Daily Driver / Backroad Suspension Upgrades

[sloopy]

I thought that the Track springs were linear and the street version of the springs is progressive? I'd really like to know the answer to this because I just installed the track springs and think they ride great.

Just looking at the pictures: the track springs look linear and the street springs look progressive. Both have a few dead coils, but the track springs look evenly wound after the dead coils whereas the street springs seem to have two tighter-wound coils between the dead coils and the rest of the spring.

Sponsored

 

[sloopy]

I'm really interested in the Ford Performance Track Dampers, but I can't decide between just installing those in my '15 GT PP or also installing the springs and anti-roll bars from the non-magneride GT350. I'm afraid the gt350 kit might ruin the comfort of the car. I think the GT350 springs are 17% stiffer in the front and 26% stiffer in the rear. I find the GT PP suspension to be firm enough generally, but there are situations where the car gets upset and I have a feeling it's because of the dampers. It's most noticeable on this bridge which curves 45 degrees over 3/4 of a mile when I transition from full throttle to hard braking at at least 100 mph. I get that that's a very drastic thing to do, but I feel like the car should be able to handle it better.

 

[sloopy]

@GTP, can you share your thoughts on the base gt350 spring, damper, and anti-roll bar setup? I believe I read an old thread where you thought it was too rough, but then in a more recent thread, your opinion seemed to have changed.

 

[NightmareMoon]

I'm really interested in the Ford Performance Track Dampers, but I can't decide between just installing those in my '15 GT PP or also installing the springs and anti-roll bars from the non-magneride GT350. I'm afraid the gt350 kit might ruin the comfort of the car. I think the GT350 springs are 17% stiffer in the front and 26% stiffer in the rear. I find the GT PP suspension to be firm enough generally, but there are situations where the car gets upset and I have a feeling it's because of the dampers. It's most noticeable on this bridge which curves 45 degrees over 3/4 of a mile when I transition from full throttle to hard braking at at least 100 mph. I get that that's a very drastic thing to do, but I feel like the car should be able to handle it better.

Dampers before springs (or at the same time)

I hope you’re not transitioning from full throttle to full brake while also cornering.

 

[sloopy]

I hope you’re not transitioning from full throttle to full brake while also cornering.

In this case, I am. I know if I was close enough to the limit, this would cause the car to rotate, followed by drowning. It was mainly for testing. I've since installed polyurethane subframe bushing inserts and it has made a dramatic improvement in how composed the car feels, especially when going full throttle to full brake while cornering.

Dampers before springs (or at the same time)

I'm trying to leverage other people's experiene to try to avoid buying dampers twice. I do have a feeling that upgrading only the dampers will be just right for me. But I am curious about the base gt350 setup.

 

[NightmareMoon]

In this case, I am. I know if I was close enough to the limit, this would cause the car to rotate, followed by drowning. It was mainly for testing. I've since installed polyurethane subframe bushing inserts and it has made a dramatic improvement in how composed the car feels, especially when going full throttle to full brake while cornering.

I'm trying to leverage other people's experiene to try to avoid buying dampers twice. I do have a feeling that upgrading only the dampers will be just right for me. But I am curious about the base gt350 setup.

Correct.
Full throttle, esp in higher gear can be possible in a more open / long corner. Full brake will not be possible with any amount of cornering forces. Best practice will be to unwind the wheel to straight any time you're aggressively applying brakes or throttle. Thank god for ABS

If you still have your original dampers, chances are they're completely shot with this many years on them. Even new, the PP1 dampers in the rear were pretty underwhelming and would bounce at high speed over undulations when they probably shouldn't.

Personally I didn't think the GT350 base springs and sways were all that aggressive. In a magnaride car the ride is still excellent. For a non-magnaride car, its going to be stiffer which will be an adjustment, esp if paired with fresh dampers, which may also feel harder. After an adjustment period I bet you'll like em.

 

[sloopy]

You're right. I'm not going full brake. Just a hard transition from full throttle to moderately hard braking. It is nice to know that if some panic braking were to occur, the subframe bushings won't be making things worse now.

I do have the original dampers. 42,000 miles and 11 years. They seem to be doing alright still. It is not magneride.

The thing is, my wife finds my car only a little less comfortable than her volvo and she rides in the mustang pretty often. I want that to continue and be able to take the mustang on road trips.

 

[GTP]

@GTP, can you share your thoughts on the base gt350 spring, damper, and anti-roll bar setup? I believe I read an old thread where you thought it was too rough, but then in a more recent thread, your opinion seemed to have changed.

TLDR - In a nutshell I think that it is Magneride that makes a big difference. With MR, the GT350 spring rates seem fine on the street. But when I had GT350 springs and bars on my 2016 GT (no MR) I couldn't stand it - too stiff.

My 2019 PP1 A10 MR car has GT350 bars and front springs now. But I am switching to GT500 front springs for this track season in an attempt to combat the tire wear from positive-camber-with-deflection syndrome. This gives near equal F-R ride frequencies, and I hope it won't be too harsh on the street. I plan to practice my trail braking a lot this year to get better turn-in.

Suspension mods and exhaust mods are the same. We keep upping the gain until we can't stand the ride or loudness anymore, then bring it back down a notch.

 

[sloopy]

Thank you. I think I will stick with the stock performance pack setup and just upgrade the dampers when the time comes. Maybe even replace the strut mounts with the adjustable camber ones from ford performance if I notice I'm wearing out the outsides of my front tires.

I think I remember reading the M-18001-AG and M-18001-AS dampers from the ford performance track handling package pair well with the performance pack springs. But that seems odd since those damers are the same spec as the base gt350 dampers. Any opinions on a good set of dampers to pair with the performance pack suspension? I'd prefer non-adjustable unless there's a really good reason.

 

[GTP]

Thank you. I think I will stick with the stock performance pack setup ...
...

That's what I would do for street only. Maybe add GT350 bars like I did because they aren't any stiffer going straight down the road but will help in the corners.

I will have my J&M camber plates and GT350 front springs for sale around April.

 

[NightmareMoon]

Honestly, I like adjustable dampers like the Koni Yellows and Steeda Adjustables. Best of both worlds and no worries about comfort when you need it.

You can leave it nice and soft for the street and crank it up for a spirited drive on the weekend. You need to jack up the rear slightly to access the rear knobs. You don't even need to raise the car off the ground, just enough clearance to get your arm in there.

Or you can find the perfect goldylocks middle ground for you a leave them at one setting all the time.

Anyway sure not for everybody, but don't sleep on them.

 

[tj@steeda]

We can help with the adjustable ... you can shoot me an email to [email protected]!

 

[sloopy]

TLDR - In a nutshell I think that it is Magneride that makes a big difference. With MR, the GT350 spring rates seem fine on the street. But when I had GT350 springs and bars on my 2016 GT (no MR) I couldn't stand it - too stiff.

My 2019 PP1 A10 MR car has GT350 bars and front springs now. But I am switching to GT500 front springs for this track season in an attempt to combat the tire wear from positive-camber-with-deflection syndrome. This gives near equal F-R ride frequencies, and I hope it won't be too harsh on the street. I plan to practice my trail braking a lot this year to get better turn-in.

Suspension mods and exhaust mods are the same. We keep upping the gain until we can't stand the ride or loudness anymore, then bring it back down a notch.

I forgot to ask: which dampers were you running with the gt350 springs?

 

[sloopy]

@GTP, which dampers were you running with the gt350 springs?

 

[GTP]

@GTP, which dampers were you running with the gt350 springs?

Still on stock PP1 dampers all around. TeeLew advised me to put on GT500 front dampers to go with the '500 springs, but those things run $400 a pop!

You'd think with all those wrecked GT500 cars out there that there would be plenty in the yards, though I haven't searched that hard.

So I hope to lean on stock PP1 Magneride sorting it out in track mode, and maybe they will also help soften the stiff springs on the street.

From here on I think I will start calling it Amaze-a-ride.

Sponsored