car handles like poop

JDwhite98gt · Jan 26, 2010

Ok as far as suspension mods go....Ford C springs (dead coil cut from rears) and no iso's, NO QUAD SHOCKS , kenny brown sub frames, hotchkis non-adjustable hd lower control arms, tokico blues just changed 1,000k miles ago. For tires, fronts are Avon mtech 40 psi 255/35/18 and rears are 305/35/18 nitto 555r's 35 psi. Lately my car has felt really spongy or wallow-ie, right after the shocks and struts the car felt nice and firm now it feels like they are blown but not that bad because the set i replaces were blown and I have chunked my rear tires from them rubbing on the quarters and I no longer do this. I was wondering that maybe the rear shocks arent tightened all the way because the car feels very, VERY loose in the rear like during lane changing on the highway at normal speeds. I wanted to check the nuts on the shock tower but how do I know when to stop turning them? Any other suggestions on how to tighten the car up a little? Like what should i look for thats worn and how do I know if its worn?

GDTrumbo · Jan 26, 2010

Sounds like your experiencing a little "Rear Steer". You might look into a panhard rod kit. There is nothing controlling lateral movement of the rear axle on '79 thru '04 Mustangs from the factory. When any aftermarket LCA's are added, the rear can actually feel looser than with the OEM LCA's. Go to www.miracerros.com and read about some of the Mustang's suspension shortcomings.

As for the shock bushings, tighten them down till they are about half their uninstalled height. They will slowly destroy themselves if they are too tight.

GT

Crone · Jan 26, 2010

GD, thank you for that link, that has got to be one of the most informative web pages I have seen in a while. If you have any more would you mind PMing them to me? Thank you!

JDwhite98gt · Jan 27, 2010

Yea I knew that going in but SO many people run LCA's without a Panhard bar... they're realy expensive too. So, are there any other remedies for the problem? So now for the shocks, how do I judge the length? Take them out measure then tighten till they are half of that? Or are u talking about the bushing hight itself? I just thought that you were supposed to tighten the nut down untill the bushing "squishes" a bit.

GDTrumbo · Jan 27, 2010

Hehehehe! Yea, the bushing height itself.

As for the panhard rod kit, there are 3 or 4 kits available from various mfgr's. for various prices. Then there was the 11 hours installation time it took me to install it myself. There are instructions on the MM website. The results are fantastic (except for a little extra axle noise) and I would do it again if I bought another SN/New Edge. Kinda thinkin' about a MACH 1.

There is no other good remedy for the lack of transversal axle control. You could use aftermarket UCA's with stiffer bushings (for drag racing) but the result is unwanted suspension bind on the street or road racing.

Always research your mods thouroughly before you buy.......

GT

JDwhite98gt · Jan 27, 2010

Well I have researched the parts and problems....its not my first rodeo with these cars lol. What mind- f**ks the heck out of me is that I always start with a great car, everything feels firm and tight but then two more years down the road the car rides really really harsh and doesnt handle well enough to justify the harshness then I have play in my steering, the alignment only lasts for a month...lol. It just that I've had the exact same mods done to this and my last car and the same problems persist, I'm just thinking that there is something I'm overlooking. Maybe a bushing overhaul, maybe the springs are just junk, I just cant fathom that a PB which really isnt too common of a mod for the run of the mill stang owner is going to solve all my problems. The harshness and sponginess of the ride is really my concern.