Adding some compliance & softness back in

[jbailer]

What was the benefit of the mounts as i fail to see how the mount could impact anything apart from being stronger and less chance of breaking of course.

That's exactly as I thought and until I experienced it myself, there's nothing anyone could tell me that would convince me to do the upgrade for that reason and I'm certainly not going to try to convince you. My understanding which I hope it correct is that the bearing in the shock mount allows for articulation which prevents binding and the shock can provide faster damping. I only bought them for the safety factor, the ride improvement I consider a bonus!

Sponsored

 

[Gibbo205]

That's exactly as I thought and until I experienced it myself, there's nothing anyone could tell me that would convince me to do the upgrade for that reason and I'm certainly not going to try to convince you. My understanding which I hope it correct is that the bearing in the shock mount allows for articulation which prevents binding and the shock can provide faster damping. I only bought them for the safety factor, the ride improvement I consider a bonus!

Did not know the mounts had a bearings in them, I literally just thought the mounts were metal brackets? Can anyone at Steeda explain?

 

[Strokerswild]

Due to a freak 50-degree weekend in MN, I got to drive my car for the first time since Thanksgiving.

Changes since then are MRR M350 wheels (stock PP rubber), SP080 springs, and the CB005 lockout kit. All else is stock.

I have to say that the car is transformed and I can't wait to drive it more. There might be a shade more NVH in the rear now, but nothing objectionable.

Anyway Gibbo, that's my perspective given my more limited suspension mods....

 

[Bluemustang]

Any time you put stiffer springs and shocks + additional stiffening parts on the car, AIMED at track driving- it's not gonna be as compliant and bumps and other hazards on normal roads will upset the car.

There is a reason the OEM manufacturer makes the car the way they do. In perfect conditions yeah you're gonna get better handling but apart from that - you are going to sacrifice something.

And yes the shocks and springs are a big factor in that. Gibbo, just leave the car the way it is and understand what it is and what it isn't. I don't think there's some magic formula that's gonna give you perfect handling in all situations.

If it's wet and you encounter bumps, drive slower and more careful.

 

[SteedaTech]

Did not know the mounts had a bearings in them, I literally just thought the mounts were metal brackets? Can anyone at Steeda explain?

The Mounts are billet aluminum with a spherical bearing, therefore reducing suspension bind through jounce and rebound.

Furthermore, since it replaces the rubber bushing with a spherical bearing, the damper has more control.

 

[Gibbo205]

The Mounts are billet aluminum with a spherical bearing, therefore reducing suspension bind through jounce and rebound.

Furthermore, since it replaces the rubber bushing with a spherical bearing, the damper has more control.

That is really good to know.

 

[Gibbo205]

Any time you put stiffer springs and shocks + additional stiffening parts on the car, AIMED at track driving- it's not gonna be as compliant and bumps and other hazards on normal roads will upset the car.

There is a reason the OEM manufacturer makes the car the way they do. In perfect conditions yeah you're gonna get better handling but apart from that - you are going to sacrifice something.

And yes the shocks and springs are a big factor in that. Gibbo, just leave the car the way it is and understand what it is and what it isn't. I don't think there's some magic formula that's gonna give you perfect handling in all situations.

If it's wet and you encounter bumps, drive slower and more careful.

True, maybe I am trying to achieve something not possible with this car and chassis.

On my E46 M3 I have it at a point now where it grips the road in the wet as well as it does in the dry, literally sticks like shit to a blanket.

But in fairness the E46 is 1350kg vs the Mustang 1650kg, so its 300kg lighter and it is running KW Clubsport coilovers and has a rear cage, so its got a 50/50 weight balance and it has insane grip and bumps have little to no impact, can keep the throttle pinned even on bumpy roads in the wet.


I guess the answer is as the M3, a proper decent coilover setup that is adjustable like KW V3 or clubsport.

 

[jbailer]

I just can't get over the "sticks like shit to a blanket" analogy. I'm just hoping the shit was on the bottom of the blanket due to poor placement rather than the top?

 

[Norm Peterson]

I guess the answer is as the M3, a proper decent coilover setup that is adjustable like KW V3 or clubsport.

Ultimately, that.


Norm

 

[Gibbo205]

I just can't get over the "sticks like shit to a blanket" analogy. I'm just hoping the shit was on the bottom of the blanket due to poor placement rather than the top?

A British saying.

I feel with the diff bushes removed and having PS4S the ride quality is now spot on, car does have much better compliance and ride comfort.

Was full wet on drive home and a toasty 12c for here in the UK and the car was gripping much better, think the Ferrari specific PS4S on the rear is just more sensitive to lower temps compared to regular PS4S and MPSS tyre.

Comfort and NVH wise the PS4S have done wonders.


I might give the PP rear dampers a go because if I was running adjustable dampers to improve this I'd dial in less rebound and compression on the damper, starting with rebound and I think the PP dampers have a lower rebound (softer) than FRPP dampers?

 

[BmacIL]

A British saying.

I feel with the diff bushes removed and having PS4S the ride quality is now spot on, car does have much better compliance and ride comfort.

Was full wet on drive home and a toasty 12c for here in the UK and the car was gripping much better, think the Ferrari specific PS4S on the rear is just more sensitive to lower temps compared to regular PS4S and MPSS tyre.

Comfort and NVH wise the PS4S have done wonders.


I might give the PP rear dampers a go because if I was running adjustable dampers to improve this I'd dial in less rebound and compression on the damper, starting with rebound and I think the PP dampers have a lower rebound (softer) than FRPP dampers?

Yes, significantly.

 

[Bluemustang]

A British saying.

I feel with the diff bushes removed and having PS4S the ride quality is now spot on, car does have much better compliance and ride comfort.

Was full wet on drive home and a toasty 12c for here in the UK and the car was gripping much better, think the Ferrari specific PS4S on the rear is just more sensitive to lower temps compared to regular PS4S and MPSS tyre.

Comfort and NVH wise the PS4S have done wonders.


I might give the PP rear dampers a go because if I was running adjustable dampers to improve this I'd dial in less rebound and compression on the damper, starting with rebound and I think the PP dampers have a lower rebound (softer) than FRPP dampers?

What is your current suspension mod list now? If coilovers can get me ride quality and handling like that. Sign me up. But I need most of the IRS upgrades because the mushiness (particularly in the rear) is what hurts a lot of the handling imo. Maybe the diff inserts aren't exactly necessary for what I wanted to achieve but I threw the on there just bcuz I was doing the LCA bearing anyway. And the car does feel more willing to pounce with the diff inserts there.

But the upgraded IRS parts (especially if you have quite a few like me) combined together increase a lot of NVH by themselves. If the coilovers can compensate enough for that while also helping it stick to the road as well as my FRPP setup then I'm in. At high speeds my car glides and handles really well and I can corner very predictably. As a sacrifice bumps are more harsh on normal roads and slower speeds.

But I can go very fast over bumpy sections and corner if I want to and my car sticks to road in dry conditions. Now in the wet I wouldn't try that and I don't try that very often anyway even in dry conditions. But with my FRPP dampers and springs they are designed to be used on a track. They are designed to go at high speeds on tracks and as such it feels best on the highway and flatter roads at speed. In that sense my ride quality is better imo.

It's just different situations but if I can get a similar handling with better ride quality on the normal to bad roads I'm all for it.

 

[Gibbo205]

What is your current suspension mod list now? If coilovers can get me ride quality and handling like that. Sign me up. But I need most of the IRS upgrades because the mushiness (particularly in the rear) is what hurts a lot of the handling imo. Maybe the diff inserts aren't exactly necessary for what I wanted to achieve but I threw the on there just bcuz I was doing the LCA bearing anyway. And the car does feel more willing to pounce with the diff inserts there.

But the upgraded IRS parts (especially if you have quite a few like me) combined together increase a lot of NVH by themselves. If the coilovers can compensate enough for that while also helping it stick to the road as well as my FRPP setup then I'm in. At high speeds my car glides and handles really well and I can corner very predictably. As a sacrifice bumps are more harsh on normal roads and slower speeds.

But I can go very fast over bumpy sections and corner if I want to and my car sticks to road in dry conditions. Now in the wet I wouldn't try that and I don't try that very often anyway even in dry conditions. But with my FRPP dampers and springs they are designed to be used on a track. They are designed to go at high speeds on tracks and as such it feels best on the highway and flatter roads at speed. In that sense my ride quality is better imo.

It's just different situations but if I can get a similar handling with better ride quality on the normal to bad roads I'm all for it.

In the dry I have no issues on any kind of road, car handles and grips great.

I'd be will to sacrifice some out right dry grip or precision for more wet grip, but saying that if I keep it smooth and off or medium power it grips quite well in the wet on bumpy stuff as lateral traction in the wet on PS4S is pretty insane, very impressive tyre.

 

[Rebellion]

I believe wet handling has to do more with tires than the suspension. I mean, a coilover is not some miracle technology, just a very specific spring/damper combination. Most suspension mods that reduce tire hop should have a positive effect on handling in wet roads.

 

[Norm Peterson]

Anything involving bumps means that the shocks are involved. If cornering is involved, look to rear roll stiffness being too high for the circumstances and/or the driver being a little too eager with the throttle.


Norm

Sponsored