Will Front and Rear Sway Bars from the same year Mustang (03) GT fit on a V6? Are they simple bolt on mods and do they make a worthwhile difference to get? Thanks.
Yes, they bolt right up. The holes are already there.
Adding a rear swaybar makes a HUGE difference! It really tames the rear-end Macarena that the V6 is known for. The front swaybar is just stiffer than the stock V6 bar. It helps a little in hard cornering.
Also, my understanding is that their are a number of different size thicknesses to these sway bars. Is there a particular size that is better for the 2003 V6?
The rear is very easy. Just jack the rear of the car up, support it with jackstands, and the sway bar bolts right to the lower control arms. It's impossible to install backwards- the bend in the bar points down to clear your diff. You should use either factory bolts and u-nuts or get good Grade 8 stuff from the home improvement center.
The front is a little tougher. You have to remove both front wheels, disconnect the sway bar end links (that attach it to the lower control arms), and unbolt the mounting blocks on the frame. There are some splash shields that will have to be moved, too (they're just installed with plastic push-fasteners). Just work the old bar out the side, and work the new one in the same way. The new sway bar should come with the proper rubber bushings, so just mount it using your existing straps. Be sure to grease the rubber bushings well to prevent squeaks.
It's a goof-proof job that can be done in about an hour with normal tools. There is nothing under tension, and it's tough to damage anything or put it on wrong. It's worth doing!
Yes, you already have a front bar- it's just not as stiff as the ones on the V8, Bullitt, etc. If you get a GT rear swaybar, you won't notice the difference in stiffness unless you're doing hardcore racing.
I have front and rear takeoffs from a Bullitt- they're even stiffer than the GT. I like them.
Eh, I probably wont do any hardcore racing or anything. So maybe I'll put that off for a while. I was just looking to do some cheap upgrades, since gt rear sway bars are relatively cheap. Thanks for the help.
No, I meant you won't notice swaybars that aren't the same stiffness. I definitely recommend installing some kind of sway bar in the rear. There's nothing back there right now.
It just doesn't matter if you have a V6 front bar and a GT rear bar.