IRS Choices

[fast88fox]

I just bought my 2016 GT PP a few months ago and was getting ready to put in some lowering springs so I thought I might as well fix some IRS issues while I am down there. the question I have is what to use. I rarely track the car or drag race. Mostly just some spirited driving on the back roads around where I live and on-ramp sprints. I am really leaning more toward something that will help the car handle better more than anything else.

The two main choices seem to be Steeda with the IRS support braces, alignment kit & subframe bushing kit or BMR with the cradle bushing lockout kit. Neither of these kits seem to work with each other per the forums so it is one or the other. Toelinks & vertical links from either company work with either setup.

Is one kit geared more toward handling? The BMR kit seems to be a favorite of the drag racing crowd. Is the Steeda kit better for handling? The big advantage with the BMR kit is the price. One item vs 3 for Steeda.

Thanks in advance for the advice.

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[NightmareMoon]

The car really doesn't need much, and it's plenty capable in stock form as far as handling goes.

For handling, in order of most impactful to least, generally goes: TIRES, then far below that: springs, shocks, sways, and then everything else.

Mostly changes should be done based on an actual driver/owner perceived problem. Is there a specific way you'd like to improve handling? Because tires are by far the best way to improve actual grip.

If you're changing springs anyway, then I'd recommend swapping out the shocks to match, since many lowering springs are stiffer than factory and the PP shocks are slightly under dampened to start with. Go too stiff or low and the ride will get pretty bad without upgrading the shocks. Anyway, your chosen spring company (BMR or Steeda) can recommend some good shocks to pair.

I lean towards BMR because they're more forthcoming on details like spring and shock rates, while Steeda prefers to sell parts on word of mouth and their quality of customer service alone (both of which are good), but doesn't care to share the actual specs for the performance products they sell. Both companies, (as well as Ford Racing) sell quality product.

 

[MtnBiker]

I like NightmareMoon's recommendation to fix problems that you actually perceive (easy to be a Mustang hypochondriac). I'll go out on a limb and say the squishy rear subframe bushings are a pretty universal issue and a lot of folks, me included, think the stock dampers are sub-par. I think you are pretty safe addressing those two and realizing some noticeable improvement without much risk of "going too far" and daily driving a racing car to work.

If you want to start removing some of the squishy stuff, replacing the outboard toe bushing with the Ford Racing spherical is also a solid improvement with little to no NVH penalty.

I think you are safe with Steeda or BMR. They both test their stuff and do a great job on support. BMRs engineering approach seems to be a little more elegant and simple (a good thing IMO) while Steeda has a broader range of products that may work together better by design (like springs and shocks specifically).

Have fun making your '16 your own.

 

[LETHAL]

I installed Steeda IRS supports when I thought I was going to remain a corner carver. At that time, they did the trick for wheel hop.

I then rediscovered I am a drag racer at heart and have been tracking the car a lot. When the air cooled off in Oct, the power came around and I discovered just how bad these things wheel hop at the track. 1st to 2nd was actually frightening. I am now picking up the proper Steeda bushing supports and whatnot.

The moral, vast difference between street and track with these cars in reference to suspension needs.

 

[Rebellion]

I've chosen BMR because of the following reasons:
1. It centers the front 2 bolt automatically, there's no real need for alignment sleeves up front.
2. It's cheaper, has great value and it's complete. Without offending anyone, I'd like to ask, why is the Steeda kit so expensive?
3. It deletes the "black plates" (or whatever their name is) which IMHO, is a big problem.
4. I can understand the BMR design better and from what I gather, it seems to better restrict the movement to vertical (which is the ideal). Most of this effect seems to be due to point 1 and 3.

The last 2 points I'm not entirely sure since my understanding of the IRS is rather limited.

There's plenty of stuff one can do...but the limitations are money and ease of installation.

 

[SYK]

Begin with tire spring/shock or coilovers, sways at different settings. Alignment with 1g cornering in mind (1.5 neg camber) def helps a lot

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