Higher spring rates being what? Above 300? You will get different opinions on this from different companies, but we have never, ever, used a coil over spring rate higher than 275 in the front of a Mustang.

Rates higher than this, in our opinion, produce excessive wheel rates which reduce the suspensions ability to maintain wheel motion control and even tire loading. By running a spring rate that is not excessive and matching it to the right shock valving you get a suspension system that works for you to accommodate the small and large imperfections that are in any road or track allowing the tires to stay planted on the ground where they belong. Anybody who has ever driven a rough track like Sebring can appreciate the need to keep the tires planted on the ground.

A 275LB spring in a coilover configuration in a new Mustang is similar to running an 1,100 pound spring in the stock location of an 04-earlier car.

Tom Ellis, who is again sweeping the SCCA American Sedan series this year, and has set track records several times already this season, runs an 850-1050lb front spring in his 03 body style/suspension.

Robin Burnett, who swept American Iron East in 2005 only runs a 225lb coil over spring up front.

You do not need excessive spring rate to be fast and in control. Again some will disagree with this, but our results with our racers speak for themselves. That is why you do not see us offering excessively high spring rates on our own coil over kits.

Gus

 

Speaking of Sebring, Motor Trend has some nice video's of our Q335 and of Camp Steeda from Sebring last month. You can check them out here:

http://www.motortrend.com/av/feature...teeda_feature/

http://www.motortrend.com/av/feature...teeda_feature/

http://www.motortrend.com/av/feature...rview_feature/

 

OK Gus,
I don't want to come across as contrary, but I am about to pull the trigger on the H&R coil over set. Can you sell me on the Steeda version? Is there a significant difference? Why the dramatic price difference? I like that you included the upper strut mounts, but I can buy those seperately.

Thanks for your input.

Frank

 

Edit: You doing their regular or their RSS setup???


Gus

 

Well, without knowing which one you are looking at just yet, I can tell you this, I've called them several times about the spring rates for their street kit, as its good to know your competition, and every time I have been told they are "unavailable" although they list the spring rates for their RSS kits, they seem to have problems coming up with spring rates for their street kits. None of the dealers I called knew the answer and none have been able to get it that I have talked to.

With that said, if their street kit has the same spring rate trend of their RSS kits, It is likely that their spring rate will be higher than we would like to see for a street car, but I cant say this with certainty. I can say you are stuck with 1 spring choice with their base kit, and can't pick and choose what is best. Their RSS spring rates are way out there. Way past what we use on full race applications, much less a street car, but at least you get a couple of choices.

Their system is only ride height adjustable, no shock adjustment is available, unless you go with the RSS system, so if you are looking at their regular system, you are not comparing apple to apples, as our system is adjustable for both ride height and shock valving, their regular system only offers ride height. Theirs does not come with an upper strut mount. With the proven weakness of the factory upper mount, would you really want to spend that much money and not change the upper mounts? Thats rolling the dice there. With the factory upper strut mount, there is also no camber adjustment, so what does someone do to correct their camber after they lower the car 2 inches with their coil over kit? You would have to spend the extra money you thought you were saving on a camber kit. With their RSS system you get an upper mount, but still no camber adjustment, its a higher price than ours, and the spring rates are not streetable.

We have slightly more ride height adjustment than they do, offer you adjustable shocks and struts, offer you spring choices, and a bulletproof upper mount with camber adjustment, instead of a stock mount with no adjustment, all for only a few hundred dollars more than their non-adjustable street system. There is value there for the difference in price.

Gus

 

I had the Tein SS kit on my 2003 Accord 6 spd and loved it. This kit seems to be pretty steep in price. $1500 and you still have to buy the springs? Too expensive for my blood, get that package for less then $1500 out the door shipped and then we are talkin.

 

Glad you liked it on your Honda. Take a good look at their Mustang kits. Its pretty obvious they dont know much about 05-current Mustangs. If you want to save a couple of hundred bucks, you will get what you pay for.

Just like H&R, their base kit gives you less, for less, the kit that is a more apples to apples comparison, is more than ours, and has many of the same deficiencies I've already mentioned, such as completely wrong spring rates for the application.

Gus

 

Gus,
Thanks for the reply. I am trying to compare the same model that Maximum Motorsports sells in their Sport kit. I agree that the upper Mounts are a desirable addition to the kit, but the H&R kit can be had for a lower amount even after I purchased strut mounts. I like the idea of the adjustable rate springs, but at that price I think they should be included.

 

I'm in the same boat. Having to buy the springs puts it over budget for me. I'd have to see this setup on a car and then drive it to see if I notice the difference over another coilover setup. I know Tein doesn't do Mustangs like Steeda does but my Honda handled like it was on rails and well the coilover set wasn't cheap in quality either.

So my question to Gus is what is the final price all said and done for what I want? Basically I have the Ultralites now on stock shocks. I drove my cousins S281 Extreme this weekend. Not only did it feel like it was on rails it also road smooth considering it has 20's and I have 18's. I want to get that same balance of good handling and a smooth ride. Most of my driving is on the street but I would like to do a road race some day.