the Saleen Kit... but they were a PITA to deal with and the suspension is a mediocre compromise of ride quality and performance. I'm sure some other folks will pipe up with what they have... you can see pics of what I've got at my website.
www.hobbesvilla.com/mustang.htm

 

00BlackBeautyGT

Member

Oct 4, 2003

298

0

16

E.S. Long Beach, CA

Mar 18, 2004

#3

• Mar 18, 2004

• #3

What about control arms? Does control arms have a lot to do with ride quality?

How about alignment? I do need an alignment because my steering is a tad bit off. Will re-aligning my car make any difference?

 

01GT eibach

Active Member

Nov 18, 2002

1,075

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36

Pittsburgh, PA

Mar 18, 2004

#4

• Mar 18, 2004

• #4

The Bilstein HD's are awesome but very firm. I had them and ripped them out in favor of Tokico Illuminas to soften the ride. The car is shared with the wife so I like to keep very "drivable".

You asked about control arms. These will affect ride quality based on the bushings they have. All aftermarket arms will likely have a firmer bushing than the stock arms, but the drastic handling improvement is worth it. Just make sure to get poly bushings, and run away from "spherical" or aluminum bushing control arms.

 

S.D.-Stangman

Founding Member

Jul 17, 2002

580

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0

San Diego, Ca

Mar 18, 2004

#5

• Mar 18, 2004

• #5

I like my Bilstein HD's, but the tokico's would probably give a more supple ride.

 

BLKVERT

New Member

Jan 19, 2004

407

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0

SATX

Mar 18, 2004

#6

• Mar 18, 2004

• #6

Get some H&R's, some Hi-Perf shocks/struts and some C/C plates.....will smooth out your ride problem.

 

GOLDENPONY

Founding Member

Jan 23, 2002

1,503

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36

LOVELAND, OHIO

Mar 18, 2004

#7

• Mar 18, 2004

• #7

Shocks & Ride

I only have stock springs but I installed Edelbrock IAS Performer shocks & struts. I think these are an excellent blend of ride and handeling. Also make sure your tire pressure isn't too high-set at factory recommended pressure.

 

hognutz

New Member

Nov 12, 2002

1,940

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albany, oregon

Mar 18, 2004

#8

• Mar 18, 2004

• #8

the bilstiens work well but you will feel the bumps. it is diffened than the factory crappy feel. I would get some ajustables if ride quality is your main goal because in all honesty a car set up to handle the best will not ride the best. you car has to stay glued to the road to hanlde properly hence you will feel the bumbs a bit. the fact that you lowered you car is not helping you cause here either.

I mean in all reality less spring travel means a harsher ride.


tokico ilumina $450 shipped
koni adj $550 shipped
kyb agx I think around 370-400

if it were me I would try the koni's out.

 

01GT eibach

Active Member

Nov 18, 2002

1,075

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36

Pittsburgh, PA

Mar 18, 2004

#9

• Mar 18, 2004

• #9

hognutz said:

... in all honesty a car set up to handle the best will not ride the best...

Click to expand...

This is especially true in our cars with a solid rear "live" axel.

 

kirkyg

Founding Member

Jun 14, 2002

3,568

1

56

Beaumont, TX

Mar 18, 2004

#10

• Mar 18, 2004

• #10

What about the Tokico illumina 5-ways + lowering springs. Does anyone know if the springs are any good? They sell the entire kit for like 550 on ebay shipped. That would it only costs 100 extra for the springs.

I either wnat to do that or maybe just get the tokico non-adjustables that are like 170 for the mach 1 kit. Are those lowered shocks? If so would they handle and ride good with a 1-1.25'' drop front & back or would i need different shocks to match that ride height? Also, which springs would be best for that drop?

kirkyg

 

hognutz

New Member

Nov 12, 2002

1,940

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albany, oregon

Mar 18, 2004

#11

• Mar 18, 2004

• #11

I think you will only get about 1 inch out of the tokico kit. I have seen people post about it. it is a great deal and I almost went with it by I needed to get my 4x4 more than 1 inch closer to the ground.

 

00BlackBeautyGT

Member

Oct 4, 2003

298

0

16

E.S. Long Beach, CA

Mar 18, 2004

#12

• Mar 18, 2004

• #12

The other day, I drove my brothers 98 Honda Civic Hatchback and the ride quality is way smoother than my 2000 GT. His suspension is stock to the bone. I'm not saying that I'd rather have a Honda, but what I'm saying is I want my car to feel like his.

 

01GT eibach

Active Member

Nov 18, 2002

1,075

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36

Pittsburgh, PA

Mar 19, 2004

#13

• Mar 19, 2004

• #13

First off, I congratulate you for having the manhood to come into Stangnet and state that you desire your Mustang to ride like a "a bone stock Honda". That is certainly not a largely repeated theme around here.


In all seriousness, though, the Bilsteins are likely not gonna get where you want to go. Like I said before, I had them and ripped them out in favor of some more "drivability" with Tokico Illuminas. Even with the Illuminas my ride is pretty firm, but very noticably more compliant than when I had the Bilsteins in there. It is a firm ride, but very habitable ... not at all what I would call harsh. However, my car also has aftermarket control arms which also slightly deteriorate the soft ride in favor of significantly improved handling. Right now I think my car rides about as soft you can go while still have what I would consider excellent handling. My suggestion to you is to change out the shocks and struts to something softer than the Bilsteins like the Illuminas. Your car will ride wayyyyy better than it does now If after installing the shocks and struts, you can handle a slight deterioration in ride softness, then change out your control arms in favor of some aftermarket ones with poly bushings. The control arms will greatly improve your car's handling characteristics.