S197... Suspension... what setup?

OK, so I need some advice from all you diehard Stang owner & lovers out there.

The situation: Black Betty is a '05 V6 with standard suspension which is getting tired running on 18's 255/45s

The challenge: To determine a good suspension setup for comfortable street driving (she is a daily driver)

The current thought: Swap out the springs/shocks with H&R Super Sport Springs (~1.7 in lower) and Tokico D-spec Adjustable strut/shock kit & Steeda bumpsteer Kit

The unknown: Control arms, sway bars (will be getting checked out this week)

So, what are all your thoughts? Anyone think they know of a better combo? Remember, this is a daily driver NOT a drag/race car.

I look forward to any and all suggestions!

Cheers

Pete

I`ve installed quite a few of the Ford Racing syspension kits on these cars. I installed it on my 09 GT with no complaints. It looks awesome, rides good and handles like its on a rail. Ed, Chris, any thoughts on your syspension.

BTW, Chris I still have your old sway bar.

got to s197 forum. they are selling metco upper and lower control arms with lower relo brackets.

For sways check out steeda and H&R

Tokico is a good setup with those springs. I just picked up a set of Eibach pro street-s coilovers for cheap.

I can let you know how theses feel but wont be still spring.

You might want to get a set of Maximum Motorsports caster camber plates as well to set everything to factory spec

blown50stang1990 wrote:I`ve installed quite a few of the Ford Racing syspension kits on these cars. I installed it on my 09 GT with no complaints. It looks awesome, rides good and handles like its on a rail. Ed, Chris, any thoughts on your syspension.

Like i said, I love the GT 500 stuff under my car, I'm just concerned that you wont get the comfortable ride your looking for, mine def rides more ruff then with the stock, but to me it doesn't feel ruff, it feels more sure footed, if I had the money to do it though, I would stiffen it up even more, I like going around curves real fast, but whatever you go with, you def want to put on a Strut Tower Brace, it makes the struts do there job instead of flexing the front body, I got the Steeda and its made very well, i like it, and as I said before, get Bob to fix that panhard brace under the rear, oh and I almost forgot, 05 you most likely don't have a rear sway bar, some did and some didn't, I think it came with the Pony package, I didn't have one before I got the GT 500 stuff.

Also for the 05 4.0 We need to do the throttle body coolant bypass mod also. That can possibly free up some power

Wow, I know that when when it comes time to stiffen up the ride on our 02 conv. Ya 'll know what I'll need. "Like Ed I like taking curves fast..... I wanna take curves like I have " magna traction"....oops, you have to be a child of the 70's to know what that means.....well handle like a slot car.

Ford blue springs and eibach pro are the same springs. Eibach built them for Ford. I have those springs on mine. They ride great. The sportlines are 2+ inch drop and will ride considerably more rough.

if you are interested in the gt500 shocks and struts ill sell you mine. The only thing you will need is lowering springs and upper strut mounts

Bob, I'm sending you a PM.

As for the sway bar... I've got a GT takeoff on my '06 v6 convertible. As most people know, with the convertible you have even more flex in every turn because of having no roof. After putting the thicker front sway bar on, and putting a rear sway bar on (which there wasn't one before), AND modifying them (I'll have Bob explain that one), basically drilling a hole about a 1/4" further in on each side - really stiffens things up. My car is a daily driver. And in the beginning it's like black and white, granted, it take gravel roads a bit rough and washboarded asphalt.... BUT it takes corners like a gt500. not even kidding. get yourself some nice sticky tires with this setup, and it'll be like driving a completely different car

Cdude2010 wrote:Bob, I'm sending you a PM.

As for the sway bar... I've got a GT takeoff on my '06 v6 convertible. As most people know, with the convertible you have even more flex in every turn because of having no roof. After putting the thicker front sway bar on, and putting a rear sway bar on (which there wasn't one before), AND modifying them (I'll have Bob explain that one), basically drilling a hole about a 1/4" further in on each side - really stiffens things up. My car is a daily driver. And in the beginning it's like black and white, granted, it take gravel roads a bit rough and washboarded asphalt.... BUT it takes corners like a gt500. not even kidding. get yourself some nice sticky tires with this setup, and it'll be like driving a completely different car

Yes please Chris put some wider sticky tires on your car for GODSAKE! Almost gave an old man a heart attack the day that your new suspension was installed! LOL

chrisverneuil wrote:Also for the 05 4.0 We need to do the throttle body coolant bypass mod also. That can possibly free up some power

i forgot about that, and its an easy mod

conejo172 wrote:

Cdude2010 wrote:Bob, I'm sending you a PM.

As for the sway bar... I've got a GT takeoff on my '06 v6 convertible. As most people know, with the convertible you have even more flex in every turn because of having no roof. After putting the thicker front sway bar on, and putting a rear sway bar on (which there wasn't one before), AND modifying them (I'll have Bob explain that one), basically drilling a hole about a 1/4" further in on each side - really stiffens things up. My car is a daily driver. And in the beginning it's like black and white, granted, it take gravel roads a bit rough and washboarded asphalt.... BUT it takes corners like a gt500. not even kidding. get yourself some nice sticky tires with this setup, and it'll be like driving a completely different car

Yes please Chris put some wider sticky tires on your car for GODSAKE! Almost gave an old man a heart attack the day that your new suspension was installed! LOL

Just don't put them on in the winter, performance tires suck in the snow!

I concur!

i know, i know. I need to break for some nice wheels. but after buying the fiero... i'm rather broke :/

Broke but with 2 nice cars!!

true true... but i just got back from bob's with a new surprise ;)

Thanks for the tips and discussion! Lot's to consider and many things to do....

Well, this weekend will see the following installs:

Eibach Anti-Roll Kit
Tokico HP Series Struts/Shocks
Tie Rod Ends (outer)
Power Steering pressure line
American Racing Shelby Rims

Hopefully, this will fix my immediate concerns & coupled with last weeks CAI kit install and Retune, I should be heading in the right direction. The lowering is on hold (for now) as it is not on my necessity list, but there is more than enough happening to Black Betty this week to keep me happy and Bob busy!

Wow Pete has been raped by the mod bug.

Make sure to put up new pics after the wheels are on

conejo172 wrote:Make sure to put up new pics after the wheels are on

the wheels are sick... saw them at bob's today

I think I know which ones they are and I want them! Pete make sure to get wheel locks, or I'll steal em!

Cdude2010 wrote:true true... but i just got back from bob's with a new surprise ;)

Chris, What is it now? you need to share with the family!

conejo172 wrote:

Cdude2010 wrote:true true... but i just got back from bob's with a new surprise ;)

Chris, What is it now? you need to share with the family!

oh just a little exterior upgrade

They're like this Well.... not really. See below!!!

Very nice exterior upgrade young man! And Pete those are really nice looking wheels! Get wheel locks though Seriously!

the_Pete wrote:


They're like this

Close but not them, They are the American Racing Redline Shelby series. They have Shelby engraved in the lip. The wheel locks are included with the wheels, since im such a nice guy