Ownership Update - 22 GT Convertible U.K.

[TheEscapist]

Evening all

First off, thanks for all the helpful feedback to my previous post me convertible mods.

i actually flew back from holiday to the U.K. to collect the GT Conv on Thursday and had it booked in Friday morning for some Steeda add ons as mentioned.

Well, things never go to plan as we know! Arrived at the dealership (yes I’ll name and shame as no-one should ever go near them in the U.K., - Auto100.co.uk near Nottingham) and the car was a mess.

Missong floor mats, not ceramic coated as paid for, tyre pressures on one side 48 psi and other side 34 psi, and in the boot an old centre resonator box from the exhaust!

Long story short, the supposed stock GT had been modified. I’m fine with that as wanted to anyway, but not impressed I wasn’t told.

Lots of other problems such as finance not cleared, car not clean, etc etc but the main one was they said they hadn’t noticed the exhaust box in the boot!

So, again long story short, I took the car and I’m still discussing a goodwill hésiter for the huge hassle and lies, but they are a nasty company so be warned.

in terms of the car, I hadnt planned any exhaust mod but the Steeda H pipe that’s fitted is amazing. So loud what needed, yet quiet on a long cruise when in quiet mode. Highly recommended.

I had planned, next day:

1. Steeda Mustang IRS Subframe Alignment Kit 2015 - 2024+ × 1 £61.67

555-4438 IRS Alignment Bushes

2. Steeda Mustang IRS Subframe Bushing Support System 2015 - 2024+ × 1 £174.17

555-4437 IRS Subframe Support Bushes

3. Steeda Mustang Ultra-lite Jacking Rails 2015+ in 2024+ × 1 £240.83

555-5207 – Convertible

4. Steeda S550 Mustang Ultralite 2-Point G-Trac Brace × 1 £140.83

2015+ GT

5. Steeda S550 Mustang Strut Tower Brace × 1


So next day at a highly recommended sport tuning specialist in the U.K. called J W Racing just north of London, we found on the ramp, it had already the jacking rails, some k&n filters and a Ford Performance strut tower brace.

so we fitted the alignment kit and the bushes and the K brace.

today had an 800 mile drive home and LOVE fhe car. So quiet on a motorway cruise even up to speeds I won’t mention, quite economical up to 30 mpg and even 20 mpg at super silly fast speeds. Zero body roll and super planted on the road.

i love it! And did I mention the noise from the H pipe mod is insane! I’ve had Milltek exhausts before on JLR products which are loud but they drone. This one has zero drone especially in exhaust quiet mode long high speed cruise as silly speeds at times near the limit. Helps having 4S tyres which I always change to and this had stock.

So my only issue is rear end road holding. In normal mode, I had the rear shake out a couple of times when no other car I know would on a slow sweeping bend where there was a road join / bump. I was only on around 50% power/speed yet the rear end bounced up and slid each time. Is this caused by the bush8ng supports having too little travel or something else? should have Mentioned car was perfectly aligned and tyre pressures and balancing are perfect.

Any helpful advice welcome.

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[Coosawjack]

Good Luck Paul and I just had to mention you have the best color too!!

 

[TheEscapist]

Good Luck Paul and I just had to mention you have the best color too!!

Love the colour!

 

[S550HPP]

Was fine before IRL "upgrades"?

You lose compliance / suppleness with aftermarket "upgrades" meant for smooth roads or track and will lose out big time on B roads and otherwise crappy roads.

You dialed out a lot of IRS compliance now it's gonna hop and skip over all irregularities on turns.

There' s a reason Ford spends massive amounts of time and configuration testing.

 

[TheEscapist]

Was fine before IRL "upgrades"?

You lose compliance / suppleness with aftermarket "upgrades" meant for smooth roads or track and will lose out big time on B roads and otherwise crappy roads.

You dialed out a lot of IRS compliance now it's gonna hop and skip over all irregularities on turns.

There' s a reason Ford spends massive amounts of time and configuration testing.

my fault didn’t have time to drive much before the upgrades. I was just on the motorway.

im confused, as everyone says the rear upgrades ie. IRS alignment bushes and the support bushes, are a positive and stop the hop as Steeda calls it.

no-one mentioned any detrimental effect on the handling and they even say no detrimental effect on nvh so I’m really supposed and I read a lot of reviews on those two Steeda items.

give me some more of your wisdom please as to what I’m supposed to gain then from these upgrades, the alignment ones make total sense to me so my e just remove the support bushes then?

thanks

 

[TheEscapist]

Was fine before IRL "upgrades"?

You lose compliance / suppleness with aftermarket "upgrades" meant for smooth roads or track and will lose out big time on B roads and otherwise crappy roads.

You dialed out a lot of IRS compliance now it's gonna hop and skip over all irregularities on turns.

There' s a reason Ford spends massive amounts of time and configuration testing.

and I’m guessing the K btace on the front is not affecting the ride quality. Certainly zero body roll but does it also affect ride on b roads and poor surfaces?

 

[TheEscapist]

Was fine before IRL "upgrades"?

You lose compliance / suppleness with aftermarket "upgrades" meant for smooth roads or track and will lose out big time on B roads and otherwise crappy roads.

You dialed out a lot of IRS compliance now it's gonna hop and skip over all irregularities on turns.

There' s a reason Ford spends massive amounts of time and configuration testing.

by the way, isn’t that what the springs and dampers are for? Compkiance on imperfect surfaces. I don’t understand suspension but logic told me that alignment of the subframe would not affect compliance and the support bushes merely hold things in place better?

 

[S550HPP]

It's all one system interdependent. You would think this would not happen though.

Did it occur before "upgrades"? Was the step out under throttle 50%?

I drive a lot on equivalent of tight B roads plus broken / cracked city roads with B6 and I'm planted with stock everything, except Steeda vertical poly links. Front end can get skittish only because B6 is valved for 200lb+ heavier front end.

Some times when I'm on tight curves over heavy cracks at 80% (210hp crank) it will skip. For 1/5 second. You were about 220-240hp crank at 50%>

Check the shocks or just replace with Bilstein B6 at home in no time they do wonders for rear end. Double check tire pressure as well.

 

[S550HPP]

and I’m guessing the K btace on the front is not affecting the ride quality. Certainly zero body roll but does it also affect ride on b roads and poor surfaces?

Any additional bracing is a positive driving experience outcome.

 

[TheEscapist]

It's all one system interdependent. You would think this would not happen though.

Did it occur before "upgrades"? Was the step out under throttle 50%?

I drive a lot on equivalent of tight B roads plus broken / cracked city roads with B6 and I'm planted with stock everything, except Steeda vertical poly links. Front end can get skittish only because B6 is valved for 200lb+ heavier front end.

Some times when I'm on tight curves over heavy cracks at 80% (210hp crank) it will skip. For 1/5 second. You were about 220-240hp crank at 50%>

Check the shocks or just replace with Bilstein B6 at home in no time they do wonders for rear end. Double check tire pressure as well.

thanks. Very helpful.

id like to keep the stock springs and dampers and just improve the ride quality by stepping back from the upgrades a bit.

if I remove the Steeda support bushes on the rear end and leave the alignment bushes, that should not require realignment.

will that get rid of the skipping at the rear wind and make it slightly softer?

 

[S550HPP]

Just change the rear shocks it's so easy. Take it from there. Leave the Steeda in until you do that.

What tires and pressure do you have?

 

[TheEscapist]

Just change the rear shocks it's so easy. Take it from there. Leave the Steeda in until you do that.

What tires and pressure do you have?

i dont want to or have the means now to change the rear shocks.

tYres are PS4S and at 35 psi all round.

all 8 want to know is what difference will it make to the ride quality and cornering if I now remove the Steeda support bushes and keep the alignment bushes.

can you Please tell me as I didn’t have the pleasure of driving my car before the Steeda mods so need to ask ;)

I will do that if it will be an iM pro ment in ride quality and stop the rear slide out on a bump on a corner but won’t do that if it won’t help so please let me know.

 

[S550HPP]

Did you have an alignment after the Steeda put in? If not get it done

Drop tire pressure to 32/33 see how that works.

If no good take out the 555-4347 and see how it is. The alignment dowels won't affect any handling other than getting it squared for alignment.

Any crashes on record?

 

[TheEscapist]

Did you have an alignment after the Steeda put in? If not get it done

Drop tire pressure to 32/33 see how that works.

If no good take out the 555-4347 and see how it is. The alignment dowels won't affect any handling other than getting it squared for alignment.

Any crashes on record?

Yes alignment done after Steeda parts fitted.

 

[Tinpot]

I have the Steeda rear anlignment and bushing supports fitted to my car - it’s a Mach 1, so slightly different - and the bushing supports do firm up the ride somewhat, but it’s not a night and day difference. I haven’t had any issues with the rear bouncing/ sliding. Maybe @WD Pro can chip in here as he has the same parts fitted and has had more time in his car.

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