Rear Suspension

Is this intended for drag racing only. The reason I ask is because those short upper links don't look like they'll allow much of a differential in suspension compression from side to side, before they'll bind.

There's also the problem inherent in the Panhard bar, that it will behave differently one side to the other.

It also looks like this kit will cause a pretty large amount of lowering, just by eyeballing the radius where the bracket will weld onto the axle tube and also how the front bracket will match up with the existing front spring eye mounting point.

I'm not saying that a binding four link will handle worse than the factory leaf spring design. And lots of people are using Panhard bars in serious open track combos. Also, I'm all in favor of lowering, except you've got to stop at the point where the axle tubes are whacking against the bump stops all the time. I went beyond that point with my '65 and it was not good.

I have been doing a lot of research on rear suspensions myself lately as I plan to upgrade my own soon. This is what I have found by talking to the different makers and installers around the country. The 4 link in the pic is a great street setup. it will improve street manners as well as handle better than the stock setup but has some short commings when it comes to performance. As mentioned before the panard bar is just not up to the performace of a watts link. Now keep in mind you would have to be into some pretty serious cornering before you would know the differents. The ride of the 4 link is much better than the stock set up. The biggest knock against it is the straight line accel & decel traction. I spoke with the guys at Autoworks international as they install and sell many different brands and build some killer stangs. They don't even hesitate one second before recommending the RRS 3-link. They have put on the Total control rocker arm system and said there was know comparision between performance. The RRS won hands down.

I guess it all comes down to how you are going to use the car. I have RRS struts & rack on my car now and hve been very impressed with the quality and service. I know the stuff is a little pricey but I only plan on buying it once.

If you want a balls out rear suspension buy the Griggs, the RRS, or the torque arm from TCI and the non laydown coil spring package.

Rennmachine has used this one (which I think is Heidt's) on a couple of customers cars with good effect. It's not perfect but it's a big step up over stock.

Renn made a comment that, while far from perfect, you could install this and actually enjoy your car rather than argue about what's wrong with it (and from a purist road racing type deal, it's far from perfect).

I've probablly been hanging around Corner Carvers too long, but I'll just say it anyway. These Mustangs are 40 or so year old cars. Technology has changed a little bit since these came out. If you want your Mustang to handle like an M3, find somebody with an M3 and swap him.

I planned to do some OT events with my car, but I've decided now that I'll have too much money into it to wad it up and worse, I know it will be slow. I'm doing the only sane thing I can. I'm building a Spec E30 BMW and run the NASA series, a car that I won't cry about if I wad up.

That's certainly a good point. I think a lot of these higher ends suspensions, while good for racing and whatnot, provide more of a cool factor for our road cars. Unfortunately, a lot of us don't have the money to pay for that cool factor. I think I'll settle on the Heidt's rear end and maybe the TCP coilovers up front, don't know yet. I'm looking for that protouring look, but unfortunately I'm just graduating college so it'll have to wait, haha.