Replace? Upgrade? To What?

[DRKSD]

Hey all,

Prior to purchasing my 99 GT earlier this month I had my mechanic do a pre-purchase inspection and it showed a handful of things that weren't bad yet but should be addressed in the near future.

First off was the battery. No brainer as it was the original battery on a 50k mile car. Replaced.

Next, Front Struts, Rear Shocks, and Axle Dampers. Finally, Valve Cover Gaskets. The mechanic said the front struts, rear shocks and Axle Dampers were leaking and/or showing signs of wear consistent with an upcoming failure. But the Valve Cover Gaskets were merely wet upon inspection but showing no real signs of leakage at this time.

I fully intended to add some lowering springs to my suspension anyway, so a new set of aftermarket shocks and struts seems like a good fix for those two issues.

My question comes up with the Axle Dampers. Ashamed to say that until earlier this afternoon I didn't even have a clue what these things even were. So, do I just replace these with OEM parts, or is there a reasonable priced alternative in the upgrade market that I should be looking into instead?

Help me out here StangNet, I'm hoping this is a pretty easy test of the collective knowledge banks.

 

[Deleted member 38176]

Axle dampers are actually referred to as quad shocks on Mustangs (no one really calls them axle dampers anymore). There are a number of better aftermarket versions that are very cheap. For example, AmericanMuscle.com sells both KYB and Bilstein quad shocks. The KYB's list for $35 each and the Bilsteins are $90 each. Both of these far exceed OEM quality.

http://www.americanmuscle.com/99-04-shock-strut.html

OR you could just remove them all-together. The quad shocks are not an essential part of the rear suspension and won't hurt the car by eliminating them. A few people have removed theirs

 

[brtnstrns]

Interesting...I just noticed those on my car the other day for the first time and was wondering what they were for.

 

[trombonedemon]

Axle dampers are actually referred to as quad shocks on Mustangs (no one really calls them axle dampers anymore). There are a number of better aftermarket versions that are very cheap. For example, AmericanMuscle.com sells both KYB and Bilstein quad shocks. The KYB's list for $35 each and the Bilsteins are $90 each. Both of these far exceed OEM quality.

http://www.americanmuscle.com/99-04-shock-strut.html

OR you could just remove them all-together. The quad shocks are not an essential part of the rear suspension and won't hurt the car by eliminating them. A few people have removed theirs

I'm not trying to start a debate but, my mechanic refused to removed my quad shocks he stated that the rear-end of the car will move like as if it had rear-steer. I'm seeing quad shocks may not play that important of a role in "drag strips" but, going around a corning with an already shaky rear end is asking for trouble.

Do a search, there was like a big debate sometime ago, actually W.M. Burns had a really great explaination on why the quad shocks should stay and its role.

 

[Deleted member 38176]

The sole purpose of quad shocks is to reduce axle "wind up" and wheel hop. I dont see how they really affect the dynamics of how the rear suspension performs (ie how the car handles)

Either way, the KYB and Bilstein parts are pretty cheap.

 

[trombonedemon]

The sole purpose of quad shocks is to reduce axle "wind up" and wheel hop. I dont see how they really affect the dynamics of how the rear suspension performs (ie how the car handles)

Either way, the KYB and Bilstein parts are pretty cheap.

I'm not willing to find out though the side effects of not having quads shocks, your right about the KYBs, those would be the ones to go with; the Bilsteins, one would be paying for the name more the anything else.

 

[turbogt]

I'm not willing to find out though the side effects of not having quads shocks, your right about the KYBs, those would be the ones to go with; the Bilsteins, one would be paying for the name more the anything else.

I've never run quads and im a corner carvee

 

[midnightdriver]

I have the KYB quads, i have no complaints

 

[DRKSD]

Thanks for the tips, guys. I probably never would have found 'axle dampers' anywhere on the stang mod websites. Now that I know they're quad shocks I have a place to start!

 

[BurningRubber]

I wouldn't touch the valve cover gaskets until they actaully start to leak (if they do).

What I would do is replace your PCV valve. Could be bad and causing extra crankcase pressure, thus deteriorating your seals a little prematurely.