Subframe Connectors

MrGame · Mar 20, 2007

I was thinking about buying a set, but i'm not really educated on how they work. I knwo they connect the 2 subframes and stifften the car, but should i get standard or full-length? and are there any drawbacks? (clearance, etc.?)

Dragstr05 · Mar 20, 2007

Get full length. I dont think there are any drawbacks at all, only that they are overlooked by many people. Maybe because to do it right they need to be welded in?

Shouldnt cause any clearance issues. I've never heard anything negative about SFC's.

propellerhead · Mar 20, 2007

Get full length ones. They have a more contact area with your existing subframe. That translates to better support. I never had clearance issues with mine. My rear sway bar is still the lowest point.

Everyone votes for Maximum Motorsports. I got the Laurel Mountain Mustang ones. The design of the SFCs are better. The seat brackets come as one piece. The MM ones come in eight small pieces you have to weld together. The LMM ones have a slight bend in two places. It conforms to your car better. The LMM ones are a tad lighter with a slightly thinner wall but the box construction provide more than adequate support. No need for armor plating.

Red2000GT · Mar 20, 2007

Full length SFC's are the way to go but there are 2 kinds. Some follow the floorpan of the car and you MIGHT lose an inch of ground clearance in the middle of the car but the best way to look at it is,the SFC's will protect the floorpan from scraping while going over a hump. Some SFC's are a "through the floor" type that require you to cut out 2 sections,per side,of the floor pan and the bars run straight from front to rear with no bending. They are stronger because of that but there will be permanent modification to the car.

GettinThere · Mar 21, 2007

Get full length, if you are going to do it, do it right. Also make sure they are properly welded on. They should be installed while the weight of the car is on the springs/wheels, like on a drive-on lift, and not with the wheels hanging.

tomustang · Mar 21, 2007

MrGame said:
I was thinking about buying a set, but i'm not really educated on how they work. I knwo they connect the 2 subframes and stifften the car, but should i get standard or full-length? and are there any drawbacks? (clearance, etc.?)

They tie the front and rear frames together, if you get standard they won't do that, if you get bolt-in they'll flex and damage your unibody since you drilled holes in it

Dragstr05 said:
Get full length. I dont think there are any drawbacks at all, only that they are overlooked by many people. Maybe because to do it right they need to be welded in?

Shouldnt cause any clearance issues. I've never heard anything negative about SFC's.

Only clearance issue or drawback is that you can't fit side exhaust on since the connector is in the way of the pipe

Seraphitia102 · Mar 21, 2007

I got Global West full length subframe connectors. My handling around corners is incredible and it's one mod that I can FEEL the difference (unlike adding a cold air intake)

You can see my SFC below.

blacksheep-1 · Mar 21, 2007

I think that these guys opinions are right on, however, there is one thing to consider. I autocross in NASA, with a '99 35th anny. I run stock ford convertible subframe connectors for 2 reasons, #1 is that at some point somebody (maybe me) may want to return the car to stock, or, you might get jones'd when you go to trade it in or sell it (or maybe not if it's a performance car enthusiast), I run both the factory bolt ins AND the front subframe structure out of a convertible as well. This really tightens the car up, and although the weld ins are better I have to, #2 run a "stock" car under the NASA rules. I can slide the substructers from the vert by since they are technically a factory part.

ban-one · Mar 21, 2007

so if u cant find a drive on lift how do u install them? can u raise the car up and make the wheels sit on rims and then get under to weld? whats everybodys secret who dont have access to a drive on lift...

MrGame · Mar 22, 2007

and do they make the car handle a lot better?

ZakeriD · Mar 22, 2007

what would be better... MM full length or steeda/laurel mountain full length with torque box reinforcement?

99gtsal · Mar 22, 2007

You don't necessarily need to go with full length SFC's. Unless you have a convertible which lacks the built in stiffness of a hard top then you can go with standard SFC's. I had standards installed on mine and have driven in other hard tops with full length SFC's and really have not noticed a huge difference. So, unless you plan on road racing or some kind of extreme driving then standards are fine IMHO.

blacksheep-1 · Mar 22, 2007

You can jack the car up on all 4 corners, supported by the front lower control arms, and the axle on the rear. Basically simulate as much as possible, the car sitting on the road. Place the jack stands as far out as possible to the wheels.

BennyBlown2v · Mar 22, 2007

blacksheep-1 said:
You can jack the car up on all 4 corners, supported by the front lower control arms, and the axle on the rear. Basically simulate as much as possible, the car sitting on the road. Place the jack stands as far out as possible to the wheels.

Uhm yeah or just get four drive on ramps and you're good to go

99MustangGTman · Mar 22, 2007

get mm full length ones, work great

Seraphitia102 · Mar 22, 2007

MrGame said:
and do they make the car handle a lot better?

definitely. especially on the tight, corner-hugging turns.

Skidzz · Mar 22, 2007

I've got the steeda full lengths and I love them. I noticed a huge reduction in flex and I can feel a difference in the corners.

smokin00GT · Mar 22, 2007

I have the full length Maximum Motorsports, the quality and fit was great. I used a gas shieled welder to make the welds look as smooth as possible. I don't have a lift but I used some big blocks of wood to get all 4 tires off the ground by 2.5 feet. Just enough room to work and to load the suspension evenly. Weld and paint and you're done. Car tracks very straight and feels a lot stronger.

GToddyT5 · Mar 23, 2007

I got mine on a few weeks ago and didn't notice a huge difference.

tomustang · Mar 23, 2007

99gtsal said:
You don't necessarily need to go with full length SFC's.

Yes, you do.

Subframe Connectors

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