Here is a crappy iPhone picture from the installation. You'll notice that I added Steeda's beefy front sway bar end links, too.



My car's not yet on the road, though, as I ran into two issues. First, the rear Bilstein shocks feature a considerably-different thread than the Koni STR.T's that I had in place previously. Because of this, I had to order 2013-14 GT500 Performance Package-specific "insulators," part no. DR3Z-18197-A. Of course, none of my local Ford dealerships had any in stock, so I turned to Tousley, who always have the lowest prices and excellent customer service. Even with them shipping the parts as quickly as they possibly can, it'll still probably be Thursday before I have the correct insulators in my possession.

Oh, and my second issue...



...both of my front tires look like this, worn from the inside-out. I wonder if my alignment's out just a tad? I noticed a steering wheel shake over the past week or two (which was definitely more pronounced in Sport mode), but good Lord, I had no idea what was really going on!

I was also going to install my Whiteline upper third link and watts link, but I've since decided to swap the 3.31 gears I've currently got for some 3.73's, so I'll tackle all of the rear axle stuff at once.

Brandon

 

Wow, those tyres are a mess, Brandon! Glad you decided to do the upgrade now, rather than later!

Hope everything's all sorted soon for you, matey

 

Yeah, Paul, there's no telling what would have happened had I kept driving on those tires. Hopefully all will be well and ready to go by the end of next week. I'll keep you posted.

 

The Bilsteins are on my list of possible struts and shocks for my 13 Vert, Are your Bilsteins the B6 HD models or another model?
It will be interesting to read your thoughts on the change from Koni's to Bilstein.
Keep us posted, tough luck about the tires but finding out now saved you from who knows what.

 

I'm interested in this too. I put H&R springs and Bilsteins on my last car, Audi A4. Best ride of any set up I ever used. It was more comfortable and handled as well as my buddies car, who had Konis. I am wondering if the heavier mustang will have similar results.

 

Nice choice with the Bilstiens. They are the way to go!

 

The Bilsteins and 15", six-piston Brembos just installed on my car are off a 2013 GT500. The dampers are electronically-adjustable, but since I don't have a damper module, they'll be permanently stuck in "sport." I just hope they aren't too harsh for daily driving.

I won the front "corner module" assemblies back at Mustang Alley last year. I purchased the rear 2013 GT500 Bilsteins in order to complete the transformation (the rear shocks I got at Mustang Alley were the Boss's five-way adjustable pieces). For the front, all I did was swap the FRPP 1" lowering springs and Steeda HD strut mounts that I already had on my car over to the 2013 Bilstein strut assemblies. I also added Steeda heavy duty front sway bar end links. Out back, I simply swapped the Koni STR.T's for the Bilstein shocks. Once I get the new "insulators" and their correct internal threads, I should be ready to test out the new hardware!

 

I have the full Racecraft suspension on my S281. However, Ssleen just a rebadges Bilsteins with an N2 label and passes it for their own.

Set up consists of front and rear Bilsteins, (love that yellow and blue!) quads, Saleen sway bar with urethane bushings/endlinks, Saleen red springs, Maximum Motorsports caster camber plates. Sorry for the ramble....

Bottom line: it's a stiff ride. I've asked others about this and they equate it to my springs? I've always felt that it was the Bilsteins...

Who knows? Keep us posted on the ride quality once you get everything finished. Looks bad @*** already!

 

Thanks for the heads-up on the Bilsteins. I have a feeling that, just like you said, they are going to be quite a bit more stiff and jarring than the Koni STR.T's I had on previously. With all four of his FRPP adjustable dampers set to full firm, I drove Overboost's 2011 Mustang 5.0L last year while up in Michigan. As long as my stuck-in-sport-mode-2013-GT500-Bilsteins aren't any firmer than that, I think I'll be okay.

 

All done!

 

nice, hows the stopping with the 6-pistons?

 

Sweet, are the six-piston calipers only compatible with the 2012+ cars? I was led to believe they wouldn't work properly on anything but a 2013+ GT500.

On my car the change in pad material and going to Goodridge hoses actually causes the brakes to lock up for a fraction of a second, no ABS failure light or codes though.

 

Thanks! The stopping power the new six-piston, 15-inch Brembos provide is something I'm getting used to. I had the regular, non-Brembo brakes on my 5.0L previously, and with the new setup, the difference is like night and day. I also added new rear brake rotors and Hawk HPS pads, so I'm not sure how much of the feeling can be attributed to the new rear brake hardware.

Hey bob, my car is a 2011 and everything works like it's stock. There are no issues to report so far.

 

Where did you get all the donor parts from?Did the owner swap out all those bits for something else on his 500?

 

Hey Ponywars, I actually won the front corner module assemblies which included the front struts, Brembo brakes, etc. I purchased the rear shocks from Tousley Ford. There was no donor car involved.

 

Wonder if you can somehow swap the GT500 strut control module in so that you can adjust them, what are the other settings?

 

Just the two, normal and sport.

 

What kinda price tag are we looking at for the front and rear bilsteins? I bought the eibach spring/strut/sways kit and the ride isnt the greatest.

 

I see FRPP offers the 2013 GT500 brakes as a kit now, part # M-2300-T, and is compatible with all Mustang GTs, Boss cars, and GT500s.

http://www.fordracingparts.com/parts...KeyField=22422

 

I honestly don't remember exactly what I paid for the rear shocks; I got them from Tousley back in October or November of last year. Without a damper module, the two-mode Bilsteins on my Mustang are in perpetual "sport" mode, meaning the ride is very stiff, though handling is MUCH improved over the Koni STR.T's I had before.