Maybe y'all can help!

There's someone near me who's looking to get rid of a set of Steeda Ultralites for about $164.00. I believe that they normally go for about $250+ if I'm not mistaken. However, I was considering Ultralites along with Steeda's Sport springs and now I'm wondering whether the Sports (which also go for about $260) are worth the extra $100.00 over the Ultralites.

I'm just looking to lower the car by about an inch. I don't do any track or drag strip driving, and the car is a daily driver (when I don't get to take the train to work). However, I do want something that can handle twisty roads and I already have a set of Tokico D-specs installed.

If anyone can give me some guidance on the difference between the two sets of springs and whether the Sports are worth the extra money, that would be greatly appreciated!

 

I have the Ultralites, dropped the front about 1" and the rear about 1 3/8", real happy with them, my cars a daily driver also and the ride is still as good as it was with the stock springs,
just lower and a bit firmer.

 

JCC,
I'm also on the Ultralites and I love them. You can see pics in my links. My car is my DD and I can't say enough about the ride. Its still very smooth and I'm ready to get shocks and dampeners next. Unless your car is a once a week car, auto-x car, or a drag car, I wouldn't recommend going with anything stiffer than the ultralites. I'm sure there are pleanty of people that would rather/have gone with the sports and love them. Its all in what you really want to achieve. With the proper supporting mods your car will handle better than stock by just being slightly lower. I'm no expert by any means and I may stand to be corrected but thats the way I feel about it. Sam may chime in. He is the expert!

 

Another fan of the Ultralites. Ride, handling and stance all pretty much perfect imho

 

since your car is a daily driver and you don't plan on tracking the car much, then the Ultralites are your answer!

I have the sport springs, they are a progressive rate spring (more firmer) and run a little rough on bumps in the road

 

I carry both. I'm not sure why everyone things Ultralites are softer than Sports, they aren't. They also tend to be a bit lower.

Is it because of the lighter material that makes folks think they are less stiff?

Anyway. What do you want? A little less low and a little softer, or stiffer and lower? If you want the former--Sports. If you want the later, Ultralites. Frankly if ride is a big concern, then Sports would be the more wise choice because they are taller and slightly softer.

All that said, the heights aren't drastically different. Even the rates aren't hugely different, but they are different and Sports are more ride oriented IMO.

 

Thanks for your comments, Sam.

I think the problem is all the contradictory info that's out there. Here's Steeda's own description:

Steeda Sport Springs - Part Numbers: 555-8216

• Lowers the vehicle approx 1 inch front, 1 1/4 inch rear. The S197 Mustang sits high in the rear, these springs will give it a more aggressive look
• Maintains good ride quality for daily driving
• Big improvement in handling and noticeable reduction in nosedive

Ultralite Springs - Part Number: 555-8206

• Lowers the vehicle approx 1 1/4 inch front, 1 1/2 inch rear. The S197 Mustang sits high in the rear. These springs will give it a more aggressive look
• High quality lower weight wire for less unsprung weight and less inertia for the best ride quality available of any lowering spring
• Good improvement in handling and noticeable reduction in nosedive

This was also posted on Steeda's forums by their own people:

SteedaSteve Steeda Rep
Administrator
Steeda Fanatic

Posts: 764





Re: Ultralite Springs Drop
« Reply #5 on: February 26, 2009, 05:31:26 PM »
Nope, Ultralites are a slightly softer spring rate than the sport springs. Same drop between the 2, but they have different rates.

 

Sam, please don't think I'm trying to say you're wrong. It's just that there is so much out there that tends to contradict itself as far as info on this sort of thing. Now obviously, you have experience with all of this stuff, and you sell it, so I'm willing to trust your input more than any other resource. But, you asked why people get the idea that the Ultralites are softer. The above is why. And there are a lot more postings from Steeda in the various message forums that say about the same thing.

This is why I'm confused about which set of Steeda springs does what.

 

Ok, here's the deal. I've seen it claimed that both are stiffer, both are the softer. I've seen it claimed the drop is the same, the drop is different.

Did you know that there are actually two different Sport spring part numbers from Steeda? There are, because they have sets made by two different folks to their specs. I know who makes the the Ultralites and got the spring rates from them and can compare to the markings on the Sport springs in stock.

Why do they do two sets of springs that are the same? They don't. Really the fact they have both springs should tell you they aren't identical. I hear you on the confusion--it took me a while to work through the mess myself.

 

Sam, who makes the Ultralites for Steeda? Also, do you know who makes the 1" drop M-5300-P springs for Ford Racing? Is it Eibach?

 

Eibach makes Ford Racing stuff. Vogtland makes Ultralites (but they rates are different and Ultralites are to Steeda spec). Sports are made by both by Eibach and Hyperco--best I can gather. This isn't exactly stuff that's common knowledge. Could be a little off somwhere, but I think I've pieced it together pretty well.

 

I'd like an inch in front and an inch and a half in back.....Im riding on 20's....
Recomendations??

 

Ultralites in your case. You want to be lower than the Sports are... I've got both in stock, Ultralites are $249 shipped to the door.

You've got a couple of really good pictures earlier in this thread that show you what they look like.

 

Here are the ultra lites on my '05. The tires are 275/40/18 all around (what steeda sells) so a little smaller than stock diameter, which I think makes the space between tire and fender look wider... especially in the back.

 

Sam, why would you recommend Ultralites in his case? Is it because of the 20" wheels? I have the stock 18's. Also, if you get the Ultralites, does this also require the purchase of strut mounts/caster camber plates, new lower control arms, bumpsteer kit, etc?

I'm about 1-2 weeks away from purchasing a Fays2 Watts Link from you. Should that be taken into consideration if I'm trying to decide between Sport and Ultralite?

 

He wanted to be at a height that is more what the Ultralites are vs. the the Sports. Has nothing whatever to do with the tires as any change in mass there is unsprung weight anyway and nothing the springs have anything to do with....

The Watts link really has no bearing on what springs you opt for. Comes down to the height and if you want softer or stiffer. The only reason it matters is because the addition of the Watts link settles the car down some and you can reasonably get away with a more spring rate, balance wise, than might be smart with a PHB. But neither if these are exactly say H&R Race kind of rates anyway.

The difference in height between them doesn't move you from not needing X, Y, of Z to suddenly needing those things.

I think a set of HD mounts is only smart since you'd have that all apart anyway, and you get some camber adjustment.

My car is lowered and I don't have different LCA's. And in fact like we've found time and again, when dropping a car even with stock arms, the hop tends to all but stop (usually does stop, did completely on my car on both street tires and Hoosiers). Bumpsteer kit? Well, that's one of those things that is great marketing. If you really slam the car, then it's a wise idea. 1", 1.25" ish hasn't posed much of a bumpsteer issue on our cars. In fact if you look under a lowered S197, you'll see neither the controm arms or tie-rods to be on any sort of really off or odd angle which is what bumpsteer and balljoint kits are meant to "correct".

 

that is great intel thanks!

 

Great stuff Sam. Both me and my checking account owe you one.

 

I try to be of service.

 

Sam, last question, I promise.

I've heard good things about Steeda's strut mounts. At the same time, I know that Ford offers a set for the GT500, as well as a set for 2010 Track Pack Mustangs. They could be one and the same product, I'm not sure. Both are about 1/3 of the price of the Steedas. Is there anything special about the Steeda which justifies the $300.00 price, as compared to the Ford ones?