2010 mustang gt suspension... [Archive] - TriStateTuners.com

Scapegoat

08-31-2009, 11:21 AM

If my '72 c10 sells i'll have about 2k to spend on parts... with my secret discount that'll be around 3k worth if the company i've got this deal with has the components.

The 2010 gt is a little loose for my liking, i want something tighter, less body roll and more road feel. I prefer the autocross over the drag strip, so my first set of mods will be to make my blue baby handle better.

Obviously, i can go through http://www.americanmuscle.com/suspension.html and pick out an item from each category and throw it all together... but i figure someone from here has got to be smarter than me, especially where suspension work is concerned (since i've never broached the subject before)

So, if someone could assist me in picking stuff out... obviously, adjustable stuff is nice but hell if i know where to set things. I'm certainly going to be online reading up on camber, toe, bumpsteer and all that good $#!@ so learn myself something new!

lownslow95

08-31-2009, 11:23 AM

I would check out njstangers.com. They might be able to point you in the right direction.

Scapegoat

08-31-2009, 11:28 AM

we've got a handful of serious autocrossers on this site... i figure they could lend some input here on vehicle handling dynamics. If i don't get what i'm after here i'll move onto a mustang site... though, i do have a post up (this one to be exact) on phillystangs.com

doug

08-31-2009, 11:31 AM

talk to ciotti, i'd say.. he's always autocrossing his stang.

Scapegoat

08-31-2009, 11:48 AM

talk to ciotti, i'd say.. he's always autocrossing his stang.

looking forward to his input

05 mazda6s

08-31-2009, 01:43 PM

I'm surprised because the '10 mustang won againest the camaro and challenger primarily because of it's handeling

Scapegoat

08-31-2009, 02:01 PM

I'm surprised because the '10 mustang won againest the camaro and challenger primarily because of it's handeling

doesn't mean there isn't room for improvement.

these three cars aren't being sold to hardcore enthusiasts who want a track-able sports car. Your average car fan is going to go out and buy a mustang gt and be 100% satisfied with how it handles and its acceleration.

I however, am not 100% satisfied :)

I'd say, 75%... i want it to handle better, even though it handles quite well, i'd like it to be tighter and i want more road feel. and the 280ish whp is just not enough for a mustang :mrgreen:

busterujoint pointed me to this: http://store.roushperformance.com/detail.aspx?ID=1145

if the company i get a discount through can get this product i'll most likely be picking it up. should be good for daily driving and when i finally get around to autocrossing it

Ciotti

08-31-2009, 04:16 PM

I don't want to start recommending stuff that you can't get for your discount because Maximum Motorsports and Steeda make really good parts and if you can get one cheaper than the other it would probably be best to stick with them.

DaveSTi

08-31-2009, 04:18 PM

www.maximummotorsports.com

them or griggs.

Scapegoat

08-31-2009, 04:22 PM

I don't want to start recommending stuff that you can't get for your discount because there are 2 or 3 companies that all make really good parts, so is there any way you can let slip what manufactures you are hooked up with?

honestly... i don't know :lol: its no secret that i lent my car to quadratec to take pics for their new muscle car division. for that i get a sizable discount, only stipulation is that they continue to use my car (which is really no big deal for me)

i'm unsure as to the exact companies they have access to yet, as they were still in talks with a bunch over pricing.

I'm assuming the usual mustang parts suppliers, shelby, ford racing, roush, steeda, etc... i'll shoot out an email to them to see how things are going and get a bead on who they've nailed down

Ciotti

08-31-2009, 05:02 PM

Maximum Motorsports is universally known to make the best parts that aren't overpriced right now, but Steeda also makes some really nice stuff at very fair prices. I run mostly Maximum stuff but I have been very happy with the Steeda stuff I have on the car as they make a few things that Maximum doesn't. If you can get their parts, a very good starting point will be to call MM up on their tech line 805-544-8748 and speak with Jason. He's a super knowledgeable guy that is always willing to help and the help he's giving you is based on data from their racing program that has a ton of cars out every weekend beating the hell out of their parts as opposed to some guy in front of a computer designing a part in CAD that "should" work.

Edit: The reason I'm suggesting that you call MM first is that while I know a TON about my platform (the fox body) I don't know nearly as much about the S197 Lincoln LS platform that you're going to be building on. Without knowing that platform's shortfalls I have no way of knowing what will be the most important parts for you to install first, second, third etc...

Chris B.

09-01-2009, 09:04 AM

If you really want to talk to someone who knows a lot about the 2005 and up Mustang suspensions, talk with Sam Strano. He has won many national and divisional events in his Mustangs and he preps many of the other top finishing cars at nationals and divisionals.

When I've talked with him before, I've told him what I liked and didn't like about the suspension and what my goals were. He told me what I could do to improve the suspension for my goals and how to fix the things I didn't like.

He won't try to sell you parts you don't need. For example, when I told him I sometimes drive on unpaved roads, he told me to skip the lowering springs unless I was trying to make a really competitive car for autoX because the springs only gave him 0.7 seconds reduction in times in two identically prepped mustangs on the same course on the same day.

http://www.stranoparts.com/

Ciotti

09-01-2009, 11:05 AM

I was going to suggest he call Sam but then I realized that he already has a shop where he's getting everything ordered/done. I talk to Sam pretty much every week and the next time we speak I was planning on asking him where the main problem areas on the S195 are and what the hot parts are to tighten it up :)

Chris B.

09-01-2009, 11:19 AM

Even though I could have bought my Koni yellows for a little less money elsewhere, I decided to give Sam the business because he offered great advice. Sometimes its worth it to spend a few extra dollars to get the better service.

Now all I need is for Koni to make me my backrodered front shocks.

Ciotti

09-01-2009, 12:37 PM

I couldn't agree with you more Chris, I buy everything from Sam regardless of what he or anyone else charges because the tech he gives is invaluable and always dead on the money, plus his prices are always really good anyway!

Scapegoat

09-01-2009, 12:37 PM

my discount through quadratec is pretty amazing, obviously depending on the vendor's wares i am purchasing... still waiting on a list of suppliers though.

i've got no problem sending some money out to Sam if he helps me out deciding stuff.

But, it looks like i may be waiting a bit... i've decided to do the adult thing and pay off a personal loan with this truck money and work towards paying off the srt-4. however, i will be renewing my scca membership and running in the stock class. which will help me understand better what i want to work on w/ the car

Ciotti

09-01-2009, 12:59 PM

If you're planning on autocrossing the car I'll tell you exactly what to get first, Koni Yellow's and a big front bar! Neither will kick you out of F Stock and both will make a big difference. The other huge thing that will liven the car up are tires, the current hot tire they make in our size that I'm running with great success is the Kuhmo XS and you simply wouldn't believe the amount of grip these dam things have. With those mods you have a class winning car on your hands and if you come out to our South Jersey SCCA events there will be 3 or 4 other cars in F Stock for you to run against all of which are on street tires with almost no mods so you guys would have a total blast battling back and forth all day. http://www.tristatetuners.com/forum/showthread.php?t=86288

Sam is an awesome guy and he's been dominating F Stock in a Shelby GT for the past 2 or 3 years at every National event he attends so if there's anyone that knows the platform inside and out right now it's him. Fair warning though, he will talk you out of the parts that won't make enough of a difference in performance to justify the cost every time losing himself a sale but helping you build a rocket ship for a bit less money :)

Scapegoat

09-01-2009, 01:06 PM

i'll def see about making it out. we'll see what i can pull with money and picking up the koni's and a front sway bar

you talking about these koni's?

http://www.tirerack.com/suspension/suspension.jsp?&make=Koni&model=Sport+Strut&group=Sport&autoMake=Ford&autoModel=Mustang+GT&autoYear=2010&autoModClar=Coupe&partNum=8741-1494SPORT&perfCode=P

sean3

09-01-2009, 01:32 PM

Nick Merrone

09-01-2009, 01:37 PM

hey dude, i love your car ford blue 2010 mustang is my dream car right now haha. Color of my block.but i was on tst at the shop my dad saw your car and said if you ever wanna take a 2010 camaro rs/ss on the 1/4, let me know. haha. id love to seeee that.

Scapegoat

09-01-2009, 01:38 PM

Nick Merrone

09-01-2009, 01:40 PM

haha, but it'll be cool to see. but yeah it has headers, exhaust, intake and a dynojet tune, well that will be done this week. right now its all just sitting in the shop and we usually just sitt in the office bull ****ting..haha.

Scapegoat

09-01-2009, 01:41 PM

Yes but they're cheaper ($752) at maximummotorsports

sweet. so the suggestion would be those all around and a bigger anti-sway bar up front and that is it for f stock?

i don't fully intend on sticking in that area, only because i do want to do a decent amount of work to the car over time... exhaust (duh its a mustang) which would put me in street prep, and eventually a supercharger... which dumps me into street mod, which i'm sure i'd be no match for. but that is down the line

Scapegoat

09-01-2009, 01:41 PM

haha, but it'll be cool to see. but yeah it has headers, exhaust, intake and a dynojet tune, well that will be done this week. right now its all just sitting in the shop and where in the office bull ****ting..haha.

i'll run... but its a def loss for me :lol:

winner buys lunch haha

Nick Merrone

09-01-2009, 01:43 PM

i'll run... but its a def loss for me :lol:

winner buys lunch haha

haha okay ill keep in touch if you ever go to atco let us know haha. i haven't even gotten a damn ride in it.

Ciotti

09-01-2009, 01:50 PM

Spoke with Sam a bit ago and he knew the exact floaty/not completely firm feeling you're talking about and said it's definitely that the factory shocks/struts are underdampened. My Cobra had that same feeling for the first 3 years I owned it, then Sam set me up with the Koni Yellows (Sports) and even though it's been 2+ months since they went on I'm still amazed at the difference. http://www.tristatetuners.com/forum/showthread.php?t=82761

He also mentioned that negative camber will help big time (which also made a huge difference on my car) but your car doesn't have any adjustability on the tops of the struts so you'll need to get the Ford Racing camber bolts if you want to stay in FS for autocross or if you don't care about that you can get adjustable strut top mounts which will bump you into E Street Prepared.

sweet. so the suggestion would be those all around and a bigger anti-sway bar up front and that is it for f stock?

i don't fully intend on sticking in that area, only because i do want to do a decent amount of work to the car over time... exhaust (duh its a mustang) which would put me in street prep, and eventually a supercharger... which dumps me into street mod, which i'm sure i'd be no match for. but that is down the line

Exhaust won't bump you out of F Stock but the supercharger certainly will :)

Nick Merrone

09-01-2009, 01:52 PM

wow thats pretty cool, adjustable shocks...i feel like a newb...

oneday

09-01-2009, 02:11 PM

Sam is a god among Mustang autocrossers. If you ever have a chance to watch him hustle his car through the cones it is something you won't soon forget.

Big front bar, shocks, camber bolts, cat back exhaust, drop in filter, brake pads and the stickiest, widest tires you can fit on an OEM size wheel. That is all you can do for a stock class. The shocks, tires will make the biggest difference for the class, but the camber and sway shouldn't be discounted.

Got Insulin?

09-01-2009, 02:15 PM

wow thats pretty cool, adjustable shocks...i feel like a newb...

Probably been around longer than you've been alive, Nick. :lol:

Looking forward to see what you can pull off with the car, Ken.

Nick Merrone

09-01-2009, 02:15 PM

Scapegoat

09-01-2009, 02:36 PM

Spoke with Sam a bit ago and he knew the exact floaty/not completely firm feeling you're talking about and said it's definitely that the factory shocks/struts are underdampened. My Cobra had that same feeling for the first 3 years I owned it, then Sam set me up with the Koni Yellows (Sports) and even though it's been 2+ months since they went on I'm still amazed at the difference. http://www.tristatetuners.com/forum/showthread.php?t=82761

He also mentioned that negative camber will help big time (which also made a huge difference on my car) but your car doesn't have any adjustability on the tops of the struts so you'll need to get the Ford Racing camber bolts if you want to stay in FS for autocross or if you don't care about that you can get adjustable strut top mounts which will bump you into E Street Prepared.

Exhaust won't bump you out of F Stock but the supercharger certainly will :)

sweet. i'll pick up a set of those koni's when i get a chance and a steeda front sway bar.

about the exhaust... i though that was axle back only doesn't drop you out of stock? i intend on doing headers back

Scapegoat

09-01-2009, 02:37 PM

thanks for that tip...i kinda dont wanna drift like everyone else..so its not all about speed in auto cross?

speed is very important as it is a timed event. however, handling is just as, if not more important.

you won't get out of second gear on a course (most times) and you probably won't see higher than 50-60mph

Nick Merrone

09-01-2009, 02:43 PM

speed is very important as it is a timed event. however, handling is just as, if not more important.

you won't get out of second gear on a course (most times) and you probably won't see higher than 50-60mph

oh, i knew it was alot of handling, so like i should focus on acceleration? cause i wanna get up there faster?

Scapegoat

09-01-2009, 02:53 PM

i'll let the pros take over QnA time, but i'd say handling > acceleration

Ciotti

09-01-2009, 02:57 PM

sweet. i'll pick up a set of those koni's when i get a chance and a steeda front sway bar.

about the exhaust... i though that was axle back only doesn't drop you out of stock? i intend on doing headers back

Technically yes the rules state that only cat back's are allowed but unless you're running at national events you'll be just fine running an aftermarket h or x pipe in FS unless there are noise restrictions like a lot of the Philly events have in place. For as long as I'm running the South Jersey region you're more than welcome to run in FS with any h or x pipe you want because those extra few horsepower aren't making you any faster and I'd much rather listen to your car with the exhaust properly uncorked :)

And it's all about handling, acceleration means very little until you're got at least a full season of events under your belt. There's an instructor in our region with an 80 horsepower Volvo wagon that will blow away any new guy in a Vette or Porsche or anything else with a ton of power.

%70 driver %20 tires %10 car

Scapegoat

09-01-2009, 03:06 PM

by headers back... i meant long tubes, shorty x/h pipe and cat back... :o

Ciotti

09-01-2009, 03:35 PM

That's pushing it but I'll still let you slide unless you're pounding everyone else in FS, although by the time you do all that to the exhaust I have a feeling you'll have something else on the car (wider wheels, springs, subframe connectors, rear sway bar, aftermarket lower controll arms to get rid of the straight line wheel hop, etc...) that bumps you out of FS anyway :)

Scapegoat

09-01-2009, 03:41 PM

you're making it very difficult for me to save this 2 grand... i can get the koni's and sway bar for under a grand, and i can get the exhaust setup for right around a grand...

i'm looking at maybe getting smaller stock rims though... hoping they're lighter and something i can toss better tires on for the track.

i doubt i'll be pounding everyone in FS though... not for a while at least, i haven't autocrossed in years

Ciotti

09-01-2009, 03:52 PM

you're making it very difficult for me to save this 2 grand... i can get the koni's and sway bar for under a grand, and i can get the exhaust setup for right around a grand...

I'm good at helping others spend their money :)

i'm looking at maybe getting smaller stock rims though... hoping they're lighter and something i can toss better tires on for the track.

That will kick you out of FS and into ESP with me

i doubt i'll be pounding everyone in FS though... not for a while at least, i haven't autocrossed in years

Your competition right now has less than a year of experience so you may be right there with them especially because you have the National class winning platform :)

Scapegoat

09-01-2009, 03:57 PM

well, i'll be there on the 27th, probably in 100% stock form and we'll see how it goes.

Ciotti

09-01-2009, 04:02 PM

Just getting the cat back system would save you a lot, be fully FS legal, and probably still sound really nice :)

If you want an instructor ride along or an instructor to set a good time in your car that you can chase for the rest of the day, let me know :)

Scapegoat

09-01-2009, 04:05 PM

If you want an instructor ride along or an instructor to set a good time in your car that you can chase for the rest of the day, let me know :)

i'm down with that.

what kind of helmet do you recommend?

i was thinking of getting one in this style to offer better vision

http://www.ski-racing.com/0809imgs/Carrera/Carrera_BulletRaceHelmet.jpg

Elliott18t

09-01-2009, 04:11 PM

get the blue to go with the car... lol

sean3

09-01-2009, 04:12 PM

by headers back... i meant long tubes, shorty x/h pipe and cat back... :o

Don't ask, don't tell :)

On the helmet note, get a full face one. Once pictures of your "oh sh!t" face show up on the internet you'll wish you didn't cheap out. Ask me how I know.

Ciotti

09-01-2009, 04:12 PM

We have loaner helmets you can borrow and when you're ready to buy your own if you really want an open face there are a bunch of the guys that are looking to sell theirs and get full face ones because I keep catching them making stupid faces in the pictures that I take while they're on course :)

Scapegoat

09-01-2009, 04:16 PM

ok... full race helmet it is... and i'm not putting my sweet head into a loaner helmet lol

i'll stop off at the harley davidson/buell dealership during lunch thursday and see what they've got :)

Elliott18t

09-01-2009, 04:23 PM

get a darth vader helmet = 30% better driving ability

sorry just bored before work ends today.

Waiting to see how this thing does on the track.

Scapegoat

09-01-2009, 04:23 PM

get a darth vader helmet = 30% better driving ability

this isn't a roll playing game kiddo :p

this will do me thinks

helmet (http://www.harley-davidson.com/dwp/mcm/dwp_mcm_product.jsp?PRODUCT<>prd_id=845524448770314&FOLDER<>folder_id=2534374302285951&ASSORTMENT<>ast_id=2534374302285951&dwp_dealerid=129601&bmUID=1251836253220&bmLocale=en_US)

Elliott18t

09-01-2009, 04:26 PM

role ;)

nice helmet find. I wish I had time/money to set up for track. For now Ill just go low, maybe in the future ill set something up for the track. MAybe a different car, or the one I have now.

Ciotti

09-01-2009, 05:03 PM

this isn't a roll playing game kiddo :p

this will do me thinks

helmet (http://www.harley-davidson.com/dwp/mcm/dwp_mcm_product.jsp?PRODUCT<>prd_id=845524448770314&FOLDER<>folder_id=2534374302285951&ASSORTMENT<>ast_id=2534374302285951&dwp_dealerid=129601&bmUID=1251836253220&bmLocale=en_US)

He was probably referring to my helmet and the fact that I'm a bit of a "hot shoe" :)

http://www.ciottiindustries.com/gallery/Autocross/Philly11-9-08/DeathEater5.jpg

Take a look here at the helmets that are SA2005 rated, that rating indicates that the helmet is legal for automobile use which is important if you ever do a track day or solo 1 time trial event. For autocross a motorcycle M2005 rated helmet is fine but if you ever think you'll do more than autocross it's definitely worth it to spend the extra money now on an SA rated hat :)

http://www.soloracer.com/helmets.html

Scapegoat

09-01-2009, 05:41 PM

Take a look here at the helmets that are SA2005 rated, that rating indicates that the helmet is legal for automobile use which is important if you ever do a track day or solo 1 time trial event. For autocross a motorcycle M2005 rated helmet is fine but if you ever think you'll do more than autocross it's definitely worth it to spend the extra money now on an SA rated hat :)

http://www.soloracer.com/helmets.html

any recommended brands? i dunno what size my head is... probably a medium

this looks good

http://www.soloracer.com/pyrofullfacesa.html

i could always wrap it in 3m carbon haha

Ciotti

09-01-2009, 06:01 PM

I like Simpson but they're a LOT of money, all the brands at that link I sent you are good ones, stay away from the no name Ebay brands and you'll be just fine. On the manufacturer's websites they should explain how to measure your head for their helmet sizes :)

Ciotti

09-14-2009, 11:02 PM

Screw the suspension, make that thing look like this...

http://i711.photobucket.com/albums/ww119/Automotive_Dezignz/Got%20Muscle%20Car%20Show/Grabber_Blue_Mustang_013_COMP1R.jpg

http://i711.photobucket.com/albums/ww119/Automotive_Dezignz/Got%20Muscle%20Car%20Show/Grabber_Blue_Mustang_057R.jpg

Scapegoat

09-18-2009, 08:40 AM

mother****ers stole my stripes!

where did those parts come from? where did that lip come from??

i fully intended to do the boss style graphics and the rear louvers, side "scoop".

i'll be getting a borla catback soon though. think i'll do the exhaust now and worry about making it basically look like this car after that

also, my peeps at quadratec got back to me... they need to ask about the koni's, but they can get bilstein. any recommended bilstein shocks?

Ciotti

09-18-2009, 09:27 AM

The Bils are good if you don't want to have to adjustability, they're a good all around damper that won't be too soft and won't be too hard. I personally don't have any problem adjusting the Koni's so I have the ability to make them harder than the Bils on race days and softer during the week. When you run them on a shock dyno the bump damping is the same and then the rebound on the Bils is the same as the Koni's when they're dialed to dead center but then when you start cranking the Koni's up or down you get a very nice range of adjustability to the rebound.

Scapegoat

09-18-2009, 10:38 AM

ah, i'd prefer to be able to adjust them. i'll just wait to get the koni's till they know they can get them or i've got the $$ for them since the borla is putting me back $700 :lol:

Chris B.

09-19-2009, 10:36 AM

It doesn't looks like Bilstein makes the B16 (PSS9/PSS10 System) for the /05 and up Mustangs. Its not listed in their catalog. They only make their regular shocks for the '05 and up Mustang. They are better than the stock shocks, but almost anything is better thant he stock shocks.

If you can get the Konis at a discount I'd get them. The set of 4 Bilstein shocks for the '05 and up Mustang sells for about $600 and Koni Yellows sell for $750. The Koni Yellows are worth the extra money if you plan to do any kind of autocross or track days or even frequent twisty roads. I have the Koni Yellows on the rear of my car and it makes a huge difference over rough roads and going over bumps in turns.