[pwmustang06]

I'm having a hard time deciding on an aftermarket suspension for my car. On one hand, I'm happy with the stock ride height and glad I'm not bottoming out or really having to watch it when I park. On the other hand this car really needs to handle better.

My current setup is stock, except for Steeda non-adjustable lower control arms.

I'm thinking about going with Koni StrT non-adjustable shocks and struts. Front and rear sway bars are also an easy choice. Just about every manufacturer sells the same thing. I'll probably go with Steeda, since they have an attractively priced package.

Then there's the springs. I'm really torn. I'd rather keep the stock ones. What are the gains like with a very mild drop? Would a car with Konis installed on the stock springs handle that much worse than one with a mild drop (one inch or less) with the same shocks and struts?

If I can get 80% of the results with just shocks and struts, then I'll save my money and keep the factory springs.

If I did decide to lower the car, then I'm looking hard at H&R OE Sport Springs. It's only a .75 inch drop front and rear. Pretty much the mildest spring I could find. That should still give me good ground clearence.

Would I need an adjustable panhard bar, adjustable third link, relocation brackets, etc. if I were only lowering the car by .75 inches?

How would lowering the car, even by that small amount impact the vehicle when I take to the track to run the 1/4? I know stiffer springs won't help my launch, but perhaps it won't hurt me too much.

[Geneoh]

If I had to do it again, I'd just drop the rear .75 - 1.0
Better shocks will make a big difference !
Good luck with your choice.
Gene

[JD04COBRA]

I lowered both my wife's convertible and my coupe. I used Eibach Pro Kit springs on both cars. On the vert I also put on a set 20 inch Foose wheels. I have decided to keep the 18's on mine for now.

Anyway after lowering her car the rearend was dead center, and I did not have to use camber bolts either. Now after lowering my car the rear shifted about 1/4" to the drivers side. So now I need get a adj panhard bar. The Eibach springs drop the car just over a inch in the front and about 1.5 in the back. So not all cars are the same.

[jaystar86]

the way i understand it..... your springs are the backbone of your car's suspension.... if you want that puppy to corner better, nosedive less, and just overall every aspect of your suspension will behave better by lowering.... im running ford racing springs.... you can immediately tell once you lower the car that it just feels so much better (especially cornering and under heavy braking she doesn't nosedive as much).... but if you lower your gunna need and adj. panhard bar (most likely) and either a combo of camber bolts/replacement upper strut mounts or HD caster camber plates.

Im not sure about this but im pretty sure the panhard bar adds some sturdiness to the back end aswell (could be mental) .... but the back end seems so much more planted to the ground.

Also consider a adj. uca to be able to adjust the pinion angle when you lower the car and not to mention it will upgrade the uca with a better piece which just makes the suspension even better and get rid of some wheel hop.

[sqidd]

the way i understand it..... your springs are the backbone of your car's suspension

Correct

.... if you want that puppy to corner better, nosedive less, and just overall every aspect of your suspension will behave better by lowering....

Wrong. All lowering does is lower the center of gravity. While that could be seen as an improvement if the car is intended to be pushed 9 10ths. 99.9% of cars are lowered is because of how it looks.

The above situations are supposed to be controlled with different rate springs and or sway bars (which are springs)

im running ford racing springs.... you can immediately tell once you lower the car that it just feels so much better (especially cornering and under heavy braking she doesn't nosedive as much)....

99% of what you are feeling is the higher rate springs.

but if you lower your gunna need and adj. panhard bar (most likely) and either a combo of camber bolts/replacement upper strut mounts or HD caster camber plates.

Correct

Im not sure about this but im pretty sure the panhard bar adds some sturdiness to the back end aswell (could be mental) .... but the back end seems so much more planted to the ground.

With incredibly sticky tires that's possible.

Also consider a adj. uca to be able to adjust the pinion angle when you lower the car

Nice to be able to do but very hard to do correctly.

and not to mention it will upgrade the uca with a better piece which just makes the suspension even better

Not necessarily. More than half of the UCA’s out there actually hurt the handling of the car unless other things are purchased/modified/done to make it part of the suspension system.

and get rid of some wheel hop

Correct