Yes, it replaces the panhard bar.

 

Be careful if you buy a Saleen unit. There was a recall for something.

 

Hey dude, you DO know that the BMW you were driving was an ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE model, right? That's what the "X" stands for in 335Xi. With AWD, it darn well better have handled better than a Mustang!

 

Yes, I do understand that it's AWD. I did state it was an XI BMW's system is rear biased until it senses slip. Anyways, like Graypny said comparing a BMW to a Mustang is an apples to oranges comparison. I am keeping my fingers crossed that Ford puts in IRS rear in the redesigned Stang in 2010/2011.

 

Humm the weight of the Roush wow your guess is as good as mine I never had the car weighed. I placed a link below to show you some of the mod I've done It might help to estimate for the weight. Someday I'll weight this thing

Jed

 

I believe he was referring to the weight of the Watts link components. It does look nice tucked under there - any increase in NVH from the rear?

 

Ahh! not sure what the Saleen Watts link weighs my gues it's more than the Fays. Later this year JDM added a cross bar to to the Watts Link setup via a recall. It was found that under extreme conditions this cross bar was necessary. The re call installation was free at the Ford dealer and JDM was quick to remedy this problem for people that bought the WL system.

http://www.teamjdm.com/shop/product_...roducts_id=228


Bill

 

Sorry, I didn't mean to be confusing. It's cool that the dealer did the recall for free.

 

They all look to be a bunch of added unsprung weight. 30+ pounds maybe? This sort of number is substantial.

You could find out the shipping weight and remove 10% for packing. That would give you an approximate weight. I guess the big question is how much power do you need to compensate for the weight? Or, is the added unsprung weight worth the improved handling?

I think they're all great pieces, but I don't want to add weight; that doesn't make sense to me.

 

I paraphrased you!

I owned an '04 3.0i Z4 as a daily driver for 2 years and for being nearly $20k cheaper to my pocketbook, the stock Mustang GT is fantastically close in terms of ride and drive feel. The corners are what I want back though and am heartened to read this review of the Fey Watts Link - it's definitely going to be one of my first suspension mods.

Thanks for writing the review Torrence!

 

My pleasure..... We owe it to each other to but the info out there, good or bad.

 

I hear ya about the extra weight.... thats' when you up the boost. lol

 

No worries dude, just didn't see anywhere that it was typed AWD. I for one, like the SRA on the car. When I punch it, no squatting, just going! If they do an IRS, it better be a GOOD system and not that crap the last gen Cobras had.

 

The weight on the box that the piece came in says 33.6lbs

 

I would disagree with you. I have owned and/or daily driven two BMWs (a highly modified 1990 525i and a 2004 330ci Sport Package) and my Mustang blows them out of the water in terms of handling feel and capability. This is in addition to the fact that I have driven pretty extensively just about every late model BMW in existance (I used to work at a dealership).

Of course, my Mustang is pretty highly modified and stock to stock BMWs do handle better by a significant margin, but when modified, these Mustangs can be pretty sharp.

I would think that a Watts link like this one would probably make it even better...

 

Thank You!

 

My Crown Vic has a factory watt's linkage rear suspension. I compared it with a 92-97 Vic with the standard 4-bar link (similar to 79-04 non-IRS Mustang rear suspension) and the Watt's Linkage is quite superior. However, the car has a tendency to wag its a$$ over rough roads (like potholes) and has a VERY weird tendency to wig-wag on steel mesh bridges with the stock shock dampeners.

The S197's 4-bar / panhard setup is quite interesting and I haven't had any problems with it. According to Car and Driver, the Marauder was rated at 0.86G roadholding while the S197 GT was only rated at 0.84G (Mazda3 was at 0.85G) so there is definitely room for improvement. I know for a fact my Crown Vic does not handle as well as my Stang.

 

hmm, guess it means having to upgrade to lighter components in other areas to compensate! may want to try this on the Fox...

 

It's not a total lost cause... You could move the battery to the back of the car and improve the weight distribution.

 

Hey Torrence,

Can you elaborate more on the change in ride quality compared to the stock Shelby GT? Does the watts link make the SGT stiffer/firmer than it already is?