Best handling suspension for 2005 Mustang?

[TheJDMan]

I have a co-worker who recently purchased a very nice 2005 Mustang that he wants to modify to do some drag racing. I have been trying to get him interested in track days, autocross, etc. He is one of a handfull of people that have gone for a ride in Dust Off. He was impressed with the level of handling and braking. My question is does anyone have any recommendations for suppliers of PT level suspension parts and brakes for these late model Mustangs? I'm looking for suppliers I can send him to to maybe get him interested in autocross and/or track days.

[dontlifttoshift]

Does he have a budget? The important things are the same, Driver, tires, shocks, everything else, just like the pt stuff.

Bang for the buck? Call ridetech and order a set of coilovers. Their struts debuted at sema and they are really nice, mine are on the way. Bump the spring rate to about 350 in the front but keep the rear low, like 175/200 tops. I have a set of Hotchkis sway bars on mine now (currently with their springs as well), I really like their bars and they are very adjustable, and hollow. These cars need camber if you are going to drive hard. The ridetech struts are slotted to allow camber adjustment but if you try to get wide tires (295) up front you will have clearance issues if you use that slot for more than about 2 degrees. -1.5* is a good start and if he gets hooked he will see that -2.5 or more is really where they want to be at.

No staggered wheels, you will want to rotate them, I promise. The car will take 275s all around easy, more if you get creative up front. This where camber plates help, as the strut tips in with the tire and doesn't cause any clearance issues between the strut and the tire.

After that there is a billion bolt ons available, some work, some don't, and some are only added weight. If he is not worried about classing for scca or otherwise, rear LCA relocation brackets will help at the strip and to get out of the corner better. BMR is a good source for those as well as rear control arms. The (relatively) new player in the mustang market is Whiteline. They also sell relo brackets and control arms, they claim that their urethane bushings are magic and don't squeak, and last forever, etc, etc. They might, I don't know, but their stuff looked good at sema.

Really there is so much stuff for these cars its unreal, but in reality they don't need much to be a lot of fun and easy to drive.

Sorry for the incomplete thoughts, but here is some links

Probably the most complete s197 build thread ever, this is actually writing a book dedicated to s197 handling http://www.corner-carvers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=44217

Also, the tech is pretty good at http://www.s197forum.com/ you have to wade through some of the drama but there is good info there.

Gotta go, got a 12 week old puppy that is insane, I'll be back to this one.

[marolf101x]

Here's a link to our 2005+ Mustang page:
http://www.ridetech.com/store/musclecars/?subcats=Y&features_hash=V308.V328

Front Struts:
The strut is a steel bodied monotube damper with an extruded aluminum lower mount.
The standard strut comes with a rubber upper mount (these new cars are so quiet you hear every little pebble on the road), but they can be upgraded to a solid bearing mount if you so desire.
As Donny stated camber is adjusted via an eccentric bolt on the lower mount. If you decide to use camber/caster plates anything that uses a COM10 bearing will work (I am working on a completely new design for the camber/caster plates which I think will be really cool)
The struts are available in RQ, HQ and TQ Series.
The RQ (fixed valve) struts are available for pre-order (they will begin shipping Jan. 1).
The HQ (rebound adjustable) and TQ (triple adjustable) units will be ready shortly after the RQ Series.

Rear Coil Overs:
We offer a coil over to replace the OE spring and shock. Again, the standard is with a rubber upper mount, but it can be upgraded to our Delrin "ball and socket" mount.
These are available in RQ, HQ, or TQ Series as well.

[GTOtzel]

Check out http://www.cjponyparts.com. They have some Blogs about their two 2013 build. The GOTTA-HAVE-IT Street car is more PT and the GOTTA-HAVE-IT Race has gone 11.05 with bolt-ons. All year Mustang parts supplier and service shop in Harrisburg, PA

[BMR Sales]

Donny,


I highly suggest contacting our resident Must expert Kelly concerning anything 79-current Mustangs..... We are #1 in the S197 (05-current) market. Take a look at the car that Ring Brothers built for SEMA using our suspension.....

http://blog.powerblocktv.com/?p=7538

[MonzaRacer]

Yeah Ridetech's 05 Mustang won Forza Motorsport Challenge ND had hottie driver Angela Cope, (wiki info:In 1977, Darren Cope, Amber and Angela's father, made his racing debut in drag racing. Darren and brother Derrike began racing late-model cars in 1979. Darren and Derrike each traded off racing the car on alternate nights. After the first year of Late-Model Racing, Darren decided to pursue other interests, so Derrike's racing career then began in earnest.

Derrike raced on the West Coast from 1979–1985. He raced the Winston Cup in 1986 and won the Daytona 500 in 1990.

1983 marked the start of the third generation of Cope racers when fraternal twins Amber and Angela were born to Darren and Mary on August 18. The race goes on.)
Just so you know, and YES her sister is as hot as she is! AND Angela is no slouch of a driver,,made some big strong strapping boys think twice about a young girl beating them.

Oh and I sure wish i could have bought THAT car. It ran pretty good thanks the Ridetech and crew!

[mikes2nd]

Steeda stuff is tops... and watts links

http://www.steeda.com/store/ford-mustang-suspension.html


http://mustangforums.com/forum/s197-handling-section/647358-watts-link-manufacturers-pro-and-cons.html

[HUSTLESTUFF]

Look at Cortex Racing http://www.cortexracing.com/

They have some fast cars on the track in Norther California. Filip is an engineer and his work shows. Look at the Spec Mustang stuff. Mike

[HUSTLESTUFF]

double post

[SLO_Z28]

Look at Cortex Racing http://www.cortexracing.com/

They have some fast cars on the track in Norther California. Filip is an engineer and his work shows. Look at the Spec Mustang stuff. Mike

I am familiar with their work. This is who I would go with if I bought a S197.

[bmcgauhey]

Check out Griggs Racing they have some excellent products for going fast through curves. Here's a link to their website http://griggsracing.com/