Would like confirmation regarding suspension changes

[scherisho]

here's my plan.
Springs-BMR SP763
Shocks/struts-M-18000-F (ford performance)
Steeda Shock mounts
BMR cradle lock out

Any thing else I should add to my list? This is for a daily driver so ride quality is still important but I understand there is a trade off for performance. I take the car on road trips a lot.

Again thanks to everyone who has offered up opinions. I really appreciate it.

Best place to get Vossen VFS-6 wheels like the ones in this pic?
https://www.mustang6g.com/forums/showpost.php?p=2104091&postcount=6261

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[Bluemustang]

here's my plan.
Springs-BMR SP763
Shocks/struts-M-18000-F (ford performance)
Steeda Shock mounts
BMR cradle lock out

Any thing else I should add to my list? This is for a daily driver so ride quality is still important but I understand there is a trade off for performance. I take the car on road trips a lot.

Again thanks to everyone who has offered up opinions. I really appreciate it.

Best place to get Vossen VFS-6 wheels like the ones in this pic?
https://www.mustang6g.com/forums/showpost.php?p=2104091&postcount=6261

This will be a great combination. You won’t be disappointed.

I would also add sway bars to complete the setup.

 

[scherisho]

Which sway bars?

 

[Bluemustang]

Which sway bars?

You know what? I actually take that back.

Don't do sway bars yet. Wait until you've got everything on and see how it feels. You may not need them at all.

As I am learning, sway bars are a tuning aid and need to work together as part of a total system of the suspension.

The reason I suggested sway bars is because it'll add roll control, particularly with the stock-ish spring rates that you're going to. But not all roll-resistance is good. There is such a thing as too much roll resistance.

The sways will help maintain geometry while cornering but again you might not need them. I am in the process of revisiting my current sway bars and am considering swapping them out for GT350 bars.

Now that I've gone to a higher spring rate, I am feeling like my BMR sway bars to are too stiff.

 

[scherisho]

Hi all,
Another question. Do the ford racing struts/shocks make the ride more firm or do they just do a better job of handling the bmr springs? Usually springs tend to stiffen up a ride more so than shocks/struts. Just want to make sure I understand what I’m getting into with the ford performance items.

 

[BmacIL]

Hi all,
Another question. Do the ford racing struts/shocks make the ride more firm or do they just do a better job of handling the bmr springs? Usually springs tend to stiffen up a ride more so than shocks/struts. Just want to make sure I understand what I’m getting into with the ford performance items.

They will make large bumps more harsh but everything else will be better. It will feel very controlled and settled. Not bouncy and soft.

 

[scherisho]

BmacIL,
If I wanted something a little less harsh would this be the PP dampeners or do I need to look at an adjustable? I know it is hard to describe ride quality over the internet so I appreciate the help you have offered. One person's harsh is another's perfect ride etc. We have some rougher roads where I live and drive so a dampener that would still offer a good ride quality with increase performance would be great. It just might be the ford performance combo. I'm looking to order soon so if this is a redundant post I apologize. If you think there is something better feel free to throw that out there as well. I'm a bit of a researcher before I purchase things so options and opinions are always welcome.
Eric

 

[BmacIL]

BmacIL,
If I wanted something a little less harsh would this be the PP dampeners or do I need to look at an adjustable? I know it is hard to describe ride quality over the internet so I appreciate the help you have offered. One person's harsh is another's perfect ride etc. We have some rougher roads where I live and drive so a dampener that would still offer a good ride quality with increase performance would be great. It just might be the ford performance combo. I'm looking to order soon so if this is a redundant post I apologize. If you think there is something better feel free to throw that out there as well. I'm a bit of a researcher before I purchase things so options and opinions are always welcome.
Eric

Well as you stated earlier, the spring rate is responsible for the majority of harshness. Imbalanced spring and damper rates in the form of being critically damped can make the car feel too "clamped down" into the road. The Ford Racing would not feel that way, even with the Performance spring rates. It is very difficult to compare something that is inherently subjective, but what I would offer is the knowledge that you'll end up with a great ride either way. The PP dampers will be much closer to stock feel, albeit a significant improvement from the non-PP. The Ford Racing dampers will be much more taut. Road inputs will be dealt with very quickly, and the car will handle with more precision. This is not to say that the PP dampers + BMR performance springs are lacking. They're not. It's a great combination. [MENTION=19644]Lexman[/MENTION] went to the min drop fronts and performance rears with PP dampers and he loves it. No sacrifice in ride but a big improvement in handling and looks. A bigger improvement in handling would come from the Ford Racing dampers, with a very small sacrifice in rough road ride in comparison.

 

[scherisho]

Gotcha. That makes a lot of sense. I appreciate the input.

 

[Rebellion]

Well as you stated earlier, the spring rate is responsible for the majority of harshness. Imbalanced spring and damper rates in the form of being critically damped can make the car feel too "clamped down" into the road. The Ford Racing would not feel that way, even with the Performance spring rates. It is very difficult to compare something that is inherently subjective, but what I would offer is the knowledge that you'll end up with a great ride either way. The PP dampers will be much closer to stock feel, albeit a significant improvement from the non-PP. The Ford Racing dampers will be much more taut. Road inputs will be dealt with very quickly, and the car will handle with more precision. This is not to say that the PP dampers + BMR performance springs are lacking. They're not. It's a great combination. [MENTION=19644]Lexman[/MENTION] went to the min drop fronts and performance rears with PP dampers and he loves it. No sacrifice in ride but a big improvement in handling and looks. A bigger improvement in handling would come from the Ford Racing dampers, with a very small sacrifice in rough road ride in comparison.

Just for educational purposes...how far from critical is optimal? Seems like we don't want to be anything near critical, unlike the theoretical assumption that we want fastest possible recovery from anything upsetting the suspension. On the other side, too far under damped will lead to the "springy" feel as the damper cannot control the oscillations of the spring.

Along with asymmetric damping and things not quite being linear, a lot of classic calculations go down the drain. Is there any objective guideline to matching springs and dampers, other than user reviews?

 

[BmacIL]

Just for educational purposes...how far from critical is optimal? Seems like we don't want to be anything near critical, unlike the theoretical assumption that we want fastest possible recovery from anything upsetting the suspension. On the other side, too far under damped will lead to the "springy" feel as the damper cannot control the oscillations of the spring.

Along with asymmetric damping and things not quite being linear, a lot of classic calculations go down the drain. Is there any objective guideline to matching springs and dampers, other than user reviews?

Comfortable ride: overall damping ratio around 0.2-0.3
Handling focused car: overall damping ratio around 0.4-0.5

This is in general and there is a lot of nuance and compromise made in tuning.

If you have shock dyno curves you can calculate the low and high speed damping ratios. Since most that we look at are digressive and have a knee point on the F vs V curve, we can break them up. It's good to look for damping ratios around 0.2-0.3 for the high speed portion and 0.6-0.7 for the low speed portion.

 

[scherisho]

Any thoughts on Steed pro actions (non adjustable) with the BMR SP763?

 

[BmacIL]

Any thoughts on Steed pro actions (non adjustable) with the BMR SP763?

They'd be a good option as well. I have them on the front with my setup. I had the rears but they were not enough damping for the 980 lb/in springs. I'd say if they're really on sale, good buy vs. the Ford Racing, but otherwise the ~$50 difference in price is well worth it for the FR dampers.

I do plan on going to the Koni fronts at some point.

 

[SteedaTech]

Any thoughts on Steed pro actions (non adjustable) with the BMR SP763?

Yes, they would work extremely well with their advertised rate.

One thing I would like to point out, is that the rear Ford P/P rear damper is a
high pressure monotube design. The Steeda rear damper is a low pressure Twin tube design, therefore it will give you a better ride quality. On another note it, has ample control for wheel hop as noted in our 2018 10.71 record run.

 

[BmacIL]

[MENTION=23432]scherisho[/MENTION] FWIW, Ford had planned on giving the 15-17 non-PP cars rear monotube dampers based on improvement in ride and handling (obviously with different, 'softer' valving), but was kept with twin tube for cost reasons ($7 a car). The engineers were disappointed. The 18 cars get rear monotubes regardless of performance pack or not.

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