GT350 v2.0 ready for the track.....mods inside

[cjgt350]

Great work and much appreciate the details of your modifications! Most likely caused by photobucket doing their thing (or I just missed it..), I was wondering if you can show the location of the autoblip? I'm curious about getting one.

Thanks. Probably missed a few pics when I went back and reloaded them. Check with them as I am not sure they worked out the bugs for '17' + MY.

Installed in the sunglass holder

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[cjgt350]

Here is the OE rear LCA bushing. Notice it has a tapered edge on both ends. When researching I could not find any details on removal direction so I followed the picture in BMR's directions. Now that I know it can be removed in either direction I can set it up on the press where I will have more clearance. Hope these details will help others who take this one on themselves.

 

[cjgt350]

Spare parts...and no more squishy bushings.

Front rotors were starting to show micro cracks from heat. Normal with race pads and vented rotors. Starting the season off with a fresh set.

FP springs and sway bar installed.

Only PTFE grease for the bushings. Make sure you grease them!

 

[cjgt350]

Thought I would need this $220 OTC tool to remove the ball joint of the lower control arm from the spindle but both sides popped out once the locknut was removed. Worth trying if doing yourself before purchasing this tool. I could have used an alternative cheap tool but it wasn't worth damaging something not using the proper tool.

 

[cjgt350]

Went ahead and replaced the passenger side half shaft so both sides are new. Both sides were popping (CV joint) went letting out the clutch from stationary. Used numerous specialty tools.

Axle popper to remove. It will ruin the axle seal when removing with this tool.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N5SP368/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Seal removal requires a slide hammer/puller.

Seal installer however the seal has two pieces to it which will come apart when removing. Installing you must use an old bearing race (see first pic) (Ford tech gave me that tip)that fits the seal flange otherwise the new seal will be damaged as the seal driver will impact the inner seal and not the outer flange.

 

[petstang]

Spare parts...and no more squishy bushings.



Front rotors were starting to show micro cracks from heat. Normal with race pads and vented rotors. Starting the season off with a fresh set.





FP springs and sway bar installed.

Thanks for sharing all this info. Is there anything you can tell about how the car bahaves with the FP springs and sway bars together ? Can you confirm these are the sway bars specifically for the GT350 and GT350R ? Which setting did you start with ? I got the entire set but decided to go with the springs first.

 

[cjgt350]

Thanks for sharing all this info. Is there anything you can tell about how the car bahaves with the FP springs and sway bars together ?

I have not driven it yet as it has been too cold. First HPDE at the end of the month. I will post feedback.

What I do know is that Ford Performance spent a lot of time developing the spring rates of both to work together.

Can you confirm these are the sway bars specifically for the GT350 and GT350R ?

Yes they are.

Which setting did you start with ? I got the entire set but decided to go with the springs first.

I am going with the firmest setting for the HPDE. If I was autocrossing or driving on the street I would probably set it on the softest setting.

 

[cjgt350]

Ford Racing won't publish spring rates for their sway bars or springs. It appears they definitely went the softer spring/much higher spring rate sway bar approach as that is very pronounced on the rear combination as the data below suggests.

Information I have gathered thus far.

Spreadsheet with all spring rates listed (except FRPP GT350): https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet...d-W1tL2arQSOM9Bd-TagA8py64/edit#gid=188571511

^^^Thanks to dsp4848^^^

Courtesy of 949 Racing.....FRPP GT350 spring rates (M-5300-W):

Notice how the rear spring is not linear comparative to the OE GT350 or R rear springs. Straight from an engineer at FRPP "the GT350 sway bars (M-5490-G) is intended/recommended to be used with the FRPP lowering springs (M-5300-W)" (M-5700-N which is the kit).

OE GT350 and GT350R spring rates:

Great comments from another forum member [MENTION=10281]BmacIL[/MENTION]

The GT350 and R rear springs both are dual rate. ~1/5 of the coils are a higher pitch (more coils per inch), and the rest a much lower pitch. At ride height, there is approximately 1/4" of spring travel left of the softer rate (which means about 1/2" of wheel travel). This all shows up as some non-linearity's in the graphs, and the Vorshlag data shows it best. You can see a knee point where the rate changes pretty clearly. Doing dual rate springs this way is cheaper than a separate helper spring, but also makes it a semi-progressive spring, rather than two linear springs of different rates.

And Vorshlag's testing data:

Sway bar rates:

If others have additional data please let me know as I will plug those into this chart. This is data gathered by others posting test data so it is only as accurate as others have posted or manufacturer listed data (Eibach).

 

[CGADAMS]

very cool read, you drive the F**K OUT OF IT! I like it a lot!

 

[DocWalt]

The BMR vs stock swaybar rate info is confusing to me for a couple of reasons...

The BMR bar weighs more than stock by ~0.6lbs on my scale, and it's thicker diameter. The arm lengths are similar to stock too.

I wonder if maybe the BMR bar isn't actually an "upgrade" in stiffness. On track I ran my BMR bar at full soft and the car was really well balanced and not overly pushy. It definitely felt soft at autocross the weekend before though, especially in transition.

 

[Niz55]

Yep the rear springs on the frpp are pure garbage. Lots of understeer and flowty feeling under normal driving unless you are driving 100mph+ all the time. Waiting for the BMR springs so I can throw these frpp in the trash.

 

[cjgt350]

Yep the rear springs on the frpp are pure garbage. Lots of understeer and flowty feeling under normal driving unless you are driving 100mph+ all the time. Waiting for the BMR springs so I can throw these frpp in the trash.

You are quite vocal (I think I have seen at least 5 posts bashing the rear FRPP springs...lol)about that but you are the only one I have seen complain about the feedback. Something sure seems to be throwing the balance off on your car. The spring/sway bar combination is important just as much as setup (ie. preload, bind, etc.) Sure makes me think you have something else going on with the car.

The FRPP rear GT350 spring is certainly softer as it appears from the data suggesting as you alluded to more aero squat at speed with more anti roll. I suppose if you are accustomed to a stiff rear suspension then it could be an unsettling feeling.

I will reserve my judgment until I get it on the track.

 

[cjgt350]

The BMR vs stock swaybar rate info is confusing to me for a couple of reasons...

The BMR bar weighs more than stock by ~0.6lbs on my scale, and it's thicker diameter. The arm lengths are similar to stock too.

I wonder if maybe the BMR bar isn't actually an "upgrade" in stiffness. On track I ran my BMR bar at full soft and the car was really well balanced and not overly pushy. It definitely felt soft at autocross the weekend before though, especially in transition.

Struck me as odd too. The BMR sway bars came out well before their springs (just released) in which they are catering to a wider S550 platform or audience and a variety of spring rates. Again why simply throwing on a larger sway bar isn't always the best answer. I would think their springs/sway bar combo will be very good as I would have to believe they developed them to complement each other.

 

[BmacIL]

You are quite vocal (I think I have seen at least 5 posts bashing the rear FRPP springs...lol)about that but you are the only one I have seen complain about the feedback. Something sure seems to be throwing the balance off on your car. The spring/sway bar combination is important just as much as setup (ie. preload, bind, etc.) Sure makes me think you have something else going on with the car.

The FRPP rear GT350 spring is certainly softer as it appears from the data suggesting as you alluded to more aero squat at speed with more anti roll. I suppose if you are accustomed to a stiff rear suspension then it could be an unsettling feeling.

I will reserve my judgment until I get it on the track.

FWIW, I cannot imagine a significantly softer rear spring with the OE or FRPP front spring rates. I have GT350R fronts (240 lb/in) and the BMR rears (980 lb/in linear) and the car is very balanced, with very slight understeer at speed, which can easily be turned to oversteer with enough throttle. It gives you great confidence to push car. I'll soon have the BMR fronts as well with the 250 lb front.

I'm glad I was able to help

 

[BmacIL]

The BMR vs stock swaybar rate info is confusing to me for a couple of reasons...

The BMR bar weighs more than stock by ~0.6lbs on my scale, and it's thicker diameter. The arm lengths are similar to stock too.

I wonder if maybe the BMR bar isn't actually an "upgrade" in stiffness. On track I ran my BMR bar at full soft and the car was really well balanced and not overly pushy. It definitely felt soft at autocross the weekend before though, especially in transition.

If the bar is helping you maintain better geometric control (camber), the added stiffness could both improve responsiveness and limit grip, despite the change in weight transfer. Thoughts to consider...

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