is the one of choice?

I've been hearing mixed reports, some saying the panhard bar is not needed for only a 1" drop, others saying I should put it in.

I figure it's better to be safe than sorry, so I'm going to put one on, but don't really know anything about them and which is the best to use.

Suggestions please.

Thanks

 

I'd go with Steeda. Closest to OEM you can get.

 

I'd say go with it, makes it more worry free and can only help in the end.

 

For a mild upgrade, the springs & bar are the way to go.

 

Ok, I got a quote from Galpin Auto Sports of $845 installed, which includes the panhard bar and a wheel alignment (+ tax on the parts).

On the FRPP website they "recommend" getting the Mustang Jounce bumper kit too.
Are these needed? What do they do?

 

IMHO:

Buy the springs for $200, Koni STR.Ts for $400 and install yourself. You've saved ~$300 and end up with a much better suspension.

Very unlikely you'd notice the difference with or without a panhard bar, and if you ever decide to add it, it's an easy job.

If you don't do struts/shocks now you'll wear out your stock shocks/struts in 20-30k and before you know it you'll be replacing those, wondering why you didn't do it at the same time as the springs. That's what happened to me...

 

So why not just replace them when they are worn out, as opposed to replacing them immediately when the car is still fairly new?

 

Save on labor. When you're installing springs it's actually easier if you're replacing the dampers at the same time. If you wait till later it's like doing a spring install twice. Plus according to most suspension experts dampers are the weakest link in our stock suspensions, not springs:
https://themustangsource.com/f800/wh...9/#post5935234

 

Is that just for the alignment, springs and panhard and install???

That's RIDICULOUS if it is.

 

Gotcha.

 

I talked to the tech there about dampers, but he said FRPP doesn't have them yet for the 2011 GT.

He said they are not really needed if you don't plan on tracking the car, and as he mentioned, and we all know now, the stock set up alone handles as well as an M3.
So you can track it stock well enough.

I don't want to use another brand other than FRPP because I want the warranty to remain on the suspension. Weirdly the tech offered me Eibach springs saying they are in stock now and could do the job tomorrow, but the FRPP ones need to be ordered. So a Ford specialty shop doesn't carry the Ford Racing parts in stock but they do another brand. I got a giggle out of that.
I don't really plan on tracking the car, I'm more of a drag and canyon carving kind of guy, and again, even stock the 2011 GT handles well enough to tear up the canyons and have a great time without sloppy handling.
Yes it could be better, but I don't drive ten-tenths on canyon roads.
I'll push it on the deserted canyon roads, but I still don't want to spin or go off so I'm still not going to push the stock handling limits.


He stated this:
$330 for springs
$250 for panhard bar
the rest is labor and alignment.

I called another shop in town and they wanted $250 for the spring install and $50 for the panhard bar install.
The springs would cost me about $275 and the panhard bar is what $200.
Then an alignment is what $50-75
So it would cost me about $650-675
But at a non Ford shop the warranty does not apply.
So essentially I'd be paying the Ford dealer $200 to keep my warranty.

What I'm thinking is ordering the springs and panhard bar myself then just take them to the dealer for the install and alignment.
That would save about $100-125, but they may try jacking up the install price to counter their "lost" income from jacking up the parts cost.

 

jedi, why would the stock dampers wear out faster from lowering springs?

Also, do I need those jounce bumper kit that FRPP recommends with the springs?
They are only like $45 but not sure if they are needed or what they do?

 

I had mine installed at a local Mustang specialist. If he is an honest guy he won't jack up the price just because you brought your own parts. I got springs at BuyFordRacing.com for $180 and then he charged $150 to install and another $100 for the 4 wheel alignment.

 

Wow that's a great price on all of it.

Wonder how Ford determines whether the springs were put on at a Ford dealer or at an independent shop for the warranty purposes.
Does the Ford dealer tag the VIN or something to let them know it was done there and therefore still under warranty?
If it's only $200 more at a Ford dealer and it keeps my suspension warranty, that extra $200 is worth it to me.

 

Well you would have documentation/invoice that the work was done at a dealer. Also, if you want the warranty then you need to replace everything that they suggest other wise they will have you there too. My car is out of warranty so it really did not matter to me.

 

With only springs and Panhard bar, don't even worry about the warranty. The cost of the springs should be around $200 and Steeda Panhard bar $150-$160, it is an easy "do it yourself " job. What they are asking you for doing the job..... parts , labor and alignment is a total rip off. There's tutorials out there on how to do all these jobs with just basic tools. Of course have the alignment done at the dealershop. I have FRPP 1" springs and Steeda adj. Panhard bar.

 

Here are some links for you, the 10+ cars should be pretty much the same. If I'm wrong someone please correct me.

Adj Panhard bar

Front springs

Rear springs

 

Thanks guys.

Dan did you do it yourself? Any issues?

To be honest, I like doing some things and rather pay others to do some things for me.
Installing the springs and panhard bar is probably one of those things I'd rather just pay someone else to do.
But I'll see if I can get the labor down at the dealer. I'll buy the springs and panhard bar myself to save that cost.
If the dealer wants $250-300 for the install and alignment, I'm fine with that and to me would be worth it to not have to mess around removing every thing and risk F-ing something up.

Thanks again, I'm going to order the FRPP 1" drop springs and Steeda Panhard bar.

 

The panhard bar is nothing to install, do it yourself, straight bolt-on. Just make sure you get one that is double adjustable, so much easier to adjust.

The springs aren't that bad either but quite a bit more work than the panhard bar.

 

Thanks Ltng, I'll look at the install on the Panhard bar.
I take it the Steeda is a double adjustable one?

Edit: just looked at the link above for DIY install of the panhard bar. S--t that's way too much work to save $50 (the price I was quoted to install it. I'm not that much of a grease monkey.