The control arms on my 02 vert are poping and creaking. The car has 104k on it so it is time to do something about it. My delima is should I go the cheap route and just replace the upper and lower control arms or go all out and ditch the SRA for an IRS? Any thoughts would be appreciated.

 

What are you wanting out of hte car? Are you wanting to drag race it at all, are you wanting a smoother street cruiser with good handling capabilities or what?

Cheap route would be to replace the UCA and LCA's. I would go with something like the ford racing heavy duty UCA's and something like maximum motorsports LCA's or something with spherical bearing on axle side and poly urethane on the chassis side. That will help handling, give a bit stiffer ride and not entirely break the bank, also will help any traction issues you have, especialyl launching at the track.

If you want a really smooth ride and great handling, yeah swap to an IRS unit. This is usually more costly unless you find someone wanting a SLA for thier cobra. J2D on here just did it so he could give more insight

 

Agreed with what Scothew stated above . . .

What springs do you currently have on your New Edge?

 

I currently have Ford Motorsports "G" springs with Tokico non adjustable shocks and struts. They are Vert specific, basically the same rates as the Cobra Verts. I also have a cro-molly strut tower brace. Most of my driving is street based. I will on occasion do a little road racing. I probably will at the 45th at barber's. I haven't had the car on the strip and I suppect that I probably never will.

 

either setup would be fine. I think in a vert that you mainly street cruise and "playfully enjoy" some curves, IRS would be sweet because of the smoother ride it would provide as well as the increased handling. But it can be alot more $$$ compared to some UCA and LCA alternatives.

Something to mention, not sure if youve looked at em or not, but a set of full length subframes will do your car more justice than just about any mod you can think of. Especially if your gonna put it on a track.

Hope to see ya at Barbers

 

I was told to not get too aggressive UCA's because they tend to bind a lot more than just getting replacement UCA's. This is not from any sort of experience, just what I've heard on many occasions.

 

Thats why i said the Ford racing or stock replacements. With the UCA's, you dont want polyurethane bushings in them, especially both sides as it made introduce binding and can cause adverse affects (snap understeer etc). The ford replacements come with the natural rubber style bushings and are more than adequate for mild track use, street use and light road racing.

 

Scott, I already have some welded in. they were done shortly after I got the car and they made a huge difference along with the strut tower brace. I guess I am just trying to get some confirmation that I am choosing the right option. I am leaning heavily towards the IRS, just need to save up the money. I have several other thing that need to be done as well most are cosmetic. I want to get the rear bulitt calipers to match the front but don't want to have to pull the axels to install the brackets. I am hopping they will work with the standard bracket and GT rotor. I also need a new top, the back lashing has delamiated from the top. That is the only thing wrong other than some wear at the pinch points. I am awiting on the top until I decide wether or not I am going to have the car painted. Right now I would say the car is an excelent five footer, but when you get closer you can see the years on her, of course I am the cars worst critic especially since i know every mark on her intametly.

 

I've gone back and forth in my mind opting for an IRS unit for my Mach, and may one day travel that path. Right now my chassis/suspension items specific to the rear of my Mach are MM Adj. LCA, Vogtland Springs, and Welded Rear Shock Tower Brace. More than likely I will get a MM Panhard Bar and possible coilover setup and call it a day . . . . however if some local person with a 2003-2004 Cobra and Borla Stinger catback (as I have Stingers on the Mach) wants to swap I would be open to listen.

 

I have MM UCA and LCA and panhard bar on the back of my 98 cobra. Have Eibach springs on the back right now. Have the D&D Motorsports Rear Coilover kit, just can't decide if I am going to put it on. Bought it a while back when I got the car since it already has their front coilover and k-member kit on the front. The car definitely handles better than any mustang other than the couple with Griggs full kit on it.