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Handling the Options: Mustang Suspension Guide
Breaking down the latest in suspension offerings for your late-model Mustang
From the June, 2006 issue of 5.0 Mustang & Super Fords
By K.J. Jones
Photography by Courtesy of the Manufacturers
Horse Sense: The Fox Mustang's basicfour-link is one of the most popular rear-suspension setups in today'swild world of small-tire drag racing in classes requiring that shocks,springs, and control arms be installed in their factory locations. Thedesign has proven itself in these categories, and even diehard Brand-Xracers are crossing over to Mustangs because of their superior hookingprowess over Camaros, Firebirds, Novas, and others. There are many different types of suspension systems and componentsdesigned to improve a Mustang's appearance and handling performance onthe street are on the market. And from a competition standpoint,performance-suspension manufacturers also produce a plethora of springs,control arms, sway bars, and shocks that can be used to help set up a'Stang for all types of racing disciplines. In this report, we take a look at cool new suspension pieces from 13different companies for your Fox, SN-95, and '05-'06 'Stangs. If you'rea 'Stangbanger from the old school, you're probably familiar with manyof these providers, as well as others that aren't mentioned here. Someof the companies we've included are just getting their feet wet in theMustang game, so this is our way of helping them announce their presencein the market. BBK's Gripp series offers a complete line of high-quality performancesuspension components for late-model Mustangs, from bushings to controlarms and more. BBK has been in the 'Stang game since 1988, and it isdefinitely one of the true "OGs" of high-performance chassis equipmentfor Ponies of all years, including the S197s of '05 and '06.  BBK offers these graphite-filled,...  BBK offers these graphite-filled, polyurethane suspension bushings forall '79-'04 Mustangs. The Gripp bushings are great replacements for thesoft, OEM rubber bushings, as they help improve handling and steeringresponse. |  This brace helps stiffen the...  This brace helps stiffen the strut-tower/engine-compartment area of'86-'06 Mustangs. A Gripp strut-tower brace can help improve handlingand steering. When combined with a four-point lower crossbrace andsubframe connectors, it makes a 'Stang's chassis rock-solid and readyfor some corner carving. |  These Gripp heavy-duty upper...  These Gripp heavy-duty upper and lower rear control arms are perfect forstreet, drag-racing, or road-racing applications, as they help eliminatewheelhop on '79-'04 'Stangs. The steel arms feature 0.120-inch wallthickness for strength and a baked-on powdercoat finish for a greatappearance. Each arm includes replaceable polyurethane bushings withgreasable zerk fittings for easy maintenance. |  Lowering a 'Stang and installing...  Lowering a 'Stang and installing bigger wheels and wider tires are amongthe more popular mods these days, so it's important to make sure thatwheel alignment is correct and steering isn't compromised or altered bythe upgrade. BBK offers caster/camber plates like these, which fit'79-'06 Mustangs and allow for proper alignment on lowered cars. |  This is an important piece...  This is an important piece for any lowered Mustang. We believe Gripp'spolyurethane bumpstop snubber is a must for any lowered '79-'06 'Stang.The bumpstop replaces the taller factory stop that prematurely bangsinto the axle on lowered cars when they're driven over bumps and unevensurfaces. | |
BMR Fabrication is a relatively new player in the Mustang-suspensiongame, but the company has been making chassis components for severalother makes and models for quite a while. BMR offers many of the popularfront and rear suspension upgrades for all Mustangs, from Fox topresent.  BMR's lower control arms for...  BMR's lower control arms for '79-'93 Mustangs are made of super-tough15/8x0.120-inch DOM tubing and feature 1/4-inch mounting plates fordurability under almost any driving style or condition... |  ...While thecompany's upper...  ...While thecompany's upper arms for Fox cars are available in either fixed ordouble-adjustable versions with a choice of either polyurethane bushingsor Teflon-lined spherical bearings, the double-adjustable piecesfacilitate "on-car" adjustment. We like this feature, as it allowsmaking pinion-angle changes without unbolting the control arms. |  These stout frame connectors...  These stout frame connectors for '79-'93 'Stangs are fabricated withheavy-duty rectangular tubing and laser-cut, CNC-formed plates. BMR'sunique design uses four weld points per framerail and each connectorextends from the driver-side or passenger-side torque box, all the wayforward to the firewall. They also incorporate torque-box reinforcementplating and tie into the rear seat mounts for extra strength. |  BMR has jumped all over the...  BMR has jumped all over the '05-'06 Mustang. This is its lightweighttubular K-member for the S197, weighing 24 pounds. Engine mounts havebeen integrated into this cradle, eliminating the need for stand-alonemounts and thus lightening a 'Stang's nose by approximately 20 pounds.Stock control arms and spindles can be used with BMR's K-member. |  BMR's new radiator-support...  BMR's new radiator-support crossmember can help shave 26 pounds off thefront of an '05-'06 Mustang. Ford beefed up the factory radiatorsupports on the S197, as it pulls dual duty by supporting the radiatorand additional loads of the front sway bar. With the sway bar removed,as it is in most drag-race applications, the crossmember needs tosupport only the weight of the radiator. This flyweight comes in at 5.5pounds and, when combined with sway bar removal, makes yanking the fronttires even easier. |  The new Mustang's chassis...  The new Mustang's chassis is a major improvement over the underpinningsof previous 'Stangs, but when it's all said and done the S197 is still aunibody. BMR makes these subframe connectors for '05-'06 Mustangs. Theconnectors are available in boxed or tubular styles, and they completethe frame structure on the new cars by tying both the rear-control-armmounts and rear portion of the unibody to the front half of the chassis.The boxed frame connectors also triangulate key structural points tomake a rigid frame for new 'Stangs to stand on. The interior carpetdoesn't have to come out in order to weld them on and they tuck tightlyto the floorpan, so factory ground clearance isn't compromised. |
Chris Alston's Chassisworks A longtime player on both the street/strip and full-race scenes for TheGeneral's products, Chris Alston's Chassisworks has finally seen thelight and now offers a couple of cool pieces designed specifically forFox 'Stangs.  VariShock, a division of Chris...  VariShock, a division of Chris Alston's Chassisworks, offers thesebolt-in QuickSet 2 double-adjustable rear shocks (PN VAS 14249-825) andfront coilovers (PN VAS 872DL-952) for Fox 'Stangs... |  ...The shocks andstruts feature...  ...The shocks andstruts feature 256 different settings that can be dialed in by rotatingeither one or both of the two knobs--for "bump"/compression or"rebound"/extension--mounted at their base, without having to remove oreven unbolt them. |  This new bolt-in FAB9 rearend...  This new bolt-in FAB9 rearend housing for '79-'93 Mustangs looksabsolutely sick! While the housing shown in this photo is a prototype,the finished perfect-fit housings will feature spherical bearings forthe upper arms and up/down adjustability for both the shocks and lowercontrol arms. We haven't seen this offered in any other bolt-in, 9-inchrear for Fox Mustangs. Chassisworks has also developed stock-style lowerand double-adjustable upper rear control arms, as well as an adjustableantiroll-bar system that should be available by the time you read this. |
Eibach's spring kits are widely recognized as one of the standards forachieving a low and mean stance for any '79-'06 'Stang. The company alsooffers a variety of suspension products for street-minded enthusiasts orthose who prefer to thrash their Mustangs on the road course ordragstrip.  These Sportline springs radically...  These Sportline springs radically lower a 'Stang's center of gravity. Alower stance helps eliminate squat during acceleration, along with bodyroll and nosedive when you're blasting through corners or are hard onthe brakes. As is the case with all Eibach spring systems, Sportline hasa proprietary, progressive spring design that helps balance extremelowering and comfortable ride quality. It also produces a sinister lookon any 'Stang when it's combined with a bangin' set of 18s, 19s, or even20s. |  Eibach's Drag-Launch kit is...  Eibach's Drag-Launch kit is engineered to improve weight transfer andcontrol axle torque. Made famous by its success on the Fox chassis backin the day, the Drag-Launch system is now also available for SN-95 andS197 Mustangs. Like the '79-'93 kit, it still includes front and rearsprings and a single rear airbag that will help a drag-race 'Stang reactquickly and hook hard. |  Pro-Dampers are designed to...  Pro-Dampers are designed to work specifically with Eibach's Pro-Kit andSportline springs. The dampers make use of the higher rates and lowercenter of gravity created by the spring kits to enhance performancethroughout the entire functional range of a Mustang's suspension. |  Negative camber is one of...  Negative camber is one of the more undesirable results of lowering aMustang. The tops of the tires point inward, and poor handling andexcessive tire wear are the usual results. This Pro-Alignment kit is asolution to correct excessive negative camber, as it helps bring yourlowered 'Stang's front-end alignment back to factory specifications. Youcan also dial in a performance-oriented alignment that uses negativecamber to maximize the car's handling potential. |  We'd be wrong if we didn't...  We'd be wrong if we didn't highlight a few of Eibach's S197-specificsuspension pieces. This is the Pro-Kit for '05-'06 Mustangs. This springpackage is designed for daily driven street cars and it puts the drop onthe front and rear by about an inch and a half. This is plenty enoughfor those who want to look good while cruising, and you don't have toworry about clearing speed bumps, low driveways, and such. |  This is the finishing touch...  This is the finishing touch to any Eibach spring or damper upgrade on an'05-'06 'Stang. The antiroll kit allows enthusiasts to fine-tune S197'salready good handling characteristics. The bars reduce body roll, whichincreases handling and cornering grip by a ton. |
While they're not discussed nearly as much as control arms, springs, orshocks, bushings are perhaps the most important pieces of any suspensionsystem. Without them, we probably wouldn't be able to install most ofthe pieces that we talk about so much. Energy Suspension carrieseverything a 'Stangbanger needs in the form of polyurethane bushings forany front- or rear-suspension component on a '79-'06 Mustang.  These engine and transmission...  These engine and transmission mounts fit '96-'04 modular-poweredMustangs. |  Engine and transmission mounts...  Engine and transmission mounts for '79-'93 5.0. |  Master bushing kits like this...  Master bushing kits like this are available for Mustangs of all years.They're a great, one-stop source for everything you need for a completebushing overhaul. |  This is the Energy Suspension...  This is the Energy Suspension rack-and-pinion bushing set. |  A front and rear control-arm...  A front and rear control-arm bushing kit like this helps improve a'Stang's steering responsiveness and ride quality. | |
From practically out of nowhere comes Evolution Motorsport, maker ofsome of the most innovative Mustang suspension parts we've seen in awhile. Leading the charge is the TriLink, a setup that's designed tohelp improve the deficiencies of the rear suspension on '81-'04 Mustangswith solid axles.  Four minus one equals three....  Four minus one equals three. It's simple math, and it's the basicprinciple behind this unique three-link rear suspension system for Foxthrough New Edge 'Stangs. The kit's basic components include a frontcradle that attaches to the floorpan at the rear seat, a rear cradlethat mounts to the rearend housing and basically eliminates the rearupper control arms, and an adjustable center link measuring nearly 11inches that attaches between the two. The sum of these components isfreer articulation of the rear suspension without binding that's commonto the stock four-link system, a reduced rate of change in antisquat andpinion-angle geometry, and variable instant-center geometry that allowsthe car's instant center to move in relation to suspension displacement.A Watt's Link or a Panhard bar and boxed lower control arms are requiredfor the TriLink. We haven't had an opportunity to check it out, but itseems like a cool deal and the theory behind it makes enough sense forus to take notice. |  EvM's Watt's link system features...  EvM's Watt's link system features a body-mounted, cradle assembly as itsfoundation. The unique cradle design allows easy fitment of the Watt'slink in the tight confines of an '81-'03 solid-axle Mustang's undersidewithout requiring any structural modifications to the car. This Watt'slink allows enthusiasts looking for better handling to decrease theroll-center height of their lowered 'Stang by 101/4 inches, or 111/4inches if the Mustang still sits at stock ride height. EvM says thatunlike a Panhard bar, its Watt's link allows the axle to move in a truevertical plane, resulting in more tunable and predictable handling onall road and track surfaces. |  This is one of EvM's one-piece,...  This is one of EvM's one-piece, billet rear lower control arms for'79-'04 Mustangs. The modular arms weigh only 8 pounds and featureadjustable weight-jack screws, three-piece urethanebushings--Teflon-lined spherical bearings are available as anoption--and stabilizer-bar mounting brackets. |  The EvM adjustable rear stabilizer...  The EvM adjustable rear stabilizer bar replaces the factory sway bar,and it offers enthusiasts three positions of tuning adjustment from achoice of two separate bars (1 inch and 11/8 inch) that can be easilyinterchanged. The 11/8-inch bar is the true bad boy in this system; itoffers rear-end stiffness similar to that of a stock Cobra's sway barwhen it's at its softest setting, but it tightens up dramatically--it's6 percent stiffer than the Cobra bar--when the move to a more aggressiveadjustment is made. |  EvM bills its Spyder strut-tower...  EvM bills its Spyder strut-tower brace as "a break-away from thetraditional strut tower brace." While most braces incorporate only threeattachment points at both strut towers and the cowl, the Spyderincorporates six mounting locations on '96-'04 Mustangs: at the struttowers, the rear corners of the wheelhouse inner panels near the hoodhinges, and at the radiator core support. This brace also includes anadjustable center tube that helps ensure the brace fits and ispositioned properly in the engine bay during installation. All thisbracing produces a lot less body roll and cowl shake when you'repowering through the twisties. | |
Ford F250 Research
Get updated on all your car buying needs from safety features, to specs, to crash test ratings and options. Get all the information you need if you are interested in buying a new car like the Ford F250. Fuel efficiency is important and the 2010 Ford F250 has fuel economy comparable to other cars in its class and also comes with comparable safety features. The Ford Shelby GT500 and the Ford Mustang convertible are other vehicles that might interest you.
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Mustang Wheel & Tire Guide - Rolling Stock
One of the most popular Mustang upgrades includes new wheels and rubber. We help you make your own decision with this guide on the latest styles available. - 5.0 Mustang & Super Fords Magazine...
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