This weekend I dropped the car. Installed a set of Ford Racing "P" springs and Tokico D-spec adjustable shocks/struts on the car (both ordered from American Muscle). After a lot of looking at pics of different spring combos, I decided to go with the "P" springs because it is an even drop all around (I do like the slightly raked look of the Mustang), and it's not a radical drop. This is my daily driver with 94K miles on it, and it will continue to be my daily driver.

The springs are rated at a 1" drop front and rear. Right now, they have dropped the car about 3/4". When i installed lowering springs on my previous Stang, it took about a week to completely settle out for the final drop.

The D-specs have an adjustment range of 7.5 turns from full soft to full firm. The recommended for normal street use was 5 turns from full firm. For right now, that's where I'm running them. I'm pretty happy with the way the car feels/handles over crappy California roads. I will play around with the adjustments over the next couple of weeks to see if I can firm it up some more without being too punishing.

And now on to the pics. They are crappy iPhone pics, will post up some better ones after I get the car out for another shoot.













Here's a before pic for comparison (only pic I have with the new wheels and factory suspension)

 

Looks bad@ss! Nice choice

 

MikuhlBrian,

Awesome choice man, the P springs matched up with the D-specs is a great set up. You get to keep the raked looked and a comfortable ride, but still see great gains in your stance, handling and breaking!

The pictures look great, looks like it turned our really cool. Let me know if you have any questions or need any assistance! Thanks for shopping with AM, we appreciate your business and loyalty.

- Dan

 

@MikuhlBrian
I want to buy me the Tokico D-spec adjustable shocks / struts, and also
I am on a report from you very curious how the ride is. I'm with the disharmonic driving behavior very dissatisfied.

 

Let me get a few more miles on them and I'll give you a report out.

 

New stance looks great!

 

I'm so impatient,....well worth the investment??

 

Here's my assessment of the new suspension set up. Absolutely LOVE IT!

Looks

I love the lowered looks of the car. With the 20" wheels, and for me, I think that this 1" drop is Goldilocks for me. Not too low, and no longer the stock 4x4 look. It's juuuuust right.

Ride & Handling

The D-specs have an 'infinite' range of adjustability. Meaning, the **** just turns, there are no preset clicks for settings. Per the instructions, there is approximately 7.5 turns of adjustability. The 'recommended' setting for everyday street use is 5 full turns from full-firm. When installing them, that's how I set it up. I drove like this for a few days. The ride was firm, but not punishing. The roads in Southern California aren't the best. Some bumps were a little jarring (what else would you expect with lowering springs and performance struts), but not what I would call punishing.

I cranked the firmness up to 3 full turns from full-firm. This sent the ride to punishing. I was only really able to tolerate this for daily driving for about a day. I will eventually try this out on the autocross track, to get more impressions... but for me 3 turns was way too stiff.

I backed off to 6 full turns from full firm. This was comparable to 5 turns, just a touch softer than the 5. But it didn't seem like a good match with the springs. It seemed to upset the balance of the car.

I've cranked back up to 5 turns and am pretty happy with it. For this being a daily driver (160 mile commute this morning), this is where I'm gonna keep it.

 

Thank you for your review. That is very kind and helps me a lot. Then I'll probably order the parts. Exactly what I was looking for ...

 

How would you compare to your oem supension & tire ????? I find your feedback very important, because since i lower mine and put the 20" ( with oe shocks & struts ) its a hard drive for a DD.
Thanks for the review !!

 

Compared to the factory suspension/tire set up, it is firmer (But not harsh), corners flatter, and has little to no squat and dive (when accelerating and braking).

 

@MikuhlBrian: should I order this also?

http://www.americanmuscle.com/2005-c...er-plates.html

what do you mean?

 

I would say that is up to you. The adjustable camber plates are to help with the alignment of the car after you lower it. If you go low enough, you will need these to correct some of the geometry.

With the "P" springs, you are only looking at a 1" drop. I've already had my car into the alignment shop and had it realigned, everything is back to factory alignment without using adjustable camber plates.

 

Thanks for your opinion MikuhlBrian. I thought you have other camber plates. In German forums they always said that you should also replace the camber plates so that the front end is quiet. Are not reinforced the camber by the GT500? If I ever renew the damper....

 

Thanks for the update !!!

Yes Sam you should replace the plates, not necessarily with adj, i Think the gt500 plates are stronger then the gt. I lower mine 1 ½" and did not need the adj ones, alignment was fine, only need new bolts.

 

Thanks synar