Sounds like this is my winter mod!!!

 

An interesting read on Mustang suspension systems - includes info on Watts links

http://www.miracerros.com/mustang/t_suspension.htm

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Thanks for the link!! Lots of useful information

 

Anything I can do to help - anytime

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Forget that price. I'm going with Fays2 watts link. Fays2.com

 

wow you drove from boston to jersey to get your watts installed at jdm....lol funny i was thinking i was the only crazy person that would do that

 

That one doesn't look to sturdy to me.

 

These have been put through the paces by plenty of people who race them--I haven't come across any negative reports of durability.

My question is how the Fays2 chassis mount pivot compares to the Saleen axle mount pivot. In theory they both have their pros and cons, but I haven't seen a good analysis for our specific chassis and how either design affects roll couple. I do like how the Fays2 version allows adjustment of the pivot location, which should let you dial in the suspension a bit more precisely based on spring drop, control arm lengths, etc...

I would also like to see Saleen come out with a version with rod ends everywhere, instead of poly or rubber bushings.

 

No really, I was getting gears installed too. Wait no, I had a meeting for work in the neighborhood.

Its all true

Managed to take care of a few things in one shot- even had the tune redone for the new gears and eliminated trac control.

Living in the city I really don't have the location to work on the car. I'm tired of running up three floors to get my tools from the chest when I forget the right kind of socket!

 

I installed the Watt Link kit from JDM last week on my 2006 GT. I am extremely happy with the results, although I have to say the installation was challenging for me, as I used hand tools for the entire job and am not a mechanical whiz.

As discussed in the other posts, the kit is the Saleen kit, except the parts are black instead of red. I had the full Roush suspension kit on my car, which is still there except I replaced the Roush sway bar with the Saleen one included in the JDM kit, as the bars seemed essentially identical.

Handling in turns in significantly improved -- I wish there was such an easy upgrade for the front suspension. I don't race this car, although I have training and experience in the area, and I think the Watts Link is a significant improvement. The rear end also is noticably lower.

I received good service from JDM -- they faxed me the instruction book even before I bought the kit so I could decide whether to buy. I also called up during the install and asked some dumb questions, and they put one of the guys from the shop on the phone and he patiently straightened me out. Durability is an unknown of course, but hopefully Saleen knew what they were doing when they put the kit on the PJ.

 

Thanks everyone for your imput- I'm convinced that this is the way to go.

 

Hey Don, thanks for your imput. Are you saying that the Watts Link actually lowers the rear of the car? If it does, how much did it lower it? I'm not one for lowered cars, and if this does lower it some, I may take it off the winter mod list.

 

I have the Fays2 Watts link on my GT and it does a great job!FAYS2 Suspension Watts Link The prototype was used on a race car to get it right before production.

Hey Jeff, I can tell you it does not lower the car at all but it does aid the handling of the car in a fairly dramatic way.

I have it in conjunction with the FRPP suspension and I love the combination. No interference with the FRPP sway bars at all.

 

After much research I've decided to go with the Fays2 unit as well. I like the idea that it doesn't use the diff cover as the center pivot point. I'm concerned with the added stress on the cover and possible leaks. Here's a pic of the Fays2 set up:



It looks like a real solid piece and actually costs less than the JDM/Saleen unit. It's nice to see it works with other sway bars as I want to run Steeda's in conjuction with the Fays2 and my existing suspension mods. My only concern is how it works with aftermarket exhausts. I have a Borla axle back and need to make sure there are no fitment issues.

 

Does anyone know what each of these systems weigh?

 

looks like its worth the dough, but can you get it without the sway bar for like 200 less?

 

Not to get too far from subject but has anyone heard anything about the new second generation watts link offered on the 2008 saleens?
Thanks
Bob

 

The car looks lower to me, although I did not measure before and after. However, I did check the pinion angle and it was within specs at the driveshaft after the Watts install. Before the install, I had the complete Roush add-on kit with springs, struts, sway bars, so the car already was lowered a little. In fact, before the install it looked a little nose down to me, like the front was lowered more. Now, it looks right. Other than the Roush stuff and the Watts link, I do not have any non-stock suspension components like adjustable UCA, LCAs.

The Watts link also straightened the body up relative to the chassis, in that after the Roush stuff was installed the body was a little over toward the passenger side, which apparently is considered "normal" with slight lowering. However, now it is right on.

 

I don't know the exact weights, but the Watts kit basically consists of the 2 control arms (with a small thingamajig that attaches the arms to the diff cover), the new aluminum diff cover, and the sway bar. As indicated, the Saleen sway bar was essentiallly identical to my Roush bar. The control arms and the small bushing thingamajig that attaches the arms to the diff cover weigh very little -- they appeared to be some composite material, like carbonfiber? I'm not an engineer so don't assume that is correct. Of course, you get an upgraded aluminum diff cover. And you get to remove and throw away the stock panhard bar and another stock body stiffener bar (excuse me for not recalling the correct nomenclature), so I am guessing there is little or no net weight difference between the stock and the Watts components.

I don't know anything about the fay system and the weight issue.

 

Ride height is dictated by the springs. Not the watts linkage, panhard bar or sway bars, unless something is in a big bind.

The watts linkage is designed to provide virtually unrestricted vertical motion of the chassis relative to the axle. Very restricted to lateral movement. No restriction to roll movement.

I wonder if the fays unit is at a disadvantage to the Saleen unit because of its shorter links? As the chassis move up or down, the shorter arms swing a larger angle. Vertical kick loads are increased.