Sam,

You are correct. I am not stating that this setup is better than larger sway bars on the track. I am just noting that my low speed (under 60mph) handling seemed better on the street with my current setup (Tokico blues in back, stock struts, UMI subframes, ground force springs, and yes street Nitto 555's). Higher speeds will definitely require a sway bar if you want to take it to the track, but I can see how some guys are benefiting in the parking lots doing autocross when speeds are under 60mph.

With that said, I like to drive fast and will be getting an adjustable rear sway bar in the future. I also have a A-arm brace and torque limiters waiting to go on.

How can you tell if the limited slip is getting weak or about to go out?? I don't plan on running anything more than street tires.

 

Well i have read this and i'm still confused as all get out! lol, I have a stock 2006 mustang GT with a body kit and just ordered 20" rim/tires, Now comes the lowering part of my plan? I dont want to wrap a fortune up in my suspension as its a sunday/funday kind car, no racing etc.. Not even a daily driver, All i want is to lower it to give it a sleek look and not the typical 4x4 look due to the 20" tires, So couldn't i just install springs?>>> lost!

 

I have steeda sport springs and camber bolts and an adjustable pan hard bar. I think that is as inexpensive as it gets. How ever the stock shocks and struts are kinda lame for lowering springs. I ended up replacing them with the koni's
I picked my parts up from sam Strano. You can probably shop around for some used stuff and save a few bucks. Also you could probably save a few bucks or not by shopping around at other stores but you will not get the attention and first hand experence that Sam will give you.

 

My car was lowered 1.5" with stock dampers, 20" wheels, and the ride was soft but fairly loose and lots of bumpsteer. I would recommend going with 1" drop maximum and you could get away with doing very little. I think the FRPP are only 1" drop. If you just want it for looks then you will be fine with the stock dampers. You may need to replace the strut mounts with heavy duty ones as the stock ones may start to pop and make noise.

 

I'm starting to get really bad bumpsteer lately. All I have is the Roush Extreme springs (1" front/1.25" rear) on stock shocks. I want to upgrade everything sooner or later, but for now a bumpsteer kit is needed. Alignment seems to still be in check and drives straight.
Few questions...
What brand do you guys reccommend?
How easy/hard is it to install?
Should I do a camber kit too?
Any other tips/advice?

Thanks in advance!

 

From what I have experenced and what Sam S has told me you shouldn't need a bump steer kit with a 1 inch drop. Upgrade your shocks and struts and I bet you will be a happy camper. If your going with a kit Steeda has a good one for around 160 bucks I believe. I used them when I had the pro springs on my car. I insytalled it myself and was pretty easy..... very easy I should say.

 

Thanks Glenn! I was leaning towards that Steeda kit.

 

Do whiteline balljoints require 18" rims? I know that Steeda X5 do, but I can't find any information about the whileline.

 

so ive read pretty much the whole thread. I just got an 06 vert and just want to level it out. from all ive read, I think I will go with the roush rears (.5 drop) only with an adjustable panhard. will the pinion angle be affected enough to cause an issue with passengers in the back etc? rest of the car is stock. I just want to do it for looks

 

1/2" in the rear isn't enough to require pinion angle correction.

 

thanks. I also saw a set of rears from pedders that go 1" which may achieve more of the leveling affect. do you think this would also be within acceptable angle? I would be adding a panhard and that's about it

 

My understanding is that the pinion angle is only a big deal if you have a one-piece driveshaft; the factory driveshaft with the center joint takes care of the "phasing" issues unless you make some major changes.

But lowering it 1" in the rear only, might be too much and it will end up pointing up. I have the Steeda Sports which supposedly drop it 1" in the front and 1.25 in the rear, and that leveled it out more than you would think. I never did actually measure, but by eye it looks like it still has a slight downward rake but noticeably less than stock. Note my car is a 2010 so your's might be different.

 

I agree with Bert. You should be fine with a 1" drop in the rear with the stock drive shaft, but it may be too much if you leave the front stock. I also have the Steeda Sport springs with 1" in the front and 1.25" in the rear and I like the stance, but the car isn't quite level. My car required slight pinion angle correction, but I have a one piece drive shaft.

 

I have Eibach Pro Springs with Koni yellow adj struts/shocks. IIRC they lower the rear by approx 1.5" and the front by approx 1.2"-1.3" With the stock driveshaft still in place, would the pinion angle require correcting with having a 1.5" drop in the rear and 1.2"-1.3" drop in the front?

 

^ I don't think so; but honestly not sure . . . lowering in the rear has the affect of making the angle between the driveshaft and the differential input shaft "more straight" (less angle through the joint) and I'm thinking that is an "improvement" but not sure

my understanding is the main reason for pinion angle adjustment is to make the transmission-to-driveshaft and driveshaft-to-differential angles equal and opposite when under load; but the center joint in the middle changes all that because it is fixed to the bottom of the car

 

I"m not really sure either as some claim if lowered more than one inch (rear) does require pinion angle correction while others claim it doesn't if lowered between 1"-1.5" rear and between 1.2"-1.3" up front. I'm also not sure as to whether or not a bump steer kit would be required for the Eibach Pro Spring kit which lowers the rear suspension approx 1.5" and the front suspension approx 1.2"-1.3"