2007 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 Convertible Maximum Motorsport's Suspension System Upgrade

While coupe 'Stangs have always been lighter than convertibles, we were surprised to learn exactly how heavy today's rag-top Ponies really are.....

....Granted, Carlos's ride is a Shelby GT500, with a 5.4-liter engine topped with Lysholm's massive twin-screw supercharger, but, any way you look at it, 4,000 pounds is pretty heavy.

Maximum Motorsports' caster/camber plates are well known throughout the Mustang Nation. These plates (PN Mm5CC-5) are brand-new, and are designed specifically for use with Eibach's R2 struts (they have a different upper spring perch to fit the 21/2-inch coilover springs). Camber plates allow adjusting the camber to within factory specifications, regardless of how much a Mustang is lowered. For our upcoming track attack, camber will be adjusted to more-aggressive negative settings.

Installing Maximum's bumpsteer kit (PN Mm5TR-1) will allow us to adjust the GT500's steering geometry, which minimizes the effects of bumpsteer and quickens turn-in response.

These front and rear antirollbars from Eibach (PN 35115.320) reduce body roll, and increase handling and cornering grip. The thick bars measure 35mm (front) and 22 (rear), and are made with high-strength aircraft-quality steel.

A common confusion about tubular lower control arms is that they're designed primarily for drag-race applications. We're using Maximum's Extreme-Duty LCAs (PN Mm5RLCA-53) on our Top Car Challenge Shelby. The arms are suitable for street use and open-tracking (as well as the dragstrip), and will help reduce axle wind-up and its resulting wheelhop.

Our Shelby GT500's stock Panhard bar is being replaced with this piece (PN Mm5PBAR-3) from Maximum Motorsports. Maximum's bar is lighter than the factory piece and features spherical rod ends. The Panhard bar improves stability by keeping the axle properly located under the chassis during hard cornering and when driving in a straight line.

Lowering a 'Stang is an unofficial requirement for enthusiast ownership. Carlos followed those rules by installing front and rear lowering equipment, shortly after purchasing his GT500. The setup gave the Shelby a great profile, but is a bit too soft for thrashing the Shelby's on the road course.

The Multi-Pro R2's 2 1/2-inch (diameter) spring package consists of a 7-inch (long) primary spring and a 1 3/4-inch helper spring. Ride height is established by threading the collars up or down. Struts and shocks include remote gas/fluid reservoirs that are used to adjust compression valving (rebound is tuned via adjustment screws on top of the dampers), with a simple turn of the knob on the canister.

Strut installation is uneventful and no different from any other S197 strut swap we've performed. The job is accomplished a little easier with two people working on it.

We're replacing the OEM strut fasteners with a new set of bolts (PN MMF-3). The strut to spindle hardware kit features Ford's new bolts (in production midway through the '09 model year) that have a finer thread pitch than the original fastener that you see here. The new bolts facilitate greater tightening torque (for more clamp load between the strut ears and the spindle). Insufficient clamp load can lead to spindle failure, which we don't want to happen during our track sessions.

Brian bolts Eibach's front antiroll bar in place. Like the strut installation, this process also is straightforward, and uses brackets and fasteners that are included with the kit.

Luka initially aligns the new bumpsteer rods with the factory tie rod ends. Bumpsteer will be further calibrated once all of the components are installed.

This comparison details the difference between the stamped-steel, rubber-bushed (and cheap)....

....OEM rear lower control arm, and Maximum Motorsports' sturdy double-adjustable tubular arms.

While lower control arms typically pop in place without much drama, a small amount of prybar persuasion may be necessary.

The Multi-Pro R2 system features monotube inverted shocks (the piston is at the top of the shock). So, yes, this rear shock is supposed to be "upside down."....

....Notice the blingy new Panhard bar in the photo? Maximum's new rod was added to our upgrade, to help us achieve spot-on alignment by allowing Luka to perfectly center our Shelby's rearend.

The remote shock reservoirs are mounted wherever you can find a convenient location. The containers include super-long, stainless-steel hoses that are covered with protective vinyl, so placing them just about anywhere in the engine compartment or chassis is possible, using the supplied billet brackets.

The Multi-Pro R2 suspension package can lower a 'Stang as much as 2 1/2 inches. We didn't go that low with Carlos's Shelby. Because of the Pony's weight, the experts at Maximum Motorsports chose to level the car off at a point where it won't bottom out when it's on the track.