Keeping it on the road

[Tom777]

Hello, chaps. I'm new to rear-wheel drive cars and since buying my mustang GT people have told me to be extremely careful. Indeed, I've seen enough mustang vs barrier/crowd videos to appreciate the extent of potential catastrophe lurking unseen beneath my right foot but have (thankfully) yet to experience even a taste of it. I'm very happy with this but it's going in for some mechanical modifications on Monday (including a supercharger) and I don't want to upset the handling before plonking an extra 300bhp on it.

Currently, it's fitted with 25mm Eibach lowering springs (installed by a previous owner). I'd like to return the springs to OEM spec but I'm uncertain whether this will affect handling in any real sense. It is my understanding that lowering springs do technically reduce body roll and slightly improve aerodynamics (provided it's not excessively low) but that the actual performance gains are negligible and they do nothing at all for straight-line grip/handling. Is this correct?

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[Jimmy Dean]

just want to say, that car looks pretty dang good at how it sits right now and with those accents.

 

[RKRZ]

Springs / spring rate can affect the way a car reacts (weight transfer) during acceleration and braking, so it's somewhat important.

If traction is the concern, you should be spending your money on wider wheels / tires.

 

[StangTime]

Just don't try to hoon it around a corner on cold & overinflated tires.

 

[Cobra Jet]

Just don't try to hoon it around a corner on cold & overinflated tires.

Exactly… and if you feel like the ass end is going to whip around, GET OFF THROTTLE…. Doesn’t matter what suspension or tires you have, common sense always prevails…

 

[Vlad Soare]

Keep your traction control on, don't floor it around a corner in the wet, and you'll be fine.

 

[Maldelver]

My personal opinion is regardless of handling mods you should never be surprised by how your car acts in any given situation.

To that end I prefer to take my car to a safe paved open area and give it a go on dry and wet days.

Just my 2c

 

[Tom777]

Ok. Thanks, fellas. My car is currently predominantly stock (mechanically speaking); the only non-cosmetic modifications being 25mm Eibach lowering springs and 20 inch alloy wheels with 275mm Falken Azenis tyres on the rear (255mm up front). So far it is behaving itself (even if I am not).

I've been advised by various tuning specialists and enthusiasts to consider cradle bushing lockout kits, point chassis braces, limited slip differentials, magneride dual rate springs, adjustable toe links, billet vertical links, adjustable anti-roll bars, independent rear support braces, front camber bolts, four wheel geometry setup and ECU calibration. I will give this all due consideration after I've got a feel for the car post-supercharging. I'm not trying to build a dragstrip monster that drinks the blood of the innocent and sees the light of day but once a month though. I pretty much just want it to make the right noise and enable me to look upon M4 drivers with self-satisfied contempt. Frankly it already makes the right noise with the addition of a Roush axle-back exhaust (which I highly recommend for stock engines), so I might have to scale that back if it turns out too loud.

Wish me luck, boys. And if you see me upside down in a ditch and more on fire than usual, give me a wave! Then call the emergency services.

 

[Jimmy Dean]

Ok. Thanks, fellas. My car is currently predominantly stock (mechanically speaking); the only non-cosmetic modifications being 25mm Eibach lowering springs and 20 inch alloy wheels with 275mm Falken Azenis tyres on the rear (255mm up front). So far it is behaving itself (even if I am not).

I've been advised by various tuning specialists and enthusiasts to consider cradle bushing lockout kits, point chassis braces, limited slip differentials, magneride dual rate springs, adjustable toe links, billet vertical links, adjustable anti-roll bars, independent rear support braces, front camber bolts, four wheel geometry setup and ECU calibration. I will give this all due consideration after I've got a feel for the car post-supercharging. I'm not trying to build a dragstrip monster that drinks the blood of the innocent and sees the light of day but once a month though. I pretty much just want it to make the right noise and enable me to look upon M4 drivers with self-satisfied contempt. Frankly it already makes the right noise with the addition of a Roush axle-back exhaust (which I highly recommend for stock engines), so I might have to scale that back if it turns out too loud.

Wish me luck, boys. And if you see me upside down in a ditch and more on fire than usual, give me a wave! Then call the emergency services.

yes, look into steeda stop-the-hop and other suspension components to reduce play in the ass end

 

[m3incorp]

Great looking car as it sits. What supercharger are you installing? Various tuning specialists and other members "should" make recommendations based on how you plan to "drive" the car.

 

[RTR077]

I can only speak for myself, but I drive with SC and just the springs w/o issue. As others have said, I am more careful on colder days. I wouldn't mod the suspension further unless I was tracking it. Compared to a '02 SC Z06 Corvette I had, this car corners better and with less ass wobble. Good luck with the SC, you will like it

 

[Tom777]

Great looking car as it sits. What supercharger are you installing? Various tuning specialists and other members "should" make recommendations based on how you plan to "drive" the car.

A Roush TVS 727R. I've had every man and his dog throw recommendations at me for additional modifications, and while I do genuinely appreciate the input, it's been somewhat overwhelming.

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