suspension help

[331stagn1968]

Hi, i am looking for some suggestions on suspension systems for my 68 mustang. I have been looking at the AJE kit and the various MII kits. I was wondering if anyone would have any feed back on to which would be better. My 68 is my daily driver, so overall handling is important. The engine that i am building is a 427 stroker with a single 76mm turbo. If you plan to give me some feedback please list the reasons why you would choose a system.

[LowFast]

Check out TCI's Mustang/Cougar IFS kit. It is what I decided to use on my Falcon, not a driver yet so no impressions on the feel/handling, but it is a high quality option. Depending on how you run the manifold for the turbo it might be nice to have the extra room of removed shock towers to pipe it all up.

[331stagn1968]

i have looked at theirs, why did you decide on that one compared to the other MII kits out there. also looked at rod&customs. Yes i will need the room, but the AJE kit allows you to trim the shock towers also.

[LowFast]

Because the TCI kit is not a mustang II kit, it is a scratch design that uses new geometry. They actually make a MSII kit for the Falcon, yet I went the road less traveled (ie never before traveled) and modified thier Mustang/Cougar IFS to fit my Falcon. Give Jason at TCI a call and tell him I sent you, he can explain the technical aspecs of the difference between the TCI IFS and a Mustnag II set-up. The R&C is a good kit but does not use corrected geometry and thus will still handle like a MSII, I am not dogging it, I just figured for the same investment I would go with upgraded specs and engineering.

If you want to keep the towers Bryce (who I am sure will chime in shortly) put together a pretty sweet custom set-up on his Stang and Falcon. I would go this route before the AJE.

[331stagn1968]

I did not realize that. by the way nice build , just checked out your thread. I like the rims you were test fitting with. I am over the TT II's also. looking at running a mesh style. i also am in the process of fitting 18x13 in rims on the rear. I like the rear suspension by TCI, but already have rod&customs 4 link on the rear. Have you decided on brakes yet? I went with wilwood 6 pistons up front and a dual res brake master cyl.

[LowFast]

Also went with the 6 piston Wilwoods up front, undecided on what to bolt to the rear (in my avatar). I am in the process of placing the order for my wheels. The ones in the pictures were from my Subaru for mock-up. They looked good but not exactly the look I was going for. Originally I wanted to run a 335 tire out back but it requires too much cutting on the humble Falcon, so I toned it down to 315's on 18x11's.

[331stagn1968]

yes, the 335's do require some cutting. for moc up i have a set of used 345 mt drag radials. have already notched the rear frame rails, next a new plate to locate my lower control arm 1 in inwards, then mimi tubs, i really need toget a spare car.. why not run the wilwoods on the rear, maybe a 4 piston caliper with the same size rotor as the front.

[LowFast]

335's on a falcon require new frame rails moved in about 2", thus why I decided against it. Mustangs, especially 68+ have more room to start with. The 335's should look great on your car, plus you will need all 335mm to hold the power from a 427 & turbo. Most likely I will get the 4 pistons on the rear, no rush to decide since the 8.8 I am using already has disks so upgrading can happen whenever.

[Bryce]

I built my own HAHA! I did that because I wanted to limit the compromises.

[LowFast]

If you want to keep the towers Bryce (who I am sure will chime in shortly) put together a pretty sweet custom set-up on his Stang and Falcon. I would go this route before the AJE.

Told Ya! :thankyou:

[331stagn1968]

you should check out this months modified mustang and ford magazine. they have a TCI suspension going into a falcon. the only thing i dont like about there suspension is that it uses chrysler ball joints. but o well

[Bryce]

I designed my suspension around a screw chrysler ball joint? Popular style in circle track racing. What dont you like about that ball joint?

[GrabberGT]

My Total Control Products front suspension also uses the Chrysler ball joint.

[331stagn1968]

did not mean to rub anyone the wrong way, but i work in the general automotive field and during my 6 years I have replaced more chrysler balljoints than any other make. all with less than 80,000 miles on them. I live in north florida where the roads a good. i have even had several total blowouts get towed into my shop. So longevity is important, because i drive my car everyday 50 miles 5 days a week. I am sure they will be fine withe the lighter weight of my car, but still a concern. my globalwest uppers use a chevy balljoint and after 110,000 miles and 8 years of use they are tight. i have also been told that they fail do to bad geometry and the joint is good. i am still going to order the kit or the new heidts kit, that also uses the same balljoint. has anyone seen there new frontend kit?

[LowFast]

Just an FYI, the bolljoints on my ford truck barely made it 20k before they crapped out. Switched to Spicer (Now owned by Raybestos) and have had no issues since. I recomend to anyone replacing ball joints to go with Raybestos Professional Grade (formerly Spicer) if available for your application, the things are built like a tank.

[331stagn1968]

what year and type of ford truck

[331stagn1968]

another issuse that ford has is the bearings . had an 09 f150 with 45,000 on the clock and the bearing failed and then welded its self to the spindle

[LowFast]

2003 F150 Supercrew

[Bryce]

FWIW, The chrysler style ball joints I am using are manufactured by AFCO racing. I am not concerned about quality. My next front suspension build will be using spherical bearings instead of ball joints.

[331stagn1968]

those are nice trucks. sorry the joints failed, you should have gotten atleast 130,000 out of them. they usually fail becuase of the boot being torn and no grease fitting to add clean grease. just did the upper and lowers on my 02 explorer and the tranny at 133,000. still pissed about the tranny, why would you put a jag tranny in my truck 5r55w.

[331stagn1968]

i know what FYI means but what does FWIW mean. aftermarket race parts are different. tci just emailed me saying that the joint are of an improved design. for what its worth. i get it.

[Bryce]

For what its worth.

[LowFast]

Yep, stock one sheared clean off when it failed, bent up the front fender. Luckily it failed when it did, wife backing out of parking space, instead of 10 minutes later on the highway. Got to change it out on the 4th floor of a parking garage in windy 20 degree weather in the dead of winter, two weeks after having shoulder surgery. Fun times! Had to do it on-site because no tow truck could fit in the low garage.

I had to have my tranny (4R70W) rebuilt at 60k, but it has been running a procharger at 12psi since 25k so it took its share of abuse. Converter crapped out and sent bits all through the transmission. Now it is built with kevlar od band and eagle clutches, tranny can take just about anything.

I digress.

[Sales-TCI-Eng]

We have been using the Moog K772(28,000# pull out strength) for both the upper and the lower ball joints for 10+ years on anything from Novas to 4000lb 50's pickups with great success. We use close to 10,000 of these ball joints a year and I can't remember a time where a customer had a failure.

Engine Performance, Braking capabilities and suspension advancements have pushed this industry to crazy new heights. In order to ensure we keep that added safety margin we recently changed the lowers to the K719(32,000 pull out strength).


-J

[Bryce]

We have been using the Moog K772(28,000# pull out strength) for both the upper and the lower ball joints for 10+ years on anything from Novas to 4000lb 50's pickups with great success. We use close to 10,000 of these ball joints a year and I can't remember a time where a customer had a failure.

Engine Performance, Braking capabilities and suspension advancements have pushed this industry to crazy new heights. In order to ensure we keep that added safety margin we recently changed the lowers to the K719(32,000 pull out strength).


-J

Thanks for bringing the tech!