Upgraded sway bars for Mach 1?

[Hifiguy]

I went on for the magneride Ford Performance track pack suspension kit, and the only issue I encountered is that the software this far could not be installed

Still emailing back and forth with FP, I am on hold at the moment

But my interpretation with the info I currently have is that the software in that particular kit would potentially could have a negative impact vs the Non HP Mach1 for my car.

This weekend I have a Timeattack event, at my local track (f1 circuit in Mexico City) Last time with this setup I managed to climb to 3rd place in my category...

Setup:
Rear Sway Bar at the stiffest hole
Front Bar at the softer hole
Camber Plates maxed out ~-2° up front(also from Ford)

IMO Mach 1 Base with this OEM+ setup it's amazing

Were you able to program the VDM on your Mach 1 yet?

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[aerok]

Were you able to program the VDM on your Mach 1 yet?

Not yet, thanks for remind me. I will follow up today

 

[aerok]

Got an answer from FP, and my interpretation with the emails I have gotten.

Chronologically speaking
First was the GT350 & PP1 calibration, then PP2, followed by Mach 1 & Mach 1 HP, finally the Dark Horse

In other words, if you install only the Bars and Springs you should be good. They have even update the wording in the overview description

https://performanceparts.ford.com/part/M-9602-M

It currently says:
NOTE: Customers with 2.3L HPP, Mach1 and Performance Pack 2 equipped Mustangs can upgrade by installing only the M-5300-W Spring Kit and M-5490-G Sway Bar Kit

 

[Rhyanski]

Not intending to hijack the thread, and I'm aware the topic is about the sway bars on the M1HP, but I was wandering why nobody mentions the sub-frame braces and front sub-frame supports, e.g. "Steeda Mustang Ultralite 2-Point G-Trac Brace"? Why nobody mentions these? Is it because they're a must and no-brainer, or because they wouldn't make much sense after upgrading the swaybars? I know they serve different purpose, but how much the effect of both stacks up in terms of handling?
I have a M1 non-hp and I'd really would like to stiffen it up, without however losing comfort of ride as I daily it, and I would normally track it once a year, 2 times max just for fun, not competitively ... And here(Bulgaria) "suspension" is on warranty, so changing the stock sway bars may result in warranty breach...

 

[aerok]

Not intending to hijack the thread, and I'm aware the topic is about the sway bars on the M1HP, but I was wandering why nobody mentions the sub-frame braces and front sub-frame supports, e.g. "Steeda Mustang Ultralite 2-Point G-Trac Brace"? Why nobody mentions these? Is it because they're a must and no-brainer, or because they wouldn't make much sense after upgrading the swaybars? I know they serve different purpose, but how much the effect of both stacks up in terms of handling?
I have a M1 non-hp and I'd really would like to stiffen it up, without however losing comfort of ride as I daily it, and I would normally track it once a year, 2 times max just for fun, not competitively ... And here(Bulgaria) "suspension" is on warranty, so changing the stock sway bars may result in warranty breach...

I will give you my take only, anyone should think differently, based on their own experiences.

I don't believe you need to stiffen up with braces, unless you are making tons of HP (drag racing maybe). I have been driving my M1 at the Mexican F1, and Mexican formula-E Circuits + some other small tracks which they are intense in terms of right to left corners/transitions and the car's does not flex at all (at least I can't feel it).

What I was able to feel, is the rolling, and this is why I went with a Sway Bar upgrade, but whenever you change a spring (the bars I mean) you should change the actual springs on any car as they work together, one defines how much roll will have and the other how hard is to compress (pitch/squats) but either will work on the other aspect as well, they act as a whole. If you improve these characteristics, you will get a ton of confident during the whole lap if you can control your understeer/oversteer behavior by adjusting the bars as well.

If you are not looking for tenths in a Timeattack event, or autocross, or similar, as I said, I don't believe you will need to add bracing to an already very stiff car, I eliminated 95% of the understeer on mine.

Once again, this was done to my driving style, everyone could have different approach and opinion on bracing up their cars.

I am an engineer, who likes to work on my car and to take it to events for fun, but not competitively yet.

Hope this opinion, helps someone

 

[Rhyanski]

I will give you my take only, anyone should think differently, based on their own experiences.

I don't believe you need to stiffen up with braces, unless you are making tons of HP (drag racing maybe). I have been driving my M1 at the Mexican F1, and Mexican formula-E Circuits + some other small tracks which they are intense in terms of right to left corners/transitions and the car's does not flex at all (at least I can't feel it).

What I was able to feel, is the rolling, and this is why I went with a Sway Bar upgrade, but whenever you change a spring (the bars I mean) you should change the actual springs on any car as they work together, one defines how much roll will have and the other how hard is to compress (pitch/squats) but either will work on the other aspect as well, they act as a whole. If you improve these characteristics, you will get a ton of confident during the whole lap if you can control your understeer/oversteer behavior by adjusting the bars as well.

If you are not looking for tenths in a Timeattack event, or autocross, or similar, as I said, I don't believe you will need to add bracing to an already very stiff car, I eliminated 95% of the understeer on mine.

Once again, this was done to my driving style, everyone could have different approach and opinion on bracing up their cars.

I am an engineer, who likes to work on my car and to take it to events for fun, but not competitively yet.

Hope this opinion, helps someone

Thank you for spending the time elaborating. My concern is primarily tramlining on public roads with heavy traffic around here.
I don't do hard turns with 60+ in the city, so cornering does not bother me that much, but what my concern is more like vertical twist when changing lanes. When you have a lot of trucks around you get kind of hollower "rails" in the asphalt, and the car feels weird, especially at the back. I don't know whether extra stiffnes would do more damage than fix the issue.
Steeda's stop the hop kit would render the car too hard and potentially unpleasant for daily use, and i'd rather keep it as is. So i was thinking about the subframe joints...

 

[aerok]

Thank you for spending the time elaborating. My concern is primarily tramlining on public roads with heavy traffic around here.
I don't do hard turns with 60+ in the city, so cornering does not bother me that much, but what my concern is more like vertical twist when changing lanes. When you have a lot of trucks around you get kind of hollower "rails" in the asphalt, and the car feels weird, especially at the back. I don't know whether extra stiffnes would do more damage than fix the issue.
Steeda's stop the hop kit would render the car too hard and potentially unpleasant for daily use, and i'd rather keep it as is. So i was thinking about the subframe joints...

That sounds to me, is related to your tyres, not with hopping at the rear.

If you starts bracing up everything, I believe you will feel additional NVH. Mach 1 already came with stiffer bushings

Whatever you decide, I suggest to mod increasingly, so you can go back if something goes to the opposite direction of what you were looking for

 

[Mikepol2]

This is what our internal team recommended when setting up that package on your Mustang:

On his car, we would typically start with the rear bar on the middle setting and the front bar one in from full soft.

After this, he would evaluate the results and make the adjustment to just one bar at a time until he has the results he is looking for.

Best,

TJ

OK so I put in a request to Santa for the Steeda kit and today I received... a printed picture of them, apparently they are on backorder until at least March?! Bummer, TJ can you confirm?

Merry Christmas everyone!

 

[RobZ71LM7]

My Steeda competition front and rear sway bar kit was on back order when ordered during the sale. The bars finally arrived on December 23rd. Cannot wait to get rid of the excessive body roll.

 

[tj@steeda]

OK so I put in a request to Santa for the Steeda kit and today I received... a printed picture of them, apparently they are on backorder until at least March?! Bummer, TJ can you confirm?

Merry Christmas everyone!

Yes. They have been a very popular item / I will be happy to look into the order if you have an order number you can send to me.

Thank you!

TJ

 

[derklink]

Yes. They have been a very popular item / I will be happy to look into the order if you have an order number you can send to me.

Thank you!

TJ

I also ordered the competition bars during the sale. Inquired with Sonya a couple weeks later and she said they were in production and that she’d let me know. Inquired again last week and haven’t heard anything so far. Message sent. Thank you!

 

[Mikepol2]

Yes. They have been a very popular item / I will be happy to look into the order if you have an order number you can send to me.

Thank you!

TJ

Thanks TJ, will send you an email. Must be some kind of mix-up because I just checked the website and it's showing 5+ in stock with 1-3 day shipping.

Also the website error hasn't been fixed yet on the rear bar diameter ("Description" tab shows 1" rear but the "Specifications" tab shows 1-1/8" rear).

 

[tj@steeda]

Just responded to your email - it appears that the kit was not ordered & a Ford Performance kit was ordered. I have let our internal team know about the description.

Thank you,

TJ

 

[Mikepol2]

Just responded to your email - it appears that the kit was not ordered & a Ford Performance kit was ordered. I have let our internal team know about the description.

Thank you,

TJ

Thanks TJ! That explains it. Looking forward to trying out the Steeda kit!

 

[tj@steeda]

I also ordered the competition bars during the sale. Inquired with Sonya a couple weeks later and she said they were in production and that she’d let me know. Inquired again last week and haven’t heard anything so far. Message sent. Thank you!

Send me your order number to tim @ steeda - I can check on these for you.

Best,

TJ

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