Anyone build their car more for Grand Touring? (Suspension)

[K4fxd]

For all the analysis and over-analysis I've been doing I may well start with just the braces as they are super easy to put on and pull off and sell if I end up not liking them lol!

When you do install these you will see they fit like they were designed by Ford. I don't know this but I think they were, and for some reason Ford decided not to include them with the car.

Sponsored

 

[K4fxd]

I'll add one more thing to this.

I installed the complete stop the hop kit "one piece at a time"

I did this so I could judge each piece. I installed the braces first. People in this thread keep saying they stop the up and down deflection of the subframe. This is false, what they do is stop the side to side movement. The aluminum bushing inserts stop the up and down movement. The bushing inserts add a small amount of road noise. The braces added nothing I could hear or my wife could hear.

The braces are by far the best bang for the buck if you like a solid feeling through corners.

 

[G.T.]

Yes, it is easy to install/remove. When they do pop up in the classifieds they sell fast.

How people don't feel the movement of the rear subframe is beyond my comprehension. I test drove a brand new Dark Horse awhile back and it needs the braces just like the S550's do. I hate the disconnected feeling and unpredictable handling from these generations of mustangs. If the subframe took a set it would be fine, but it doesn't. It oscillates when pushed in turns.

Yeah just checked the classifieds myself lol!

Been reading more about the braces here too and saw some posts about your experience with them.

I have the full Steeda Ultimate Handling kit and it did introduce some noise. I now get gear whine on coast. I also occasionally get some thumping. Others have experienced the same.

For me its totally fine. My car stock was a sloppy mess, the rear end loved to shimmy.

I would just do the centering kit and lock out kit, not the braces or add any sort of performance bushing.

If your factory bushings are worn, replace with OEM.

Another data point, lowering you car is a sure fire way of negatively impacting ride quality. Less travel, potentially higher spring rates, and more aggressive valving. More wheel travel is a godsend for a smooth ride.

Keep the stock springs and go with Bilstein struts/ shocks. You probably will want new strut mounts and strut bearing to prevent squeaks or pops.

Thanks for sharing your experience with these parts and the recommendations!

Definitely not lowering this car. Agree with you on the need for wheel travel, I experienced what you are saying when I tried coilovers on another car.

Dampers will maybe come later, focusing on stabilizing the rear and will see if the stock tuning will work with what I want the car to do.

 

[G.T.]

I'll add one more thing to this.

I installed the complete stop the hop kit "one piece at a time"

I did this so I could judge each piece. I installed the braces first. People in this thread keep saying they stop the up and down deflection of the subframe. This is false, what they do is stop the side to side movement. The aluminum bushing inserts stop the up and down movement. The bushing inserts add a small amount of road noise. The braces added nothing I could hear or my wife could hear.

The braces are by far the best bang for the buck if you like a solid feeling through corners.

Appreciate you expounding on your experience with the braces. This and your other posts on these braces I came across are helping me assess them better!

 

[tj@steeda]

The Steeda IRS Braces, along with any kit, are hands down our most popular selling IRS support part. It's the first thing that goes on our performance vehicles that hit the track & the strip. Based on customers' feedback & our on-track success ... it's been proven time & time again!

https://www.steeda.com/Steeda-S550-...OPypXzeyUp9ND-6lJODcrgLSskPoY00_LQJ8C8BBYddh0

Happy to help answer any questions or provide build support!

Best,

TJ

 

[tj@steeda]

Also backed by the abundance of reviews

 

[G.T.]

Thanks TJ! ill reach out if I have any questions about the braces or any other Steeda stuff.

 

[S550HPP]

OP is looking for Grand Touring improvement...not street racing improvement.

No one will ever feel IRS oscillation on the street in Grand Turismo except in the case of WOT acceleration in which case your biggest worries are LEO, snapping out or launching into or over cliffs and trees.

My hobby is weekend Grand Touring on A to D grade mountain roads mainly and A- B grade highway to get there, armed with Uniden counter measures and not one does IRS with Steeda vertical links or anything else materially shift altering predictability.

On the track the less deflection the better. On the road, stock is optimal more or less for Grand Touring use easily tweaked.

My ESC is intervening long before the IRS will shift or I launch off or into cliff, tires, or oncoming cars.

 

[K4fxd]

If you read OP's posts he complains about the disconnected feeling he gets when on on-ramps.

The stock bushings are so soft they deflect on city street slow corners.
Don't believe me, add the braces to your car or drive one with them.

 

[sloopy]

A good test I've found is finding a steady curve and transitioning on and off throttle repeatedly. When I do that in my car, I can feel the effect very clearly.

I've ordered steeda polyurethane bushing inserts for the subframe bushings and plan on installing them soon. If you're really looking for comfort, that's probably the best option besides getting new oem bushings.

 

[K4fxd]

I've ordered steeda polyurethane bushing inserts for the subframe bushings and plan on installing them soon.

Been there done that. Try the braces

 

[sloopy]

the braces are next on the list if im not completely satisfied with the subframe inserts. i also got the diff bushing inserts that im gonna put in at the same time i do the subframe bushing inserts.

 

[K4fxd]

If you don't like noise forget the diff inserts.

 

[sloopy]

i was thinking the combination of only subframe bushing inserts and the softer diff inserts would be fine. noticeable gear noise on accel and decel are perfectly acceptable to me. constant whining is not.

 

[K4fxd]

Mine had constant whine. I don't mind that on a track car but not when driving on the freeway. I ended up filling the voids with 3M urethane.

Sponsored