Suspension upgrades needed?
- Thread starter dg00gt
- Start date
smokin'Red35th
Member
i was speaking with one of the techs at maximum motorsports about springrates for my coilovers. we got on the topic of rear suspension. He said that in regards to rear suspension, Lower control arms and a panhard bar will make the biggest difference in traction and will totally transform how the rearend of your car handles.
I had already bought the Steeda LCAs and I purchased the Panhard bar along with my coilover package from Max. motorsports, but havent installed them yet so i cant say from experience.
I had already bought the Steeda LCAs and I purchased the Panhard bar along with my coilover package from Max. motorsports, but havent installed them yet so i cant say from experience.
wms004
Founding Member
hotrodnut
Member
I can give a thumbs up for both the Steeda Control arms and the MM Panhard Bar for helping you get the power to the ground! 
With the HP you'll be putting out I would suggest the Kenny Brown Extreme Matrix Sub-frame System and some UPR or equivalent Torque Box kit just to make sure.
With the HP you'll be putting out I would suggest the Kenny Brown Extreme Matrix Sub-frame System and some UPR or equivalent Torque Box kit just to make sure.
300bhp/ton
New Member
what about handling? The Gt is quite a heavy old boat, but how do these mods change the corning ability and more importantly the feel and balance of the car?hotrodnut said:I can give a thumbs up for both the Steeda Control arms and the MM Panhard Bar for helping you get the power to the ground!
Are there any other handling mods which should be considered or is the stock setup capable enough?
hotrodnut
Member
300bhp/ton said:
I think the stock suspension on the GT or Mach1 are good to a certain point, lets say up to about 90% of full tilt, then the dreaded understeer (more so on the Mach1) tends to show its evil self as you get closer and closer to max adhesion. Also the lean angle, nose dive, squat and snap back on the exits of the turns are pretty upsetting on stock suspended Mustangs.
I know all Mustangs will benifit from stiffer shocks, springs and chassis bracing to get the best balance possible. A pan hard bar, strut brace and subframes along with the springs and shocks are a must to get the basic ultimate cornering from the Mustang.
Upper and lower control arms with hard bushings (except one end of the uppers) really help when at full throttle and exiting the corner preventing the snap back at that point. Hard bushings up front, some bigger sway bars front and rear, rear strut brace, beefier k-members and support brace all add to the end result of netural handling and good feedback corner-carvers look for from their machines.
hotrodnut
Member
04GT
New Member
I just got Steeda SFCs installed. Really liking them so far! Now I'm thinking of doing the upper and lower control arms, too. Definitely feeling less floaty on the exit ramps.
hotrodnut
Member
Stangsgrl said:
I've only had experience with the original design 5-link but I understand the 5-link 2 kit works just as well as the original but allows the use of the over the axle exhaust pipes to be used.
Both will stop the suspension bind from the adverse mounting angles of the stock upper control arms and allow for less pinion angle change while the suspension goes through it's limits of travel due to the longer upper control arms.
300bhp/ton
New Member
Does a 99-04 Gt not have a Pan hard rod as standard?
Does anyone offer a Watts linkage for them?
Does anyone offer a Watts linkage for them?
hotrodnut
Member
300bhp/ton said:
No, the 99-04 does not have a panhard bar as standard. The '05 does though.
Off the top of my head Griggs and Evolution Motorsports have the Watts link.
smokin'Red35th
Member
i recently purchased the bilstein coilover kit from maximum motorsports which includes:
Bilstein sport shocks and struts
hypercoil springs (350/200 if i rememer correcly)
coilover conversion kit
Caster camber plates
I have also purchased Steeda aluminum lower control arms, and a panhard bar from maximum motorsports.
I Left the Upers out of the equation for now because i may decide to take them out and go with a torque arm in the future going with the 3 link setup. you may want to consider that if you plan on getting the uppers control arms.
My goal is to get my mustang to handle as well as possible while still maintaining a comfortable ride on the street. I want my car to be a great all around performer.
Bilstein sport shocks and struts
hypercoil springs (350/200 if i rememer correcly)
coilover conversion kit
Caster camber plates
I have also purchased Steeda aluminum lower control arms, and a panhard bar from maximum motorsports.
I Left the Upers out of the equation for now because i may decide to take them out and go with a torque arm in the future going with the 3 link setup. you may want to consider that if you plan on getting the uppers control arms.
My goal is to get my mustang to handle as well as possible while still maintaining a comfortable ride on the street. I want my car to be a great all around performer.
