Got the Ford Track Handling Package installed last weekend

[jcm3]

I followed the instructions on a few YouTube videos from LMR and CJ Pony Parts (dropping the cradle instead of taking off the rear wheels, brakes and a number of extra parts that didn't need to come off).

The install was pretty easy, but I made a big mental mistake and had to wait for some of the large cradle bolts and a tap because I tried to 'persuade' the bolts to go back in with my air impact gun. I think the reason it didn't go in by hand is because I had the rear jacked up and the front on the ground, so I raised the front end. It may have been just off enough to cause an issue.

I also spent around $60 for the Steeda alignment dowels, becauses there's a lot of play around those four bolts and I can see things not being even on each side.

I ended up damaging the threads on the bolts and on the car, so I had to order a 14mm x 1.5 tap, chase the threads and then use new bolts. All good, but that took me two extra days of waiting for parts. Oops, so dumb.

The car drives great. Interestingly, the shocks don't feel stiffer than the stock PP1 shocks initially, but I did notice a huge difference with the sway bar. I went with the fully-stiff setting for the front sway bar and the softer setting for the rear.

It lowered the car about an inch, which as I am getting older, is perfect. I didn't want a slammed look, so super pleased with the look. They may still be settling.

The pics from the gas station suck, I'll get better ones.

Before and after.

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[WItoTX]

NGL, those one time use bolts for the subframe suck. It is one of the things I appreciate about Steeda, the hardware they send along with their kits are SO much better. Like hand thread in good.

EDIT: Not sure if anyone has tried this, and am open to opinions. Seems like a great work around.
https://www.beefcakeracing.com/kti-...D8qOE-9OAmouTejCNi6lWcr4q6HMSnZIaAgp4EALw_wcB

 

[KoreanKK]

where did you get the kit from? I see people who got it for 1400 a few years ago and now I am seeing the price jacked up to almost 2000.

 

[jcm3]

Nice.

For anyone doing this or a similar mod, I'd definitely recommend the Steeda alignment dowels. There's a lot of play down there and I could see that the bolt can go in the hole and the subframe/cradle could be off one way or another. They're pretty cheap.

I'd also recommend a good short sledge hammer for the bottom front strut bolts. In the vid that I watched, the guy had one like this. I have a pretty big construction-type hammer, long handle and pretty heavy head, but I had to hammer on it literally hundreds of times. It was wearing me out because there isn't much space to swing, so it took quite some time for the bolts to come out.

One note on that, they're up/down specific. If you put them in one way, they won't clear the knurls at the bottom of the bolt made to hold the washer on. Slip them on one way and then the other, it will be obvious which way they go in because they won't go all the way down if installed backwards.

If my wheels weren't even, I know it would really tick me off.

 

[jcm3]

where did you get the kit from? I see people who got it for 1400 a few years ago and now I am seeing the price jacked up to almost 2000.

Yep, almost $2k. The bigger issue was that just about everyone was sold out.

I got it from Beefcake for $1995, but they include free shipping. One of the other places I looked at wanted something like $360 shipping for freight. Beefcake used FedEx.

 

[Lucky13Cat]

Beautiful car, love the wheels too!

 

[GTP]

...
I'd also recommend a good short sledge hammer for the bottom front strut bolts. In the vid that I watched, the guy had one like this. I have a pretty big construction-type hammer, long handle and pretty heavy head, but I had to hammer on it literally hundreds of times. It was wearing me out because there isn't much space to swing, so it took quite some time for the bolts to come out.
...

I switched from short-handle sledge method to ball joint press method. Works great and is easy.

 

[jcm3]

I switched from short-handle sledge method to ball joint press method. Works great and is easy.

Great idea! Funny, I had a bearing press that I rented for the job (didn't use), so I had one of those but didn't think of that.

Awesome, and thank you.

Beautiful car, love the wheels too!

Thanks for that!

 

[GTP]

Great idea! Funny, I had a bearing press that I rented for the job (didn't use), so I had one of those but didn't think of that.

Awesome, and thank you.

Thanks for that!

I use it for changing wheel studs too.

 

[GTP]

I use it for changing wheel studs too.

I just created a post for this:
Swapping wheel studs using a ball joint press

 

[jcm3]

Here's a before/after with a better after pic.

I'm not young anymore, so the drop is perfect. I didn't want it slammed.

 

[S550HPP]

Looks amazing!!

 

[GrabberBargeCaptain]

It really is a great drop for a daily. Nice not to have to worry about scraping.

 

[jcm3]

Looks amazing!!

Thank you!

It really is a great drop for a daily. Nice not to have to worry about scraping.

So true. This is my fourth Mustang (three Foxbody cars) and I've done the 'too low' thing. It's just right for a daily, like you said.

 

[S550HPP]

Nice.

For anyone doing this or a similar mod, I'd definitely recommend the Steeda alignment dowels. There's a lot of play down there and I could see that the bolt can go in the hole and the subframe/cradle could be off one way or another. They're pretty cheap.

I'd also recommend a good short sledge hammer for the bottom front strut bolts. In the vid that I watched, the guy had one like this. I have a pretty big construction-type hammer, long handle and pretty heavy head, but I had to hammer on it literally hundreds of times. It was wearing me out because there isn't much space to swing, so it took quite some time for the bolts to come out.

One note on that, they're up/down specific. If you put them in one way, they won't clear the knurls at the bottom of the bolt made to hold the washer on. Slip them on one way and then the other, it will be obvious which way they go in because they won't go all the way down if installed backwards.

If my wheels weren't even, I know it would really tick me off.

With an impact on the the bottom bolt and hitting with 5lb hammer the bolts pop out in seconds.

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