[Bobbo]

Can anyone who has added any suspension mods to a convertible GT comment on how/if their mods have affected cornering without too much jiggle? I do not expect my new Roush Stage 1 '05 GT convertible to match the near flawless and telepathic handling of my previous Boxster S, but I am looking for improvements. After driving it a couple of weeks and getting more used to the feel closer to the limits, it seems pretty soft and still hard to read how close to the edge it is. It's all stock as far as suspension/handling goes.

Here's what I am thinking:

I believe a Steeda front strut brace would be an easy mod with decent impact. Not sure if an adjustable version is really worth the extra 2 Franklins.

I have not seen a bigger anti-sway bar that fits a convertible in the front.
I bet this would help big time.

I worry that a lowering kit will get jiggly, plus my front spoiler will probably rub the ground more than I want to hear.

Tires/wheels may improve unsprung weight and tightness keeping rubber on the road more but doing that will likely run north of 2 grand.

[Crownvic]

Originally Posted by Bobbo

Can anyone who has added any suspension mods to a convertible GT comment on how/if their mods have affected cornering without too much jiggle?

Mine jiggles too - big time. Only folks who used to have previous versions of the vert seem impressed.

Originally Posted by Bobbo

I do not expect my new Roush Stage 1 '05 GT convertible to match the near flawless and telepathic handling of my previous Boxster S, but I am looking for improvements.

That is the perfect comparison. It should beat the pants of the Boxter, and not only in drag racing. But the current unavailability of even an aftermarket IRS plus the cruddy stock suspension geometry make that statement a joke. I flat out refused an invitation to a slalom rallye from my performance parts shop guy. Had to tell him: "let the Miata win, it will anyways".

* * * IS THIS WHAT FORD WANTS THE WORLD TO LAUGH ABOUT?!? * * *

Originally Posted by Bobbo

After driving it a couple of weeks and getting more used to the feel closer to the limits, it seems pretty soft and still hard to read how close to the edge it is. It's all stock as far as suspension/handling goes.

It has only taken me days to realize where the limits are. This is not, I repeat, NOT, a driver's car. It is a modder's basis for a good car, but in stock form it isn't even fun to commute to the supermarket. Heck, yesterday I even glanced over at a guy in a Crown Vic with ENVY.

* * * IS THIS WHAT FORD WANTS THE WORLD TO LAUGH ABOUT?!? * * *

Originally Posted by Bobbo

Here's what I am thinking:

I believe a Steeda front strut brace would be an easy mod with decent impact. Not sure if an adjustable version is really worth the extra 2 Franklins.

Folks in the forums have said that they're the stuff. Not so much Steeda who alledgedly mostly rebadges other guys' stuff at a sharp markup, but front strut braces in general. I think that a plain brace should do the trick for a stock engine setup. (Maybe the adjustable double-priced strut brace is for taming nitrous or supercharged high output engines?)

Originally Posted by Bobbo

I have not seen a bigger anti-sway bar that fits a convertible in the front.
I bet this would help big time.

From what I've heard, sway bars are mostly to correct poor geometry. If you get down into the underpinnings of the suspension and get things right, then you wouldn't need any sway bars, since the car would no longer sway? Nice FORD bolt-on fix for a poor design (or lousy cheapo execution of a good design?).

Originally Posted by Bobbo

I worry that a lowering kit will get jiggly, plus my front spoiler will probably rub the ground more than I want to hear.

If you choose to lower the car, then you had better be prepared to make quite a few suspension adjustments. Here's a link to a webpage which has some interesting info to help you decide how you wish to do the job that FORD should have done from the start:
http://www.miracerros.com/mustang/t_suspension.htm

Originally Posted by Bobbo

Tires/wheels may improve unsprung weight and tightness keeping rubber on the road more but doing that will likely run north of 2 grand.

I also thought of tires, but mostly to insulate myself from this car's bad behavior. Gone will be the stiff NERO P-ZEROs. I rented a V6 Stang before buying my GT, and it had a far more compliant ride and swallowed bumps and gulleys like they were nothing. I almost thought of swapping for a V6 suspension/wheel/tire setup, but then figured that for the hassle and expense I can do better.

So I'm thinking of keeping my 17" wheels, lowering the car and getting taller tires - bringing back up the car's height but with more air between me and the nasty stuff going on underneath. It might slightly lessen the grip at the limit (goodyears with softer sidewalls) but may make it into a fun car to drive, which it isn't so far. Though I did had a blast in that rental V6. Of course I'll need to reflash the computer with all the mods if I want it to start up again and roll.

Meanwhile, here are some folks I've found for aftermarket chassis stiffeners and suspension parts (anyone else, please add yours):

* * * APOLOGIES FORD, BUT WE JUST TRYING TO FIX YOUR MESS * * *

Stangsuspension.com sells BMR parts, and cheperformance.com makes them out of aircraft grade aluminum. Still no "Full, everything included KIT from FORD Racing" to thank us for our business. I guess they want to feed the little guys with their leftovers... us.

* * * Don't it feel good - being a FORD LEFTOVER? * * *

[Stoopy]

Wow, like, totally dialectic, man. One through nine, no maybes, no supposes, no fractions -- like, you can't travel in space, you can't, like, go out into space, you know, without, like, you know, with fractions... what are you going to land on, one quarter, three-eighths?? What are you going to do when you go from here to Venus or something? That's dialectic physics, OK? Dialectic is there's only love or hate, you either love it or you hate it!

OK, enough of Dennis Hopper..... wow man, after a reaming like that I can't understand how I can still enjoy my car now...but I do....even going to get groceries.....good gravy!!!!

[eyelleye]

Originally Posted by Crownvic

* * * Don't it feel good - being a FORD LEFTOVER? * * *

If you feel that good about it, I find it rather surprising you haven't traded it in already.

As to Bobbo, recommended reading:
http://allfordmustangs.com/forums/sh...ad.php?t=47863
http://allfordmustangs.com/forums/sh...395#post361395
http://allfordmustangs.com/forums/sh...084#post361084
http://allfordmustangs.com/forums/sh...922#post351922
http://allfordmustangs.com/forums/sh...327#post352327
http://allfordmustangs.com/forums/sh...308#post340308