The car already has a front swaybar. You would be just adding more strength replacing it with an aftermarket unit. The car has no stock strut tower brace so adding one would seem to be more important than replacing the front swaybar. That's just the way it seems to me, I could be wrong.

 

Cool. I think I weill go with the BMR unless you think I should go with Steeda because I will already be getting their springs and rear panhard bar.

EDIT:

O, and what do I need professionally installed? I am not THAT handy, but I can stilll do basic things. I figure it should be easy to install the MRT CAI so I will take a stab at that myself.

So, professionally installed, am I looking at all my parts such as springs, rear panhard bar, front strut tower brace? And once you got the rear panhard bar in, how does one adjust it to make the rear axle centered? Does it do it itself?
And what do you think an estimate would be for what needs to be installed on my car?


I know, lots of questions, thanks a bunch for answering.

 

The tower strut brace and panhard bar should be pretty basic (make sure the panhard bar is an "adjustable" style). Springs - probably harder, havn't done them yet.

Tom

 

Does basic mean I could do it even though I am not that mechanically inclined. I mean, I can figure stuff out, but I'm not gonna build you a piece of finely crafted oak furniture...

 

Steeda also has Sport springs and Sport springs code-E. I have no idea what the difference in that is. If anyone has any idea, that would be great. Anybody who has installed steeda springs, how much did it cost?

 

I'm gonna take my car to a shop to have the springs done. I'll also have them install the panhard bar and do the alignment.

As for the strut tower brace, it's easy. Just unbolt a few bolts, but the brace on, then put the bolts back on. Just check out the pictures and you can probably see how it goes on. As far as which brand to go with, that's all up to you. I ordered the Ford Racing one because I though it looked the best. It may not be the strongest, though.

These are going to be some of the same mods I'll be getting too. So far I've ordered the Strut tower brace, but am also going with Steeda springs and adjustable panhard rod.

I'll also be ordering lower control arms. These are supposed to eliminate wheel hop on hard acceleration. If you experence wheel hop, these would be a good idea also.

 

Double post.

 

I used these write ups to do my springs:
2mfffabshop.com/eibach
Eibach springs installed, Pics and install instructions

Along with the Ford instructions:
[attachmentid=32426]
[attachmentid=32427]
[attachmentid=32428]

Here's one for the Panhard bar:
2mfffabshop.com/panhard

 

Thanks Cobra.


So does anyone else think that front strut tower brace and panhard bar are the best mods for the money I can do to improve handling in the front and back, respectively?

And can anyone tell me how much it cost you to install these three things or any one of the three so I can get an estimate on how much this is gonna cost?


Thanks for all your help people.

 

I got a quote from my local dealership to do the springs and they said:
Front springs $175.99
Back springs $79.85
Alignment $48.95

It was a little too much for me so I ended up doing it myself with my brother helping. The most important step is the alignment. I had a shop do that.

The strut tower brace you can do yourself, don't know about the panhard.

 

Thanks for that info. I'm glad I can install the strut tower brace myself. I asked about panhard rod in my request for a quote from a local shop in addition to the springs.

So which strut tower brace do you all recommend? Steeda's or Ford Racing. They both look cool, but which will work better. And I am talking about the black powder-coated one from steeda, not the ridiculously expensive billit.

 

Andy,
If you have the tools to pick up the car (jackstands or lift) the rear springs and panhard bar are easy. Sounds like you and I have about the same mechanical abilities and I was comfortable doing it.

As for the strut tower brace i didn't see where anyone had mentioned Steeda's steel version. It just looks stronger and stiffer to me.
Seems to be the same design as the one from FRPP, but w/o the bling.

And best of all it's a LOT cheaper.

 

and it fits over the plenum cover too.